Topic Reading-Vol.2269-6/28/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Algeria turns off internet for high school exams

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria is a country of youth. Approximately 28% of the total population of 40 million are under age of 15. The North African country conducts a nationwide high-school diploma exam in June every year. As many as 700,000 students are taking the test in 2,000 exam halls this year. It is a serious business for high school students and they try all kinds of efforts to get good or just enough scores to pass the tests.

Nowadays, digital technologies have made leaking and cheating of exams quite easy and widespread. Because of the significance and influence of the certificate exams, there were considerable cases of leaks of the problems before and during the exam last year via social media. Therefore, the education ministry is taking a bold move this year by imposing a nationwide Internet blackout for an hour during the six-day exam period.

It surely is annoying for the rest of the population. In the meantime, it could be a good opportunity to spend an hour without online interactions.

Enjoy reading and think what you would do during the blackout hour.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44557028

Topic Reading-Vol.2268-6/27/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Canada legalises recreational cannabis use

Canada has become the second country that legalizes the recreational use of cannabis, only after Uruguay. It’s now officially and legally ok to grow, sell or buy, and enjoy smoking marijuana as long as you are 18 or 19 years or older depending on the province.

Smoking marijuana has been quite popular among Canadians. It is estimated that they spend almost as much money on cannabis they do on wine. So, the new law might have simply set guidelines for this already-popular practice.

Some people travel to other countries to enjoy certain practice or receive special service that is not permitted in their home country, such as drinking alcohol, shooting a gun, or having an abortion. Will there be young visitors to Canada to smoke marijuana? What will the educational institutions do that send their students regularly to Canada to study English?

An immigration officer asks a young visitor, “What is the purpose of the visit?” The visitor says without hesitation, “To smoke marijuana.” The officer says, “Welcome to Canada. Enjoy s---ing.”

Read the article and think if you would still send your child to Canada for any purpose.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44543286

Topic Reading-Vol.2267-6/26/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

US withdraws from UN Human Rights Council

Another US withdrawal from international efforts. Last year, the Trump administration announced to withdraw from the global compact for migration, an inter-governmental agreement to cover all dimensions of international migration under the UN auspices. Also, the administration of the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter retreated from the Paris climate agreement, the international effort to address dangerous global warming.

Now, one of the founding members of the United Nations, and also one of the permanent members of the Security Council has announced that it withdraws from the UN Human Rights Council, or UNHRC, a UN body to promote and protect human rights around the world.

Though the administration had threatened the UN body for its retreat for about a year, this sudden announcement was made just a day after President Trump’s immigration policy that separates families at the US-Mexican border was accused by the High Commissioner.

What’s the next war front, trade or non-proliferation of nuclear weapons?

Enjoy reading and think if the world is reading the prologue to a new world order.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-withdraws-human-rights-council/story?id=56009661

Topic Reading-Vol.2266-6/25/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Eid al-Fitr: A healthy way to break the fast

Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of fasting. During the period, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and engaging in sexual activity from dawn to sunset to surrender to the creator. It also makes them aware of the pains of hunger and thirst, so that they become more appreciative of what they have.

After the month-long fast, Muslims celebrate the end of the holly event called Eid al-Fitr, which was held on 15^th and 16^th of June this year. They give a specific prey and give money to the poor and the needy before the feast. You can imagine what and how much more food than usual they eat during these break-fast days. But after a month of restrictive eating and drinking period, their stomach and digestive systems aren’t in normal shape. Careful and moderate eating is essential to not to surprise the body. Also, it may be good time to rethink and reorganize what to eat and how much every day.

Enjoy reading about this break-fast festivity and think what restrictive diet could do to your spirit and diet.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/14/health/ramadan-breaking-fast-tips-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2265-6/24/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Greece and Macedonia sign agreement on name change

The Republic of Macedonia is a small, landlocked Balkan country with a population of about two million. The former Yugoslavia state declared independence in 1991 like Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the official name, the country has been described as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM, because of a dispute with Greece, which has a region with the same name.

In order for Macedonia to be a member of the EU for the economy and the NATO for security, the current administration decided to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia and signed an agreement with Greece. Though an agreement is signed, it still needs to be ratified by the parliament of both countries, and in a national referendum in Macedonia.

Is this a compromise, concession or surrender for the people in Macedonia? Are all Greeks happy with the deal? It seems to depend on who you ask the question.

Enjoy reading and think what a name change means to the citizens.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/macedonia-changes-name-intl/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2264-6/23/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Ikea bans all single-use plastic from its stores and restaurants

Do you have any idea how much plastic is produced annually? Approximately, 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year, and the most popular plastic product is single-use plastics, such as PET bottles, straws, cutlery, and bags. You may think most of them are recycled, but actually, only 14% of plastic is collected and less than 10% of such plastic products are recycled. Where does the rest of the plastic go? Simple. It goes around you or into the ocean. It is predicted that there will be more plastic in weight than fish in the ocean by the middle of the century. Also, single-use plastic makes up over 70% of all litter on beaches and in waters in EU. What can we do?

One of the multinational retailers, IKEA, has announced to stop using and selling single-use plastic items at its over 400 stores and in nearly 50 countries. The retailer sells modern, eco-friendly, ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances, and home accessories.

It might be just one step toward reducing plastic items now but could trigger other single-use plastic users, such as MacDonald’s and Starbucks, to rethink their business practices.

Enjoy reading and learn what a Swedish retailer is trying to do.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/06/07/news/ikea-bans-single-use-plastic/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.2263-6/22/2018

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Scientists lay out how to save a melting Antarctica -- and the grim future if we don't

Antarctica. Though this icy continent is far away from most inhabited places, what is happening there significantly affects the world. If no decisive measures were taken to stop the global warming, about a quarter of the sea ice in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica would disappear in the next 50 years, according to a paper in the journal Nature by nine prominent scientists. And if that happened, sea levels would rise about half a meter from where it was in 2000.

You might have heard similar warning scenarios about the melting sea ice in the Arctic and ice sheet in Greenland. But this is not just another warning for global warming. The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is vital to the condition and ecosystem of the planet. For example, it soaks up heat and carbon to slow the speed of global warming. Also, the ocean supports the life in other seas by providing nutrient-rich deep water to lower latitudes regions in. So, it’s not just penguins on the continent or residents of the coastal regions that will be severely affected by the rapid melt of Antarctic ice but all living creatures all around the world.

Enjoy reading and learn the impact mechanism of melting Antarctica.

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/13/health/melting-sea-ice-antarctica-study/index.html