Topic Reading-Vol.3186-12/31/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How to bring an airplane out of hibernation

If you look up at the sky, you’ll find no or fewer commercial aircraft flying, even around the airport. Indeed. Coronavirus pandemic has grounded more than two-thirds of the world’s commercial aircraft. Even the surviving ones aren’t flying as frequently as they used to. So, where are those grounded aircraft? They are parked at aircraft boneyards in Canada, Arizona, USA, and Australia where space and maintenance are provided. Since those grounded aircraft are sealed and kept unoperated for longer than regular-maintenance periods, it takes some time to bring their lives back to airworthy. As you know, since any tiny error could cause a catastrophic outcome, preserving and reactivating aircraft isn’t an easy task. Mechanically, systematically, and physically (appearance and smell), they need to be inspected, tested, and certified. And when things are getting back to normal, they will all need to go through the vigorous process before they fly passengers.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about commercial aircraft in waiting.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airplanes-hibernation-wake-up/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3185-12/30/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

UK company launches $30 bottled air range for homesick expats

Bottled water is common all around the world. Some are just cleaned or purified while others contain spring water from someplace. Indeed, water tastes different itself and also adds tea or coffee extra flavor. What about the air? Do you miss the air of your place when you travel to stay in another place for a long time? There seem to be quite a few people who may have missed the air of their homeland because of the travel ban or restrictions to contain the outbreak of coronavirus especially during the holiday season. And a UK company is now selling bottled authentic air of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to those who missed or want to feel the air. This might add some touch to online family reunions. The company also bottles the air from a specific place upon request.

How much would you pay for a bottle of air? When you were in space or on another planet, you probably would be very desperate to smell the air of the mother planet.

Enjoy reading the article and think if you want bottled air from any particular place.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/uk-company-launches-30-bottled-air/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3184-12/29/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

An acquired taste? McDonald's China offers burger featuring Spam and crushed Oreos

How would you like to start a new week? Some may want to eat savory luncheon meat for lunch to power up and others prefer a sweet treat in a coffee break to ease stress. How about both together at once?

Every Monday, McDonald’s China offers the week’s special to its members at its 3,700 restaurants across the country. On December 21, they came up with something unusual and unimaginable food menu, Oreo luncheon meat burgers, a combination of savory and sweet ingredients. The savory luncheon is Spam, canned cooked pork, and Oreo, a sandwich cookie consisting of two chocolate wafers with a sweet crème filling. It’s quite difficult to imagine how it looks and tastes when they are sandwiched by burger buns. Since this special offer was limited to only 400,000 servings in total, some stores sold out their allocated supply by noon. How about the reviews?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what an unusual combination could offer.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/mcdonalds-china-oreo-spam-burger-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3183-12/28/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Surviving a hotel quarantine ... with kids

What is it like to stay in a hotel room for two weeks? You may think it’ll be relaxing not having to go out or do house chores. True. But what if you weren’t allowed to go out of the room even by a step? No amusing hotel facilities like gym, swimming pool, restaurants, or shops. That is what a strict quarantine is like under a pandemic. You can watch as many movies as available, read as many books as you can, or sleep as long as you want. Then, what if you were with your young children whose interests are so different from yours? You’ll be quite busy enticing them with activities and encouraging them to do things that kill time. When you have to travel to a country where two-week quarantine is mandatory, this might be a situation where you will end up in. Would it be unbearable? Not quite. Some parents seem to have found it manageable or even valuable.

Enjoy reading the article about what quarantine is like with children.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/covid-hotel-quarantine-with-kids/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3182-12/27/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Heat gap': Why some city districts are hotter than others

In some urban cities like Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Washington DC in the USA and Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and Doha in Qatar, where a distinct gap exists between the rich and the others, there seem to be considerable temperature gaps between the districts. It is called the heat gap, or intraurban variability of temperature, which is caused by a variety of factors including building structures, air-conditioning installations, relative green spaces and trees, and pavement. Such structural gaps have been created over a long period of time by wealth and racial segregation. Indeed, the rich can afford to buy and live in well-constructed houses with air conditioning in nice neighborhoods where there are more greens and trees while those who earn less have no choice but to live in old houses or apartments in less invested and maintained areas. Also, such disparity and inequality are inherited from generation to generation due to education and segregation. The heat gap isn’t just the temperature gap but also the social gap.

So, will global warming also segregate people more?

Read the article and learn about the heat gap.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201214-heat-gap-why-some-city-districts-are-hotter-than-others

Topic Reading-Vol.3181-12/26/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

North Korea: Potato propaganda is back... but what does it mean?

In eastern Asia like Japan, Korea, and the Sothern part of China, rice has been the primary food. But unlike southeastern Asia where water is plentiful and temperatures are always warm to grow and harvest rice multiple times a year, rice harvest of these eastern Asia regions can be affected severely by weather and natural disasters like drought or flood. When rice harvest plunges, people in the area have to depend on rice substitutes, such as millet, buckwheat, and potatoes. No offense to potatoes, but they aren’t rice.

In North Korea between 1994 and 1998, there were economic mismanagement and a series of floods and droughts, which caused severe food shortages. They had no choice but to grow more potatoes since they are quick to harvest and provide much-needed calories and nutrition to starving people. So, the government encouraged people to grow and eat potatoes via propaganda then.

Recently, quite considerable potato-honoring media activities have detected in North Korea. Does it mean they are starving again?

Watch the video to learn about what potato propaganda could mean in the secretive state.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-55348575

Topic Reading-Vol.3180-12/25/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Cavalry team given important role in space operation

Inner Mongolia is a landlocked autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. You may be surprised to know that Inner Mongolia is a hot spot for China’s space programs. There is China’s first satellite launch center that was founded in 1958, which still is the most frequently used launch site in the country. Also, many space vehicles have made their touchdowns in the region. For example, the reentry capsule of Change 5, China’s first moon mission to bring soil and rock samples back to earth, successfully landed and retrieved there earlier this month. Although satellites and ground radars tracked the reentry, it was humans and horses that finally tracked the returned capsule. Indeed, China organized a calvary team to search for the capsule in the vast landing area where there are no habitations or roads. It was a tough mission for the cavalrymen and horses as the night temperatures could reach -25C this time of the year.

Will the future astronauts be welcomed by a cavalryman and his horse when they return from Mars? They sure will feel like having come home.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about this modern cavalry team for China’s space program.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202012/18/WS5fdbf9d1a31024ad0ba9c864_1.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3179-12/24/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Kangaroos can ask humans for help, new study shows

The kangaroo is a marsupial, a mammal that carries the young in a pouch. Kangaroos are indigenous to Australia and a symbol of the country. The Australian government estimates kangaroos outnumber humans by 30 million to 25 million in the country. By nature, kangaroos are shy and retiring and usually present no threat to humans. They can stand erect on their hind legs supported by the tail. When they fight, they punch and kick the other. Quite like humans, aren’t they? Also, when they are domesticated, they learn to communicate with humans like dogs. For example, they use their gaze to point and ask for help. Recently, researchers found that even undomesticated kangaroos present similar behaviors to ask a human for help by gazing at or even nudging when they were given food in a container that could not be opened by themselves.

As people have been hunting them for meat and fun, humans are kangaroos’ predators by nature. Have they learned to live with us as they evolved?

Enjoy reading the article about Aussies' intimate friends.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/16/australia/kangaroo-communication-intl-scli-gbr-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3178-12/23/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

China's Chang'e-5 mission returns Moon samples

It was 1959 when the first human-made object by the Soviet Union hit the moon. A decade later, American spaceflight landed humans on the moon and brought samples home. Another decade later, the Soviet Union achieved the first unmanned lunar soil sample return in 1970. Indeed, the moon had been a hot spot in space in the cold war era. Later, both archrivals changed their focus from space to Earth to deal with domestic and border issues. When the new millennium began, people’s eyes shifted to our neighboring red planet as new technologies emerged to realize more explanatory missions and even future colonization. Recently, however, the moon attracted more attention from astronomers and enterprises. China had landed an unmanned probe on the moon, collected samples, and brought them back home successfully on December 16. Unlike Japan’s Hayabusa-2 mission that took years, China’s moon mission took only about two weeks. The collected samples are believed to be two billion years newer than the ones that had been brought back by the US and Soviet missions. It is expected to provide more clues about how the moon is constructed internally.

When will China celebrate the lunar new year on the moon?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about another milestone achievement of Chinese science and technology.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55323176

Topic Reading-Vol.3177-12/22/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Hayabusa-2: Pieces of an asteroid found inside space capsule

Ryugu is an asteroid that orbits the Sun every 16 months at a distance between 1 to 1.4 astronomical units, approximately equal to the mean distance between Earth and Sun. It only measures about one kilometer in diameter and was traveling at a speed of over 117,000 km per hour when Hayabusa 2, Japan’s sample collection space probe, rendezvoused in June 2018. The probe surveyed the asteroid for 18 months, left it in November 2019, and dropped the samples to Earth on December 5, 2020. It is quite amazing to have chased this fast-moving tiny object in deep space, laned and collected samples of the soil and gas, flew back to Earth and dropped the capsule safely that contained the invaluable samples.

But why did Japan spend so much time, manpower, fund other resources to investigate tiny particles of the small asteroid? That’s because the asteroid is thought to preserve the most pristine, untainted materials in our solar system, which could provide scientists with clues about the origin and evolution of the inner planets like ours as well as the origin of water and organic compounds, the sources of live forms.

The returned samples are going to be shared with other scientists and institutions in the world to study our origins, which were formed over 4.6 billion years ago.

As for Hayabusa 2, it is still flying in deep space for the next mission.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about this astonishing mission

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55315502

Topic Reading-Vol.3176-12/21/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

India's attitude to arranged marriage is changing. But some say not fast enough

It used to be the predominant method to find a partner or match a couple in India. Arranged marriages have been practiced in India for centuries within the same family backgrounds, financial situations, religious beliefs, and social status or caste. Lists of such basic qualifications along with the person’s physical profile are exchanged among prospective families and matchmakers to arrange a marriage. Parents used to have the ultimate say when and with whom their daughters get married, but nowadays, such information is used more to find an ideal partner online. Accordingly, the focus of the information disclosed for matchmaking has shifted from family and status to the individual’s profile, such as education, occupation, and personal interest. When a match is found, the prospective couple meets several times before making a decision whether to marry or not, instead of being decided by their parents.

So, while traditional marriage arrangement has been declining, the matchmaking process has been practically updated and used by individuals.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the changes in India’s arranged marriage.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/asia/indian-arranged-marriage-dst-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3175-12/20/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Self-driving robotaxis are taking off in China

Nowadays, more people prefer taking a driverless taxi or ride-share service because of coronavirus pandemic. Even after the mass vaccination, many people may choose non-contact services when they place a food order, buy a ticket, and take a ride. Also, autonomous driving, though still only under limited situations, has become a standard or optional feature of new vehicles. So, it is not surprising that you are stopped by a taxi that doesn’t have a driver when you hailed or called. Robo-taxies. You might have seen them in movies for some time but you probably will see them on the road soon. Technologies are there and software has been tuned to drive under the local conditions. In fact, one Chinese Alibaba-supported start-up has rolled out fully driverless robo-taxis downtown Shenzhen, China’s high-tech capital. The company says whether their autonomous taxis become available in other cities is now up to the local regulators. It was not announced whether the 25 autonomous robo-taxis recognize instructions only in Chinese but service robots can be multilingual quite easily.

Electric, autonomous, and driver-less cars are going to be seen on the road soon.

Enjoy reading the article and seeing the video clip to learn about China’s high-tech breakthrough.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/03/tech/autox-robotaxi-china-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3174-12/19/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Breakdancing to make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024

Born in the US in the early 1970s, breakdancing, or simply breaking, is an athletic street dance that is usually performed to music, such as hip-hop, funk, or breakbeat music. Practitioners of breaking are called breakers, or b-boys and b-girls. It could be performed anywhere flat and at any time, but now it’s going to be competed at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. It will certainly create more b-boys and b-girls around the world towards one of the most honorable competitions as well as more young fans who want to enjoy watching those cool dancers and fast-beat sounds. This IOC’s decision is in part trying to draw more young fans to Olympic games from virtual online games, in addition to skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing all of which were decided to be competed at the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. In the meantime, the number of athletes for boxing and weightlifting is going to be cut in Paris. It seems there are more performing arts than muscular competitions in the coming Olympic Games. Also, young people can play games and perform sports online, in virtual space, and even at the Olympic Games. What was cool decades ago or now may not be so in the near future?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the latest move by IOC beyond next year’s games.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/07/sport/breakdancing-olympics-paris-2024-spt-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3173-12/18/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

This designer wants to make gourmet food out of chicken feathers

Have you ever thought about eating chicken feathers? Probably not because they aren’t edible. But as much as one-tenth of a chicken’s weight is its feathers, and they are either discarded or incinerated, creating environmental pressure and greenhouse gasses. In fact, 90% of chicken feathers is keratin, a protein-rich with amino acids. So, some people came up with measures to make this potentially life-and-environment-saving diet of protein. Obviously, such processed protein can be used for pet food as it is part of chicken after all. It is just a matter of economy and logistics. But for humans, it needs to be engineered to make it palatable to be sold or served, such as adding texture, flavor, and taste because pure protein doesn’t taste at all.

Will the world see this circular protein system soon? It seems to depend more on perception than technologies or taste. Well, animals won’t care what the food is made from like humans as long as it tastes good for them and fills their stomachs. For humans, which has a less negative perception as an alternative source of protein, bugs or chicken feathers?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about another source of a healthy diet.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/08/world/lighter-delicacy-chicken-feathers-into-food-spc-intl-scn/index.html 

Topic Reading-Vol.3172-12/17/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Japan to fund AI matchmaking to boost birth rate

Japan is one of the fastest aging countries in the world. Nearly 30% of the population is above 65 years old. The people live longer than ever while the fertility rate declined to 1.36, way below the reproductive rate of 2.1. Last year, the number of newborn babies plunged to a record low at 865,000, down more than 50,000 from the previous year and less than half of the baby boomers’ generation. Under the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis, the figure is unlikely to turn upward anytime soon.

So, Japan’s government is trying to boost the birth rate by subsidizing AI matchmaking apps and systems in the hope that more couples will produce more babies. Indeed, AI will certainly help people find more suitable partners than conventional dating sites or agencies. But even though more people find their partners, will they produce two or more children? Can AI help find more fertile couples? Is it the partner, economy, or society that encourages or discourages to have more children? The subsidization sounds like one of those Japan’s favorite political show-offs without a justifiable rationale or calculation.

Enjoy reading the article and think about what could improve the fertility rate.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55226098

Topic Reading-Vol.3171-12/16/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A French man has left money to 50 cats who live in Russia's Hermitage Museum

Hardly any visitor to Saint Petersburg misses the chance to visit this gorgeous museum. The State Hermitage Museum, which was founded by Empress Catherine the Great in 1764, attracts around five million visitors a year with its three million artifacts, paintings, and sculptures, only some of which are exhibited permanently. Indeed, the Hermitage is the world’s second-largest museum including the Winter Palace, a former residence of Russian emperors.

Interestingly, there have been guardians in the museum ever since Catherine the Great granted the status of the art galleries. They are cats. About 50 of them live underground of the museum and protect the precious and invaluable artworks from rodents. They receive food and cares from the museum staff. Also, they have donated money from philanthropists from time to time. Recently, a French person left some money for the Hermitage cats in his will. Though the amount of the donation wasn’t that substantial, such a philanthropic act beyond borders was quite appreciated by the museum.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what cats can do to preserve valuable human assets.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/french-man-cats-will-intl-scli/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3170-12/15/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Bob Dylan sells his entire catalog of songs to Universal

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 without having written novels. Bob Dylan is one of the most reputed and admired singers and songwriters of all time. He has been writing and singing more than 600 songs for over 60 years in his career. Amazingly, he’s still performing at the age of 79. Recently, he sold the entire catalog to Universal. The reason to have cashed in his entire intellectual asset is still unknown, but judging from his insightful and provocative works and also being a recipient of a Nobel Prize, he must have some undisclosed intention to make use of the cash. The music company that struck the deal is also delighted by this purchase and cited it was a privilege and also a responsibility for them.

While he will be 80 next year and is still expected to be performing for some time, the world would wonder what he’s up to.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about a historic move by a legendary musician.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/07/media/bob-dylan-song-catalog/index.html?iid=ob_article_organicsidebar_expansion

Topic Reading-Vol.3169-12/14/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Man fined $3,500 for breaking Taiwan coronavirus quarantine for 8 seconds

As of December 7, only a little over 700 coronavirus cases had been confirmed in Taiwan, whose population is 23 million. The island state was quick to respond to the novel virus and implemented mass testing and contact tracing. Also, they managed the distribution of face masks smartly during the early part of the pandemic when the supply was scarce. And it seems they are quite determined to prevent the virus from spreading with decisive actions.

Recently, when a quarantined migrant worker stepped out of his hotel room into the hallway just for eight seconds, he was caught on CCTV camera. Then he was fined 100,000 Taiwan dollars or $3,500 by the health department.

Rule is rule. Taiwan seems to be dedicated to containing coronavirus pandemic without shutting the businesses or imposing lockdowns. Just a reminder. The US has been counting over 200,000 confirmed cases daily during the same time.

Enjoy reading the article and think about what could save more people.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/07/asia/taiwan-quarantine-fine-scli-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3168-12/13/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A theory that can help explain why time seems to move slowly

An hour is the same length of time for everyone and everything on the planet. However, an hour from now maybe felt differently by person. If a retired man is taking a nap, that’ll be very quick as he won’t feel any until he opens his eyes. However, if a busy working woman has to wait for a delayed flight, the same hour could be felt like hours. Indeed, as people feel and live by their inner subjective experience, an hour is never felt in the same way, according to a French philosopher. For example, you may remember a bad time so vividly like when you made an embarrassing mishap even though it was just a few moments and no one else cared about it. So, that moment is subjectively felt much longer than the objective time and the subject time of others around you. And that short moment could stay in your mind forever.

Well, if you are doing what you like, the time is short and life may be more enjoyable.

Enjoy reading the article and find how long you’ve felt when you finish reading it.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201203-why-time-seems-to-be-moving-so-slowly-during-the-pandemic

Topic Reading-Vol.3167-12/12/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Half a million South Korean students sit a college entrance exam despite rising Covid cases

For many South Korean high school students and their parents, the national college entrance exam is a lifetime event. The exam marks a significant part of the college enrollment process in a country where only prestigious college graduates can qualify for prospective job opportunities. Nearly half a million senior and gradated students took this year’s entrance exam on December 3, which had been postponed once due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On the exam day, offices start later to ease morning traffic and airplanes adjust flight schedules not to make noise during the English listening test. The police help exam takers to get to their exam sites by controlling the traffic and even give them a ride to get there on time. It is indeed a major national event.

This year, exam takers had to sit at the desks that are separated by plastic dividers. Also, students who had close contacts with Covid-19 patients took the tests from quarantine and those who tested positive had to participate from hospitals.

China had theirs in June and Japan will have their exams in January, both of which put significant emphasis on exams for the college enrollment process while the US canceled their SAT and the UK did too for their A-levels, the equivalent assessment tests for college enrollment.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about another challenge for students during the pandemic.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/02/asia/korea-exam-covid-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3166-12/11/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Namibia is auctioning 170 wild elephants amid drought and rising population

The Republic of Namibia, is an arid country in Southern Africa, which shares the southern land border with South Africa. It had been occupied by Germany until South Africa took control after the end of WWI. It finally became independent in 1990. That’s why Afrikaans and Germans are the official languages of the nation along with English and other local languages.

As it is the aridest country in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world with a population of just below three million. But there are quite a few irreplaceable endangered animal species that share the land space and water with human inhabitants, such as elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. Since the country has been trying to protect these high-value species from poaching and hunting, their population has grown to the level where conflicts with humans are no longer durable. So, to ensure sustainable conservation and cohabitation with humans, the country’s environmental ministry put 170 elephants up for sale to those who meet the requirements, such as proof of conservation and import permit.

It is easy to say to keep those endangered animals in their homeland, but balancing the resources and the environment also seems essential for sustainable conservation.

Enjoy reading the article and watching the video to learn about the conservation effort in a small African country.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/03/africa/namibia-elephant-auction-intl-hnk-scli/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3165-12/10/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

China to expand weather modification program to cover area larger than India

Climate engineering, or geoengineering, is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth's natural systems to counteract climate change, such as solar radiation management, carbon dioxide removal, and precipitation enhancement. It is sometimes viewed as a potential option for limiting climate change or its impacts.

China suffers from both natural disasters and the effects of climate change. The country also emits a lot of greenhouse gasses, which further affect the climate. Therefore, it has been quite eager to try to control the weather to reduce such climate impacts, stabilize agricultural production, and parade under the clear sky. Recently, China announced plans to increase precipitation by artificial rain and snowfall over the next five years in an area 50% larger than the total size of India. The climate engineering project includes a technology called “cloud seeding,” which is to inject silver iodide into clouds with moisture to cause precipitation.

While China seems eager to tackle the impacts of climate change by deploying large-scale geoengineering techniques, scientists and neighboring countries are worried about the side effects on peripheral territories.

As global warming progresses, the weather is becoming more unpredictable.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about China’s bold attempts to control the weather.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/03/asia/china-weather-modification-cloud-seeding-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3164-12/9/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

EasyJet to charge for overhead luggage lockers

Unlike major airlines such as United Airlines, British Airways, or Singapore Airlines, low-cost carriers fly passengers at lower fares without conventional services or amenities that major airlines provide free of charge. They usually fly point-to-point, short-haul routes mainly for leisure passengers. To fly cheaper, passengers are often required to pay a penalty for a change or cancellation of the booked flight and additional fees for inflight catering and drinks, pillows, blankets, or headsets. Also, it is quite a common practice to charge fees on excess or even any check-in luggage. However, carry-on luggage within certain dimensions set by the airline has always been free of charge, as long as it is put in the overhead bin or under the seat. Now, a British multinational low-cost airline EasyJet is going to prohibit the passengers to use the overhead bin unless they are seated in the seats at higher fares. In other words, passengers who want to carry luggage with them that won’t fit under the seat will have to pay a higher airfare or check in the luggage before boarding.

Well, economy and convenience don’t always seem to coincide in the cabin.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about the economy of air travel.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55156512

Topic Reading-Vol.3163-12/8/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

UAE's first national rail network 'has the potential to transform the economy'

Located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates, UAE, is a federal elective constitutional monarchy consisting of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and five other emirates. The population of the united emirates is nearly 10 million, most of who live in urban cities. Of course. Between the major cities, there isn’t much out there but desert, below which there are precious natural resources like gas and oil, which together contributes 26% to overall GDP. So, the residents, though mostly expatriates, have been relying on automobiles to travel or move around. But UAE is looking and moving for the future that won’t depend on conventional vehicles for transportation and is now building the nation’s first railway network. Once completed, the 1,200-kilometer artery will save 2.2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year only by freight, or 375,000 vehicles off the road, even though the trains will run by diesel. Yes. UAE is building a nation’s first railway network of diesel trains. That sounds a little absurd in terms of green standard but no one knows what types of trains will be running on the rails a decade from now, such as hydrogen trains or electrified trains that is powered by renewable energy. For the time being, which is more economical or environmentally friendly, electric vehicles on the road or diesel trains on the rails?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about EAE’s ambition for future rail transportation.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/etihad-rail-uae-megaproject-spc-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3162-12/7/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The 'romance scammers’ cashing in on lockdown loneliness

Even though Hong Kong’s job opportunities are relatively gender-equal, women there seem to feel pressure in their personal lives. As unmarried women of their late 20s or early 30s still tend to be seen as “leftover,” older women are even more desperate to find their partners. But in fact, in the age group older than 30, there are only two men for every three women in the city-state, which makes women even more eager to develop a love relationship. On top of the cultural pressure, many are working from home nowadays because of the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, those who don’t have social engagement opportunities tend to rely on SNSs and online dating or matching sites. Since those online-matched couples have never met in person, such lonely women are quite vulnerable to online romance scams. After intense texting to be cyber lovers, catfishers then ask them to transfer money to meet them in person or help their financial problems. In fact, 50% more such victims were reported between January and September this year over last year. There may be even more victims who hadn’t reported their cases.

Read the article and learn about how vulnerable people could become when they are isolated from social engagements.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201125-te-romance-scammers-exploiting-lockdown-loneliness

Topic Reading-Vol.3161-12/6/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

China has reached a major milestone in ending absolute poverty. But the Communist Party isn't celebrating yet

It was 99 years ago when the Communist Party of China was formed. Back then, most people in China, whether in cities or rural villages, were poor. It took the party a little over a quarter of a century to establish a unified country, the People’s Republic of China. The first three decades were a very difficult time for the nation. But for the last four decades, especially the latter half, China’s economy grew at an unprecedented pace to become the world’s second-largest economy only after the US. The majority of the growth came from first-tier cities especially in the east coast areas, such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Wuhan. Now, the per capita disposable income in urban areas stands around $6,500, just about enough to afford a small car. On the other hand, the income for rural households was still around $2,500, less than 40% of urban areas. Has China moved out of the century-long poverty? It seems that the ruling party is very cautious about announcing the milestone achievement before next year’s centennial anniversary. Well, from now on, they seem to need to build a large and stable middle class to enjoy sustainable economic growth. 2021 will be the time for the ruling party to celebrate the anniversary but also the time to begin a new challenging era.

Enjoy reading the text and learn about great China’s achievements and new challenges.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/27/asia/china-xi-jinping-poverty-alleviation-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3160-12/5/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

UK to pilot blood test that may detect 50 types of cancer

As nearly one in six deaths in the world is due to cancer. Also, about 40% of Americans are diagnosed with cancer during their lives. Besides a person’s genetics, external agents like radiation or viruses, habitual factors like alcohol, poor diets, smoking, and a lack of exercise could trigger this fatal disease. Nowadays, there are a variety of treatments to slow or cure cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, if they are applied in the early stages. Therefore, early detections are the key to effective treatment.

Now, the UK’s National Health Service is going to pilot the Galleri blood test with 165,000 patients that could detect over 50 types of cancer, hoping to identify types of cancer that are currently difficult to diagnose and treat early. The developer of the novel blood test is expecting the test, with existing care, will reduce the number of cancers diagnosed at a late stage by almost half. Indeed, if a simple blood test detects signs or developments of cancers, it would save time, costs, and manpower to detect and cure the fatal disease. The future may be coming soon.

Enjoy reading the article the learn about how effective an early diagnose is to treat cancers.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/27/health/cancer-blood-test-pilot-gbr-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3159-12/4/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Sri Lanka digs trench to keep elephants away from rubbish dump

Elephants aren’t scavengers by nature. They usually spend 16 to 18 hours, or nearly 80% of the day, eating between 149 and 169 kg of vegetables like grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree bark, and roots. But just like other native creatures that live around human habitats, such as bears and crows, they also like easy and nutritious food like human waste.

In Sri Lanka, there are about 7,500 elephants that live in nature and sanctuaries. Some elephants that live in a sanctuary have been invading the landfill site nearby to scavenge waste. Despite the electrified fence that was installed by the government, they seem to have found a way to get in the landfill and are eating not only food waste but also plastic bags and containers, which could be stuck in their stomach and kill them slowly. So, the government is now trying to dig a moat around the landfill site to keep them away. Which ingenuity will win, humans or elephants?

Please be reminded that African elephants are listed as vulnerable and Asian elephants as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. And they already have enough human-caused problems, such as poaching for their ivories, habitat destructions, and conflicts with local residents, especially the farmers. Humans are the most threatening predator in nature.

Read the article and watch the shocking video to learn what turned elephants from vegetarians to scavengers.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55086465

Topic Reading-Vol.3158-12/3/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Smaller long-haul planes are the future of flying -- but also its past

Even if you aren’t so familiar with passenger aircraft, you probably notice if there are one or two aisles in the aircraft when you get onboard. An aircraft that has two aisles is called a wide-body aircraft whose fuselage is wide enough to accommodate two passenger aisles with seven to ten seats. Because of the size, it offers more space for passengers, carry-on baggage, and cargo space as well as fuel tanks to fly a longer distance. Boeing’s 747, 777, and 787, and Airbus’s A380, 350, and 330 are some of the most widely used examples. If you take a long-haul flight or fly between major hub airports, you probably have a chance to get a seat on one of them.

On the other hand, a narrow-body, or single-aisle aircraft is a passenger aircraft that has only one aisle with three to six seating in a row. Turboprops and small-to-medium size jets, like Boeing’s 737 and Airbus’s A320 are the most popular aircraft of this category. They are usually used for shorter flights up to four to five hours with fewer passengers because of the size capacity. Many of low-cost carriers, or LCC, use this type of aircraft and fly between non-major airports. It had not been designed to offer comfort to the passengers for a long-haul flight until recently. But the Airbus A321XLR, the most recent member of the A321neo family, can fly as long as 10 hours which could fly from Paris to Beijing!

Will the airline’s economy work for passengers’ economy and comfort?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what wide and narrow means to airliners.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/narrow-body-planes-long-haul-flights-future/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3157-12/2/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why don't Facebook and Apple like each other?

Founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his fellow Harvard College students and roommates in 2004, Facebook is an online social media and social networking service company. Facebook products include popular SNS services like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Facebook Shops. Most of Facebook's revenue comes from advertising. The company has been the subject of numerous controversies, including user privacy and political manipulation such as with the 2016 U.S. elections, and mass surveillance.

Apple was incorporated as Apple Computer Inc. in 1977 by Steve Jobs and his fellows to develop and sell personal computers. In 2007, it was renamed Apple Inc. to reflect the focus on consumer electronics like the iPhone. The company’s revenues are generated by personal IT devices like iPhone, iPad, and iMac and App Store where the company has been receiving 30% commission from the app sales, which has been highly criticized as unfair for app developers.

So, there are no obvious issues or grounds to compete between these two tech giants. However, they do not like each other and they even criticize the other’s business practices. Why so?

One analyst attributes the cause to their cultural and personal differences.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how emotional issues affect business relationships.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55079454

Topic Reading-Vol.3156-12/1/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Lying down and vomiting between courses: This is how Ancient Romans would feast

The ancient Roman upper classes often indulged in hours-long extravagant feasts to show off their wealth and status. In order to enjoy lavish dishes after dishes for a long time until midnight, they developed a unique culinary culture. For example, they didn’t sit at tables but just lied down on a comfortable cushion to eat. That was because the horizontal position was thought to help digest excess food better. Also, they didn’t excuse themselves to leave the dining room to go to the toilet. Instead, they had servants bring a piss pot to urinate on the site. When there are leftovers, meat bones, or fish heads, the diners simply threw them on the floor. The most surprising practice to eat more food was to vomit the food they’d just eaten. Indeed, they could put more food into their empty stomachs. Furthermore, they didn’t even bother to leave their cushion to break wind while eating because discharging gas was considered essential for good health and diet. Indeed, eating seems to have been the supreme act of civilization and celebration of life for the Roman elites.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what an extreme extravaganza was like in ancient Rome.

https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/ancient-roman-feasting-history/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3155-11/30/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Hydrogen-powered trains could replace diesel engines in Germany

Though it has never been an economically justifiable investment, investing in removing diesel-powered trains out of German railroads now seems environmentally justified. There still are 1,300 diesel trains running on regional railroads to cover over 12,000 kilometers in Germany. In order to meet the 2050 greenhouse gas-neutral goal and also to be the leader in modern and sustainable rail transport, Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s rail operator, and Siemens, the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe, have announced to start testing a hydrogen-powered train in 2024. The test train will be equipped with a battery and fuel cells that convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity so that it can run like conventional diesel trains without overhead power lines. Such emission-free propulsion is expected to play a vital role not only for rail transport but also for other land or marine transport.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about another move to replace greenhouse gas vehicles with emission-free transport.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/23/business/hydrogen-train-siemens/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3154-11/29/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Outbreak may change global power balance

China Daily is an English daily newspaper that is owned by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party. It is regarded as a guide to Chinese government policy and an instrument of China's public diplomacy.

In the November 23 edition, there is an article that many westerners don’t want to read or agree with. It boldly points out the present situations and problems of the world economy and predicts near-future pictures especially in the US and EU countries, which are already obvious to many. True, the world powers and giants, such as the US, European countries, India, Russia, Brazil, and Japan are all struggling to deal with the novel virus and economic slump sparked by the pandemic while China contained the outbreak quite fast and is now on track for economic recovery. It is no new news but one point. The article says they will not recover anytime soon but China will, and as a result, China will become much more influential in world economic recovery and new global governance.

Will China’s dual circular economy plan play a key role to change the global power balance?

Enjoy reading the article and think about how soon the world starts recovering from the pandemic and what the world will be like after the pandemic.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202011/23/WS5fbaf14da31024ad0ba95b0b.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3153-11/28/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump tweets about election results and skips session on pandemic during G20

The G20, or Group of 20, is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union, which collectively accounts for about 80% of world trade. The member states are Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Russia, South Africa, China, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, the United States, and the EU. This year’s G20 was hosted by Saudi Arabia but held online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ever since Trump took the president role of the United States, he has never taken this international meeting seriously and even absented himself from the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit. This year, even though little was expected of the world leaders’ summit, Trump hadn’t confirmed his participation until the evening before the conference. Furthermore, even though he did participate in his final summit on November 20, he sent tweets about his lost election results during the conference. After two hours, he left the meeting to play golf outside DC while other world leaders were still in the session. Sounds like a spoiled student, doesn’t it? Then on Sunday at a summit session on the environmental issue, he addressed his record on protecting the environment “historic” and attacked the Paris climate accord despite the fact that his administration has undermined regulation intended to reduce pollution generated in the United States.

Though he lost the November election, about 72 million voted for him in the United States of America.

Enjoy reading the article and think about the roles of the political leader especially at a difficult time like now.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/21/politics/trump-g20-saturday-sessions/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3152-11/27/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Eating jellyfish: Why scientists are talking up a 'perfect food'

Jellyfish are free-swimming marine animals with umbrella-shaped bells and trailing tentacles. They live in most seas in the world from surface waters to the deep sea. Many kinds of jellyfish are edible and considered a delicacy in some Asian cultures because of the chewy texture. Some say it tastes like somewhere between cucumbers and rubber bands. Also, jellyfish are good for diet as they contain 36 calories per 85-gram serving, about the same calorie as iceberg lettuce.

They are often caught unintentionally by fishermen as bycatch. If humans keep eating only what they like, the marine ecosystem may not be sustained. If humans are conscious of their balanced diet, humans also need to do balanced fishing, including fish, shellfish, and jellyfish.

For a new diet, there are insects and worms on the ground and jellyfish in the sea.

Enjoy watching the video about jellyfish as food.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-australia-54534747

Topic Reading-Vol.3151-11/26/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Real and imminent' extinction risk to whales

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are collectively known as cetaceans, and they are divided into two groups, baleen whales and toothed whales. Baleen whales, or simply whales, have baleen plates that are used to filter their food, such as plankton and small fish. Toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises, have teeth and eat larger prey like fish and marine mammals. Though it has been known that many species of these intelligent, social, and inspiring creatures are in danger of extinction because of human activities, little has been done to protect them. It is estimated that 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises are being killed annually. The biggest threat is accidental captures in fishing equipment and nets, called bycatch. So, hundreds of scientists and conservationists from 40 countries signed a letter to call for global action to protect them from extinction. It aims to raise awareness of the problem to regulators, scientists, politicians, and the public.

Even though how much this coordinated letter by itself moves governments and politicians may not be so significant, it could trigger other movements and actions in other communities.

Enjoy reading the article and imagine the seas where only small fish and plastic waste are seen.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54485407

Topic Reading-Vol.3150-11/25/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How electric cars are charged and how far they go

There are many countries that are planning to ban the sale of new gas or diesel cars within a decade or two, such as China, Japan, the UK, Norway, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, and 12 U.S. states to name a few. Recently, some of them have announced to pull up their schedule to 2030, like China and the UK. That’s only 10 years from now. Of course, you’ll still be able to drive your greenhouse-gas-emitting car as long as you can but you won’t be proud of producing smog while others won’t. Also, it is hard to imagine new investments will be made on cars, infrastructures, and services for fossil-fuel vehicles as they are going to be phased out sooner or later. So, when next time you buy or lease a new car, you’ll want to consider choosing one from electric cars. But how much do you know about e-cars? There are questions like how and where you can charge the battery, how long it takes to charge the battery, how far an e-car can drive without charging, and when the battery starts degrading. Here, such basic questions about electric cars are simply answered.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about electric vehicles that will soon dominate the streets.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54989167

Topic Reading-Vol.3149-11/24/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Dinosaurs would have continued to thrive had it not been for the asteroid

One of the most well-known theories for dinosaurs’ extinction is that a mountain-seize meteor hit Earth directly 60-some million years ago and created enough gas, dust, and debris to change the climate drastically. Until then, dinosaurs had lived on the planet for more than 150 million years, evolving to various shapes, sizes, and forms with armors, crests, teeth, and even feathers. Such evolution and diversity must have allowed the now-extinct species to have dominated the planet for that long period. So, what if there hadn’t been such a catastrophic incident? Would dinosaurs still be the dominant species on the planet? If they lived as long as 150 million years, why not the next 60 million years? They didn’t and wouldn’t have produced as much greenhouse gas as homo sapience has done during the last two centuries. Indeed, a new study with more updated fossil data shows that they could or most likely would survive until now if the gigantic meteor had missed Earth.

Will humans survive as long as dinosaurs did?

Enjoy reading the article and think about which is more destructive to a habitable planet, a meteor hit, or human activities.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/world/dinosaur-extinction-intl-scli-gbr-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3148-11/23/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Coronavirus: How to host a Christmas party on Zoom

Yes, you can work from home and take part in meetings online. But there are a variety of social activities that have been missed by many workers, such as chatting during a coffee break, talking over lunch, drinking or dining after work. Also, many companies and offices host seasonal events and gatherings or give special gifts to employees towards the end of the year to have them feel appreciated and united. This year, such social gatherings are out of the question because of the coronavirus pandemic. They need to be substituted by online or virtual events. Interestingly, there are quite a few options to get the employees interested and entertained. Virtual parties with a variety of entertainment experiences, three-course meal box delivery for an online party, an online cooking class or wreath-making workshop to share a creative experience, and online live music performance or comedy show.

During the social distancing days, a feeling of togetherness is more essential for workers’ wellbeing and productivity than other times. Employers are trying to find good ways to improve their employees’ wellbeing.

Enjoy reading the article and think about which of the events or experiences you’d like to have and wouldn’t.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54894806

Topic Reading-Vol.3147-11/22/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What turns a product into a global phenomenon?

People don’t buy or use things only because of their quality, design, or price, especially the ones they put on or carry like clothes or a bag. While a face mask had been of no interest for most people until the coronavirus pandemic spread around the world, there are all kinds of masks sold at drug stores, clothing shops, and online retailers nowadays. Since they are explicitly visible, covering as much as half of the face, they could present the wearer’s fashion taste, social consciousness, and even political preference, especially during an election. One of the hit products in this recently popular category is a three-pack of reusable face masks called the Airism Face Mask by Uniqlo, a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer, and retailer that has over 2,200 stores in many countries. Though they don’t look so luxuriously fashionable or rigorously protective, the simple, functional face mask became a global hit. Also, the Telfar Shopping Bag, an affordable began leather bag series by a newly emerged independent brand became a big hit in the highly competitive market. What brings these simple products a mega-hit? Will any of such hit products become a long seller?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what marketing is and does these days to produce a global hit product.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201102-what-makes-a-product-turn-into-a-global-phenomenon

Topic Reading-Vol.3146-11/21/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How artificial intelligence may be making you buy things

As introduced in Topic Reading Vol.3144 on Nov. 19 (Alexa to start second-guessing what users want), AI is getting smarter and suggesting more to users at home or on the road. Now, AI-powered recommendation engines are showing suggestions to shoppers at supermarkets or convenience stores that the users would want or even haven’t thought about. Yes, such AI technology learns as it goes along with the user and anticipates obvious or potential demands. According to a developer of such AI software, buyers seem to be encouraged by AI suggestions and put 20% more items into the shopping basket and return to the store more often. In fact, more retailers are installing such AI recommendation systems as people’s shopping habits change due to the coronavirus pandemic. They found that such a personalized recommendation system works much more effectively than traditional discount coupons. Also, when people are panicked, they tend to buy certain items much more than they usually need. Retailers need an AI recommendation system to adjust purchase orders to buy smartly, too.

It seems that even brick-and-mortar retailers need to compete in cyberspace as well.

Enjoy reading the article and learn more about how AI is becoming part of our daily life.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54522442

Topic Reading-Vol.3145-11/20/2020

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Covid: India's festival season doesn't stop for coronavirus

This year’s Diwali started on November 14^th and finished just yesterday. The five-day-long festival is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism. It is to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, purity over impurity, and light over darkness. It is a very exciting and colorful holiday. Homes are cleaned to welcome the New Year and windows are opened so that the Hindu goddess of wealth can enter. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to scare off evil spirits. Presents are given and special holiday food is prepared and exchanged. New clothes and jewelry are worn for parties where people gather, talk, and dance together. Sounds like a traditional and ceremonial festival that gives people the chance to celebrate and enjoy together. But this year, that is the problem because of the coronavirus pandemic. As the number of confirmed cases has been rising rapidly in the subcontinent, it is concerned that the festival could spread the virus even more. However, since India is the world’s largest democratic state, any drastic measure that could undermine the heat or joy of the festival seems to have been disregarded. The total cost of the festival is going to be shown in around a week or so.

Enjoy watching the video and learn how massive India’s ceremonies are.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-54934883