Topic Reading-Vol.2217-5/7/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Taiwan loses diplomatic ally as Dominican Republic switches ties to China

Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC), is a state in East Asia. It was one of the founding members of the United Nations and had represented China until 1971 when it lost its seat to the People’s Republic of China. Despite the one China agreement in 1992, both PRC and ROC have maintained their respective interpretations. However, their economic ties have become stronger than ever especially in the electric and IT manufacturing industries.

Now, even though Taiwanese passport is still accepted as a valid travel document in most countries in the world, the number of countries that recognizes Taiwan as an official state and maintains diplomatic relations has been declining recently, and there are only 19 states left after the latest departure of Dominican Republic. What makes this island state so isolated?

Enjoy reading and learn why a country that has visa-free status with 137 countries has diplomatic relations only with 19 countries.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-43958849

Topic Reading-Vol.2216-5/6/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The brain science that explains “hanger”

“hangry?” Whether you think it’s a misspelling of “hungry” or have seen or used it in your SNS, it is officially a word in the Oxford English Dictionary. It defines this blended word of “hungry” and “angry” as “bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.”

In fact, people tend to become angry when their blood sugar level is low due to the rise of certain hormone and adrenaline in the body.

Do you get angry more-easily when you’re hungry? Which do you think become hangrier when they are hungry, men or women? One thing for sure it that a couple who are both hungry should eat something to prevent a nasty quarrel from happening

Enjoy reading and think which works better to control one’s temper, a counselor or a snack bar.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180425-the-brain-science-that-explains-hanger

Topic Reading-Vol.2215-5/5/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How stories have shaped the world?

A story is an account of imaginary or real people and events told mainly for entertainment. Most people enjoy reading stories for fun. But some of the intriguing stories seemed to have gone beyond entertainment and played important roles in history.

One example is the Iliad by Homer, a war story about characters of Greek myth and history, including Achilles, Helen, and Hector. The story seemed to have influenced Alexander the Great’s conquering of the Persian Empire. Also, some stories opened doors to new literacy cultures, such as The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu’s and One Thousand and One Nights by Scheherazade. The Divine Comedy by Dante is another example which helped establish the Tuscan language, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language, a departure from Latin. Nowadays, a story that is most often referred to is George Orwell’s 1984, which was published nearly seven decades ago.

Why are great stories so influential?

Enjoy reading the article about what famous stories have done to our history.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180423-how-stories-have-shaped-the-world

Topic Reading-Vol.2214-5/4/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Robot co-workers? 7 cool technologies changing the way we work

New technologies, such as robots, virtual reality, and AI, are emerging all over the places. For example, coworkers are robots in fulfillment centers and virtual or augmented reality helps sports players or employees to train offsite. Also, AI tools measure blood flow and muscles volume to help doctors diagnose and treat their patients. Furthermore, an AI algorithm even designs new TV commercials.

You may now be wondering if humans are served, helped or directed by these emerging technologies. Indeed, some jobs are taken over by robots or AI. Many people won’t be doing the same job as they’ve been doing for years. But isn’t this what happened when factory automation, production robots and computers replaced jobs in factories and offices?

Enjoy reading and think what skills will be essential in this ongoing industrial revolution.

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/technology/2018/04/26/future-of-work-innovations/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2213-5/3/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Can classes help Seoul’s marriage-phobic singles?

To marry or not to marry. That is one of the biggest questions in one’s life. Indeed, marriage isn’t just a form of love. It isn’t only for the couple but for their parents, and children they may produce. Though it is the core of societies in most of the world, many young people in Asian countries aren’t so motivated or interested to get married. And even if they get married, those couples aren’t encouraged to make and raise children. For example, South Korea marked the lowest birthrate in history at 1.05 in 2017.

What makes young people deter or prevent from forming a family?

Enjoy reading and learn the complexities of rapidly grown societies.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20180426-can-classes-help-seouls-marriage-phobic-singles

Topic Reading-Vol.2212-5/2/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

In Hawaii, being nice is the law

If you’ve ever visited Hawaii, you must have been greeted by a word, “Aloha.” This Hawaiian word literally means hello and goodbye. But it is not just a word of greeting and farewell but also a spirit of mutual regard and affection and cares to others without expecting any return.

“Aloha” is also a philosophical and fundamental concept for Hawaiians. Hawaii is such an isolated place that the islanders had had no choice but do everything themselves and collectively. Also, the space is so limited that they need to work and live in harmony, otherwise, it would become a very unpleasant and uncomfortable society.

To clarify this traditional and spiritual value as law, “Aloha Spirit” was created in 1986. Although the law is mostly symbolic and philosophical, it seems to direct a code of conduct in businesses and politics and also to the way of life.

Enjoy reading the article to learn what “Aloha” really means to Hawaiians.

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180422-in-hawaii-being-nice-is-the-law

Topic Reading-Vol.2211-5/1/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Meet the new Gmail, now with disappearing messages

Do you still write or read emails? As smartphone-friendly messaging tools like WhatsApp and WeChat are becoming more dominant in both private and business communication, the number of active email users seems to have been declining. But it is still used to communicate with billions of people across the world and device.

Now, Google has announced a major upgrade in its proud Gmail, which has1.4 billion active users a month. One of the notable upgrades is disappearing messages, a popular feature in secure chatting apps. It will allow the sender to opt for the confidential mode to make a message to expire in a chosen period ranging from a day to five years. Also, a Gmail in confidential mode may not be read without a password sent separately, or forwarded, copied, or printed depending on the setting. Other notable features include reminder and snoozer.

Interested to find out more?

Enjoy reading the text and introductory video and think if the new features make Gmail more user-friendly and convenient than the one you use.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/04/25/technology/gmail-redesign/index.html