Topic Reading-Vol.2609-6/3/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The aspirational generation behind India's bold China ambitions

The world’s largest election ended with a landslide victory for prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India's largest political party, in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies. He’s gotten another five years to run the young, fast-growing country. In fact, over 400 million people are aged between 15 and 34 years old in India. Also, of the 900 million eligible voters, over 80 million were first-time voters in the general election that took place in April and May. Indeed, young voters are essential to get more seats in parliament. Their interests may differ widely from their parents. They want jobs and opportunities for their future, economy over politics, tangible changes and improvements like transportation over social welfare. Indeed, under Modi’s “Clean India” mission, over 90 million toilets were built in households for the last five years. In the meantime, the Hindu-majority country has become more religiously divided than before under the conservative party’s ruling. Though young people seem to be realistic how much one person can make in the world’s largest democratic and the most diverse country in five years, there will be another 90 million new voters in the next election and the higher representation of the youth voters in the next election. Will the aging leader and politicians be able to further accelerate the economic growth to create jobs and future for young people?

Enjoy reading and learn about how India’s young people feel and think about the nation’s future.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/22/india/india-election-modi-young-people-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2608-6/2/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Healthy dog put down to be buried with owner in Virginia, US

Originated in Tibet and developed in China, the Shih Tzu is a toy dog breed with a soft and long double coat, weighing between four and seven kilograms. Emma, a Shih Tzu mix, was a healthy pet dog of a 67-seven-year-old lady who passed away in March in Virginia, US. The little dog was then sent to a local animal shelter to find a new home. However, the poor dog was taken away, euthanized, and cremated to be buried with the dead owner because of her last will.

It was a heartbreaking situation for the staff in the animal shelter who tried to persuade the will executors to save the dog’s life because she was healthy and would find a new home easily.

There is no legal problem killing pet animals according to their owner’s wishes in some states in the US because they are considered the owner’s property. However, even though the shelter’s staff had no choice but to hand Emma to the will executors, the vet who euthanized her could have declined the request. He or she might have thought if they hadn’t, someone else would carry it out anyway.

22 centuries ago in Emma’s homeland, thousands of terracotta sculptures were buried to protect Qin Shi Huan, the first emperor of China, in his afterlife. Though pet animals may be just property of the owner legally, they aren’t sculptures.

It is not clear how old Emma was when she was put down, but she was healthy.

Read the article and think about what you would do if your loved one left a wish like this.

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-48380370

Topic Reading-Vol.2607-6/1/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

National train ticket site adds waitlist function

Great news for railroad travelers in China during the busy travel seasons. During the Chinese New Year travel season, as many as three billion trips are made all over the country. It is hard to get train tickets for the destination at a desired time and day via any travel booking site or agency. One might try checking the booking website frequently hoping to find if any seat becomes available because of cancellation.

Now, you have an option to be waitlisted on the app of the China Railway Corporation. When the desired train tickets become available, you can get them automatically. Great news for holiday travelers. But you need to be preauthorized to get this service through facial recognition and prepayment. Is that troublesome? Don’t worry. It’s China. Almost any application, interaction, or transaction can be made via smartphone. The great technology platform of China may give a chance to desperate travelers to get to the platform.

One footnote. This wait-listing service is available only until 7 pm on the day before the train’s departure date. Is that too late to get things organized to go on a trip?

Enjoy reading the article and learn how things are getting convenient with smartphones in China.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201905/22/WS5ce5018ba3104842260bd272.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2606-5/31/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Japan wants you to say its leader's name correctly: Abe Shinzo

In Japan, it’s the family name, not the given name, that is called first. For example, the prime minister is Abe Shinzo, not Shinzo Abe and the legendary baseball player is Suzuki Ichiro, not Ichiro Suzuki. In fact, people usually call each other by their family name followed by “san” unless they are close to each other or within the family circle. It is the same custom as China and Korea. However, ever since Japan was introduced to the Western world a century and a half ago at the beginning of the Meiji era, Japanese names were written in reverse order in English. It was part of the effort to be recognized by Westerners in a friendly and equal manner.

Three era names later, Reiwa era has just started. Now the Japanese government is taking this opportunity to ask the international media to call Japanese names in the Japanese way. Actually, foreigners seem to know and respect Japanese practice and they usually, if not always, call a Japanese by its family name and san. But when a Japanese name is written, it’s still shown reversely.

As two world sports events are going to be hosted in Japan, the Rugby World Cup this year and the Summer Olympics next year, it may be a good time to say, “please write and call my name correctly.”

Enjoy reading and try to remember any Japanese names in the correct order.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/21/asia/japan-name-abe-shinzo-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2605-5/30/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Sherpa climbs Everest twice in a week, setting record 24 ascents

Sherpa people, more known as skilled mountain climbers who are employed to help visiting climbers, are ethnic groups native to the mountainous regions of Nepal and the Himalayas. They practice ancient Buddhism, and also believe in gods, goddesses, and demons who inhabit every mountain, cave, and forest. For Sherpa people, many of the Himalayan mountains, including Mount Everest, are considered sacred. So, besides guiding mountain climbers, fix ropes, and carry supplies and oxygen to help mountain climbers realize their dreams safely, Sherpas also worship the goddess of the mountain to ask her forgiveness to step on her sacred body. And indeed, it is very important for a 49-year-old Sherpa who climbed Everest twice a week, his 23^rd on May 15 and 24^th on May 21^st, breaking the world’s record. He thinks he’s still in good shape and has no plan to retire soon. Health, experience, and devotion are all needed to ensure safety and successful mountain climbing.

Enjoy reading the article to learn about this exceptional Sherpa.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48346341

Topic Reading-Vol.2604-5/29/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How a cheap, brutally efficient grocery chain is upending America's supermarkets

No one wants to pay more for the same thing whether they are rich or poor. Especially when it comes to weekly grocery shopping, prices are so important to decide which store to shop at. Indeed, you’ll feel foolish or ripped off when you find you were charged more for a box of cereal or a carton of milk of the same brand or equivalent quality than other stores. But to get cheaper prices or do smarter shopping, how much convenience or luxuries can you sacrifice? Do you mind putting a coin to use a shopping cart or packing the merchandises you’ve purchased yourself? If you don’t, there are supermarket chains that make feel like a smart shopper, ALDI.

ALDI is the common brand of discount supermarket chains owned by two German families. Combined, there are over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. In the US, there are over 1,800 stores in 35 states and will be 2,500 by 2022, only behind Walmart and Kroger. Having been supported by loyal, budget-conscious shoppers, the growth of the supermarket chains outpaced their rivals in the fiercely competitive market. How can they offer lower prices constantly? One of their slogans says, “All of our promotional efforts are put into discount prices.”

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how this frugal and dedicated supermarket chains outprice their competitors.

https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2019/05/business/aldi-walmart-low-food-prices/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2603-5/28/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Eurovision: What is it and what time is it on?

The Eurovision Song Contest, or simply Eurovision is an international singing contest organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). As the name suggests, the participants are mainly from European their neighboring countries like Russia, Israel, and somehow Australia. The contest has been held annually since 1956 and given chances to great singers, such as Abba, Eline Dion, and Olivia Newton-John. Every year, the previous winner’s country hosts the event and this year, singers and groups from 41 countries took part in the contest and 25 finalists competed at the grand final on May 18 in Tel Aviv, Israel, which was estimated to be viewed by nearly 200 million people mainly in the participating countries.

When it comes to music or art, it is the individuals that move people and bring success, not the scale of the country, economy, or military. Will we see more of this kind of international or regional events in the future that could give people the chance to compete in a fair and friendly way?

Enjoy reading the article and learn what Eurovision is about.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/18/europe/eurovision-explainer-2019-intl/index.html