Topic Reading-Vol.4328-2/29/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Mexico’s teachers seek relief from pandemic-era spike in school robberies

The population of Mexico is around 130 million, the 10^th largest in the world, and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the monetary value of final goods and services produced, is the 12^th highest. However, GDP per capita, or the wealth per person, ranks below 60^th, meaning people aren’t so wealthy on average compared with developed countries, and many people are poor.  In fact, over 40% of the population lived in poverty in 2022. Also, crime rates, especially violent crime, are high in urban areas and certain regions, partly due to drug cartel activities. No wonder there are so many Mexicans trying to move to the US even illegally. During the pandemic, schools were closed and ran classes online. Those who lost their incomes or jobs found there were things that they could steal from those empty schools, such as computers, wires, and even toilets. This made those looted schools inoperable when they tried to resume classes. Even after the pandemic, such school robberies are still common in some places, and teachers are struggling to find ways to run classes. Robbing equipment from schools isn’t a petty crime but a theft of students’ futures as it hampers the chance of learning.

Read the article and learn about how teachers in Mexico are suffering from school robberies.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/23/mexicos-teachers-seek-relief-from-pandemic-era-spike-in-school-robberies

Topic Reading-Vol.4327-2/28/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

‘I don’t want to kill’: Conscription law sparks fear in war-torn Myanmar

Since the military junta seized power in a coup in February 2021 in Myanmar, there have been several domestic conflicts fought against the National Unity Government, ethnic armed organizations, and multiple ethnic insurgencies. Those conflicts have escalated especially in the northern part of the country since last fall, and the junta government has seen an increasing number of depletions, desertions, and defections of its military forces. So, they enacted the conscription law that mandates men aged 18 to 45 and women aged 18 to 35, to serve in the military for at least two years or longer. This caused panic among young people as they do not want to be sent to the front to fight with their own people. Many of the young who don’t have to support their families have been trying to escape from the country to neighboring countries like Thailand. Also, people have become more careful not to be forcibly taken by the military even without conscription or official orders, the practice the military has been using to support their activities. Some say they would rather join the rebel forces than fight for the military. Indeed, no one wants to fight to kill or to be killed by their fellow citizens in a domestic conflict.

Read the article and learn about what Myanmar’s recent mandatory conscription law caused.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/22/asia/myanmar-mandatory-conscription-fears-young-people-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4326-2/27/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Don't dry your iPhone in a bag of rice, says Apple

What would you do if you dropped your smartphone in water? Would you dry the wet phone with a hairdryer or put a cotton swab or a tissue into the phone? The answer is no. Your phone wouldn’t want to be overheated or inserted with foreign objects. How about putting it in a bag of rice to suck out the moisture? This is not recommended either as small particles of rice could damage the phone. The best you can do is to simply place the wet phone in a dry area with airflow before recharging. Until more phones become water-resistant like the iPhone 12, you want to be careful when you use your phone over or around water. As for hot coffee or tea? Keep your fingers crossed.

Read the article and learn about what to do when your phone gets wet.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68357165

Topic Reading-Vol.4325-2/26/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Europe needs a decade to build up arms stocks, says defence firm boss

Ammunition is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from weapons, such as bullets, bombs, missiles, artillery shells, grenades, and landmines. Once they are produced, they are stored in a dedicated safe and dry environment until they are used or disposed of if they reach the end of their usable lifespan. In the last 50 years, there weren’t any major wars in Europe except for the conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s. So, the production of ammunition in European countries had been in safe mode until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 where most of the stocked ammunition has been nearly used up by both Russia, Ukraine, and its supporters. Since it takes years to increase the production capacity of ammunition, it is expected to take years to build up arms stock in Europe. This is a serious security matter for European countries especially when the support from the US may not be as firm as it committed in NATO, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Read the article and learn about what Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused to NATO.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68273449

Topic Reading-Vol.4324-2/25/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Ukrainians have seen “unimaginable” horror. Photos share their stories.

It started in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Then on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, attacking from the air, in the sea, and on the ground. Ukrainians stood to the invading forces, and the US and its Western allies immediately started providing Ukraine with weapons, ammunition, and other support necessary to withstand Russian offense. Two years have passed and the war still continues. What are the lives and situation like in Ukraine? Some brave photojournalists have been taking photos of battlefields, ruins, victims, and survivors to show how cruel the war is to Ukraine.

See the photos and read the captions to learn the evidence of atrocities and crimes of war. 

https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2024/02/world/ukraine-war-photographers-cnnphotos/

Topic Reading-Vol.4323-2/24/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Tradition of lucky money a financial strain on elderly

Hongbao, or lucky money, is money in red envelopes given to children during special occasions, especially during Chinese New Year. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is believed to ward off evil spirits. Recently, as mobile payment has become the de-fact payment tool in China, sending virtual red envelopes with messages and animations on WeChat or Alipay is taking place for paper envelopes. Whichever the envelopes might be, what’s inside matters for both the recipients and givers. As many people have become wealthier and the average income rises, the amount of money in the red envelopes increases. Also, many Chinese parents in urban areas have only one child, if they have one. This reduces the number of red envelopes to hand out but raises the amount per envelope increases. This is troublesome for those who live by pensions or have many grandchildren in rural areas where there are many relatives. Indeed, as what children want is becoming more expensive, such as online games, trendy clothes, and fancy drinks, one hundred yuan, worth US$14, might not be enough as “lucky money.” Many Chinese grandparents don’t seem as wealthy as their adult children, or even their grandchildren because they don’t have as much savings or investment as today’s generations.

Read the article and learn about what “lucky money” means in China.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202402/17/WS65cfed4ea31041d387d6e009.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4322-2/23/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Greenland has lost ice 36 times the size of New York. That’s a huge problem for the planet

Greenland is the world’s biggest island, around seven times the size of the UK and 50 times that of London. The autonomous region within Denmark had mostly been covered by ice and glaciers until recently. However, it has lost a substantial amount of ice in the last three decades, as much as 36 times the size of New York City due to global warming. As a result, the surface of some parts of Greenland has become green or barren. Since snow and ice reflect the heat from the sun back into space, they help reduce temperature increase and sea level rise. Also, warmer temperatures have accelerated ice loss and raised land temperatures even higher. As a result, some parts of the permafrost have melted and released planet-warming carbon dioxide and methane. All these changes have been affecting not only global warming and sea level rises but also the lives and ecosystems on and around Greenland, including the 57,000 inhabitants, polar bears, reindeer (Caribou), seals, and whales.

Read the article and learn about the changes in once-icy Greenland.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/13/climate/greenland-ice-loss-vegetation-climate-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4321-2/22/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

The Amazon has survived changes in the climate for 65 million years. Now it’s heading for collapse, a study says

The Amazon River is the largest and longest river in the world. It is one of the most important natural resources for the South American environment, climate, and ecosystems. The Amazon rainforest is biodiverse and home to countless species of planets, animals, and microorganisms. It plays a crucial role in regulating regional and global climate patterns by modulating temperatures, regulating rainfall, and maintaining humidity levels. Also, known as the lungs of the planet, the Amazon rainforest acts as a significant carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in plant biomass and soil. In addition, the river and its wetlands provide essential habitat for a diverse range of aquatic species like fish, amphibians, and reptiles. So, a collapse of the Amazon River flow and rainforest could cause catastrophic impacts on regional and global environments and ecosystems. A new study by a Brazilian university on the impact of warming temperatures, extreme droughts, deforestation, and fires predicts that the Amazon rainforest could reach a crucial tipping point as soon as 2050, much sooner than previously thought. Once the rainforest crosses the tipping point, it will lead to a downward spiral of impacts. Solutions are simple. Curb global warming, stop deforestation, and restore the rainforest as soon as and as fast as possible.

Read the article and learn about the danger to the Amazon and its rainforest.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/14/climate/amazon-rainforest-climate-deforestation-collapse-int/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4320-2/21/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why pet owners are spending thousands of dollars on 'human-grade' food

Dogs used to be fed kitchen scraps like leftover meat, fish, bones, and rice. It was not until 1890 that the world saw the first production of dog food in the USA. Then in the 1950s, food giants like Nabisco, Quaker Oats, and General Mills began expanding dog food businesses. Now, most dog food is made with animal feed-grade ingredients and comes dry in gags, known as kibble in the US, or wet in cans. Nowadays, many pet owners do care about what to feed their canine family members, often more than for themselves. They tend to buy premium dog food touted as human-grade, natural, or grain-free. Once the dog likes it, the pet owner starts subscribing to the food for their beloved friend for the sake of commitment and convenience. For some pet owners, what is best for their pet dogs matters more than how much it costs within their affordable range. Subscription service for premium pet food seems like a good business.

Read the article and learn about what human-grade pet food is like.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240214-human-grade-luxury-pet-food-market

Topic Reading-Vol.4319-2/20/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

More men are wearing engagement rings. The market is figuring it out.

An engagement ring is usually given by one partner to another, mostly by a man to a woman, as a symbol of their commitment to marry. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage. For centuries, engagement rings have been worn mostly by women in most Western cultures. But as the world is becoming more inclusive and gender-neutral in fashion, more men are wearing jewelry. Also, as roles and incomes become more equal among heterosexual couples, more men enjoy wearing jewelry for fashion and commitment. So, the number of men wearing an engagement ring is increasing. This is a great opportunity for jewelers to grow their business as engagement rings feature diamonds or other valuable gemstones. Indeed, the industry is now having extra ring fingers to sell jewelry!

Read the article and learn about an engagement ring for men.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240213-mens-engagement-rings-trend

Topic Reading-Vol.4318-2/19/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

The far-reaching impacts of wildfire smoke – and how to protect yourself

When we breathe fresh and clean air, we feel good. In fact, the air we breathe has significant effects on our physical and mental health. People who live in communities whose air quality is worse than other places often show poorer performance in school, higher crime rates, and impaired judgment. Also, their body metabolism seems to be affected by air pollution and they have a higher number of obesities. Despite the efforts having been made to reduce air pollution, the world has been exposed to unhealthier air recently partly due to wildfires. Wildfires can be caused by lighting, human activities, and extreme weather conditions. Because of global warming, wildfires have become more frequent and widespread. Wildfires release a large amount of mercury, PM2.5, particulate matter that is much smaller than the width of human hair to the air, and other toxins into the air, which are harmful to certain immune cells in the lungs. We’ve been tackling the direct causes of air pollution but now we need to work harder on curbing global warming even harder for our health.

Read the article and learn about what wildfires do to our mental and physical health.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240213-unhealthy-air-how-pollution-changes-your-body-and-mind

Topic Reading-Vol.4317-2/18/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why AI can’t replace air traffic controllers

Air traffic controllers ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft both on the ground and in the air. They manage air traffic, coordinate departures and arrivals, provide pilots with information, and respond to emergencies and priorities. Air controllers work under high pressure as any mistake, misjudgment, or miscommunication could cause a catastrophic accident. Can AI take over air-controlling jobs? Today’s AI is good at tasks such as automation, data search and analysis, and medical diagnosis as it learns from provided data. But AI can’t perform as well as humans when something irregular or unplanned happens or a new operation is implemented. For example, when weather conditions like heavy snow or strong wind hamper visibility and safety in and around the airport, or there is an incident that limits the functions of the airport like a blackout or fire, AI cannot handle the unexpected tasks. The singularity hasn’t been achieved in air-controlling tasks at least for now.

Enjoy reading the article and learn about what air traffic controllers do.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/why-ai-cant-replace-air-trafficcontrollers/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4316-2/17/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Tesla owners told not to wear Apple virtual reality headsets while driving

While some companies are testing self-driving or auto-driving vehicles (Level 4 or 5), no such vehicles are commercially available in the US as of January 2024. Even the Tesla Model 3, which is equipped with driving assistance features like adaptive cruise control and lane centering, requires a licensed driver to be attentive and ready to take over driving at any moment. So, the driver of the vehicle should not be engaged in any type of artificial reality, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), or mixed reality (MR). For example, driving with the recently launched Apple Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset that blends digital content and apps into the wearer’s physical space, is not allowed even in the driving assistance mode. How soon can drivers explore Metaverse or play VR games while sitting in the driver’s seat? That may be the time when a driver is no longer called a driver.

Read the article and learn about the limitations of assisted driving.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68215614

Topic Reading-Vol.4315-2/16/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

 Moths actually aren’t drawn to light as previously thought, study finds

As human activities expand, light pollution rises at a rate of 2.2% annually, according to a report in 2017. This could bring about harmful effects on habitat loss, fragmentation, and population decline of wildlife. For example, moths have long been believed to be attracted to light. However, a new study found that moths and other nocturnal insects that appear to be drawn by artificial lights are tilting their backs toward the light. They actually keep their backs toward the brighter side, the moon and stars at night, so that they can keep their position right in the dark. That’s why when they fly by an artificial light, they look like flying around as if they are drawn to it. Poor moths. In order to maintain biodiversity in nature, artificial lights should be turned off when not used.

Read the article and learn about how moths react to artificial lights.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/07/world/moths-drawn-to-light-behavior-study-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4314-2/15/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

World's first year-long breach of key 1.5C warming limit

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in 2015, it was agreed by 196 parties to limit long-term warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels. As the whole world witnessed and experienced extreme heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and floods last year, the impacts of global warming are significant. In fact, global warming has exceeded 1.5C across the last 12 months, according to the EU’s climate service. Also, ocean temperatures are now the highest on record, partly due to El Niño conditions. Scientists predict that further and consistent temperature rises will surely increase the risks of catastrophic and irreversible climate change. There also are underlying changes occurring in the oceans, waters, and ice in polar regions, whose impacts are yet to be seen. The good news is that if the current policies and pledges to reduce the use of fossil fuel emissions are achieved, the world still might be able to avoid passing tipping points. We’re already there but we can still reverse the course to avoid the climate threshold if we act now but not later.

Read the article and learn about the first 12 months that exceeded the 1.5C temperature increase limit.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68110310

Topic Reading-Vol.4313-2/14/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Sri Lanka: What's killing so many of the country's iconic elephants?

Elephants have a significant cultural and ecological importance in Sri Lanka. They are revered as sacred animals and are often associated with religious festivals, especially in Buddhist traditions. They also play a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity of the country’s ecosystems. Sri Lanka has implemented various conservation efforts to protect its elephant population. However, as farming and development expand, wild forests where elephants live in shrink. They then have no choice but to come closer or into human habitats and farms. Some farmers try to protect their land and crops from elephants by setting up high-voltage electric fences and jaw bombs, an improvised explosive device that detonates when bit. Jaw bombs are now become the leading cause of elephant deaths in Sri Lanka. More male elephants have become victims of these harmful setups than females as they tend to wander into rural communities alone. How can aggressive people and vulnerable elephants coexist in peace in Sri Lanka?

Read the article and learn about the threats to wild elephants in Sri Lanka.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68090450

Topic Reading-Vol.4312-2/13/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Enter the Year of the Dragon: A 2024 guide to Lunar New Year

As many as two billion people celebrate Lunar New Year mainly in East and Southeast Asia. Many of those who observe the Lunar New Year prepare for and enjoy the holiday for over two weeks. What do they do? Here are the highlights.

Preparation: Festive cakes and puddings are to be made on the 24^th day of the last lunar month. Red banners bearing auspicious phrases and idioms must be hung at the front door to keep Nian, an underwater devil, and invite good fortune. Also, the home must be cleaned entirely on the 28^th day of the last lunar month to get rid of any bad luck.

Eve: Have a big feast, including steamed fish, dumplings, longevity noodles, and rice cakes with the family.

New Year’s Day: Meet immediate family, relatives, and friends. Give out New Year’s gift money to children and juniors in a red envelope (or via a payment app nowadays). Visit a temple on the third day to consult the stars about the luck of the year based on the zodiac sign. Then you celebrate the Lantern Festival on the 15^th, the final day of the New Year, which marks the departure of winter and the beginning of the spring.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/lunar-new-year-2024-illustrated-guide-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4311-2/12/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why companies often get Lunar New Year wrong in the workplace

January 1^st is celebrated by most countries as the start of the Gregorian calendar year, and many countries observe it as a national holiday. While most Westerners tend to have a year-end party on the eve but do nothing particular on New Year’s Day, Asians like the Japanese usually spend New Year’s Eve quietly to welcome the new year peacefully. Lunar New Year is a significant traditional holiday celebrated by various East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. It is based on the lunar calendar and is typically celebrated between late January and mid-February when the new moon appears. For example, China’s Spring Festival holiday began on February 10 and will last eight days this year. It is estimated that around two billion people celebrate Lunar New Year. It is the time for family reunions, cleaning and decorating, temple visits and prayers, and exchanging greetings and well wishes with relatives and friends. It is the most significant holiday to be observed in many cultures and is celebrated with joy, symbolism, and reverence. As workforces become more diverse culturally and religiously, employers are trying to be inclusive and show their respect for multicultural celebrations in order to boost their motivation, loyalty, and productivity. But when they do, they should be sensitive about the meaning and significance of such cultural or religious events for their employees. Otherwise, they might feel uncared or disrespected. Indeed, the significance of the Lunar New Year is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays all combined.

Read the article about what Asian employees feel in Western work environments.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240205-lunar-new-year-inclusive-workplaces

Topic Reading-Vol.4310-2/11/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Here’s how long it takes for your body to recover from food poisoning

Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is a condition caused by consuming contaminated food or beverages by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Common bacteria are salmonella and E. coli. They multiply in food and produce toxins at a certain temperature range. The symptoms of food poisoning vary depending on the type of contaminant, the amount, and the person’s physical condition, and common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, and fatigue. Also, the loss of fluids through vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. Such symptoms could occur within hours or days from the food intake, and recovery could take a day to a week depending on the poisoning and individual. Once poisoned, your body needs to flush out the toxins, which could take hours to two days. It is important to keep your body hydrated and avoid seasoned food or dairy during the recovery period. You may like it or not, in general, the more severe the symptoms are, the shorter the duration is.

Read the article and learn about what foodborne illness is like.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/05/health/how-long-food-poisoning-lasts-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4309-2/10/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

How long will your dog live? Measure its nose

The lifespan of a pet dog can vary by breed, size, genetics, and overall health care but on average, dogs live between 10 and 13 years. Smaller breeds tend to have longer lifespans, sometimes up to late teens or even early twenties, than larger breeds, which usually live for between eight and 12 years. Also, females seem to live longer than males like humans. Besides the size and gender, dogs with long noses are found to live longer than the ones with shorter ones, according to a large study in the UK. For example, while papillons and miniature dachshunds live around 14 years on average, bulldogs and mastiffs live shorter than 10 years.

Another interesting finding from the study is that purebred dogs seem to live longer than cross-breed dogs by around eight months. This is surprising to many as mixes have been thought generally healthier because of the superior genetic inheritance.

So, if you want a pet dog that will spend a longer time with you, it’s safer to choose a small female breed that has a long nose.

Read the article and learn about the average life expectancies of our canine friends.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/03/world/dog-life-expectancy-nose-length-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4308-2/9/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Eight surprising things that can get you detained at the airport

When you pack for your next overseas trip, you may want to check if there is anything that is restricted to carry with you or needs a customs declaration. And this is not only to your destination but also to transit countries. Restrictions aren’t limited only to firearms, explosives, and narcotics. Depending on the country, pornography, fruits, seeds, plants, meat, cooked foods, and some medicines are prohibited. Also, some live animals and birds, as well as medicine, fur, and products from some wild species are prohibited from being carried in. What about money and valuables? Beyond a certain amount of money or value, travelers are required to notify how much they have with them when they go in and out of the country, including jewelry, watches (like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s), clothing, and even electronics. So, what about Apple’s new Vison Pro headset?

Read the article and learn about what you can carry with you without hassles or customs declaration when you travel abroad.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240123-8-surprising-things-that-can-get-you-detained-at-the-airport

Topic Reading-Vol.4307-2/8/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

What is catfishing and what can you do if you are catfished?

Catfishing is the act of creating a fake online persona to deceive others for financial, romantic, revenge, or harassment. Catfishers create fake profiles on social media or dating apps by using stolen or fabricated images and information. They then contact people online as the created individuals to establish intimate relationships. As many as 19,000 Americans reported to have lost nearly $39,000 per victim on average to romance scammers in 2022. Catfishing itself may or may not be classified as a criminal offense, depending on the laws of the country, but if someone creates fake images and profiles for fraud or harassment, they are most likely charged. In any case, you want to protect yourself from falling victim to either identity theft or fraudsters.

Read the article and learn how to prevent catfishing, identity theft, and fraudsters’ attacks on your online identity.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/29/tech/catfishing-explained-what-to-do-as-equals-intl-cmd/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4306-2/7/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Protesting farmers hurl eggs and clog streets with tractors as EU summit begins

On February 1, major farmer protests erupted in Belgium where the EU summit was taking place. Up to 1,300 tractors occupied major roads in Brussels, with similar protests occurring in France, Germany, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. While largely peaceful, some protests involved throwing firecrackers, eggs, and beer bottles at police. What did those farmers demand? For farmers in Eastern European countries, wheat and other agricultural products being imported from Ukraine have been unfair because of their lower labor costs. Also, farmers in Western European countries are complaining about the EU Green Deal, which puts too much cost and regulatory burden on them. The protests seem to have overshadowed the EU summit and drew significant media attention, highlighting the challenges faced by European agriculture. The road to the green world appears to be bumpy and controversial even in Europe.

Read the article and see the photos to learn about the angry European farmers.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/01/europe/farmers-protest-brussels-eu-summit-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4305-2/6/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Do humans need to hibernate, too? What the research shows

Do you sleep longer or better in winter? Most people seem to do. As the sun sets earlier and rises later, people naturally fall asleep earlier and wake up later, not to mention that staying in bed on a cold morning is a luxury. According to a study conducted among 188 patients in Berlin, the participants of the sleep studies did get 30 minutes or longer rapid eye movement, known as REM, sleep during winter. REM sleep, which is highly affected by light and darkness, restores the mind and is important for both learning and memory. Unlike bears, humans do not need to hibernate during winter to conserve energy but can enjoy extra time in bed by taking advantage of longer dark hours. So, if you want to sleep longer and better in summer, make sure that your bedroom shuts off lights completely and darken your room earlier.

Read the article and learn about why we sleep longer in winter.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/22/health/sleeping-more-in-winter-research-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4304-2/5/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Return of bullfighting met by protests in Mexico City

Bullfighting is a Spanish-oriented spectacle that shows how skilled matadors kill intoxicated bulls under the eyes of thousands of spectators in a bullring. It has been practiced in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and some other countries for centuries. Recently, the practice has become controversial as supporters argue that it is a form of art and an essential part of their cultural heritage while opponents criticize the cruelty and inhumanity of the practice. On January 28, a bullfighting event took place in Plaza Mexico, the world’s largest bullring with a seating capacity of over 40,000, after two years of suspension as part of a legal case. Animal rights activists and opponents of bullfighting protested around the bullring while the spectators were cheering the bullfighters. It is so controversial even in Mexico that four of 32 states now ban bullfighting. Should slaughtering an animal be entertained in today’s world where CowParade, an international public art exhibit, has created over 5,000 art cows?

Read the article and think if this return of the bull-killing show should be continued.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/29/americas/mexico-city-bullfighting-scli-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4303-2/4/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why South Korea should be your next 'workcation'

Digital nomads are location-independent workers who embrace a mobile lifestyle, traveling, and working remotely from various places around the world. They enjoy the benefits of the internet and mobility to earn a living while experiencing different cultures, environments, and lifestyles. In an attempt to attract such visitors who stay longer and spend more money, South Korea launched a new visa in January that allows digital nomads and alike to stay in the country for as long as two years. With a population of just around 50 million in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, South Korea offers a mix of modern and traditional lifestyles in a diverse environment. Seoul is a modern, highly condensed metropolitan that offers an exciting and fast-moving lifestyle. Busan is the second biggest city on the south-east coast. It is a busy city but it features a coastal atmosphere and beautiful beaches. Since South Korea has good Internet access, mobile-friendly payment systems, tasty and healthy foods, and a friendly and caring culture, it may be a good place to spend a year or two.

Read the article and learn about South Korea’s new visa for digital nomads.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240129-why-south-korea-should-be-your-next-workcation

Topic Reading-Vol.4302-2/3/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

TV channels are using AI-generated presenters to read the news. The question is, will we trust them?

Nowadays, more and more news articles are created and edited by AI, at least partially. Human anchors or reporters then present the news to the audience. In the meantime, as text-to-speech technologies advance, machines can read even better than humans and in any language. Then will news articles have to be presented by humans? Some argue that many viewers of news programs feel a sort of personal relationship with the presenters, called a parasocial relationship. It is a one-sided connection where you feel like you have a personal bond with someone you see in the media, like TV, online video footage, and social media. You might develop psychological closeness with such presenters as if you feel like knowing the persona well, understand their thoughts and feelings, and may even confide in them mentally. The question is whether such human touch will remain important in the era of AI. Also, will AI-generated presenters, who can work 24/7 anywhere in any language, take over human presenters?

Enjoy reading the article and learn about how humans perceive news presenters.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240126-ai-news-anchors-why-audiences-might-find-digitally-generated-tv-presenters-hard-to-trust

Topic Reading-Vol.4301-2/2/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

It’s not just Taylor Swift: AI-generated porn is targeting women and kids all over the world

With the fast rise and easy access to AI-generated tools, it is now much easier to manipulate someone’s image into fake videos and images and post them online. Last month, pornographic deepfake images of Taylor Swift, a world-popular American singer-songwriter, were circulated online until her loyal fans got together to make the social media site X, former Twitter, remove the images. But victims of such AI-generated fake creatives aren’t limited to high-profile stars. In today’s cyberspace, there are an increasing number of sexually explicit images of schoolgirls and women without their consent. For now, tools to create such deep fake images require quite a lot of raw data and images, but only one photo will be enough to do the same as AI tools become more powerful. Also, it is becoming more difficult to determine if images and videos posted in cyberspace are authentic or manipulated. How would you protect yourself and your family from deepfake attacks?

Read the article and learn about the threats of AI-generated deepfakes.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/26/tech/taylor-swift-ai-porn-women/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4300-2/1/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Australia Day: The 'quiet rebranding' of a controversial national holiday

Observed annually on 26 January, Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. It marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet of Great Brita at a small bay of Sydney Harbor. Since 1988, participation in Australia Day has increased, and in 1994 all states and territories began to celebrate a unified public holiday on 26 January. However, it was also a day of invasion for indigenous Australians as it was the beginning of colonization and dispossession of their land, culture, and rights. In recent years, as people become more sensitive to the native people, their culture, and their integrity, the tone of Australia Day has been changing, with increased awareness of Indigenous perspectives and a growing acknowledgment of reconciliation and understanding. Australians are seeking to find more inclusive ways to celebrate their national holiday with reflection and respect.

Read the article and learn about what Australian Day means to Australians.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-68014555