Topic Reading-Vol.2469-1/14/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

It takes a CEO just days to earn your annual wage

How much is too much? Chief Executive Officers, or CEOs, usually are compensated well enough for the roles they play and the results they create. Their compensation also needs to be competitive within the industry. The same is true for other executives, managers and rank and file workers in order to make the company stay competitive and productive. Then, how much disparities in payment are there between the top and average workers?

In some countries like the US, UK, and India, CEOs earn average workers’ annual income in less than two days. In other words, the top bosses are paid over 200 times more than their employees. In the meantime, top executives in South Korea, Mexico, and Singapore need to work six days to earn the annual wages of their workers or earn 60 times more than their average workers.

Though comparing the compensations in different roles and jobs may make little sense, it also reflects the business dynamism and social disparities in wealth and status of the country.

Enjoy reading and learn the gap in annual compensation between the top and the bottom.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20190108-how-long-it-takes-a-ceo-to-earn-more-than-you-do-in-a-year

Topic Reading-Vol.2468-1/13/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Study: China faces 'unstoppable' population decline by mid-century

Two scores ago, China started to set a limit on the number of children parents could have. The restriction is called “one-child policy” and had been implemented strictly until 2015 when the ruling party raised the limit to two. However, things seem to have changed during the four decades and the policy change from “not to” to “allowed to” hasn’t shown a significant change in the number of newborn babies.

In those days, the more children meant more production and wealth. The cost to raise children had never been so high until the new millennium when more parents started to want their children to receive higher education. Also, their lifestyles started to change, and parents tried to invest and save money for retirement. Thus, China’s natural birth ratio per woman has been declining like other Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea. Now, the fertility rate hovering just around 1.6, way lower than 2.1 to maintain the population, the population is estimated to decline from the peak at 1.44 billion in 2029. This means the dependency ratio, the number of economically contributing people to non-working people (under 15 and over 64), will become higher, which will cost more to the social welfare budget while domestic consumption will be declining. Not good news for the second largest economy in the world.

Enjoy reading and what population decrease could mean to the world leading economy.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/07/asia/china-population-decline-study-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2467-1/12/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why your pizza may never be delivered by drone

Will commercial delivery by drones become popular soon? Though faster delivery of pizza, books, and clothes have been talked around for some time, no large-scale delivery operators like Amazon or Pizza Hat has offered such service yet, at least at a national scale.

One reason is that technology to ensure that drones don’t collide or interfere with other flying objects, such as helicopters and airplanes, hasn’t been realized yet. In fact, there have been quite a few incidents that personal drones interfered with air controllers and police helicopters. Another reason is there are international rules that regulate the use of drones. In some country like Saudi Arabia, commercial or personal use of drones is not allowed. Also, there are concerns about privacy, security, noise, and threats to other flying creatures that deter the use of unmanned flying machines.

By the way, how resistant are commercial drones against wind and rain?

Enjoy reading and learn what factors need to be considered before delivery by drones become popular.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46483178

Topic Reading-Vol.2466-1/11/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Pakistan International Airlines cracks down on 'overweight' cabin crew

Weight is a crucial factor to fly an airplane. Passengers are limited how much carry-on and check-in luggage they can put aboard without extra fee. Some airlines even tried to charge an extra fee to overweighed passengers, though the attempt was backlashed and withdrawn before implemented. But what about the overweight, and subsequently the appearance of the flight attendants? Is it that crucial to perform their duties aboard the flight?

Pakistan International Airlines thinks so. In fact, the airline has a suggested weight chart for their cabin crew because they want their flight attendants to look good and stay healthy. Approximately 100 of the 1,800 cabin crew members are required to reduce 30 pounds in the next six months, or they will be grounded.

Six months later, the airline will be operating 3,000 pounds less weight while adding some “over-weighted” ground staff.

Enjoy reading and think which is more crucial in the cabin, attitude or appearance.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/pakistan-international-airlines-cabin-crew-weight-memo-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2465-1/10/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Is the Kerala temple battle about gender, law or religion?

Kerala is a state on the southwestern, Malabar Coast of India. The population is just over 30 million and Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and also the official language of the state. The literacy rate of the state exceeds 93% and the life expectancy is 77 years old, both are the highest in the country. The most popular religion is Hinduism, practiced by over half of the residents followed by Islam and Christianity. Sounds like a relatively decent place, doesn’t it?

However, as many as five million women formed a 600-kilometer human chain on New Year’s Day to demand entry to the Sabarimala temple, a major Hindu temple that restricts the entry of women between ages of 10 and 50, or child-bearing age. Though the Supreme Court of India ruled that the gender restriction is unconstitutional last year, many men in India have been resisting the ruling, pressing the authorities and shrines not to change the traditions.

Is such a strong resistance caused by just sexual discrimination, tradition or religion, or a combination of all?

Enjoy reading and learn what gender barrier is like in Southern India.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/04/asia/kerala-temple-india-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2464-1/9/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Just 6 months of walking may reverse cognitive decline, study says

As you age, part of your brain that helps you get things done declines. It is called the executive function that organizes information and structures it, and also regulates the surroundings and responds to it. Typical examples of executive functions skills are; managing time, paying attention, switching focus, planning and organizing, doing thing based on your experience and avowing doing or saying the wrong thing. Losing such skills sounds very depressing, doesn’t it?

But here is good news. Recent research to adults, averaged around 65 years old, with high blood pressure shows that their executive function skills significantly improved after six months of regular, moderate exercise like walking or cycling. And those who also underwent a controlled diet with less salt, fatty foods, and sweets but with more vegetables, fruits and whole grains showed even higher improvement!

Enjoy reading and think if you want to start doing some regular exercise before being recognized your executive function declining.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/19/health/reverse-cognitive-aging-exercise-diet-study/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2463-1/8/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What's behind China's space program expansion

About the same time as NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew by the farthest orbiting object of our solar system, Ultima Thule, China’s Chang'e-4 landed successfully on the far side of the moon. Did these two historical space exploration events take place coincidentally? Since NASA’s New Horizon has been in space since 2006 and its progress has been updated to the public, China could have known when the historic flyby would be made.

Also, on 27 December 2018, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System started to provide global services after the USA. Russia, and the European Space Agency. Now, the Chinese military and mobile phones can operate independently from others’ global positioning system.

Why China is so keen on space business? Will it bring in hefty return on huge investment?

Enjoy reading and learn what China’s space programs are about.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-46745632