Topic Reading-Vol.1998-9/30/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Iraqi Kurds decisively back independence in referendum

Iraqi Kurdistan, or the Kurdistan Region, is an autonomous region located in the north of Iraq. Of the estimated 30 to 40 million Kurdish people in the world, approximately five to six million live in this region. There are millions of Kurdish people live in Turkey, Iran, and Syria respectively.

On 25^th September, a referendum was held in this Kurdish region to ask if they should become independent from Iraq. Though the referendum was neither authorized by the central government nor in line with the constitution, the turnout reached 72% among those eligible to vote, and over 90% of the voters favored independence.

Though the referendum is not legally binding, Iraq government has to deal with the united voice from the autonomous region that is rich in oil. The governments of the neighboring countries are also worried if this referendum could spur a movement for secession in their turfs.

On October 1, Catalonia in Spain is going to have their own referendum on independence.

Enjoy reading and learning about a referendum in an autonomous region.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41419633

Topic Reading-Vol.1997-9/29/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Nine charts which tell you all you need to know about North Korea

Is South Korea really ahead of North Korea in every aspect?

The economic output per capita of the North hadn’t been behind to the South until 1973. However, most of the roads are unpaved, both average height and life expectancy are shorter than the ones of the South.

While the size of the population is only about a half of the South’s, the size of the North’s military is nearly comparable with the South’s. However, mobile phones are hardly available and only closed intranet within the country is accessible for ordinary citizens.

There is a hope, though, The birth rate. Though the rate has been declining like any other country in the world, it still has been way above the South’s.

Enjoy finding factual figures to learn more about the secretive dynasty.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41228181

Topic Reading-Vol.1996-9/28/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Is cheese healthy?

Cheese is of course made from milk and is produced in a wide range of flavors, textures, and forms. There are hundreds of types of cheese in the world and each has distinct color, flavor, taste, and texture. It is rich in calcium, protein, vitamin B12 and zinc, but the nutritious balance varies widely by type of cheese. For example, softer cheeses, such as ricotta or mozzarella have fewer calories per gram than hard ones like cheddar or parmesan. Also, the amount of saturated fat and salt needs to be minded.

All in all, though cheese is not guilt-free, it is good food in both taste and nutrition. It’s just a matter of how you enjoy it with your dish.

Enjoy reading and say “Cheeeeese!”

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/25/health/cheese-healthy-food-drayer/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1995-9/27/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Hainan: Is this where Hawaii meets Dubai?

Hainan is the southernmost province of China. The main island measures 155 km long and 169 km wide, which is just about the size of Belgium. Ever since it was made the largest Special Economic Zone in 1988 as part of the Opening Up of China, the island has been heavily invested especially by the tourism industry. Various tourist destinations have been developed including beaches and resorts in the southern part of the island, scenic area in Five Finger Mountain, and modern attractions in Haikou, the capital of the province. It was visited by over 60 million tourists in 2016.

Visitors can enjoy both the beaches and tropical climates like Hawaii and the contemporarily developed city like Dubai, and of course, delicious local Chinese dishes.

Enjoy reading the article and seeing the photos of this beautiful and enjoyable tourist destination in China.

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/hainan-china-tourists-hawaii-dubai/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1994-9/26/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The power of not to do list

Are you a goal oriented person who always tries to work hard to achieve good results in the tasks or own-set goals?

Whether you are or not, here is a useful tip that you may want to try deploying. Stop doing things that are disturbing to your work, schedule or even your mind. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

In fact, some people become more efficient and productive in their work by removing unwanted things from their things-to-do list and achieved more results. It is so-called an inversion strategy that focuses on reducing the negatives rather than extending positives. In a way, what you don’t do determines what you can do.

Enjoy reading and thinking what event or task should be on the top of your thing-not-to-do list.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170919-the-power-of-a-not-to-do-list

Topic Reading-Vol.1993-9/25/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Mexico quake: Why rescuers are using hand signals

What do you think is the most effective and immediate communication in a situation where many people work in dust and noise? It has to be simple and clear to everyone, right?

Rescue workers who are searching for survivors after the devastating earthquake in central Mexico are using hand signals to send urgent messages to other workers, such as to silence, stop, and back to work. When some worker hears a voice or noise from the rubble, they raise their fist in the air to ask for immediate silence, so that they can listen out for the voice or noise. Others around them then stop making any move or noise and raise theirs, too.

Though it is not too hot or too cold at this time of year in Mexico, there is only so long that even an uninjured person can survive in the rubble without any water or food.

In a case such as this major earthquake, it’s the people and their ingenuity that make a difference.

Read the article and see the photos of the desperate workers in a devastated area.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41331582

Topic Reading-Vol.1992-9/24/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How Myanmar's Buddhists actually feel about the Rohingya

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma, is located in the Southeast Asian region bordered by India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos, and China. Of the estimated 50 million population, nearly 90% are Buddhists. Although Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a majority in both houses in 2015 election, the Burmese military and its supporters remain a powerful force in politics and economy.

Despite the rising criticism from the international community, the de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Key’ hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing to or ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya. Things happening to an ethnic minority group, whose belief is different from theirs, haven’t arisen sympathies to ordinary Myanmar citizens, most of whom are the Bamar and Buddhists.

The country still seems to be under transition from military disciplined democracy to liberated democracy. And neither the military or civilians seem to be interested in treating the Rohingya as their fellow citizens. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate doesn’t seem to get any support to solve this problem in her own country.

Enjoy reading and find what some, not all, people in Myanmar think of the Rohingya issue.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/19/asia/myanmar-yangon-rohingya-buddhists/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1991-9/23/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Above the oil: Inside a gated US compound in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Aramco Residential Camp in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, or the Dhahran Camp, is the residential community for the employees of Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world. Built in 1933, this exclusive residential camp is a fenced-in compound that is lived by over 10,000 Saudi Aramco employees and their dependents of different nationalities.

Though the community is located in Saudi Arabia, where distinctive religious rules and traditions customs govern people’s lives, it looks like a replica of California. Also, the residents are all free from Saudi’s strict rules. Women can wear any clothes, tan their bodies and also drive a car, none of which is allowed outside of this camp.

What the life is like in this totally isolated community in the desert?

Enjoy reading the text and seeing the photos, and think which community, within or outside of the gate, you would choose to live in if you were to work for the company.

http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/saudi-arabia-american-compound-aramco/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1990-9/22/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump's first UN speech met with criticism from some leaders

The annual General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly is the occasion for world leaders to gather at UN Headquarters in New York to discuss global issues. All 193 member states have equal representation and the leader or a representative of each state has a chance to speak to the assembly for about 15 minutes. Since the US usually has the fourth spot to speak after Brazil on the first day of the assembly, the attendance and attention are both at the highest during the entire session.

At the opening of the annual general debate on September 19, 2017, the 45^th president of the United States of America, criticized a few member states with a harsh tone in front of their representatives. Not only those that were assaulted directly but also those who heard the most powerful leader in the world put nationalism before the world peace and harmony at the UN assembly were stunned.

Enjoy reading and watching the video, and think where this year’s assembly is going to go.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41327130

Topic Reading-Vol.1989-9/21/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

China Communist Party Youth Twitter account prompts abuse

The Communist Party Youth League is a century-old movement of China for youth (14-28 years old) run by the Communist Party of China. It has been regarded as an elite organization for young party members who have talent and ambitions but no connection to the top leaders or their predecessors.

So when the Communist Party Youth League opened a twitter account to update their activities and work, some people seem to have thought the account could be a space where they are allowed to post their questions or opinions that are politically too sensitive to post on other blog spots or twitter accounts.

What do you think happened to the account?

Enjoy reading and learning what the cyberspace is like inside the Great Firewall of China.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-41303132

Topic Reading-Vol.1988-9/20/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How to fight throw away culture

Make more to sell more, or vice versa. That’s what most companies used to pursue in the last century for economic benefits. On the consumers’ end, buy, own, use and throw-away had been the universal culture until the 3R circular model, recycle, reuse and reducing, started to be practiced until recently.

Now, the world is witnessing a new economic model, Sharing Economy. In this economic scheme, a product or service is leased for a time that is not being used by the owner but is demanded by someone else, such as sharing house or bike, and Uber. The smartphone is helping make this sharing business model more convenient and economical anywhere at any time. And this sharing business may encourage manufacturers to design their products more durable and serviceable.

Do you think sharing economy will help us move away from throw-away culture?

Enjoy reading and try remembering how many usable or reusable items have you thrown away for the last 12 months.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170825-how-to-fight-throwaway-culture

Topic Reading-Vol.1987-9/19/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Starting from scratch in Uganda

The most generous country in the world? Uganda. It took more refugees than any other country or even total EU in 2016. But why are there so many refugees to Uganda?

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa surrounded by Kenya, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and also South Sudan. which is rated the most fragile state in the world because of the continuing ethnic violence and civil war since 2013. Nearly a half a million people fled from this failed state to Uganda in 2016 alone.

Uganda, whose population is 38 million, has one of the most generous refugee policies in the world by giving new arrivals their own land. But their resources are limited, and these new arrivals had to manage on their own. How can a woman with babies and infants settle in a new land only with a machete?

Read the text and see the interactive video to learn what the lives are like for refugees in Uganda.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-41255233

Topic Reading-Vol.1986-9/18/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

After the expo: What happens when Dubai's global extravaganza is over?

Dubai is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and is the largest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, UAE. It became a global city, the business center of the Middle East, and a hub of international air transportation. There are some iconic architectural milestones, such as the world tallest Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah and The World Islands.

Now, this already-grown emirate is preparing to build the next stage to host World Expo 2020, which is scheduled from October 2020 until April 2021.

While the substantial investment of all resources has already been and more will be made in the next few years, how this small emirate realizes the expo’s motto "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future" remains to be seen. More importantly, the use of such futuristic infrastructures and financial investment after the expo is going to show the emirate’s future.

Enjoy reading and seeing the photos, and think if you want to plan a trip to see the expo in 2020.

(Please be reminded that Dubai is one of the most expensive in the world cities to stay in.)

http://edition.cnn.com/style/article/dubai-expo-2020-legacy-plan/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1985-9/17/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Fanged creature found on Texas beach after Hurricane Harvey

Another coelacanth? An ordinary woman who was just walking on the beach in Texas after the devastating hurricane Harvey spotted something looked very unusual. She was neither a fisherman or ichthyologist, but got curious enough to take photos of the decaying creature with fangs lying on the beach and posted them on the Internet to ask for a help to find what the thing was. As you can imagine, thanks to the smartphone, such jaw-dropping images easily and instantly caught people’s eyes, messages were passed around and responses were posted.

If Ms. Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, a museum curator who first discovered the coelacanth in 1938, had had a smartphone and internet connection, it would have been much easier for her to identify what the creature she found in the fish market was.

Enjoy reading and thinking what you would do if you found a very unusual looking creature during your daily walk.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41256922

Topic Reading-Vol.1984-9/16/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why Sweden is close to becoming a cashless economy

Cash seems to be more costly and risky, at least for merchandisers of any size in Sweden. If there was no cash, they neither need to go to the bank to deposit, exchange or withdraw bills and coins any longer nor worry about their cash registers for robberies. Some stores even claim, “no cash accepted.” They like plastic cards instead, and nowadays, mobile payment. That’s because Sweden is one of the most internet-connected and least corrupted countries in the world. People seem to trust banks, electric transactions, and online payment platforms and use them comfortably.

Also, cash handling is so costly to banks that some of them have started displacing their ATMs and cash counters from their branches. They prefer making money from online transactions made by the people who spend, save and invest more.

Enjoy reading the article and think when, if ever, cash-addicted societies like Japan or India will become cashless societies.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41095004

Topic Reading-Vol.1983-9/15/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Row over AI that 'identifies gay faces'

What, how much, and how well does AI do? Collecting and examining data, identifying the similarities and common patterns, and then making judgments are all part of what AI does. If sufficient and reliable data is provided, AI probably makes decent analysis and practical judgments, and it improves the accuracy as it learns more. But are self-posted photos on a dating web site credible data for AI to determine the person’s sexual orientation?

A facial recognition experiment conducted by Stanford University sparked heavy criticism from LGBT rights groups. They say the attempt to distinguish between gay and heterosexual people is dangerous and junk science. The researchers responded that scientific findings should be criticized only by scientific data and replication.

So far, the algorithm hasn’t shown enough accuracy to determine the sexual orientation of sample photos. But considering the rapid improvement that AI-Go had demonstrated to beat the human champions, the day when AI can tell the qualities, preference or even intelligence of a person may not be so far.

At least, it seems more reliable than phrenology, doesn’t it?

Enjoy reading and thinking what role AI will be playing when you get your next smartphone.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41188560

Topic Reading-Vol.1982-9/14/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How Germany stacks up against its European neighbors

Germany is the most populous state of the European union with over 80 million inhabitants. It is the largest national economy in Europe, the fourth-largest by nominal GDP, and both the third-largest exporter and importer of goods in the world. Its top exports categories are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, and pharmaceuticals.

It is one of the founding members of the EU and often takes leading roles in various initiatives because of the size of the economy. In fact, Germany has been taking more immigrants than any other nation but the US.

But how big and powerful Germany is compared with other European states?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the most powerful state in the EU.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/11/europe/germany-compared-to-europe/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1981-9/13/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Putin's love of judo causes boom in Russia

The Russian leader has been a big judo fan for over a half century. Vladimir Putin was a national level judo player in his youth. He paid a visit to the Kodokan, the world headquarters of judo in Tokyo in 2000 and demonstrated some techniques and was awarded his 6^th dan grade. In 2012, he became the first Russian to have been awarded the eighth dan, the highest honor, and status in judo that is achieved by only a few judo fighters in the world.

He not only still practices it regularly but also promotes the sport in his country. Why is he so keen on judo?

Judo was created in 1882 by Kano Jigoro Shihan. It is an educational method derived from the traditional Japanese martial arts, jujutsu. According to Kodokan, the principle of judo is "maximum efficient use of physical and mental energy." Practical application of this principle could contribute much to human and social development, including "mutual prosperity for self and others", which is defined as the proper goal of training.

It seems the principle of judo helps him keeps self-discipline to play his highly complicated job.

Enjoy reading and thinking what principles do other world leaders have, if any.

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2017/09/07/vladimir-putin-judo-tournament-shinzo-abe-growth-russia-orig.cnn/video/playlists/judo-world/

Topic Reading-Vol.1980-9/12/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Living on edge of North Korea

Demilitarized Zone, better known as DMZ or the 38^th Parallel, is a 250 km long and four kilometers wide border barrier that divides the Korea Peninsula. It was created in 1953 when an armistice was signed by the representatives of the United Nations, North Korea, and China.

Though neither side of the DMZ usually shoots guns or artilleries, both sides keep broadcasting their hostile propaganda messages to each other through loud speakers.

In the south side of this remote, isolated area, there is a small rice-farming village called Taesung. The residents get a military escort to and from their work in rice paddles for protection from being abducted by the North. Also, they are exempted from income tax. The only school in the village is well equipped and staffed, 12 teachers for only 35 students. In the classroom, a large three-letter sign is put on the wall, DMZ, not Demilitarized Zone but Dream Making Zone. The students are not taught to be hostile against their neighbor. Instead, they are encouraged to dream for reunification.

Enjoy reading and thinking what the life is like within the DMZ.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/05/asia/south-korea-dmz-village/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1979-9/11/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Uber is ditching diesel cars in London

Another shift from petro-engines to electric motors in the automotive industry. This time is not a manufacturer like Volvo or Jaguar that have already announced to replace gas or diesel engines with electric motors, but a car-sharing business giant, Uber.

Uber markets and operates car transportation and food delivery mobile apps in over 600 cities worldwide. The company announced that all the users in London will be serviced by either hybrid or electric vehicle by 2019. In order to make this drastic change realize, the company offers financial incentives to their drivers to upgrade their vehicles. It is a part of a move to stay competitive with taxis in the town that are offered financial support by the city to remove air-polluting vehicles.

The move to electric seems to be the road toward 2020’s. More and more car manufacturers, vehicle service operators like taxis or rental cars, and public transportations are going to steer their wheels to electric and put the pedal to the metal.

Enjoy reading the text and think how much extra charge per ride do you accept to go green.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/08/technology/uber-ban-diesel-london/index.html                         

Topic Reading-Vol.1978-9/10/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Zero progress' on school places in decade, says UN

Can’t catch up! It’s not just global warming but basic education to children. While more and more students have been enrolling in colleges and universities in both developed and developing countries, there are still over 100 million children of school age who are unable to attend primary or secondary schools in the rest of the world. Many of such children are found in sub-Saharan Africa, where there are just not enough schools accessible to students, and Syria and the Middle East, where domestic conflicts have made schools un-operational.

More efforts and funding are needed immediately as those children grow day by day and miss their chance to be educated.

Also, more schools or alternative learning opportunities should be provided ASAP to catch up the increasing population.

Enjoy reading and thinking what the world can do to provide basic education to all.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41149083

Topic Reading-Vol.1977-9/9/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Hard Lessons for Kids

Social order for China and math for India are extremely important to live in those extremely populous and competitive environments. But how hard is enough or effective to learn a lesson?

[1] Chinese teenagers sentenced to hard labour for bullying

Lesson for school bullying in China. Convicted offenders are put into a hard labor program including military training, though it is still a trial stage. Yes, it is quite essential for the world-most-populous country to maintain the social order from an early stage. And there is no doubt that school bullying does a lot of harm not only to the students who are intimidated but also to others in school. The question is what sort of penalty for punishment or program to rehabilitate for such students is appropriate and effective to prevent school bullying.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41173819

[2] The child's maths lesson video that is outraging India

Hard lesson to teach math in India. Does slapping the face of a child help him or her learn something, like math, any better? A video showing a three-year-old girl being forced to recognize numbers and slapped by her tutor, presumably her mother or relative, went viral.

Yes, math is indeed an essential skill in such a technology-laden environment where IT or engineering is the key to get a better life. But how and how much children learn it varies by child, like skills, such as literacy, sports, and art.

              http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-41022554

Enjoy reading these articles about distinctly different education styles.

Topic Reading-Vol.1976-9/8/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Elon Musk spent part of his Labor Day weekend tweeting about World War III.

Who is Elon Musk? He is an American entrepreneur and the founder or co-founder of PayPal, an online system provider, SpaceX, a rocket producer/launcher/operator, Tesla, an electronic vehicle manufacturer, Solar City, a solar energy company, to name a few. He aims to reduce

global warming through sustainable energy production and consumption, and reducing the "risk of human extinction." He also founded OpenAI, a non-profit artificial intelligence research company to promote and develop friendly AI to benefit humanity as a whole.

He seems to be quite foresightful as to make progressive and innovative changes in payment, car making, and rocket launching, doesn’t he?

Recently, he tweeted, "Competition for AI superiority at national level most likely cause of WW3" while everyone’s attention is occupied with the Korean Peninsula.

Enjoy reading the text and watching his interview, and think how imminent such a tragedy could occur.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/04/technology/culture/elon-musk-ai-world-war/index.html

Also, check Is 'killer robot' warfare closer than we think? (Vol.1968-Aug.31) 

if you missed it.

Topic Reading-Vol.1975-9/7/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Xi explores second 'Golden Decade' of BRICS cooperation

What is BRICS? It is an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. These countries have newly industrialized or rapidly developing in their respective region. Because of their size of their economy and population, and the speed of development, their influence on their regional affairs is significant. Combined, these countries represent about 40% of the world population, nearly a quarter of the gross world product.

They’ve held annual summits since 2009. This year, China was the hosting country and chose Xiamen, or Amoy, to host other four leaders. Though agreements announced after the summit seem somehow political and diplomatic, direct and intimate meetings among Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi, officially and behind the doors, might have produced more significant and impactful outcomes.

Enjoy looking at the executive summary of the summit, and think what else might have agreed or disagreed.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017-09/04/content_31557550.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1974-9/6/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The Inauguration Day letter Obama left for Trump

It is customary for an inaugurated president to receive a private letter from the outgoing predecessor in the U.S. But such letters usually haven’t been disclosed to the public until sometime after another president was inaugurated.

Now, a memo from the former president to the new president was revealed only less than nine months from the day it was handed. There are four main pieces of advice in the letter and each piece of advice is filled with carefully and thoughtfully chosen words, and some of them turned out to be foresightful.

Aren’t you interested in reading what the most powerful leader, or one of the two leaders now, in the world wanted to say to his successor?

Enjoy reading the memo and think if any of the advice in the letter has ever been respected by the receiver of the letter.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/03/politics/obama-trump-letter-inauguration-day/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1973-9/5/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Make and big song and dance and get publicity' to become a British citizen

While the majority of the Britain citizens voted for a departure from EU, there are always some people who wish to live in the UK permanently or as a citizen.

If you were born outside of the UK, and neither of your parents is a British citizen, the chances to get citizenship are slim. But there are ways to apply for citizenship or a permanent residence permit if all the requirements are met.

One of such requirements seems to need an interpretation; like if you are of good character, for example, you don't have a serious or recent criminal record, and you haven't tried to deceive the Home Office or been involved in immigration offices in the last 10 years. If what “good character” indicates “have no record of doing any wrongdoing,” that doesn’t sound so difficult.

Also, any application is examined and judged by humans, with the assistance of computer and database, of course, campaigning and petitions by social media may be a great help.

Enjoy reading and thinking what requirements your country has to grant citizenship to foreign applicants.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/41107649/make-and-big-song-and-dance-and-get-publicity-to-become-a-british-citizen

Topic Reading-Vol.1972-9/4/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar near 40,000

Rohingya crisis again. It was October 2016 when a large number of Rohingya tried to flee to Bangladesh from the crackdown by Myanmar’s military forces that were seeking a group of Rohingya attackers who were believed to have killed nine Myanmar border guards.

It is estimated that about one million Rohingya people, mostly Muslims, live in Myanmar. None of them is entitled to a citizenship, freedom of movement, state education or civil service job in the country.

This time, at least 71 people, including 12 members of the security forces, were killed after Rohingya militants attacked border police in August. As the military forces approach, more and more Rohingya rush to cross the border to Bangladesh. But Bangladesh has already the highest population density in the world if city states or small-island states are excluded. There isn’t much room left for refugees.

It seems that a large-scale genocide is going on for the purpose of ethnic cleansing in a country where most of the population practices peaceful Buddhism, and whose de-facto leader is a laureate of the Nobel Prize for Peace. Why?

See the video and photos, and read the article, and think what the world can do to stop such ruthless use of military force.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41120170

Topic Reading-Vol.1971-9/3/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What if companies printed their own currencies?

Do you remember all the faces on the bank notes and how much do they value respectively?

Banknotes are generally legal tender, payable to the bearer on demand, and are usually issued by central banks. Since they are often intended to reflect the culture, history, and personalities of the issuing country, the graphic design is essential to represent the right and proper image, not to mention to prevent counterfeits.

While plastic cards, online currencies, and mobile payments are becoming more popular day by day, the circulation of bank notes still shows the power and influence of the economy.

But what about “corporate notes” issued by major corporations, such as Apple, Google, Facebook or Exon-Mobile with their founders or leaders faces printed? A graphic designer came up with several of such “what-if bank notes” designs for fun.

Enjoy reading the article and seeing those images, and think who deserves such honor to be printed on corporate notes and held in wallets.

By the way, when do you think China will have a new character on their bank notes?

(Currently, all of their bank notes, regardless of the value, show Mao Zedong)

http://edition.cnn.com/style/article/jade-dalloul-brand-currency/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1970-9/2/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What should schools to put first? Discipline or creativity?

Is that a matter of preference or priority? It seems that people’s preference on what should be emphasized in schools reflects aspects of culture, ideology and social order.

A recent research conducted in 19 countries shows that countries like Spain, Germany, and Canada prefer emphasizing creativity and independent thinking on education while more people in the UK, Kenya and Nigeria want to prioritize teaching academic basics. Interestingly, the US and Japan are pretty much evenly divided while China wants both aspects taught equally in schools.

The study also finds that such preferences seem to stem not just from the cultural background but also from the political stance. For instance, liberals seem to want students to develop creativity but conservatives think skills are more practical.

Another interesting finding is that the higher the education budget or weight is in a country, the lower the cost to keep the society in order.

Enjoy reading and thinking what priorities you’d set for education.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41082408

Topic Reading-Vol.1969-9/1/2017

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The mind games of online reviews

When you plan a trip whether on business or for a vacation, how do you usually get information of the hotels to stay in, places to visit or restaurants to eat at? Do you only look at the websites that are provided by those sites, or also check the ratings and comments that are posted by the reviewers?

More and more people seem to depend on such ratings by people who have never met before, to choose, book or purchase something via their smartphones.  

But how reliable those ratings are? There seem to be three problems rating reviews and they are; overrated ratings, overrated critics, overrated other reviewers.

Enjoy watching the video and think how you are managing information technology to you job.

http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170828-the-mind-games-of-online-reviews