Topic Reading-Vol.4481-7/31/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Instant ramen and influencers: Inside the world of South Korean convenience stores

There are no fewer than 55,200 convenience stores in South Korea, about one for every 950 people. In Japan, whose population is more than twice as many as South Korea, there are nearly the same number of convenience stores. Part of the reason South Korea has so many convenience stores is that around half of its 52 million population live in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, and over 80% live in urban centers. Also, over one-third of South Korea’s households are single residents, who tend to shop for food and daily necessities as needed at a convenient location or order online. Convenience stores in South Korea not only sell food, drinks, and daily items but also provide space to eat the food and drinks they buy, payment services, and ATMs. Furthermore, there are so many video clips on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram that show off in-store experience and reviews of the items they sell. Since those convenience store shoppers are very keen on the latest trends and fads, influencers and marketers use convenience stores as a prime location and sources for video making. How convenient!

Read the article and learn about South Korea’s convenience stores.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/south-korea-convenience-stores-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4480-7/30/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Europe turns to conscription as threat of wider war with Russia grows

Conscription, also known as draft or mandatory military service, is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. The modern system of near-universal national conscription for young men dates to the French Revolution in the 1790s, where it became the basis of a very large and powerful military. Most of the major powers involved in World War II, both the Allied and Axis powers, implemented conscription to build up their military forces. As the fear of large-scale war eased in Europe after the end of the Cold War, conscription became less popular and was suspended or abolished in many countries until Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine began in 2022. Now, having witnessed what the Russian military might do beyond borders, European countries are reinforcing the capacity to prepare for a war, including firepower and manpower. For example, a small Baltic country Latviz reintroduced 12-month compulsory military service this year. In April, Norway added over 20,000 conscripted soldiers, employees, and reservists in the hope that improved military readiness could deter potential armed conflicts.

Read the article and learn about the recent military moves in Europe.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/21/europe/europe-conscription-war-russia-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4479-7/29/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Chimps share humans' 'snappy' conversational style

Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, sharing approximately 98-99% of our DNA. This genetic closeness is reflected in many aspects of their biology, behavior, and cognitive abilities, including communication. For example, they show affection and social bonding by kissing and grooming. Like some other animals, chimps communicate by facial expressions, body language, and gestures. But what is unique about our closest cousins is that they use a range of sounds to convey different messages, such as pant-hoots, grunts, screams, and barks. New findings from wild chimpanzees revealed that they engage in turn-taking conversations like humans. The researchers were surprised to find that they exchanged information by turn or occasionally interrupted one another. Along with facial expressions, body language, and gestures, chimpanzees seem to make more detailed and interactive face-to-face communication with each other.

Read the article and learn about chimpanzees' conversation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c25lw18zrjyo

Topic Reading-Vol.4478-7/28/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why you are probably sitting down for too long

How long do you usually keep sitting on an ordinary work or school day, four, eight, or twelve hours? If you keep sitting too long, you’ll spend less energy and circulate blood less fluently, which could be associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and premature mortality. Also, reduced muscular activity lowers metabolic demand and burns less calories. If you don’t move your legs for long like being on a long flight, blood flow to the leg muscles decreases and causes blood pooling in the calves, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which could clog the blood circulation. It was found in 1953 that London bus drivers, who were sitting most of the time on the bus, developed coronary heart disease twice as many as bus conductors, who were always standing or walking around the bus. So, whatever you do, if you keep sitting so long, stand up and walk around, or move your legs from time to time to help blood circulation and metabolic activity. After all, human bodies have evolved to be able to walk upright most of the time.

Read the article and learn about the impacts of prolonged sitting.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240722-why-you-are-probably-sitting-down-for-too-long

Topic Reading-Vol.4477-7/27/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Super cheap robotaxi rides spark widespread anxiety in China

China is the world’s biggest car and EV market. This year, over 11 million fully electric and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are estimated to be sold, about two million more than the previous year. Electric vehicles are suitable for taxis as they usually drive within the cities they are registered. After each shift, they come back to the designated spot for charging and a driver change. Also, EVs are ideal for autonomous driving because they are controlled electronically. As the prices of some EVs in China are becoming more affordable, driverless taxis have become popular in some major cities like Wuhan, where the local government is supportive of the new technology and convenience in the hope of becoming the world’s first driverless city. And if there is no human driver, the running cost is lower than human-driven taxis. Though it might be just an introductory promotional price, robotaxis in Wunan can now be riden at a quarter of the price of the human-driven taxis. Driving might be one area where AI robots could technically and economically replace human labor. In the future when no driver’s seat is required, robo-taxis and robo-rideshares may become more popular in some markets.

Read the article and learn about the impact and economy of China's robotaxis.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/18/cars/china-baidu-apollo-go-robotaxi-anxiety-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4476-7/26/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

A major shift at Starbucks is changing its personality

The original form of the Starbucks store was established in Seattle 40 years ago. Under the “good coffee in a comfortable environment” concept, the coffee chain grew rapidly and added 400 stores in 10 years, opened its first drive-thru location, and started serving Frappuccino beverages. Twenty years later in 2014, Starbucks debuted its mobile ordering system, which allowed customers to place pickup orders without interacting with Starbucks’ friendly employees. Now, 70% of Starbucks’s 16,000 stores in the US have a drive-through option. Customers who chose pick-up orders seem to just want their drinks but not comfortable chairs. Also, mobile orders have become more popular, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and over one in every four orders is placed digitally. Combined, 70% of Starbucks orders in the US are mobile and drive-through. It seems that customers prefer touching their mobile phones to enjoying a nice touch from a barrister. In summer, nearly 80% of the drink orders are cold, such as iced tea or coffee, lemonade, and their signature Frappuccino. All in all, Starbucks has been expanding and transforming its businesses by meeting customer demands, creating new drinks, and providing new services. Gone are the days of sipping good coffee in a comfortable chair.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about how Starbucks has been managing its business in the last four decades.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/19/business/starbucks-mobile-orders-third-place/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4475-7/25/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Recovering from the global tech outage could be a long, arduous process

On July 19, what is supposedly an ordinary update of a widely-used security system, CrowdStrike, caused a massive computer outage across the world. Millions of Windows systems shut down abruptly, showing the Blue Screen of Death. Also, IT systems using that security system, including airlines, banks, retailers, health care, and even emergency services went unfunctional and affected millions of businesses, operations, and people. It was a nightmare. For example, retailers couldn’t use their cash registers and many airlines couldn’t process boarding, so they had no choice but to cancel thousands of flights. The good news was the flaw was quickly fixed. The bad news is it will take hours and days to recover from the operational chaos. Also, since the security software runs at the highest level of access to system resources, each affected device needs to be accessed by an administrator to manually reboot the system into safe mode, delete the offending CrowdStrkie file, and start up the system, which cannot be automated. Today’s IT isn’t free from manual labor.

Read the article and learn how a security bug could cause a global tech outage.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/19/business/recovery-global-crowdstrike-outage/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4474-7/24/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

South Korea makes N Korean defector vice minister

Established in September 1948, North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is under a unitary one-party socialist republic by a totalitarian hereditary dictatorship by Kim Jong Un, a grandson of the founding father Kim Il Sung. Its counterpart in the Korean peninsula, South Korea, the Republic of Korea (ROK), was established a few weeks earlier than DPRK. It is one of the most developed countries in Asia and is ranked 14^th in GDP in the world. Which Koreans are happier than the other is so obvious. Despite the strict border control and fear tactics, no fewer than 34,000 individuals have defected from North Korea to the South. One of them is then a deputy ambassador to the UK, Tae Youg-ho, who fled to the South with his family in 2016. He won a seat representing a district in Seoul in the National Assembly in 2020. Recently, he was named the new leader of South Korea’s presidential advisory council on unification, the highest-ranking position among defectors. He is an advocate for the use of soft power to weaken the Kim regime. Can a former defector who was denounced as human scum by the North help realize the reunification?

Read the article and learn about the recent appointment of a former defector to a vice-ministerial job in South Korea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyj4xjkvweko

Topic Reading-Vol.4473-7/23/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat

The summer is getting warmer these days and probably will be in the future, too. In summer, we use more energy to regulate our internal temperatures, which makes us feel tired. While sleeping is becoming even more essential for our health and well-being, a good night’s sleep on a hot summer night is hard to get. But there are some tips that you can try to improve your sleep quality and length. For example, you should avoid taking daytime napping and try to keep routines. Also, you want to keep the bedroom dark and cool. In addition, stay hydrated with water during the day so that you can avoid waking up during the night for water or the bathroom. And of course, avoid playing on your phone before bedtime or drinking alcoholic drinks, so you can stay calmer when you go to bed. There is no magic. Follow the basics.

Read the article and learn about the tips for a better summer night's sleep.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-49072212

Topic Reading-Vol.4472-7/22/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Australia's greyhound racing industry battles new claims of abuse

Greyhound racing is a competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around a track. Just like horse racing, greyhound races are organized not just for community fanfare but mainly for gambling nowadays. As the popularity of sport dog racing has been declining around the world, only two active tracks remain in the US, both of which are in West Virginia. In Australia, however, as many as 60 tracks are still in operation, which generates lucrative gambling income. But what are the lives of those racing dogs? Are they all adopted by new owners after ending their racing careers? What happens to the dogs that entered the racing industry but aren’t competitive enough to race? A recent report by an insider reveals that 4,200 dogs enter the industry each year but only 1,600 find resting homes. Despite the criticism from animal welfare groups, greyhound racing doesn’t seem to disappear any time soon since the industry generates profits and creates jobs.

Read the article and learn about what the greyhound racing industry is like in Australia.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8vdrzr9mq1o

Topic Reading-Vol.4471-7/21/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What a geriatric doctor wishes you knew now for healthy aging

We can’t change our genetics or our past, but we can change our future with things that we can change or control. As what makes us happy may be different at each stage of life, we should try to find a sense of self and purpose as we become older and more mature. In the meantime, the strength and mass of our muscles decrease as we age, so we need to exercise regularly. We also become physically weaker, so we should eat healthier food daily. Since older people tend to become mentally dependent and socially isolated, connections and interactions with others are essential to living happily. These are the things recommended to live a healthy life when we get older. Indeed, we seem to need to work harder and do more to cope with aging even after retirement!

Read the article and learn about what healthy aging means and requires.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/12/health/geriatrician-healthy-aging-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4470-7/20/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Opinion: I’m a flight attendant. Keep your #@$%&! seat belt on

Most people buckle up when they drive or sit beside the driver. But do you always keep your seatbelt fastened during the flight? Passengers are supposed to fasten their seatbelts when the seatbelt signs are on, usually during take-off, landing, and turbulence. Indeed, most frequent fliers probably have experienced light or moderate turbulence. When passengers and crew members have enough time to get back to their seats and buckle up, nothing or nobody flies in the cabin during light or moderate turbulence. But in May, one passenger was killed, and over 70 passengers and flight attendants were injured during severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore. Many things and people flew through the air and crashed the ceiling and overhead bins, which occurred just a few seconds after the seatbelt signs were turned on. Pilots usually predict turbulence and turn the seatbelt signs on before it shakes the aircraft. But sometimes, the back of the aircraft shakes more badly than the front, and pilots might not realize it until they are notified by the flight attendants. If you want to fly safely, the best you can do is not to open the overhead bin and keep the seatbelt fastened all the time regardless of the seatbelt sign.

Read what a veteran flight attendant says about turbulence and seatbelts.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/12/opinions/turbulence-plane-seat-belt-flight-attendant-poole/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4469-7/19/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Company debuts vending machines selling ammunition in 3 Southern states

On July 13, a 20-year-old gunman shot multiple rounds with his father’s semi-automatic rifle, wounded the former US President at his campaign rally in a suburban town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and killed a bystander who tried to cover his family. Later that night, at least four people were killed and nine others were wounded in a shooting at a nightclub in Birmingham, Alabama. Purchasing, owning, and carrying firearms is not illegal in the United States of America, except for those who have been convicted of certain crimes or become subject to certain court orders related to domestic violence or a serious mental condition. Now, there will be vending machines that sell ammunition for handguns, shotguns, and rifles in grocery stores in Texas and a few other Southern states where gun culture is deeply embedded. The machine is equipped with AI to scan the customer’s identification and facial recognition software to verify the buyer’s identity. The supplier of the ammunition vending machines said they’ve already received inquiries from other states, including populous California and Florida.

Dad: “I’m going grocery shopping. Do you need anything?”

Kid: “Get me some ammo, will you?”

Read the article and learn about today’s America’s gun culture.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/12/us/vending-machines-ammunition-alabama-texas-oklahoma/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4468-7/18/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The Olympics have long promoted safe sex. Now it wants to focus on pleasure.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games is about to take place, when Paris will become the center of world sports. It is expected that over 300,000 on-site spectators and a billion TV viewers will watch the opening ceremony. During the 17-day event, the whole world will pay attention not only to the games and athletes but also to messages exposed by the organizers and sponsors. One of the key messages that have been prepared is “Peasure takes first place when it comes to sex” as part of the comprehensive sexual health campaign. Pleasure-inclusive messaging has been promoted in the Olympic Games ever since the 1988 Seoul Games, which handed out condoms to athletes to raise awareness of IV and AIDS. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, as many as 42 condoms per athlete were provided. This time, over 200,000 male condoms, 20,000 female condoms, and 10,000 dental dams are made available at the Olympic Village, which will be used by about 14,500 athletes, which seems to be more than enough for athletes’ extra-athletic activities. What memorable souvenirs for the Olympic athletes!

Read the article and learn about how the Olympic Games could help promote sex education.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/13/europe/paris-olympics-sex-education-pleasure-spt-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4467-7/17/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

SpaceX to build vehicle that will drag the International Space Station out of orbit

The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting the Earth and hosted over 270 astronauts and researchers since 2001. It maintains an orbit at around 400 kilometers altitude and circles the Earth every 93 minutes at a speed of 27,600 kilometers per hour. As the name indicates, it is an international space station that is operated by the space agencies of the USA, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada. What will happen to the ISS when its prolonged lifespan ends in 2030? NASA is planning to crash the ISS into the ocean. But how? The plan is to send a powerful rocket to help push the space station out of orbit. From there, the rocket and the space station are expected to destructively breakup and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Recently, NASA signed a billion-dollar contract with SpaceX, an aerospace company that has been sending crew members to the ISS, to develop a vehicle to steer the ISS out of orbit. How many orbits will the ISS make before its last?

Read the article and learn about what will happen to the ISS at the end of its lifespan.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/26/science/nasa-spacex-space-station-deorbit-vehicle-contract-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4466-7/16/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Samsung becomes first tech giant to launch a smart ring

A smart ring is a compact wearable electronic device that combines mobile technology with features for convenient on-the-go use. Just like a smartwatch, it tracks health indicators such as heart rate, sleeping time, and menstrual cycle. Smart rings can operate independently or connect to smartphones or other devices communicating with cloud-based systems. Though smart rings tend to have fewer features than smartwatches, they are more convenient, comfortable, and botherless than smartwatches especially during sleep. Recently, Samsung introduced the smart ring version of its proud Galaxy series, the Galaxy Ring, hoping to explore a prospective, yet nitch market. When the ring is connected to a Samsung Galaxy device, Galaxy AI features are provided such as energy score and personalized suggestions. One question is whether you want to allow Samsung to monitor your health data including menstrual cycles to receive such suggestions. However, adding a ring to your finger seems easier than adding or replacing a watch around your wrist.

Read the article and learn about what a smart ring could provide.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c978902e0ljo

Topic Reading-Vol.4465-7/15/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

No music, no Western-style haircuts: UN report details life in Afghanistan under Taliban’s moral enforcers

The Taliban is a Sunni Islamist nationalist and pro-Pashtun movement founded in the early 1990s that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until October 2001 before it was overthrown by the US invasion. After two decades of insurgency, it recaptured Kabul in August 2021 from the US-backed government and military and now controls the entire country as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The Taliban interprets the Islamic law, Sharia, in the way they want and imposes strict social and legal codes including harsh penalties that are enforced by so-called morality police. The Taliban disproportionately treat women and girls. For example, women are not allowed to go into parks or work in public or teaching jobs. Girls are banned from secondary or higher education. When they travel, they must be accompanied by a male guardian. Also, women are required to cover their bodies and faces in public. These rules are enforced by various methods, including verbal intimidation, ill-treatment, arrests, detentions, or even public lashing. The interpretation and enforcement of “Un-Islamic” sounds similar to “Counter-Revolutionary” during other philosophical revolutions.

Read the article and learn about what sort of life people have to endure in Afghanistan.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/10/asia/afghanistan-taliban-life-un-report-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4464-7/14/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

South Korea politician blames women for rising male suicides

More people commit suicide in South Korea than in any other economically developed country. Each month, over 1,000 people kill themselves, or about 25 suicides per 100,000 people each year, which is much higher than the average of around 10-11 deaths among 38 developed countries. Suicide rates are higher among elderly people as they become financially and physically fragile. Also, men kill themselves twice or more than women do. Poisoning with pesticides or carbon monoxide, hanging, and bridge jumping are common suicide methods. The  Mapo Bridge over the Han River in Seoul is often called a suicide bridge by locals. The suicide attempts along the river increased to 1,035 last year from 430 five years earlier, and the proportion of men rose to 77% from 67%. Recently, a Seoul City councilor claimed that women’s participation in the workforce had made it harder for men to get jobs and married, resulting in an increase in male suicides. Since the city councilor hadn’t provided any scientific proof, his report has been criticized by many. Whether his opinion is supported by the public or not will be judged in the next election.

Read the article and learn about the high suicide rate in South Korea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cml2kvd2dvno

Topic Reading-Vol.4463-7/13/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How fetching water is holding back India's women

Water scarcity in India is a significant issue, affecting millions of people across the country. About a quarter of rural households still don’t have piped water and they rely on various alternative sources to meet their daily needs, such as community wells, hand pumps, rainwater harvesting, water tankers, and natural water sources like rivers and ponds. Traditionally, fetching water has been women’s jobs. When there isn’t enough water in their villages, they have no choice but to walk kilometers for hours to only fetch water from distant water resources, especially during the dry seasons. On their way back, they have to carry the water-filled pots on their heads and buckets in their hands, which makes them extremely exhausted when they get home. Also, since water-fetching is so time-consuming that it prevents women from working for a paid job. While super-rich people spend millions of dollars on weddings in India (Vol.4462), many people are still struggling only to get daily necessities.

Read the article and learn about water scarcity in rural India.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2e47zgz2v7o

Topic Reading-Vol.4462-7/12/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Elephants, Michelin stars and Mughal jewels: Indian weddings are a $130 billion business

Whose wedding party can be attended by both Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg? A son of Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in Asia, hosted days of wedding parties for his son that were attended by these global celebrities and quite a few Bollywood stars. Wedding ceremonies and parties are extremely important for India’s parents. Though they usually are value-conscious, India’s parents spend a big portion of their lifetime savings on wedding events for their children to show off their power, wealth, and status. On average, those who can afford to host wedding events spend no less than $15,000, over three times the average annual household income. These weddings are often spread over days and attended by over 300 guests. Accordingly, the market size of India’s wedding industry is estimated to be around $130 billion, smaller than China but nearly twice as large as the USA.

Read and learn about what India’s wedding extravaganza is like.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/05/business/ultra-rich-indian-weddings-economy-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4461-7/11/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Need multiple alarms to wake up in the morning? Here’s what could be happening, according to experts

Some people use a snooze button or multiple alarm settings to wake up in the morning, say 10 minutes, another 10 minutes, and finally, they get up after 10 or 20 minutes of “extra” sleep. But is this a good habit? Actually, this is not “extra” sleep but “interrupted” sleep, which undermines one’s sleep quality because the last hours of sleep are essential to refresh brain function. If you have difficulty waking up with the first alarm, you might not have gotten enough sleep, or your daily schedule doesn’t match your internal body clock. If you’re sleep-deprived, you need to turn off your smartphone and go to bed earlier unless you can get up later. If you’re a night owl but still need to get up early, you want to shift your body clock gradually to match the required daily schedule or change the job. Ideally, your body clock matches your daily routine, and you get up even before the ugly alarm sound goes off. If you still need to rely on your alarm, try to get up with just one alarm to maximize your sleep time.

Read the article and learn how to sleep better and longer without hearing multiple alarm sounds.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/28/health/multiple-alarms-wake-up-sleep-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4460-7/10/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Soup broth is damaging South Korea’s highest mountain, warn officials

Does eating spicy cup noodles at the top of the mountain sound alluring? If you finish the noodles and soup and bring back the empty cup, you are welcome to do so. But if you dump the leftover salty broth on the mountain or in its streams, it contaminates pure water streams in the mountain. That is what the National Park Office of Mount Halla, about a 2,000-meter-high mountain on Jeju Island, is now warning hikers, where smoking, littering, leaving food, drinking alcohol, and jaywalking are all prohibited at the mountain and a violation could cost up to over $1,000. Though it has become trendy to eat hot noodles on high peaks not only in Korea but also even in the Alps, the broth should not contaminate the nature of the peaks and streams. Maybe Shin Ramyun, South Korea’s most popular Ramyeon brand, should come up with an environmentally friendly version.

Read the article and learn about how cup noodles could contaminate nature.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/27/travel/south-korea-highest-mountain-soup-broth-jeju-intl-hnk/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4459-7/9/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

AI is replacing human tasks faster than you think

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for some years and has dramatically improved the productivity of many jobs and automated tasks that used to be done by human intelligence. Those tasks include writing reports and summaries, answering questions and inquiries, calculating delivery routes, placing refill orders, diagnosing patients, and creating artwork such as music, stories, and cartoons. So far, AI has been empowering human jobs in many different ways instead of replacing them. Companies that use AI effectively are improving quality, productivity, and competitiveness, and so are the people who work with AI. Corporate executives expect that more and more human tasks will be replaced by AI in the years to come. Then more human jobs will be replaced not by AI but by other humans using AI.  

Read the article and learn about how AI has been and will be impacting human jobs.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/20/business/ai-jobs-workers-replacing/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4458-7/8/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

World’s first carbon tax on livestock will cost farmers $100 per cow

Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. Methane from cattle is shorter-lived than carbon dioxide but 28 times more potent in warming the atmosphere. Each year, a single cow will belch about 100 kilograms of methane. Agriculture is Denmark’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. To help meet its climate goals, Denmark’s government recently agreed to introduce the world’s first carbon emissions tax on agriculture. Once approved by the parliament, about $17 per ton of livestock emissions per year will be charged from 2030 and $43 in 2035 to farmers. Cows account for most of the cattle population in Denmark, and farmers will have to pay nearly $100 per cow. The cow tax won’t make cows produce less methane, but it might help reduce other greenhouse gas emissions from farming.  

Read the article and think if this livestock tax helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/26/business/denmark-cows-carbon-tax/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4457-7/7/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

No AC but the ‘greenest’ ever Games? Inside Paris’ landmark Olympic Village

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games start on Jul 26 and end on Aug 11, mid-summer. Then the Paralympics start on Aug 28 and end on Sep 8, still summer. Around 10,000 and 4,400 athletes are participating in the games respectively. The organizers of the games have been trying to make the mid-summer sports events as sustainable and responsible as possible before, during, and even after the games. The newly prepared 3,000 apartments for athletes have no air-conditioning. Instead, they use geothermal cooling, which takes cool water from underground wells and puts it into the pipes under the floors of each building. Also, 14,250 beds and mattresses in the apartments were made with recyclable materials like cardboard. After the events, these apartments will be converted into office space and apartments.

Read the article and learn how Paris has been trying to make the 2024 Olympic Games as green as possible.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/25/style/paris-2024-olympic-village/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4456-7/6/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

US states want to ban phones in schools. It might be a challenge

Nowadays, college students are using smartphones productively on and off campus. They take notes and photos of the lecture, research topics for their assignments, and make presentations with their smartphones. Smartphones are now an essential device for learning in college. However, high school and middle school school teachers are very much concerned about the use of smartphones during class. They want students to study, build relationships and friendships, and learn from each other in school, but their students are constantly texting their friends, replying to messages on social media, and scrolling through their feeds with their smartphones anywhere, anytime, including in classrooms and during class. Now, many states in the US, including most populous New York and California, are trying to ban the use of smartphones in the classroom. However, policing smartphone use in schools has never been an easy task. Parents want their children to have a smartphone for safety reasons. Students want to stay connected all the time and they feel more excited doing it during class. In the meanwhile, teachers want their students to study without disruption. The question is how schools effectively implement the policy once approved.

Read the article and learn about what some states are trying to do with smartphones in schools.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce99443qweno

Topic Reading-Vol.4455-7/5/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

The fertility crisis is here and it will permanently alter the economy

The total fertility rate is the expected number of children born per woman in her child-bearing years, usually between 15 and 45 years old. A fertility rate of 2.1 is needed to keep populations constant, which is called the replacement level. Of the 204 states and districts listed by the UN Population Fund, 28 states/districts have a lower than 1.5 fertility rate, including major economies like South Korea, China, Japan, Spain, and Italy. The average fertility rate among 38 world’s largest economies in 2022 was just 1.5 children per woman, a significant drop from 3.3 in 1960. Also, about half of those listed states/districts have less than 2.1 children per woman. If low fertility rates continue, deaths will outnumber births. Also, societies with low birth rates need workers who sustain the economy and pension funds, especially in aging societies like China, South Korea, and Japan. AI will improve productivity but hands are still needed to make, handle, and carry things and care for people. Will gender equality and fairer sharing of work and childrearing improve low fertility rates? Will immigration mitigate the aging population and low fertility rate problems?

Read the article and learn about the economic impacts of the low fertility rate.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/25/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4454-7/4/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

How to exercise when it’s too hot outside

Regular exercise makes you healthier physically and mentally. But if you exercise outside, like jogging, playing sports, or even walking at high temperatures, exercise could have negative effects on you. Nowadays, deadly heat waves have become more frequent and caused heatstroke to many, including over a thousand Haji pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia who died last month. Some people are more vulnerable to heat. Children, elderly people, and those who have chronic medical conditions, such as heart, lung, and kidney problems. If you ever feel a headache, weakness, dizziness, and nausea while working or exercising outside, you’d better cool yourself immediately. And if these symptoms persist, you might have gotten heat stroke, which requires immediate medical attention. Don’t underestimate the effects of overheating. It is fatal.

Read the article and learn about what to do and what not to do when it is so hot outside.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/21/health/exercise-summer-heat-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4453-7/3/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Escaped pet donkey found 'living best life' with elk

The donkey is the horse family while the elk is the deer family. Donkeys are domesticated animals found worldwide, originally from North Africa while Eek are wild animals found in forests and meadows, primarily in North America and Asia. Donkeys are generally a little smaller than elk and weigh around 200-some kilograms, about the same weight as female elk. Both donkeys and elk primarily eat grasses and leaves while domestic donkeys are often fed with hay and grains as well. One of the key differences between them is donkeys are more solitary and independent but elk are typically social and live in herds. Also, donkeys are mostly domesticated as working animals or pets while elk are wild animals.

An eight-year-old male pet donkey, Diesel, went missing during a hiking trip in California in 2019. Despite extensive search attempts, he has never been found. Recently, a hiker filmed a donkey in a herd of elk. Upon seeing the video, the Diesel's owners identified the donkey as him. They were pleased that Diesel was well and looked happy in the elk herd. They now hope the donkey enjoys his life in the wild. Usually, donkeys outlive elk.

Enjoy reading the article and see the film that shows a donkey with a herd of elk.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjjje07x35do

Topic Reading-Vol.4452-7/2/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Mandatory conscription and subway stations as bunkers: Germany outlines wartime plans

At the time of reunification in 1990, the combined manpower of the German military was as many as 585,000 strong. However, as compulsory military service was suspended in 2011, the present active personnel of the German military is about 180,000. In the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine in February 2022, Germany started reviewing the military preparedness for Russia’s aggression further into the continent. Recently, for the first time since the Cold War, Germany has updated plans to cope with a military attack by Russia. The plan includes military conscription and mandatory assignment of skilled workers like bakeries, doctors, and nurses. Also included was rationing of essential foods like rice and condensed milk. In addition, it includes a transformation of underground stations for bunkers for civilians. As Russia’s war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending, many European NATO member states are updating wartime plans, and Germany wants to be ready for war before the next decade.

It took about 20 years to break the peace after World War I. The cold war lasted over four decades. And over three decades have passed since the end of the Cold War. Will Germany play a role in peace or war in Europe in the near future?

Read the article and learn about how Germany is preparing for the next war.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/09/europe/germany-wartime-plans-russia-threat-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4451-7/1/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

China space probe returns with rare Moon rocks

Cheng’e 6 was the sixth robotic lunar exploration mission by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the second CNSA lunar sample-return mission. It is humanity's first lunar mission aimed at retrieving samples from the far side of the Moon, with all previous collective lunar mission samples having been taken from the near side. The prove was launched on May 3 and the landing module touched down on the Lunar far side on June 1. Then the lander’s robotic scoop and drill took samples from the lunar surface and placed them on the ascender module, which was launched into lunar orbit on June 3. The precious samples were then transferred to an atmospheric re-entry module, which came back and landed in the Inner Mongolia desert successfully on June 25. What a challenging mission without any astronomers on board! But why did the mission aim at the far side where no direct communication can be made with the Earth? What stake is there?

Read the article and learn about China’s amazing lunar mission.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c04447venm1o