Topic Reading-Vol.1678-11/14/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

This is what Africans really think of the Chinese

The fact is more positive than some of you might have thought. People in Africa don’t seem to have strong preference as to who help them build infrastructures like railways or highways, or brings affordable consumer products like mobile phones or clothes.

For business development, they seem to have preferred providers or partners. The US business model is preferred the most followed by China, former colonial powers and South Africa. It’s quite surprising to see how China has gained such status in a short period time.

How many people still have negative image on made-in-China products? Who cares who funded or constructed the railway? Money is money.

Enjoy reading and thinking when China will establish infrastructure power in Africa.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/03/africa/what-africans-really-think-of-china/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1677-11/13/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

India scraps 500 and 1,000 rupee bank notes overnight

A complete surprise. Bank notes of the largest and the second largest, 1,000 and 500 rupees, will no longer be used or exchanged next year in India. You need to be quick to use or exchange these bank notes before they become a pile of paper, if you have any.

It is quite astonishing that such impactful announcement had never been either speculated or leaked from the administration in Delhi or banks across the country. They kept this move in complete secret in order to bring the country’s black money to the financial system. Such black money has been created by corruption, tax evasion and illegal transactions. In India, most transactions in daily life are in cash, which makes them invisible in the country’s financial system.

Will this bold move help the administration fulfill its commitment to reduce corruptions and clean the financial system?

Enjoy reading and think what you would do if you had substantial amount of unclaimed rupees in an Indian bank.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37906742

Topic Reading-Vol.1676-11/12/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Washington establishment is shocked by election

This is how people look when they hear words from their boss about something they never wanted to happen. They are so dismayed by the fact that the person who they have never expected, anticipated or imagined to take control of their proud office, and the nation.

This isn’t really the first time that a person who hadn’t had any Washington experience or connection at all to become president. There were presidents who had never worked in or for Washington before they were elected, such as Ronald Regan, George W. Bush or Bill Clinton.  

But the newly elected president had never had elected office experience. In fact, he has never been promoted or fired like ordinary people, though he fired many in business and his TV show. No wonder why those White House staff members look so worried.

Enjoy reading and thinking why people tend to avoid thinking or preparing for the worst scenario.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37932280

Topic Reading-Vol.1675-11/11/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The real reason Van Gogh sliced off his ear

Artists are very sensitive and naïve. Also, many of them are vulnerable to fear of losing things or people they adore. These often pressure them to unusual behaviors or conducts, obsession or even suicide. Beethoven’s excessive love to his nephew, Shuman’s suicide and Van Gogh’s ear slicing to name a few.

Why did the great Dutch impressionist slice his own earlobe? Why the left not the right one, or both? There have been a lot of questions and guesses about this mysterious conduct that happened the night before Christmas Eve, about a year and half before his death by suicide. Was that part of ending his own life?

Enjoy reading this new guess work by an art expert about this long disputed mystery.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/31/world/van-gogh-ear-slash-motive-trnd/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1674-11/10/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

New Delhi schools closed 3 days because of smog

Which city do you think suffers from air pollution the most? Most of you may think it’s Beijing, China. But in fact, Delhi, India suffers from the most polluted air. With high temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, the level of air pollution reached the level to have to close schools for three days.

The city is known for its poor air quality but this time has gotten worse. Fireworks set off to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights during the last weekend are partly to blame.

Now, construction and demolition works are all suspended. Cars may be restricted for use on every other day depending on the license plate numbers. But these measures are all temporary and won’t solve the underlying problem.

Enjoy reading the article and comments and think if you’d like to move to Delhi for a job that doubles your income.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/06/world/new-delhi-air-pollution-school-closures/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1673-11/9/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Smoking causes extensive damage to DNA, study shows

To quit or not to quit. That’s the decision smokers seem to have to make especially after this new evidence of DNA damage by smoking has been revealed. Everyone knows smoking is harmful to health. Everyone agrees that smokers tend to have much higher risk of getting lung cancer than those who don’t by fact. But why and how?

According to a new study report, smoking actually damages DNA in organs that are directly exposed to smoke and also accelerates the genetic mutations, which certainly increases the risk of cancer. So, it is clear.

Now it’s up to the smoker whether they want to keep damaging their DNAs or not. One clinic therapist suggests a tip to quit smoking. Act decisively. Determination must come first before making attempts to quit smoking because it isn’t an easy task to get away from addiction.

Enjoy reading and thinking how many of your friends and family members do smoke and if they can quit it. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/04/health/smoking-dna-damage/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1672-11/8/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

China receptionist job sees 10,000 applicants

While there are many prospective job opportunities in booming industries such as IT and real estate, many people flock to any stable job opportunities no matter how overqualified they are. There were nearly 10,000 applicants for a public receptionist job at China Democratic League.

Public sector still seems to be the most-wanted by many in China. This year, as many as 1.4 million job seekers took the civil service examination. Only 2% of them could get a job that is regarded stable and respectable, called “Iron Rice Bowl.”

In the meantime, there are job openings that have not been filled for some time even though they are suitable and challenging for college graduates, such as bank regulatory and meteorological jobs. Why? Those openings are in autonomous regions like Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang that are far away from China’s central.

Enjoy reading and thinking if there is and will be an iron rice bowl for the next 30 years.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37771648