Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Japan PM says country on the brink over falling birth rate
Japan’s population stands at about 125 million now. With only fewer
than 800,000 new births last year, the smallest number on record, the
population is declining. Furthermore, nearly 30% of Japan’s population are aged
65 and older, most of whom aren’t working but are getting pensions and receiving
decent health insurance coverage. Why are Japanese people having few children?
As more women get educated and work, they tend to marry later, if they ever do,
and have fewer or no children. Also, rising living expenses and education costs
are limiting household budgets. These are universal problems in its neighbors
like South Korea and China. All in all, Japan is now facing a very serious
structural problem, a smaller working population to support a larger senior population.
Then why don’t they have young immigrants? Can social harmony and cultural
traditions only be maintained by racial purity?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about Japan’s population problem.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64373950
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Covid: Thailand tourism up but still below pre-pandemic level
Thailand is one of the most visited South East Asian countries by tourists.
With popular destinations like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, and Phuket only
to name a few, nearly 40 million tourists
visited the country, a little over a quarter of which came from China in 2019.
However, the country received only 400,000 tourists in 2021 because of the
pandemic. Since tourism used to generate as much as 10% of Thailand’s GDP
before the pandemic, it was a big blow to businesses, workers, and elephants
(Vol.3925). Now, the country hopes to increase tourist numbers to 80 million within
five years, twice as many as the pre-pandemic level. It also wants to boost direct
revenue from tourists to the government by charging 300 baht ($9.20) per
visitor starting June this year. With 300 baht, you can buy three decent street
meals and a cup of good coffee there. If Thailand achieved the goal, more people
and elephants will be employed, more investments will be made, and accordingly,
more GDP will be generated. If you think about the overall travel expenses, 300
baht might not be that expensive.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about Thailand’s ambitious and
aggressive tourism plans.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64369279
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
World's 'most powerful' tourism city revealed
New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals
Paris, France as the world’s most powerful city destination. The report analyzed
key indicators such as Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP, employment,
and travelers’ spending. As the threat of the Covid pandemic eases and borders
reopened, research from WTTC shows that city holidays are back and growing in
popularity over less-populated destinations such as coastal and rural
destinations. Meanwhile, Other major tourism cities are Beijing and Shanghai in
China, Orlando and Las Vegas in the USA), Tokyo, Mexico City, and London. Also,
Dubai and Doha in the Middle East have been generating substantial tourism
revenues recently, particularly during the 2022 World Cup. However, as the pent-up
demand for traveling and inflation surge, popular destinations are also
becoming pricy destinations for leisure travelers. Where would you like to
visit?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the cities generating and attracting
tourism the most.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/wttc-most-powerful-tourism-cities-2022/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why some people can't tell left from right
You can always say which is the front or back, or the top or bottom. For
example, if you are told to look up, you are most likely to look up. But when
it comes to the right or left, that is not always the case. One research found
that around 15% of people admit they have difficulty identifying left and
right. In fact, a number of wrong-sided practices occur, such as an injection
to the wrong eye and a biopsy from the wrong breast. Why do such preventable medical
malpractices happen? One reason seems to be the symmetry of the body. True,
Usually people have the same-look body parts while the top and the bottom parts
are apparently and functionally distinct. Also, if you turn around, you could easily
be confused about which is right or left. One way to identify the right or left
is to feel your hand to distinguish the right from the left as most people have
one dominant hand. Do you sometimes get confused?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the complexity of distinguishing
right from left.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230112-why-some-people-cant-tell-left-from-right
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
New record set for world's biggest pizza
The previous world's largest pizza measured by the Guinness Book of
World Records had a surface area of 1,261 square meters. It was made in Rome,
Italy on December 13th, 2012. The entirely gluten-free pizza was named
"Ottavia" after the Roman Emperor. Now, the world’s pizza giant,
Pizza Hut created an even larger pizza to get the world’s biggest pizza title. “Big
New Yorker” pizza, a Manhattan-style cheese and pepperoni pie that is meant to
be folded, was created at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 18. It was
1,300 square meters big and certified by the Guinness World Record as the world’s
biggest pizza. Over six tons of dough, about four tons of cheese, and more than
two tons of pizza sauce were used for the creation of this gigantic pizza,
which was later sliced into 68,000 pieces and donated to local food banks. How
the pizza was baked.
Enjoy watching the video to learn how to create the world’s biggest
pizza.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/world-biggest-pizza-guinness-record/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The coolest new Olympic sport is one you may have tried 30 years ago
Break dancing, also called breaking and B-boying/B-girling, is an energetic
form of street dance, fashioned and popularized by African Americans and
Latinos, which includes stylized footwork and athletic moves such as back spins
or head spins. Break dancing originated in New York City during the late 1960s
and early ’70s, incorporating moves from a variety of sources, including
martial arts and gymnastics. The dancing is made up of variations of standard
moves or steps, including freezes, power moves, downrock, and toprock. The
emphasis is on energy, movement, creativity, humor, and an element of danger,
which is meant to convey the rough world of the city streets. Breakdancing is typically
set to high-beat music like hip-hop, but is not limited to, and can be readily
adapted to different music genres by remixing. Now, this street dance will
debut as a sport at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games together with sport climbing,
skateboarding, and surfing. The 2024 sporting event is going to be more musical
and viewed by young audiences on their smartphones.
Enjoy watching the video and learn about this new Olympic sport.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/01/18/breakdancing-breaking-olympic-sport-lbb-orig.cnn
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Temperatures on Greenland haven’t been this warm in at least 1,000
years, scientists report
It sounds like a time-traveling to study ice cores in the polar regions
as they were formed hundreds of years ago. Recent research on Greenland’s ice
cores found that the Arctic region seems to have been warming four times as
fast as the rest of the planet. In fact, only in 10 years in the first decade
of the millennium, the region’s temperatures rose by 1.5 degrees Celsius from
the previous century. As the planet is becoming warmer, researchers warn that Greenland’s
ice sheet will cause catastrophic melting, rising sea levels by 50 centimeters
before 2100. We’ve already witnessed the entire ice sheet’s surface begin
melting in 2019 when Greenland had unusually warm spring and summer. Also, for
the first time on record, the summit of Greenland, over 3,000 meters high, had
rainfall. All these extreme weather events accelerate ice melting. By knowing the
past and present climate conditions, the future is more reliably predicted. The
question is how and how soon actions are taken to prevent further ice melt.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about another evidence of global
warming.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/18/world/greenland-ice-sheet-warming-climate/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
India is set to become the world’s most populous country. Can it create
enough jobs?
The population of India has already exceeded 1.4 billion and is still
increasing. Its working-age population has already passed 900 million and is expected
to grow to one billion soon. However, the percentage of the active workforce
and those who are looking to work, the labor participation rate, is only around
46%. In other words, more than half of the able workers aren’t working or
looking for jobs. This is significantly lower than its arch-rival China whose
participation rate stood at 68%. One reason is that India’s female work
participation rate decreased to below 20%. Another reason is the lack of
quality education that could produce more qualified workers for the job market.
Also, nearly half of the Indian workforce work in the agricultural sector,
whose wages are lower than in other industries. Population growth is supposed
to provide a significant advantage for the economy provided that people get a quality
education and good job opportunities. Will the soon-to-be most populous nation
be able to create enough job opportunities for the growing working-age
population?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about India’s growing population
and problems.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/17/business/india-population-worlds-largest-hnk-intl/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The top 1% captured nearly twice as much new wealth as the rest of the
world over last two years
The world seems to be facing an extreme crisis of wealth concentration
recently. Extreme wealth and extreme poverty have both increased in the last 25
years according to Oxfam, a confederation of charitable organizations,
reported. Especially in the last two years, the wealth of the top 1% increased
twice as much as the rest of the world while many people have been struggling
to make their living during the pandemic and soaring inflation in many parts of
the world. The rich benefitted from governments’ funds used to maintain and stimulate
the economy in the early stage of the pandemic, which raised the value of stocks
and other assets as well as dividends. In the meanwhile, the pandemic affected
many workers and their families, especially in the travel and hospitality
industries. And then Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed up the prices of energy
and food, which affect ordinary or poorer people harder.
It seems that as the world’s population grows, more people are going to
suffer from poverty. What can be done to realize an economically sustainable society?
Read the article about how serious the inequality problem is in the
world.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/15/business/top-1-wealth-oxfam-davos/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Single-use plastic: Takeaways face ban in October
On 1 June 2022, a ban on certain single-use plastic products, such as
plates, straws, knives, forks, spoons, stirrers, takeaway containers, cups, and
lids, came into force in Scotland. Now, from October this year, those
single-use plastics are going to be banned in England, where around 85% of the
UK’s population lives. Retailers, takeaways, food vendors, and the
hospitability industry need to replace those environmentally harmful items with
compostable or reusable substitutes, which could economically cost more to the restaurants
and retailers and cause inconvenience to the customer. When regulations change,
some think that’s the end of their businesses. However, human ingenuities have
often come up with alternatives or solutions, like ozone-depleting chemicals,
CFCs, which were successfully replaced with environmentally friendlier substitutes.
What will the food delivery services do? Will they help the industry and customers
live with the new standard?
Enjoy reading the article and think about if you support or oppose such
a ban in your country.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64253130
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Egg prices exploded 60% higher last year. These food prices surged too
The annual inflation rate in the US slowed for a sixth straight month
to 6.5% in December of 2022, the lowest since October of 2021. However, it was
on top of a 7.0% increase a year earlier. For the year 2022, the annual inflation
was 8.0%, which came after a 4.6% rise in 2021. So, average prices soared by
nearly 13% in 2022 in two years. And if you look at essential food items,
American consumers and restaurants experienced much more severe price hikes. For
example, the prices of eggs rose by nearly 60%, butter/margarine by 35%, flour/flour
mix by 23%, bread and cereals by 15%, and milk by 12%. Popular breakfast menus like
pancakes and omelets seem to have become luxurious dishes for many Americans. Who
or what to blame? Russia, energy prices, fertilizer costs, labor, extreme weather
conditions, and diseases, avian flu in particular, all affected the prices. Has
breakfast become dinner for American families?
Read the article and learn about inflation in the US.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/12/economy/food-prices-inflation-december/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
There wasn’t a single bank robbery in Denmark last year
Banks are becoming less attractive to robbers. Improved camera
surveillance and alarm systems make bank robberies risker. Also, as most of the
cash deposits and withdrawals are done through ATMs, cash is handled only at
limited bank branches. Furthermore, robbers have shifted their targets from
hard cash theft to hacking and phishing scams. As a result, Denmark, whose
population is around six million, saw no bank robbery last year. Even in the
US, the number of bank robberies decreased to 1,724 in 2021 from 7,566 in 2004.
There may be another reason. Robbers prefer money online to hard cash just like
everyone else. Gone are the days of train robbery. Now, bank robbery is on the
brink of extinction in some parts of the world. But be warned. You are now
directly targeted by robbers.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the change in bank robberies.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/03/business/denmark-bank-robberies/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why reclining seats are vanishing from airplanes
When you sit in an economy-class seat on a short-haul flight, say for an
hour or two, do you need to recline your seat? Usually, smaller narrow-body
aircraft are used for short-haul flights and their seat pitches are not as wide
as the ones on larger aircraft, especially on low-cost airlines. So, when a
passenger in front of you reclines the seat, your already-tight space is even
more squeezed, sometimes making you close the PC or grab your drink from the table.
And you might bother the passenger behind you just like that. For airlines,
reclining seats cost and weigh more. Also, they often cause passengers arguments
during flights. It seems that the comfort of reclining comes at a cost. Do short-haul
flights really need reclining seats in the first place? Indeed, airlines are
now working with seat designers and manufacturers for pre-reclined seats, particularly
for small aircraft. These seats will at least guarantee the same space for each
passenger. Furthermore, you won’t bother or won’t be bothered by another
passenger. Do you still need a reclining seat on a short-haul flight?
Enjoy reading and learning about a few advantages of pre-reclined
airline seats.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/reclining-seats-airplanes/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Newport News: What happens to a six-year-old who shoots someone?
Less than a week since the new year began, a six-year-old 1st
grader intentionally shot his teacher and critically wounded her in a classroom
of an elementary school in Virginia, USA. Before the shooting, the boy and the
teacher were seen arguing in the classroom. The boy brought the gun, which had
been purchased legally by his mother, from home. How he could fetch the loaded gun
from home hasn’t been clarified yet. Unfortunately, school shootings aren’t
rare events in the USA. In fact, there have been over 2,200 school shootings in
the last half-century in America, of which 18 were shot by children under nine,
including an incident that a six-year-boy shot and killed his classmate in
2000. Authorities are wondering what to do with the boy because he is too young
to be charged as an adult or even in juvenile court. His parents could be
prosecuted if the gun was improperly stored. Whichever the case might be, the
problem is that there are too many guns and firearms at home in America. No guns,
no shooting.
What was seen in the teacher’s eyes when she was shot?
Read the article and think about what is wrong in the USA.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64218521
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
‘A world rapidly warming’: The past eight years were the eight warmest
on record for planet
When the 2015 Paris Agreement was made, global temperatures had already
risen by one degree above the 1850-1900 reference period, usually referred to
as pre-industrial (revolution) levels. Especially for the last half century,
the temperatures have been rising consistently and alarmingly fast, and now the
annual average temperature exceeded 1.2 degrees Celsius above the reference
period. Most notably, the last eight years have been the eight warmest years. And
also, 2022 was an especially warm year despite the La Niña phenomenon, in which
the sea surface temperature of the central Pacific Ocean is lower than normal. So,
when the next El Niño, the opposite of La Niña occurs in a few years’ time, you
can easily imagine temperatures will rise even more. Also, if you see any chart
of global temperature change, you won’t expect the temperatures will stabilize or
drop anytime soon. As the global economy and travel are getting back on track
after the Covid pandemic and more fossil fuels are being burned to meet the
demand of the increasing population, more and faster actions are needed to stop
or slow down global warming before it is too late.
Read the article and learn about how serious global warming is going to
affect our lives and the planet.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/10/world/eight-warmest-years-climate-copernicus-intl/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The ozone layer is on track to recover within decades as harmful
chemicals are phased out, scientists report
The ozone layer is a region of Earth's stratosphere, the second layer
of the atmosphere of the Earth, that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet
radiation. It protects the planet and its living creatures from harmful ultraviolet
rays, which could cause premature aging of the skin and signs of sun damage
such as wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots, solar elastosis, and eye
problems. The ozone layer had been decreasing by human-produced
chlorofluorocarbons, or CFC, which used to be used in refrigerators, aerosols,
and solvents until 1989 when the use of those ozone-harming chemicals was
banned by the Montreal Protocol. Three decades after the phase-out of the
harmful chemical substances took place, a significant recovery of the ozone
layer has been observed. Scientists now predict the ozone layer is likely to recover
to 1980 levels in a few decades, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. If
humans could replace fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses with renewable energy
sources or more environmentally friendly alternatives, as we did to CFC, further
global warming could be avoided. But time is ticking to the point of no return
or devastating consequences. Yes, human ingenuity could save the planet. The
question seems to be how and how soon we act.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about what humans have done and
could do to the environment.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/09/world/ozone-layer-recovery-climate-intl/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Guide dog shortage: The blind people who train their own guide dogs
Guide dogs are trained to lead blind or visually impaired people around
obstacles. Also, just like any other pet animal, they offer positive effects psychologically,
socially, and physiologically to the owners. For example, blind people could experience
a higher level of confidence, security, independence, mobility, and thus
exercise. Unfortunately, training a guide dog takes around two years and there
is always a shortage of trained guide dogs. Therefore, those who need a guide
dog have to wait for a year or longer. So, some blind people try training a dog
to be their guide dog. The training includes not only obeying the commands and guiding
the owner but also disobeying the command when it is dangerous. For example,
when an electric vehicle is approaching without making a noticeable sound, the
guide dog must stop the owner even though it was directed to go across the
street. Indeed, guide dogs need really good training.
Enjoy reading the article and learn about what it takes to train a
guide dog.
https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-64175440
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The people who live in multiple timelines
Proposed by a Roman consul, Julius Caesar, the Julian calendar took
effect on 1 January, 45 BCE. It had been the predominant calendar in most of
the Western world until 1582 when the Gregorian calendar took place, which made
the average length of the year 365.2425. As Western powers colonized the world and
the Industrial Revolution reshaped the way of life, transportation, and
communication in the following centuries, more countries adopted the Gregorian
calendar as their standard calendar. But various calendars are still being used
in many parts of the world. Think of school years and fiscal years. They don’t necessarily
start in January. In Korea, everyone adds a year to their ages on January 1. In
China, they use the Gregorian calendar but celebrate the Lunar New Year around
February. In Nepal, the Gregorian calendar isn’t even an official calendar and most
Nepalis live on different calendars. In the meanwhile, digitalization and
globalization have been making those non-Gregorian countries adopt this
conventional calendar for the sake of convenience. As smartphone is becoming a more
predominant tool for our daily lives, people seem to live in a part of the
world more than ever before.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about what calendars have meant
to people around the world and in history.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20221124-the-people-living-in-multiple-timelines
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Fact Check: Are restrictions on Chinese travelers discriminatory?
As Covid restrictions eased, more international travelers are flying
like pre-Covid days. However, a number of countries in Europe and other regions
are taking strict restrictions on air travelers from China. For example, Japan
requires all returnees and entrants to show either a valid COVID-19 vaccination
certificate of three doses of vaccines or a certificate of the negative test
result of the pre-departure COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to
departure. However, Japan requires all passengers boarding direct flights from
China to be tested upon arrival, and if a person tests positive, a seven-day
quarantine will be needed at a designated facility. The US also requires all
air passengers two years and older originating from the PRC to get a test, such
as a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered and monitored by the authority,
no more than 2 days before their departure from China and show a negative test
result to the airline upon departure. Indeed, there have been uncountable numbers
of Covid patients and deaths in China since the strict measures were lifted
last year. But what does China think of these targeted measures?
Watch the video and learn about how those Chinese-targeted entry
restrictions are viewed by the Chinese.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202301/06/WS63b7791ba31057c47eba7fc6.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why not all comfort food is the same
What is comfort food for you? Comfort food usually refers to food that
brings a nostalgic feeling or brings back fond memories of one’s childhood or
of home cooking. It could be something we turn to when feeling overwhelmed, under
stress, or lonely. Also, comfort food could be enjoyed when we are in good mood,
want to celebrate, or just to pass the time. Comfort foods bring a sense of
happiness, warmth, belonging, or comfort. But what are the key elements of
comfort food, sweet taste, high calorie, salty taste, or familiar flavor? Also,
when do you want to eat comfort food? When you are happy, distressed, or
lonely? It seems quite situational and also distinct in cultures, traditions,
and families. For some, home-baked cookies or thick chicken soup, and for
others, pizza or dumplings. What is your comfort food? When do you want to eat it?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about what comfort food is and means
to people.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230105-why-not-all-comfort-food-is-the-same
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The new aircraft, routes, and airplane cabins taking off in 2023
As many countries are lifting or easing Covid related travel restrictions,
more people will travel this year for business and fun. Airlines are trying to
bring back their rested fleet, including the superjumbo A380, and staff to meet
the rising demand. Even though there still are some non-fly-zones over Russia
and Ukraine, airlines have been managing to reroute their flights or develop
new routes to keep the aircraft in the air. Also, new alliance members like
Virgin Atlantic and possibly China Southern will add new connections for
alliance airlines and passengers. Though no remarkable new aircraft is going to
fly this year except for China’s proud C919, a domestically developed and built
narrowbody aircraft, there may be some upgrades and changes in cabin space and equipment.
Environmentally, you may feel less guilty if your flight is powered by sustainable
aviation fuels.
Enjoy reading the article and learning what is going to happen in the sky
this year.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/aviation-lookahead-2023/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Dubai drops 30 percent tax on alcohol to woo tourists, expats
Dubai is one of the seven United Arab Emirates, UAE. It is famous for its
world’s tallest buildings, Burj Khalifa, and the Palm Islands. Dubai is a major
global transport hub for passengers and cargo and also is a center for regional
and international trade. Trade, tourism, aviation, and financial services generate
major revenues for the emirate’s economy. About 85% of the 3.5 million population
are expatriates from India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries. Also, as many
as 20 million tourists are expected to visit the country after the pandemic. In the Islamic state, alcohol sales and consumption are strictly regulated. Only at
home or licensed venues like hotels and clubs, adult non-Muslims are allowed to
drink alcohol. But alcohol was heavily taxed, 30%, and a license was required
to buy alcohol at a cost of over 70 dollars. Now, in order to attract and woo
more tourists and expatriates, Dubai suspended the tax and license fee. Will an
easy-to-drink environment attract more travelers and workers? What will the
others emirates do to compete with Dubai?
Enjoy reading the article and think about what makes a nation or city
more attractive to visit or live in.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/2/dubai-drops-30-percent-tax-on-alcohol-to-woo-tourists-expats
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Elephants: Covid and ethics reshape Thailand's tourism industry
The Thai elephant is the official national animal of Thailand. There
used to be around 100,000 captive elephants but now there are only about three
thousand captive elephants and one thousand in the wild. In Thai society,
elephants used to play a substantial role in logging and war. When logging
became illegal, they were trained to attract and entertain tourists, such as
elephant riding, bathing, and shows. But animal rights groups argue that the
use of elephants for tourism is unnatural, which has been turning some tourists
away from elephant parks and sanctuaries. Then Covid-19 hit Thai’s tourism industry
hard and long, which used to generate over 10% of the nation’s GDP and employed
around 20% of Thais before the pandemic. It was a hard blow to the economy and
employment of both people (mahouts, trainers, carers) and elephants. Elephants
are costly animals to keep. An adult elephant eats 100 to 200 kilograms of food
and drinks as much as 100 liters of water each day and there were and still are
many unemployed elephants in the country. Many captive elephants used to earn
their living through shows, performances, and walks. Will the tourism industry
recover from the travel restrictions soon enough to feed those unemployed
elephants? Will donations be enough to keep those elephants’ lives natural?
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the lives of elephants in Covid-hit
Thailand.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63858123
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Worried about your drinking? Here’s how to check it
How can those who what to reduce alcohol consumption successfully and
painlessly achieve their goals? As there are only a few people who can achieve
their set goals just by determination and willpower, these tips may help make
you drier.
1. Set goals that are specific and relevant to you. Ask why and answer “Because
I want …”, or “I won’t drink to be/do …”
2. Set measurable and achievable goals with a time schedule so that you’ll
feel achievement from time to time.
3. Announce your goals and determination to others. This will help you committed
your goals more.
4. Try a mocktail or any non-alcoholic drink that you can enjoy on a
social occasion.
5. Keep a record of the occasion when you drank alcohol or non-alcohol
drinks, which will give you the chance to reflect on the occasion and your reaction.
Enjoy reading the article to learn about the tips that could apply not only
to alcohol drinking but also to any goals you want to achieve.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/02/health/dry-january-tips-wellness/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Men to compete in Olympic Artistic Swimming for first time at Paris
2024
Artistic swimming, which had been more known as synchronized swimming
until 2017, combines water acrobatics with music. Although the first contests
were organized for men, artistic swimming later became more associated with
women. At the Olympic Games, the sport consists of two events: one in a duet,
and another as part of a team of eight athletes. The athletes perform in a 3m
deep, 25m long, and 20m wide pool. The swimmers need to propel themselves up
out of the water to perform certain movements or pivot with the upper half of
their bodies underwater. A panel of judges scores athletes’ execution and synchronization,
as well as the degree of difficulty, use of music, and choreography. Men have
been allowed to compete in the sport at the World Aquatics Championships since
2015. Now, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, up to two men in each eight-athlete team
will be permitted in the team Artistic Swimming event. Those who think synchronized
swimming is performed by women will be surprised to find that it will be a co-ed
artistic swimming competition in the 2024 Olympic Games. "That's one small
step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the rule change in aquatic
sports.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/22/sport/olympic-artistic-swimming-men-paris-2024-spt-intl/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Taiwan extends mandatory military service period to counter China
threat
Taiwan’s military has a fertility problem. The population of Taiwan is
around 23.5 million, roughly half of South Korea’s. Just like neighboring South
Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong, Taiwan’s fertility rate is below 1.0 per woman
of childbearing age, one of the lowest in the world. Because of this, new
births per year are projected to fall by 20,000 by 2035 from 153,800 recorded in
2021. The island’s military force is just above 160,000 plus reservists as all
eligible men over 18 have to serve at least four months in the military. While the
threat from the mainland increases, the pool of eligible men is likely to keep
decreasing. So, the Taiwanese government has decided to extend the mandatory
military service period, which had been shortened to four months only a few
years back, to prepare for war to prevent war. Those conscripts will be trained
to use modern weapons and practice first aid and lifesaving skills to protect
key infrastructures should a war occur. The new conscription rule will apply to
all men born after 2005 from 2024. Having witnessed Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine, national defense seems to be prioritized even further in Taiwan.
Read the article and learn about what it could take to protect the
homeland.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/27/asia/taiwan-military-conscription-intl-hnk/index.html
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Japan unveils record defence budget amid regional security fears
Article 9 of Japan’s Constitution, which was set after World War II, outlaws
war as a means to settle international conflicts. It also states that the country
does not maintain armed forces even though it holds Self-Defense Forces, whose
annual budget is larger than the one of Russia. In practice, Japan has not
owned any weapons that could attack other states. Also, the defense budget has
been limited to 1% of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP. But because of the
rising tensions and pressures from China and North Korea, the Japanese
government recently has decided to break these self-imposed limitations. Japan
will equip itself with guided missiles and other weapons that could
counterstrike any hostile states. Accordingly, its defense spending will
increase to around 2% of the GDP, the same target level as the NATO states. The
question is if these counterstrike capabilities will deter any foreign
aggression to its territories, including the disputed islands and remote territories
near Taiwan. What if Japan fired missiles at mainland China? Can the fast-aging
and population-shrinking country really afford the budget and forces?
Read the article and think if arms deter armed conflict.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/23/japan-unveils-record-defence-budget-amid-regional-security-fears
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
India population: Is becoming the most populous country a boon or
curse?
India’s population increased by over a billion since its Independence
in 1947 to nearly 1.4 billion. And it is projected to grow for the next four
decades even though the growth rate has been declining. India is expected to
become the most populous nation this year while China’s birth rate has been
shrinking rapidly. Unlike aging China, about two-thirds of Indians were born
after the early 1990s and nearly half of Indians are under 25 years old. As
they grow, this educated young generation is supposed to become the largest labor,
talent, and consumer segment. But will they find jobs close to their homes or suitable
for their education? In fact, as many as 200 million people moved to other
places from home to get jobs in India. Many of them work in cities where living
conditions are far from satisfactory or comfortable. Also, as the fertility
rate declines, more young and middle-aged women found time to work outside but
only one in every ten working-age women works now. Even though India seems to have
been managing population growth more smoothly and democratically, it still has
numerous challenges that need to be dealt with.
Enjoy reading the article about the soon-to-be world’s most populous country.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63957562
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Photos: Female students turned away from Afghan universities
On December 21 last year in Afghanistan, girls in their hijabs turned
up to their university campuses to be blocked and turned away by Taliban
guards. This segregation act follows the exclusion of girls from secondary
schools 16 months ago. It appears that all avenues of formal education for
women are being closed in the Taliban-ruled country even though the Islam extremists
had promised to respect women’s rights when they took power in August 2021. What
made the female college students so disappointed was that this sudden rule
change came just after the university entrance exams that took place last October.
Now, most Afghan girls are not given the chance to go to school beyond primary
classes. While other conservative Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia now allow
most of their educational opportunities for women, extreme Islamic militants
don’t seem to have any intention to treat girls and women as their proud
citizens.
See the photos of disappointed female students and vacated classrooms in
Afghanistan.
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2022/12/21/photos-female-students-turned-away-from-afghan-universities
Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Homicide is a leading cause of death in kids, and rates are rising,
study finds
In two recent decades, over 38,000 children were murdered in the US. In
fact, homicide has killed more children than any other cause like diseases or
accidents, and the number has been increasing. Black and Hispanic children who
live in poor neighborhoods seem to have been killed more than those in other racial
groups or neighborhoods. Regionally, the child homicide rate in the South has
been increasing more than in other regions. It was also found that younger
children are often killed by neglect or abuse by caretakers while teenagers
were killed more often by their friend or acquaintance, in arguments, or during
a crime. After all, America seems to have deep-rooted social problems,
especially in certain racial groups, neighborhoods, and financial conditions. Furthermore,
there are guns all over the place that could be used to cause fatal wounds so
easily. Is America a socially well-developed nation?
Read the article and learn about another social problem in the US.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/19/health/homicide-child-death/index.html
Happy New Year to MEL Topic Readers,
‘Out of control’: No one knows how much to tip
In America, tipping is optional in name only. Legally it’s voluntary
but you are expected to give a gratuity of between 15 and 25 percent after casual
dining and could be more at a decent restaurant. Paying extra on top of the
bill at a restaurant may seem unnecessary to visitors but if you consider the servers
in America earn just a few dollars per hour for their services, it starts to
make sense. In fact, the minimum wage for tipped workers is significantly lower
than that of ordinary workers in many states, as low as $2.13 per hour. So, the
waitstaff is like independent contractors you’re paying to wait at your table
in America. But recently, coffee baristas and ice cream servers often show you tipping
options, like 10%, 15%, 20%, or none, on the payment screen. Aren’t those
workers paid at least the standard minimum wage? It has been customary to put a
dollar bill or changes in a jar by the cash register in such shops, which was
regarded as optional. However, as more people pay by card and phone, those
shops now put you in a position where you feel obligated to show your gratitude
and generosity on the screen, which is directly seen by the waitstaff. Their smile
makes you feel more obligated to show your gratitude. What should you do?
Enjoy reading the recent tips to tip digitally in America.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/17/business/tips-coffee-ice-cream-touch-screens-ctrp/index.html
