Topic Reading-Vol.4146-8/31/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 
Chandrayaan-3: India makes historic landing near Moon's south pole
India’s Vikram lander from Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in the lunar south pole region as planned at 18:04 local time on August 23, only a few days after the Russian Luna-25 lander crashed into the same region of the Moon. The mission’s main goal is to search water-based ice, which is crucial for human habitation on the Moon as well as future missions to Mars and other destinations. The successful landing was achieved when Prime Minister Modi was attending the BRICS, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, summit which was being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, which the Russian president attended only online. He must have been proud of his country’s successful mission and celebrated by other leaders.
However, on the same day, in a northeastern state of India, 26 people were killed and more were missed when a railway bridge under construction collapsed. 

India bridge collapse: At least 26 killed at construction site  

Also, over 16,000 people died from nearly 18,000 railway accidents in 2021 in India. India now surely is one of the world’s top countries in rocket science but not so in railway safety.
Enjoy reading the article about India’s historic achievement in moon landing.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66594520

Topic Reading-Vol.4145-8/30/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 
China wants to limit minors to no more than two hours a day on their phones
China has the world’s largest population when it comes to the number of people who have access to the Internet with over one billion users. Approximately one in five users are under 20 years old whose eyesight could be impaired in their early lives if their daily screen time goes over hours. Also, many of those young Internet users were addicted to online games. So, Chinese regulators have restricted the time young people could spend on gaming to only three hours on weekends, not at all on weekdays for the last two years. Then, a popular short video platform Douyin, China’s TikTok, introduced a teenage mode to limit the time children under 14 could spend on the app to 40 minutes a day. Now, the Cyberspace Administration of China is planning to mandate a built-in minor mode that would limit daily screen time to 40 minutes a day for children under eight, an hour for those between eight and 16, and two hours for 17 years old. This would certainly affect children who mainly use their smartphones with their accounts. Will they switch to their parent’s PC to enjoy watching videos or playing games? Though parents seem to welcome the move while tech companies have to comply with the regulation that could reduce their revenues.
Enjoy reading and learning about China’s regulations to keep children healthy.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/03/tech/china-minors-mobile-phone-limits-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4144-8/29/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Over 41% Chinese men, 28% women overweight or obese

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, which is usually measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI). It is defined as a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m2). Let’s think of a man whose height is 170 cm. If he weighs 60 kg, his BMI is about 20, if 70 kg, it’s 24, and if 80 kilograms, it’s nearly 28. For adults, WHO defines overweight as a BMI of 25 or higher, and obesity as 30 or higher. It is estimated that a little over 42% of American adults are obese and around 30% are overweight, which means more American adults are excessively too fat than just too fat. More health-conscious 

China has a little stricter BMI classification as BMI 24 is overweight and 28 is obese. According to recent research of 15.8 million Chinese adults, nearly 35% were overweight and about 14% were obese, so almost half of Chinese adults are too fat. Unlike the 20^th century when many Chinese rode bicycles and ate simple meals mainly consisting of rice or wheat, modern Chinese drive or ride cars and enjoy luxurious meals with meat and fat. Will there be another restriction on overeating or a mandate to exercise?

Read the article and learn about the health conditions of modern Chinese.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202308/21/WS64e3049aa31035260b81d54f.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4143-8/28/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 
Which arm gets the Covid-19 booster may make a difference, study shows
Do you remember which arm you got the last Covid-19 booster shot? If you do, you may want your next booster shot in the same arm to get a stronger immune response. According to a study in Germany, the number of cells that attack and destroy target cells was predominantly higher in those who took the booster in the same arm as the previous one. Why? Since local lymph nodes provide the immune response, when the same ones are restimulated by the booster shot, a greater immunological response is expected. Even though this doesn’t necessarily mean that better or longer-lasting protection is created, getting a stronger immune response is a good start. This finding might apply to other respiratory syncytial virus like the flu. Good to know because it doesn’t cost any money or effort.
Enjoy reading the article and learn why the same arm creates a better immune response to Covid-19 infection.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/18/health/covid-vaccine-arm-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4142-8/27/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why Maui’s rebuilding effort will be so expensive

On August 8, a series of wildfires broke out in Maui, Hawaii, killing over 120 people just in the town of Lahaina, and hundreds more are missing. The wildfires also destroyed or damaged over 2,200 houses and buildings there. While searching for unaccounted victims continues, rebuilding and repairing works need to be taken up. But as Hawaii is isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 4,000 km from California, and is not self-sufficient, most construction materials and items need to be shipped across the Pacific Ocean, which takes a week or longer. Furthermore, doing business in Hawaii is around 30% more expensive than in the mainland US on average, including the wage of construction workers even before the wildfire. And it is not easy to bring in more workers from the mainland because the cost of living, especially the housing is so expensive there. Then there is surging and urgent demand for reconstruction and repairs. You can imagine how expensive it will be to rebuild Maui when everyone tries to do the same things at once. And remember, many people have lost their jobs in the popular tourist destination. It is going to take some time to rebuild the paradise both for the residents and even longer for tourists, who are desperately needed for the local economy.

Read the article and learn about how costly it is to build and repair houses in Hawaii.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/18/business/rebuilding-maui-hawaii-cost/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4141-8/26/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 
Growing and burying algae in the Sahara is the latest solution for the climate crisis
There are a number of ways to capture the planet’s warming carbon dioxide, such as direct air capture by machines, bio-capture and storage, and tree planting, each with pros and cons. For example, capturing CO2 by machines consumes energy, and planting trees requires land and water. But there is an abundant unused, uninhabited land in the world. Desert. Also, there is a substantial water resource on the planet that is yet to be used. Sea water. And there is an unpopular but still photosynthetic plant in water. Algae. A British startup is now growing algae in pools of seawater in a remote, desert, coastal town in southern Morocco, where neither the land nor the water has ever been used. Algae’s photosynthetic system absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and emits oxygen. So, it’s one of the nature-based solutions to remove carbon from the air without any cost to the environment or natural resources. Furthermore, the company plans to sell carbon credits for its operation and future expansion. Sounds like a pretty economical and environmentally friendly organic growth project, doesn’t it?
Enjoy reading the article about growing algae in seawater in the Sahara Desert.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/18/africa/brilliant-planet-algae-carbon-removal-climate-morocco-scn-spc-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4140-8/25/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 
America’s richest 10% are responsible for 40% of its planet-heating pollution, new report finds
It is a known fact that wealthy people use more space, energy, materials, and resources than less wealthy people as they live in big houses, fly private jets, drive large vehicles, and purchase non-essential items like jewelry and clothing that are seldom used. Now, a new study found that the wealthiest 10% of Americans are responsible for around 40% of human-caused planet-heating pollution in the US when their investment in fossil fuel-generating companies is taken into account. Another report released last year indicated that the planet-heating pollution produced by billionaires is a million times higher than the average person outside the world’s wealthiest 10%. Those researchers call for actions to governments to develop policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions mainly caused by the rich. Indeed, when energy prices rise, poorer people are the ones that are impacted hardest while higher tax rates on luxury items or properties won’t affect most people.
Read the article and learn about who is more responsible for global warming.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/17/business/rich-americans-climate-footprint-emissions/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4139-8/24/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

I will go hungry if I have to

With nearly 250 million inhabitants, Pakistan is the world’s fifth-largest country in terms of population. However, its GDP per capita is ranked around 150^th, and over one-third of the population lives below the poverty line of $3.20 a day. The country continues to face the challenges of a rapidly growing population, high illiteracy of around 40%, corruption, political instability, a hostile neighborhood namely India, and heavy foreign debt. It also has been facing a shortage in supply and high inflation in prices of essentials such as food, oil, gas, and electricity, which badly affect average and poorer households. In fact, Pakistan’s monthly inflation rate has been over 30% each month this year even though it eased a little in June and July to the high-20s. So, how are those poor families trying to make ends meet? For some parents, nutrition and education for their children are the top priorities, which have been affected by soaring inflation.

Now, read and learn about the life and struggle of how 27-year-old parents of an ethnic minority with two children in the largest city of Pakistan, Karachi.

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2023/8/16/school-or-food-a-pakistani-mothers-dilemma

Topic Reading-Vol.4138-8/23/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  
Jakarta: Living with asthma in the world's most polluted city
Jakarta is the capital city of Indonesia, with a little over 10 million inhabitants. It is well known as the economic, political, and cultural hub of the country as well as one of the most air-polluted cities in the world. In fact, Jakarta became the world’s most heavily polluted city this summer. There are a number of contributing factors in regard to the high levels of pollution in Jakarta. The roads are filled with high numbers of motorbikes, cars, and trucks, many of which would fall outside the guidelines for what an environmentally safe vehicle should be. Also, coal and other fossil fuel-based power plants and factories are emitting higher levels of pollutants. In addition, dry air in the summer months, June through August, keeps pollutants longer in the air. The air is so polluted that doctors advise patients with asthma to move out of the city. Well, a few million people are going to move to the new capital on the east coast of Borneo Island within a few years. But what about those who will keep living and working in Jakarta in the private sector and their families? Will the government care about Jakarta’s air quality as much as they do now when it moves to another island? Until the power source of motorbikes, cars, and power plants is switched to a non-fossil or cleaner one, Jakarta’s air quality in the dry season isn’t expected to improve.
Read the article and learn about the air quality in the world’s most polluted and congested capital.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66496992

Topic Reading-Vol.4137-8/22/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Five key moments in the crushing of Afghan women's rights

August 15^th marked the second anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the collapse of the Afghan government to the Taliban. They said women would be allowed to study and work within their framework. So, what is the Taliban’s “framework” like? No girls can attend secondary or higher education schools. They want girls to return not to schools but to traditional Islamic and Afghan values. Also, the government’s virtue and vice ministry restricted women to travel long distances without a male company who are close to them. Then all girls and women, but not too young or too old, were ordered to wear head-to-toe clothing, and they are not allowed to work, or go to public places like government offices, and public parks and baths. In addition, the Taliban government recently announced to shut down hair and beauty salons, leaving 60,000 or so female workers out of jobs. Are all women and girls staying home and doing only household chores?  There are underground activities, working from home, and marching on the street despite the risk of detention and violence. Indeed, today’s Afghan women are no longer the same as the ones 20 years ago when the Taliban ruled last time.

Read the article and learn about the situation Afghanistan women have to live with.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66461711

Topic Reading-Vol.4136-8/21/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Back to the future for India's rice farmers

Rice is a staple food in India and plays a crucial role in the country's agriculture and economy. In fact, India is the second largest rice producer after China and the largest rice exporter in the world. It has a diverse agro-climatic range that supports the cultivation of various rice varieties, both irrigated and rainfed cultivation, and Basmati Rice, a premium and aromatic long-grain rice variety, and non-Basmati Rice varieties. In July, India banned exports of non-basmati white rice to calm rising domestic prices at home, which caused panic buying and empty rice shelves at Indian grocery stores in North America. Many rice farmers in India have been trying to increase production by cultivating hybrid rice varieties. Still, many of them found that they need a log of additives like pesticides which have spoiled their land. The truce is that indigenous rice seed varieties have adapted to local ecologies and climates, even though they’ve changed too fast and drastically. Some of the rice seeds can be grown without water. And there are other varieties that can be grown without fertilizer or other chemicals like red rice. Which is more sustainable both for farmers and their land?

Enjoy reading the article and learning about what sustainable rice production could be in the largest rice exporter in the world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66323991

Topic Reading-Vol.4135-8/20/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Even Zoom is making its staff return to the office

Headquartered in San Jose, California, Zoom is a communication technology company that offers online video meetings, messaging, voice calls, virtual events, and contact centers. Due to the increase in remote work, distance education, and remote social relations during the COVID-19 pandemic, usage increased substantially and the Zoom mobile app was the 5th most downloaded mobile app in 2020, after TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. But as the pandemic wanes, many companies, agencies, and offices have brought back the onsite work requirements, whether they are full-time, a few times a week, or hybrid. Surprisingly, Zoom itself has recently announced that it wants its employees who live close to the office to work onsite two days a week. The video meeting company believes that is the most efficient way to keep their teams connected. What about the employees who live far away from the office? Can’t they be part of the teams of the company if they can’t work in person in the office? Is hybrid truly the most effective way for employers or the best compromise between employers and employees?

Enjoy reading the article and learning about this back-to-office phenomenon.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/07/business/zoom-return-to-office/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4134-8/19/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

What is the best clothing to keep you cool in a heatwave?

What color and material should you wear to keep you cooler when it’s very hot? If you do not have to worry about your skin from UV or eyes from others, wear nothing as there is an evaporative heat exchange between your skin and the air. You may think white is the best choice as it reflects the sun’s rays, unlike black which absorbs the light. In the meanwhile, white also reflects the heat from your body back to you. That’s one reason some nomadic people in desert regions wear loose black robes. But it is not just the color that makes you feel hotter or cooler but the material and fit of the clothing as all textiles trap infrared radiation given off by the body to some degree. Nylon and polyester are more breathable fabrics than ordinary cotton and wick moisture and dry faster. And there are more factors to be considered regarding what to wear to stay cooler.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about the tips that might help you survive in the unprecedented heatwaves and temperatures this summer.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230802-what-is-the-best-clothing-to-keep-you-cool

Topic Reading-Vol.4133-8/18/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Canada launches warning labels on each cigarette

Though just around 10% of high-teenagers and adults smoke in Canada, cigarette smoking still is the country’s leading preventable cause of disease and premature death. It has been required to print warning labels on cigarette packages since 1989 in Canada. In 2001, it became the first country to implement pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages. Health warnings were required to cover 50% of the front and 50% of the back of the package (one side in English and the other side in French). Now, tobacco manufacturers are required to print warnings directly onto individual cigarettes starting next year. So, each time a smoker pulls out a cigarette from the box to light up, he or she will see the warning label both in English and French. Does another health warning discourage smokers to light up?  Still, smoking is not illegal in most countries.

Read the article and learn about how many health warnings must be printed and seen on cigarettes in Canada.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66364465

Topic Reading-Vol.4132-8/17/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

‘Word of God’: Why Muslims are opposed to the burning of the Quran

The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It serves as the foundation text of the Islamic faith and covers various aspects of life, including spirituality, morality, law, guidance, and stories of past civilizations. Muslims view the Quran as an eternal and unaltered source of guidance, and its recitation holds deep spiritual significance. However, recently, a number of Quran-burning incidents occurred in Sweden and Denmark mainly by far-right individuals and groups. These incidents upset Muslims around the world as they regard the targeting of the holy book as a desecration and offense to them, and provoked hostility against the two countries. Indeed, the Quran is the Islamic holy symbol and the most sacred text for 1.9 billion followers around the world.

Read the article and learn about what the Quran is to Muslims.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/31/word-of-god-why-muslims-are-opposed-to-the-burning-of-the-quran

Topic Reading-Vol.4131-8/16/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Drought-stricken Mexico is turning to a controversial technology to make it rain

Cloud seeding is often employed in areas suffering from water scarcity or drought, as well as in regions that depend on consistent rainfall for agricultural purposes. It is a weather modification technique to enhance precipitation in clouds and increase rainfall by releasing seeding agents like silver iodide into clouds or firing them into the atmosphere. However, as it does NOT create clouds, it doesn’t work in a place where there is no cloud.

Many parts of Mexico have suffered severe drought and heat waves this year, damaging crops and killing people and livestock, and scientists predict the situation doesn’t seem to get any better this summer. In July, the desperate Mexican government launched a cloud seeding project to stimulate rainfall artificially despite the controversy over the effectiveness of the methodology and environmental impacts. As global warming accelerates, we seem to need more proven, environmentally-friendly methods to create clouds.

Read the article and learn about drought-stricken Mexico’s attempt to bring rain.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/02/americas/mexico-cloud-seeding-drought-rain-climate-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4130-8/15/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why India's rice ban could trigger a global food crisis

Rice, wheat, and maize (corn) are the three most important food crops in the world. Together, they feed about 80% of the world’s population, and rice does nearly half of humanity. China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam together represent over 75% of the world’s rice production, and they also are the top 5 rice-consuming countries. In Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Thailand, the share of rice consumption in total calorie intake is around or over 50%. Indeed, rice is a staple food for many people. India, the world’s top rice exporter accounting for 40% of the global trade of rice, exported rice to 140 countries last year, However, on July 20, India banned the export of Indica white rice, which dominates around 70% of the global trade in addition to last year’s ban on broken rice export, in order to curb the price hike in the domestic market. This created a sudden price surge and panic buying of some rice products in many countries. Will India lift the ban before next year’s general election? Will this trigger more export restrictions by other rice-exporting countries?

Read the article and learn about the global production, trade, and consumption of rice.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66360064

Topic Reading-Vol.4129-8/14/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

China curbs drone exports over ‘national security concerns’

Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that are being used everywhere. They were originally developed for military missions but as control technologies improved and costs fell, they’ve been used in non-military purposes including aerial photo and video shooting, agriculture, environmental monitoring, infrastructure inspections, policing and security surveillance, product deliveries, and even entertainment. DJI, a Chinese technology company headquartered in  Shenzhen, dominates the world’s market with an estimated market share of over 70%. The US and other Western countries have posed restrictions on using Chinese-made high-tech products like surveillance cameras and internet routers for security reasons. Now, China announced to control drones and drone equipment for its national security and interests. It also claims to curb the use of civilian drones for military purposes by making modifications and weaponization. As has been reported, drones have been used to attack the military and civilian facilities of both Russia and Ukraine in the war. It seems that China has become a dominant, controlling player in the world’s drone market.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/01/china/china-drone-export-controls-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4128-8/13/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

UNESCO recommends putting Venice on its heritage danger list

Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and others. In 1987, the city of Venice and its lagoon situated in the Veneto Region of Northeast Italy was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage property for the uniqueness of its cultural values consisting of historical, archaeological, urban, architectonic, artistic heritage and exceptional cultural traditions, integrated into, and extraordinary and outstanding environmental, natural and landscape context. However, Venice has attracted too many tourists, which puts pressure on the city’s infrastructure, environment, and social fabric. Also, Venice's rich artistic and architectural legacy is at risk of decay and damage from pollution, vandalism, and neglect. Furthermore, as Venice is a city of water and canals, it is vulnerable to flooding and erosion due to climate change. So, UNESCO is going to request the Italian government to deal with these problems that are deteriorating the city’s historic and cultural values. 

Can Venice alone protect its value of world heritage?

Read the article and learn about the problem that one of the most visited world’s heritage sites is facing.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/unesco-venice-heritage-danger-list/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4127-8/12/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  
WeChat: Why does Elon Musk want X to emulate China's everything-app?
WeChat is a free messaging and calling app that connects over a billion people mainly in China, where the majority of internet users use a smartphone as their primary device. WeChat is regarded as China’s “app for everything” and a super-app because of its wide range of functions, including text messaging, hold-to-talk voice messaging, broadcast messaging, video conferencing, video games, mobile payment, sharing of photographs and videos, location sharing, shopping, food deliveries, and loans and investment. In fact, most cash payments and even transactions are made by either WeChat Pay or Ali Pay nowadays. In other developed countries, there are generations of Internet users who use different devices, apps, and platforms. For example, Facebook vs. Instagram, YouTube vs. TikTok, and PayPal vs. Apple Pay. Now, what Elon Musk is trying to develop from X (Twitter) is a mobile platform like WeChat. To think about the investment he made, $44 billion, the ads-dependent social app won’t be good enough. If X provides convenient and reliable services, there may be a chance to become a dominant platform like WeChat. But there already are strong competitors in the platform market. Who will win?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about what a super platform could do to our lives.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66333633

Topic Reading-Vol.4126-8/11/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  
A crucial system of ocean currents is heading for a collapse that ‘would affect every person on the planet’
Over 12,000 years ago, the Northern Hemisphere temperature fluctuated by 10 to 15 degrees Celsius just within a decade. It was caused by the warmer climate, which melted glaciers rapidly and shut down the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC is a thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic Ocean, which consists of a northward flow of warm, salty water in the upper layers of the Atlantic, and a southward flow of colder, deep water. It functions like a giant global thermos-conveyor belt. As the AMOC helps regulates global weather patterns, if it fluctuates, global weather will be affected by large-scale disruptive events. The AMOC’s instability has been warned for some time because of global warming, but a recent study warns that the vital system of ocean currents could collapse within decades, or possibly a few years from now. Indeed, as the oceans heat up and ice melts, more freshwater flows into the ocean, then the density of seawater is reduced and the water conveyer fluctuates or even stops. It is happening and will pass the tipping point soon.
Read the article and learn about how and how much ocean currents affect weather patterns.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/25/world/gulf-stream-atlantic-current-collapse-climate-scn-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4125-8/10/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Do you need a degree to work in tech?

Traditionally, apprenticeships were reserved for the trades and advanced manufacturing industries. But today, as technology reshapes the world, it changes many job requirements. Tech apprenticeship programs provide career opportunities for aspiring professionals from various backgrounds. Apprentices often come from nontraditional educational disciplines or professions and gain access to education, technical training, and mentorship from industry experts. Apprentices often receive full wages and employee benefits, making these programs more accessible for working professionals. Such a program isn’t limited to the technicians. For example, Google offers apprenticeship programs for sales and marketing, data analysis, and digital marketing for a year to two years. Also, such programs can lead to a certificate, degree, or even a job with the employer. Apprentices learn not only specific skills that are needed in today’s workplaces but also problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills, which are in fact more valuable than a university degree. While university courses are well organized to help students learn in a logical order, apprenticeship programs give people the chance to learn practical skills that are highly demanded. Also, through the apprenticeship, employers will learn the capacity and potential of the potential employee. It seems that apprenticeship is a mutually beneficial program for today's fast, dynamic job environment.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about today’s apprenticeship.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66086450

Topic Reading-Vol.4124-8/9/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  
China faces faltering global image, survey finds
According to a survey by a nonpartisan American think tank conducted on over 30,000 adults across 24 countries, about two-thirds of the respondents gave somewhat negative views about China while 28% expressed positive ones. High-income countries like Australia, Sweden, Japan, and the USA seem to have more negative perceptions of China. In the meantime, countries, where China’s investments and technologies are dominant, such as Indonesia, Nigeria, and Mexico, seem to have more positive views on China. Another finding is that China’s tech industry is thought to be better than average by most of the respondents. Indeed, China’s technologies in space, military, mobile communication, IT, electric vehicles, drones, and high-speed railways are now superior to most of the developed countries and even competitive with the USA. How will people perceive China a decade from now?
Enjoy reading the article about the recent perception of China among 24 countries.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/27/china-faces-faltering-global-image-survey-finds

Topic Reading-Vol.4123-8/8/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  
Young Chinese are getting paid to be ‘full-time children’ as jobs become harder to find
There seems to be a new job category in mainland China, called full-time children, or professional children. Instead of working for a company or doing business by themselves like gig workers, they stay home, do or help with housework, and may also care for the elderly. In return, they get paid by their parents for their domestic work. Such a lying flat attitude seems to have developed in China when the job market became too competitive for young people. In fact, the official unemployment rate for 15 to 24-year-olds in urban areas has been above 20% in the last few years. If you add the number of such full-time children or non-job seekers, the real jobless rate for youth could go over 45%. The question is how can parents can support their children without work financially? First, those children are the only child because of the one-child policy. Also, both of their parents usually work, generating double income, and they have enjoyed healthy economic growth in the last few decades. But as 10 million new college graduates join the job market each year, competition is becoming even fiercer for the young. And if the blank period in their resume becomes too long, those full-time children might not be able to find jobs unless they gain skills that are valued in the new job market or take blue-collar jobs that need more hands in the construction, manufacturing, and service industries.
Read the article and learn about China’s full-time children phenomena.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/26/economy/china-youth-unemployment-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4122-8/7/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

The world’s most shark-filled waters

While humans deliberately hunt and eat sharks, they usually don’t try to attack humans but try to avoid humans. In many cases, shark bite humans mistakenly. But there were over 750 shark attacks recorded between 2012 and 2031, 60 of which were fatal. When surfers and water skiers splash at the surface, sharks think the sound is generated by fish, their prey. Also, where people fish, sharks often fish, too. Even though shark attacks are still rare incidents, there are places where quite a few numbers of shark attacks have been reported, such as Florida, Hawaii, and Australia, where suffers enjoy challenging waves.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how and where shark attacks occur.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/worlds-most-shark-filled-waters-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4121-8/6/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Camping 101: Which overnight wilderness experience is right for you?

Camping seems to have become more popular during and after the Covid pandemic when people tried to avoid crowds and interactions. Also, because of the rising travel costs and surging demands, camping seems to have attracted more vacationers recently. For those who are thinking of camping, there are several types of conventional camping to choose from, such as Car camping, Recreational Vehicle (RV) camping, Backpacking, and Boat camping. Another kind of camping is Glamping (glamorous camping), which is to stay in a well-facilitated, permanent outdoor tent like a yurt or treehouse. Some are physically more adventurous and demanding while others are more convenient and accommodating for families. Whichever style you choose, camping offers an irreplaceable experience and time in nature.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about different styles of camping.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/camping-101-basic-things-to-know/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4120-8/5/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,　

These 8 habits could add up to 24 years to your life, study says

A new study among US veterans found that there are eight measures to extend your life, as long as over two decades. They are; doing regular exercise, avoiding opioids (a kind of pain relief), quitting smoking, managing stress, having a plant-based diet, drinking less or no alcohol, sleeping well, and having positive social relationships, none of which is particularly extraordinary or expensive but is simple everyday activity. You don’t have to do all of these at once, but if you do more of them and start them earlier, you’ll have a better chance to live longer. Furthermore, you’ll enjoy your life more if you live a healthier life.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about simple day-to-day activities that make your life healthier and longer.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/24/health/habits-live-longer-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4119-8/4/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Eating less meat 'like taking 8m cars off road'

According to a study, food production generates about a third of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Another study in the UK shows that those who eat more than 100 grams of meat daily create over 10 kilograms of carbon dioxide each day while seafood eaters or vegetarians create less than half of CO2. To grow livestock, the land is leveled, water is used and polluted, and animals are fed, all of which have impacts on the environment. In order to meet the UK’s net zero targets, the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs asks people to reduce meat consumption by 30% before 2032. Can people change their eating habits in a decade? Sustainable, palatable, and economical meat alternatives need to be developed and marketed for meat eaters. Also, more diverse and attractive cooking recipes need to be created to entice their appetite. It seems that collaboration between food producers and the industry is essential to reduce CO2 by food consumption.

Read the article and learn about how much greenhouse gas is produced by meat consumption.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66238584

Topic Reading-Vol.4118-8/3/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Volunteering in late life may protect the brain, research finds

What is volunteering? It is to spend time doing something for others, communities or societies, activities or causes, or the environment without being paid, but not the time on helping one’s family or friends. Volunteering gives one the chance to connect to their communities and others while helping or improving them. Various pieces of research show that there seem to be positive links between volunteering and cognitive function, especially for elderly people who do not usually engage in social or business activities including retirees. True. You volunteer something because you want to help it. Also, if you take part in activities you like, you feel involved and satisfied. Furthermore, you can put something to do on your calendar, which makes your life more productive and fulfilling. Indeed, doing something not for money but for others makes one’s life meaningful, especially for those who have retired from work.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about how beneficial volunteering is for your brain health.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/20/health/volunteering-benefits-cognitive-function-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4117-8/2/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The jobs AI won't take yet

Will AI and robots will replace all or most of the jobs? Does education help you find or keep your job? There already are many tasks that AI can do better than humans, such as writing copies and reports, diagnosing cancers, and planning delivery routes, all of which had been thought that humans with intelligence and expertise could handle. In the meanwhile, there are areas that AI is incapable of doing or can’t do as well as humans do for the time being. For example, creating something totally new in science, medicine, and law, whose tasks require human qualities. Also, jobs that require interpersonal relationships are handled better by humans, such as nurses, business consultants, and investigative journalists. Other AI-immune jobs are skilled jobs like electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and handymen, whose tasks require mobility, flexibility, and problem-solving ability in unpredictable circumstances. Now you might have realized that what’s essential in this new era of AI is human qualities. Degrees or experience alone won’t seem to help you find or keep your job any longer.

Read the article and learn about what humans do better than AI in workplaces.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230507-the-jobs-ai-wont-take-yet

Topic Reading-Vol.4116-8/1/2023

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Visa and Mastercard can now be used on China’s biggest payment apps
Finally! If you’ve ever visited China, you know there is one thing you most desperately wanted to have besides your passport. A mobile payment app. China has already become a nearly cashless society.  Almost everyone who owns a smartphone now uses mobile payment. Over 80% of their monthly expenditures are now paid by mobile payment services, including shopping, dining, utility bills taxes, bus and train fairs, and anything you name it. In China, paying in cash makes you feel guilty or unwanted, especially after Covid. So, just like taking a Visa or Mastercard with you when you travel abroad, installing WeChat Pay by Tencent or Alipay by Alibaba on your smartphone makes your trip to China hassle-free. However, it wasn’t possible for foreign travelers because they aren’t allowed to open a bank account in China. Now, those two mobile payment giants allow you to link their payment apps with Visa or Mastercard! You can now use your phone for most of the payments just like Chinese locals. Since maps, language translation, and payments are all done by a smartphone, you can now visit China only with your smartphone and passport.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about how convenient it has become to visit China.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/21/tech/china-alipay-wechat-pay-international-credit-cards-intl-hnk/index.html