Topic Reading-Vol.3713-6/11/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Could China’s population start falling?

According to Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data, the current population of China is about 1.45 billion as of June 4, which represents approximately 18.4% of the projected world population. It is still the world’s most populous country, but its population increased by fewer than 500,000 last year, the lowest increase in decades. China’s total fertility rate, or births per woman, has been declining, from 2.6 in the late 1980s, to 1.6 in 1994, and down to 1.15 in 2021. To maintain the population, a fertility rate of 2.1 is needed, provided that the sex ratio is in line with the average, 106 boys for every 100 girls. However, China has much fewer women of child-bearing age than the average because boys were preferred during the one-child policy period between 1980 and 2015, which was taken place to curb the rapidly increasing population. The declining fertility rate is quite common, especially in eastern Asian countries like China, South Korea, and Japan, where women get married later and are less motivated to have children as they are more educated and develop their own careers. So, China is expected to start losing its population earlier than projected. Also, as fewer children are born, the country will age more rapidly than previously thought. Will the nation be able to keep the economic growth and sustain the increasing pension cost? The fall of Japan’s economic status didn’t affect other countries so much even though it had been the second-largest economy until around 2009, but China’s impact is much larger because of the scale.

Enjoy reading the article and learning what China’s population decrease means to the world.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220531-why-chinas-population-is-shrinking

Topic Reading-Vol.3712-6/10/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Best exercise time may differ for men and women, study suggests

We all know that regular exercise does improve one’s overall health, performance, and well-being. What exercise, how hard, how often, and for how long all matter in the end result. Recent research found that the time of day to exercise also affects the effectiveness of the exercise. Also, it found that differs between women and men. Of course. Women and men have a difference in hormones, biological clocks, sleep-wake cycles, and body structures like muscle-fat ratio and internal organs. So, if your goal for exercise is mainly to burn more fat, you may be very interested to find when of the day is better to take the hardship.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about the biological differences between women and men.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-61636805

Topic Reading-Vol.3711-6/9/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why Turkey changed its name: populism, polls and a bird

The Republic of Turkey is a transcontinental country located mainly on Anatolia in Western Asia with a population of 84 million. The turkey is a large bird in the genus Meleagris best known as a symbol of the North American Thanksgiving holiday or as a sandwich ingredient. If someone abruptly says, “I like turkey,” it is not clear if it is about the country or the bird (meat). Now, the country is no longer called Turkey officially but Türkiye [ˈtyɾcije] as the United Nations recognized the country’s request for rebranding. The nation seems to want to increase brand value while eliminating the association with the bird. It is also speculated that the nation’s president wants to gain support from nationalists and Islamists before next year’s election. Indeed, the country’s foreign trade deficit nearly doubled in April and annual inflation soared by over 70% in May, the worst in the last 20-some years. What’s next, the capital, national anthem, or flag?

Enjoy reading the article and learning about what is behind the nation’s rebranding.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/03/middleeast/turkey-name-change-mime-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3710-6/8/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Top Gun: Maverick' brings back the Taiwan flag after controversy

In China, there are about 14,000 cinemas with over 80,000 screens, nearly twice as many as in the USA. Apparently, it is a huge market for the movie industry both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the Chinese government allows only 34 international movies to be released a year. It is then vital for foreign film producers to get one of those 34 tickets from the government to show their movies in the huge market. Accordingly, many movie producers have made various attempts to show friendliness to and respect for Chinese cultures by featuring Chinese actors, cultures, and technologies while excluding any hostile messages or scenes in their movies. In the original Top Gun movie in 1986, Tom Cruise’s iconic leather jacket had patches with Japanese and Taiwanese flags on the back. But when its long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Marveric’s trailer was shown in 2019, those two national flags had been replaced by two ambiguous symbols with similar color schemes. This act of friendliness had been widely criticized by critics and fans until the sequel was finally released last month. Yes, those flags are now back on Cruise’s jacket. Why? In the last two years, the tension in Eastern Asia has been rising sharply and the US is now more openly supporting Taiwan despite the criticism from the mainland. Is that all?

Read the article and learn about what is behind the scenes of international films.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/02/media/top-gun-maverick-taiwan-flag-reinstated-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3709-6/7/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The New Yorkers in crisis over skyrocketing rents

Good news seems to have brought very bad news for working-class renters in major cities like New York. The good news for New Yorkers is that business is back to normal after the pandemic. As schools, offices, restaurants and bars, and theaters opened their doors, many ex or new residents are coming back to the city. Also, because of the recent housing price increase, many homebuyers have decided to keep renting their places. Though it is natural that prices rise when demand increases, when the rent goes up by over 50% or even higher, what the renter can do? There are only a few choices for them besides earning more money, moving out to a cheaper place, sharing a room or two with someone, or bearing the increase. The problem is that there aren’t any affordable options in the city because everyone is in the same boat. Also, moving and initial costs to a new place may cost as much as or even higher than the rent hike in the short term. Having a roommate is possible only if there is another room to share. Such a situation is extremely hard for those whose incomes are moderate or aren’t increasing at the same pace as the soaring inflation or rent. Indeed, inflation hits the medium and low income earners the hardest. And this isn’t limited to New Yorkers. Dwellers of other major cities around the world are facing similar problems.

Read the article and learn about how New York renters are struggling with the recent rent hike.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220531-the-skyrocketing-rents-that-are-crippling-renters

Topic Reading-Vol.3708-6/6/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Biden: US will not send Ukraine rockets that can reach Russia

Even before the Russian invasion on Feb.24, Ukraine had been provided military aid of various forms from the USA and western countries, including intelligence, internet access, weapons, ammunition, and training. Over the course of the last three months, Ukraine has been pushing off Russian forces with these resources that seem to have prevented the invading troops from advancing. And the Western allies are committed to supplying more weapons and ammunition for Ukraine to keep resisting. However, the US declined the desperate request by Ukraine for long-range rocket systems that can hit Russia to turn the tide in the war. Russia warned the US seriously that such a provision of weapons would threaten Russia’s security and escalate tensions between them. No one wants a catastrophic use of a weapon of mass destruction, such as nuclear or chemical, both of which Russia owns. Indeed, the war beyond Ukraine could cause World War III. It is such a pity that people in Ukraine have to fight against the invader only by themselves even though they receive substantial aid.

Read the article and learn about the aid Ukraine can expect from the Western allies.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/30/biden-us-will-not-send-ukraine-rockets-that-can-reach-russia

Topic Reading-Vol.3707-6/5/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Nepal plane crash: Rescuers find 21 bodies from wreck

The Tara Airlines plane, which was on a 15-minute scheduled flight to the mountain town of Jomsom, took off from Pokhara, 200km east of Kathmandu, Nepal lost contact with the airport tower shortly after takeoff on May 29. Onboard the aircraft were 19 passengers and three crew members. The wreckage of the aircraft was found on a mountainside the day after. It is a popular route with foreign hikers who trek on the mountain trails, and also with Indian and Nepalese pilgrims who visit the revered Muktinath temple. In fact, two of the passengers onboard were Germans and four were Indians. The cause of the accident is being investigated but the visibility was so poor when the crash occurred. The popular route has a record of multiple air accidents.

In 2012, an Agni Air plane also flying from Pokhara to Jomsom crashed, killing 15 people. Six people survived.

In 2014, a Nepal Airlines plane flying from Pokhara to Jumla crashed, killing all 18 on board.

In 2016, a Tara Airlines Twin Otter flying the same route crashed after takeoff, killing all 23 people aboard.

Maybe travel websites should show the safety record of the route when they sell tickets.

Read the article and learn about another air accident on this popular mountain route in Nepal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-61560787