The Millennial Source

Honesty about life’s darker realities can spur us to action and progress, but too much negativity leaves us feeling paralyzed and completely helpless. So here’s a bit of balance – a showcase of positive developments occurring right now around the world:

1. Extreme poverty is the lowest it has ever been.
2. New Zealand launches new “wellbeing” budget.
3. Large Amazonian region is now protected.
4. Global commitment to “No More Plastic” grows.

Go beyond the headlines with us to explore bonus facts like these…

• Progress on poverty is uneven around the world. Which regions are winning and which are losing?
• New Zealand isn’t the first nation to declare that measures of a state’s success should consider the happiness of its people. Learn about a US politician and a tiny Asian nation that helped lay the groundwork for New Zealand’s new policy.

How us Introverts can succeed our way

A fellow introvert shares her secrets to flourishing in a work world dominated by extroverts:

Harnessing Positive Energy Like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Recently, the Netflix hit “Knock Down the House” gave us a behind-the-scenes look at AOC’s improvised political operation. One very memorable and personal scene shows Ocasio-Cortez giving herself a positive energy pep talk before a critical political debate.

The power of self-talk

By verbalizing subconscious habits of thought like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, you can exert control over your own mind. Rather than letting self-defeating thoughts run rampant, you will learn to channel your brain’s energy towards the positive outcome you want.

Tips for effective self-talk

1. Think about all the people who would like to see you succeed. 
2. Refer to yourself in the third person. 
3. Believe in what you are saying!

The Root of Taiwan – China Relations Today (PLUS what Taiwanese think)

Japan ceded control of the islands of Taiwan in 1945. Almost immediately afterward, all of China descended into civil war. By the time the San Francisco Treaty was signed in 1951, the Communist Party had assumed control of the mainland, with the prior Chinese Nationalist government fleeing to Taiwan.

Taiwan’s political status has been ambiguous ever since…

• To which government did Japan actually return control of Taiwan?
• Which government officially represents Taiwan?
• Does one government have a legitimate claim to all of greater China?

Go beyond the headlines with us to explore bonus facts like these…

• Why weren’t Taiwan and mainland China invited to sign the San Francisco Treaty?
• Is there a relationship between China’s economic boom and Taiwan’s disappearing diplomatic allies?

11 Inspirational Quotes from Strong, Proud Women for Work and Life

They range from some of the world’s most famous artists and entertainers to fighters who transformed their suffering into global empires. And all of these women have a lot to say.

Here are just a few of their simple reminders that can transform our hours, days, months, and sometimes even our lives:

• “Don’t play a supporting role in your own life.” – Robin Roberts (American television broadcaster)
• “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” – Oprah Winfrey (media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philanthropist)

China and Taiwan Relations Right Now (PLUS US Role & Effects on Pacific Islands)

• In recent years, mainland China has ramped up efforts to achieve its One China goal. These efforts include meddling in Taiwan’s elections and interfering with day-to-day life in Hong Kong.
• Chinese loans and other aid place poorer regions like the Pacific Islands in a position of economic dependence. As a result, nations like the Solomon Islands are under tremendous pressure to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
• The US policy of “strategic ambiguity” complicates the global response to increasingly worrisome China and Taiwan relations.

Go beyond the headlines with us to explore bonus facts like these:

• Aside from the requirement of severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan, what other terms does China place on its foreign aid?
• How did China manage to occupy a port in Sri Lanka for the next 99 years?
• Which country now owes one-third of its GDP to the PRC powerhouse?
• How has the Taiwan-China issue developed under the Trump administration?

Here’s how to find out how much sleep you REALLY need – and get It!

We constantly ask our friends, our doctors and above all our bot overlords, “How much sleep do I need, actually?”
The problem is that no one else really knows how your body and mind feel. Fortunately, we can learn how to decide for ourselves how many zzz’s we need!

• If your energy is low and you get hungry a lot, you might not be sleeping enough. However, if you wake up with little energy even after sleeping longer than you usually do, you might be sleeping too much for your body.
• How much sleep we need is influenced by all kinds of factors, including our lifestyle habits, what we’re already accustomed to and even genetics. So don’t rely on online sleep quizzes and calculators.
• The sleep habits of well-known entrepreneurs, celebrities and CEOs vary just as much as everyone else’s. There’s no magic sleep formula for success.
• The best way to figure out how much sleep you need is to track your sleep and mood over a few weeks (BTW we have a sleep tracker for you!)

4 Positive News Stories to Put World Development in Perspective

1. A Chinese entrepreneur sends thousands of bikes to children in rural Myanmar.
2. Animals thought to be extinct have been rediscovered in the jungles of Honduras.
3. Renewable energy now accounts for one-third of global power capacity.
4. A South Korean school gives illiterate older women the chance to read.

Go beyond the headlines with us to explore bonus facts like these…

• Which region of the world is taking the lead in renewable energy growth?
• What are the dreams and ambitions of South Korean women learning to read at age 60+?

Everything you need to know about the current unrest in Hong Kong (PLUS what it says about Taiwan)

• One way to evaluate the “One Country, Two Systems” approach that Beijing is insisting on for Taiwan is to look at the relationship between Hong Kong and China. Hong Kong has been operating under this arrangement for over 20 years. 
• From the abduction of Hong Kong citizens in 2015 to recent protests that brought the entire city to a standstill, unrest has been on the rise in Hong Kong in recent years.
• Mainland China points to Macau as proof of how well “one country, two systems” can work. However, Macau’s one-dimensional economy centered on gambling makes it an unsuitable comparison for Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Go beyond the headlines with us to explore bonus facts like these…

• How much longer can Hong Kong keep its political and economic status quo? 
• What are the language, political and population differences between Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China and Macau?
• With the Chinese cyberworld heavily monitored and censored, what do mainland China citizens know about the tensions in Hong Kong?

4 Morning Routine Must-Do’s to Overcome Anxiety (PLUS Bonus Tips from Successful People)

Waking up anxious doesn’t just take the fun out of our morning routines. The stresses invading your mind can derail your hopes for the day before it even begins.

We can’t completely stop the angst that comes with taking on new challenges, but we can keep it from hijacking our mornings. Here are four ways to keep the anxiety that wakes you up at bay:

1. Put yourself together – even if you really don’t feel like it. 
2. Play the right type of music.
3. Visualize yourself overcoming the stresses. 
4. And lastly … Don’t touch your phone. Really.

US & New Zealand Leaders React to Mass Shootings – Blame Laying vs They Are Us

• The US, plagued by an epidemic of mass shootings for decades, remains stuck in a bog of political paralysis. – – Meanwhile, New Zealand, shocked by this modern evil’s arrival on its shores, springs to action.
• Why does the global threat of mass violence so inspiringly unify one country, and so hopelessly divide the other?
• National leaders are, for better or worse, the faces of their nations in the eyes of the world. In times of crisis, their words and actions matter.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• What were the themes of Prime Minister Ardern’s and President Trump’s responses to the mass shootings?
• How did the youth of the two nations respond?

China attempts to reunify with Taiwan by pressuring global companies

• Consumers will soon start seeing “Taiwan, China”, or a similar phrase, on the websites and marketing materials of most major global corporations.
• These companies are being coerced to use this language, fearing harm to their bottom lines if they do not comply.
• An Air New Zealand flight bound for Shanghai was forced to turn back because airline documents seemed to refer to Taiwan as a separate country from mainland China.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• What is the economic significance of mainland’s China’s policy toward businesses?
• What happened to Palau when it refused to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan?
• Which American companies have been targeted by the mainland Chinese government for suggesting that Taiwan and China are separate countries?
• What does mainland China hope to achieve through these efforts?

6 Ways to unwind when you’re suffering burnout (PLUS how to test yourself)

In May 2019, the World Health Organization officially listed workplace burnout as a medical syndrome. The health risks are real, so it’s critical to learn how to get your mind back in balance:

1. Meditate
2. Get organized
3. Get some fresh air, rehydrate and breathe deeply
4. Arrange time to talk with a family member, friend or therapist
5. Exercise, stretch or do some yoga
6. Take a mental health day

Responses of NZ & US Youth to Mass Shootings – Myths and National Identity

• After horrendous acts of violence, the youth of both countries took to the streets in different ways – the haka dances of New Zealand students and the angry protests of US teenagers.
• A vacuum created by the absence of decisive leadership sucked the youth into the most bitter realms of American politics.
• Both forms of public demonstration are rooted in debates over national identity that reach back long before the great grandparents of today’s youth were born.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• How have national myths divided one society and unified the other?
• How have haka dances and other Maori traditions evolved to embody New Zealand’s national identity and shared strength in the wake of tragedy?
• How do American ideas of freedom feed the strife over gun laws?

5 Common Misbeliefs About Gender Identity (PLUS Why They Matter)

Gender identity debates and campaigns get a lot of attention from news outlets these days. LBGTQ activists passionately voice their demands for recognition and rights across social media platforms, and critics respond with equal passion.

Sadly, just like with every other current debate, misconceptions abound. Here is our attempt to puncture the most rapidly spreading gender identity myths before they grow any larger.

1. The gender of all human newborns is easy to identify
2. Gender fluidity and non-binary gender are new ideas
3. Gender is a simple matter of XX or XY chromosomes
4. Gender identity is connected to sexual preference
5. Only tomboys and effeminate males resist traditional gender identities

8 Jeff Bezos quotes – The world’s richest man speaks on creativity & success

You might love Amazon for giving you 24-hour delivery of the toilet paper your roommate was supposed to buy last week, or hate it for driving your cute local supermarket out of business. Either way, the flagship company of Jeff Bezos has in some way influenced your day-to-day life.

Here’s a brief look at the surprising history of Amazon, along with a peek inside the mind of the man behind the empire:

• “The common question that gets asked in business is, ‘why?’ That’s a good question, but an equally valid question is, ‘why not?’”
• “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.”

Why I’m not scared of the #metoo movement, and I’m a man

In September 2018, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified to the US Senate that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. Responding to her testimony and to the #MeToo movement, President Donald Trump stated that it is “a very scary time for young men in America.”

Well, I am an American cisgender, heterosexual male, and I am not afraid. Here’s why:

• I have seen how women are pressured to remain silent.
• I understand that women are people. Completely. Really.
• I keep things in perspective.
• I want my life to matter.

Mass Shootings in Context – NZ Weapons Ban vs US 2nd Amendment & “Gun Culture”

• After leading her country out of a deep darkness following the Christchurch Mosque Shootings, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern looked across the Pacific and was mystified:

  “Australia experienced a massacre and changed its laws. New Zealand has had its experience and changed its laws. To be honest with you, I don’t understand the United States.”

• Most of the world finds the intensity of US “gun culture” bewildering. At the root of it all is a lone sentence in the world’s oldest constitution still in use.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• What are some of the key facts and misconceptions about gun ownership in the US?
• What further context could James Madison have given when he wrote the Second Amendment – The Right to Bear Arms?
• How do most Americans view the Second Amendment today?

4 gift ideas for that type A friend

• We all have that friend who is always just so on top of life. Every single event is recorded in her calendar, and she’s always 15 minutes early to everything, always put together, just always “on”.
• They amaze us, but these friends also cause us mini panic attacks when it comes time to buy them gifts. Finding something that will meet their expectations and that they’ll actually like seems a little … daunting, to put it mildly.
• So when it’s time to get a gift for that friend, here are a few ideas to make her day without driving yourself crazy!

This is why everyone wants a piece of the 5G pie

• Headlines about the global “5G Race” are everywhere these days. We were told that China and South Korea jumped out to a big lead in 2018, but the US is now surging to the front of the pack. But is 5G really such a big deal? Is it really worth a cutthroat worldwide race?
• In two words, yes and yes. Here’s why.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• What exactly is 5G, again?
• What are the Economic benefits for businesses, governments and regional economies during the 5G rollout phase?
• What are the benefits for the actual winners of this race?

Faces in the Cages – How US Policies Shaped the US-Mexico Border Crisis

• Images of the children, separated from their parents and huddled in detention center cages at the US-Mexico border, have shocked the world. Verified reports of these children being denied basic necessities like blankets, soap and toothbrushes, have escalated the global outcry. And detained adults are not doing any better.
• The current humanitarian emergency at the US southern border is a complex problem with many causes. Sadly, some of those causes are rooted in US policies of the past.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• Who are the people being held at detention facilities today?
• Who were these detention facilities initially built for?
• How does the US spending $78 billion a year on a so-called War on Drugs relate to the central American violence causing so many to flee north?
• How did the “Banana Republic” era and the Cold War shape the situation we see today?

The Millennial Source 2019 Good News for Today Feature – August Updates

As part of The Millennial Source’s mission to spread awareness of all global events, it is time once again for our monthly good news feature. By reporting on these events, we hope to spread awareness of the positive developments occurring in this fast-paced world. 

1. Unemployed father is offered a job after handing out hundreds of resumes on the street
2. Wind power generation surpasses coal in Texas – the largest consumer of coal in the US
3. Man helps young boy doing homework on the streets of Peru 
4. Ophthalmologist treks to rural areas of Nepal, restoring the sight of over 130,000 people

Hong Kong unrest sparks a floating conspiracy theory amongst some Taiwanese

• The Millennial Source spoke with citizens of Taiwan to learn what they think of the current unrest in Hong Kong. 
• Hong Kong has entered its 11th week of almost continuous protests, with mounting tension gripping the city. The past few weeks have seen increasingly bloody clashes between protesters and both the riot police and masked assailants.
• Taiwan President Tsai Ying Wen remains firm in her rejection of any mainland China involvement in Taiwan’s affairs. However, the people of Taiwan are skeptical about her ability to maintain the status quo. 

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• What do the Taiwanese think Hong Kong’s situation reveals about their own future?
• Why do some Taiwanese citizens believe that the Hong Kong protests have been staged?

Angelina Jolie on being and raising magnificent women

Recently, Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie spoke out about the inequalities women endure around the world today. She also shared some advice she gives her daughters on how to become strong and magnificent women, in spite of all the obstacles placed in their way.

• “In my work, I travel often to countries where I know that if I were a citizen there, my beliefs and actions as a woman could land me in jail or expose me to physical danger…”

• “I often tell my daughters that the most important thing they can do is to develop their minds. You can always put on a pretty dress, but it doesn’t matter what you wear on the outside if your mind isn’t strong. There is nothing more attractive—you might even say enchanting—than a woman with an independent will and her own opinions.”

Migrant Labor Made America Great – History Behind the US-Mexico Border Crisis

• During a tour of a US border detention facility, Mike Pence encountered hungry men struggling to sleep on the floor of overcrowded cages. Many of the men came to the US to work.
• To investigate why the US has failed for decades to enact useful immigration reforms, The Millennial Source abided by an old guideline of American journalism: When in doubt, follow the money.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• Which private corporations are cashing in on the humanitarian crisis?
• How crucial is migrant labor to the American economy?
• For how long have US employers and government agencies alternated between recruiting immigrant laborers and punishing them?
• What is the history behind the labor exchange programs that brought the first waves of Mexican workers to the US? What happened after the largest such program ended?

• On August 3, a gunman opened fire at a Walmart in the border city of El Paso, Texas, killing 22 people. Many of the victims were Latinos, including migrant workers and eight Mexican citizens.
• Just four days later in Mississippi, ICE officials took almost 700 undocumented immigrants from Mexico and Central America into custody. Occurring on the first day of school, the raid left many children parentless for hours or days.
• Despite undocumented immigrants adding value to the US economy and paying taxes, politicians claim that illegal immigration costs the country billions of dollars each month.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• Why is the US averse to punishing employers for hiring undocumented workers?
• Why have past attempts to reform US immigration laws failed to resolve long-standing issues?
• How do Trump’s words and policies on immigration compare with those of the president whose campaign slogan he borrowed?

5 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Reduce Cellulite

Recently, popstar Camila Cobello was snapped on the beach by paparazzi and passersby. Soon after, she was slammed in the media for having cellulite and being “too fat”. But cellulite is so normal – a reported 85% of women over the age of 21 have it. 

Even though cellulite is made up of fat deposits, it isn’t necessarily related to being fat. 

That said, managing your weight and making a few other healthy lifestyle choices might significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. And there’s no reason to feel bad about wanting to try. 

Here are some tips:

1. Drink more water
2. Brush and exfoliate your skin
3. Eat well
4. Stress less
5. Move around – doesn’t have to be intense, don’t worry!

DACA Dreamers – The US-raised Youth Caught in Limbo as Border Debate Rages

• Global headlines about the US-Mexico border crisis center on the loudest voices – the human rights groups expressing outrage over family separations, and the “invasion” claims of President Trump and anti-immigrant groups.
• A less-publicized debate centers on the policy called DACA, and the fate of a unique group of immigrants who have come to be known as the “Dreamers”.
• Dreamers are undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children. Many of them speak English as their primary language, and speak it with a US accent.
• DACA prevents deportation of Dreamers but does not give them permanent legal resident status.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• At least three times since the year 2000, the US Congress has attempted to resolve the Dreamer dilemma legislatively. Every time, the effort has failed. Why?

How is Beijing is now using media to prepare for the worst case scenario

• Recently, Buzzfeed, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and several other major technology companies released public statements announcing the removal of multiple user accounts backed by the Chinese government.
• Reddit – a platform that has become the ultimate virtual destination for Hong Kong protest updates – was also suspected to be crawling with Chinese bots. 
• During the early phases of the protests, news on Hong Kong affairs rarely reached mainland media platforms. However, as the longevity and severity of the protests grew, hiding the demonstrations from the mainland public became increasingly difficult.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• What do media users within China see and say about the ongoing rallies in Hong Kong?
• What role does the media play in justifying Chinese military action?  

After working at a startup, here are my four biggest lessons learned

• America’s startups showed the way for innovative companies around the world, or at least it seemed that way from thousands of miles away where I grew up. Desperate to experience a bit of that excitement, I decided to take the plunge and live the startup life.
• The first six months or so were pretty anticlimactic. But when things started moving, they moved very, very fast. Unfortunately, the situation didn’t progress in our favor. 
• Here are my key takeaways from my time working at a failing startup. 

1. Keep your eyes peeled and listen to your intuition.
2. No matter how bright you are, you can never do it alone.
3. You can have the best people with the brightest minds, but decisions are still made by the person who owns the company. 
4. Someone better know how to manage finances – and that person should be the founder, or hold equal power to the founder.

10 quotes from Halsey on success and fighting for what you believe in

At 24 years old, Halsey is one of the world’s hottest young singer-songwriters. After posting self-published songs on social media, she quickly rose to stardom, soon releasing her major-label debut album and touring with larger acts. 

Halsey isn’t just another pop star, however. Aside from being one of the world’s most recognizable faces, she is a prominent activist for gender and racial equality, climate change action, mental health awareness and LGBT rights. And she’s not afraid to pick fights with the powerful.

• “People are so afraid to talk about real things, but they’re experiences that everyone goes through.”
• “I’m a human, and I’m multidimensional. If I was the perfect form of anything, I’d be boring. If I was a free spirit all the time, I would be boring; I would lack depth. If I was dark and enigmatic all the time, then I would lack relatability.”

Has President Trump Kept His Promise to “Build That Wall”? Here Are the Facts

• To declare his candidacy for the 2016 US presidential election, Donald Trump delivered a speech in which he described Mexican immigrants as criminals, rapists, and drug smugglers. He insisted that a new border wall was essential to protect US interests.
• Chants of “Build that wall!” have been ubiquitous at Trump rallies since at least May 2016, when he egged on a Phoenix, Arizona crowd that started the chant. Throughout the campaign, Trump stated emphatically that Mexico would pay for wall construction.
• Former Mexican President Vicente Fox famously responded that there was no way Mexico would “pay for that f—ing wall”. Now, Trump asserts that Mexico will “pay for the wall indirectly”, without offering a coherent explanation of how that will happen.

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• How did the debate over the wall lead to the government shutdown from December 22, 2018 through January 25, 2019?
• According to the Congressional Budget Office and outside analysts, what is the actual cost of building Trump’s wall?
• What is the current status of the wall? 

Recycled Lessons & New Successes – The Man Behind Majestic Corporation

• WSF Group was an early mover into the metal recycling industry, at a time when few saw its potential. That industry is now forecasted to be worth USD 406.16 Billion by 2020.
• In 2017, WSF was reborn as Majestic Corporation, a forward-thinking company poised to capitalize on the booming recycling market in this age of short-lived devices. 
• Our reporter met and spoke with Peter Lai, the man behind Majestic Corp, about his past, present and future. The interview provided a window into the rapid-fire, seemingly random inner workings of a man who never slows down.

Could the 25th Amendment Really End Trump’s Presidency?

• Even by the standards of Donald Trump’s highly unconventional presidency, the United States is entering the autumn of 2019 in a state of political chaos.
• After a rambling, undisciplined performance at the G7 Summit, Trump canceled a visit to Denmark over the country’s refusal to sell Greenland to the US. He later held a strange press conference to defend his incorrect tweet about Hurricane Dorian, displaying a National Weather Service forecast map that he evidently altered with a marker.
• In the wake of these episodes, former Trump aides have suggested that the president might be unfit for duty.

Go beyond the headlines…

• Could Trump really serve more than two terms if he were to win the 2020 presidential election, as he has suggested at rallies?
• What have some concerned Trump allies said about about the President’s behavior?
• How can the powers of the president be revoked under the US Constitution’s 25th Amendment?

Good News for Today Feature – 2019 September Updates

• After another horrific mass shooting in Texas, internal conflicts in the UK Parliament stalling progress on Brexit, an escalating trade war between the world’s two biggest economic powers, and months of ongoing protests in Hong Kong, it can be difficult to remember that there are positive things happening in the world. 
• In alignment with The Millennial Source’s mission to stay neutral and spread awareness of all current events, we have again arrived at that time to showcase some uplifting developments around the globe. 

1. Daisy-May Demetre, age 9, is the first double amputee to walk on the “New York Fashion Week” Catwalk
2. The US may soon have a three-digit suicide prevention hotline
3. Over 25% of millennials have altered their diets to help the environment 
4. Crowdfunding efforts raise $3 million to protect land in Canada

Taiwan’s asylum offer for Hong Kong dissidents angers Beijing

• In July, soon after the Hong Kong protests began gaining international attention, President Tsai Ying Wen of Taiwan publicly offered asylum to “friends from Hong Kong”. 
• China’s pursuit of a “great reunification” with Taiwan and other self-ruling regions has proven to be much more difficult than Beijing seems to have anticipated. 
• Despite Tsai’s public offer of assistance to Hong Kong residents, Taiwan has yet to implement a formal system to deal with those seeking asylum. 

Go beyond the headlines with us…

• How did a murder in Taiwan ironically spark the demonstrations in Hong Kong? 
• What is Taiwan’s asylum capacity?
• Since late 2016, how many people from Macau and Hong Kong have been granted Taiwan residency?
• What reaction has Taiwan’s asylum offer drawn from Chinese officials? 

The Cases For & Against Impeaching Trump, PLUS History of Impeachment

• Congressional committees are ramping up investigations into the president’s actions before and after his election, with a growing number of representatives calling for impeachment.
• Over half of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives now favor opening an official impeachment inquiry, which could lead to Trump’s removal from office.
• Those resisting a formal inquiry include Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat and by far the most powerful single member of the legislative body. 

Go beyond the headlines…

• Why is Nancy Pelosi opposing the impeachment of President Trump? 
• How does the impeachment process work? 
• There have been three notable presidential impeachment inquiries in US history. Which presidents were affected, and why?
• What are the cases for and against the impeachment of President Trump? 

Everything You Need to Know About the French Tax on Tech Giants Like Amazon

PLUS – What Are Other Countries Doing?

• After years of debate on how to tax tech companies, one European nation has decided to take the lead in modernizing its corporate tax system.
• In July, France implemented an aggressive tax crackdown on major digital companies, with a wide-ranging 3% tax on revenues.
• Desiring a united front within the EU, France proposed this plan to all 28 European Council members in early 2018. However, the proposal was tabled in the face of intense opposition from EU members, as well as tariff threats from the Trump Administration. 

Go beyond the headlines…

• Which EU countries opposed France’s initial proposition? What are the likely reasons for their misgivings? 
• Why did France decide to enact the levy alone? 
• What was Trump’s response to the French tax, which he labeled as “discriminatory”?
• Where does the rest of the world currently stand?
• What progress toward a global solution has been made at OECD, G20 and G7 levels?

 Can Trump Win Re-election in 2020? Early Signs and the Role of the Economy

• A recent national poll conducted by Quinnipiac University showed President Donald Trump badly trailing five major 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. 
• Trump has already defied the election odds once by defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016, when many major polls had suggested that Clinton would win the election comfortably.
• As The Millennial Source has previously reported, Trump’s immediate challenge is to survive as president until November 2020, when the next election will occur. Both the US Constitution’s 25th Amendment and the impeachment process threaten to bring his presidency to a premature end. 

Go beyond the headlines…

• What national approval ratings has Trump received throughout his presidency? 
• How do the vagaries of the Electoral College make Trump’s 2020 re-election possible, even with high public disapproval of his presidency?
• Is the current US unemployment rate really the best to ever occur in the country, as the Trump Administration has claimed?
• How is the US and China Trade war likely to impact Trump’s chances of re-election? 

10 Quotes that will make you rethink the way you live and work

As busy individuals with hardly any time to reflect on what we do, we can easily become slaves to our habits. 

The Society for Personality and Social Psychology has found that “about 40 percent of people’s daily activities are performed each day in almost the same situations,” without conscious thought.

But let’s just say that you feel a need to reconsider how you’re currently living and working, and perhaps modify your existing habits. Well, here is your opportunity to harness your power to change by using some time-tested adages and quotes to guide yourself in the right direction. 

• “Dream big, work hard, stay focused and surround yourself with good people.” – Anonymous
• “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice

The beauty of rolling with the punches – Interview with Hilton Augustine Jr.

Recently, Dinocrates Group announced its acquisition of Global Management Systems, Inc. (GMSI), a networking and communications company. GMSI handled communication network systems for some of the most secure organizations in the world, such as the US Department of Defense. 

Our reporter spoke with Hilton Augustine Jr., the fascinating figure behind GSMI, about his journey. Augustine’s thoughtful answers show how that journey has been shaped by his unique combination of relentless drive and simple joy in taking life as it comes.

Alibaba adds work/life balance to core values as pro-996 chairman retires

• Billionaire Chinese businessman Jack Ma, who co-founded the tech and e-commerce giant Alibaba in 1999 has been an outspoken proponent of China’s “996” culture. Ma announced his retirement on September 10. 
• On the same day that Ma retired, Alibaba opened its post-Ma era by unveiling six new company values, one of which promotes a greater focus on work/life balance. 
• According to many critics of the company, including some Alibaba employees, this commitment to worker well-being was notably absent under Ma’s leadership. 

Go beyond the headlines…

• What is the 996 culture, and how did Ma help to promote it?
• What has been the backlash against Alibaba’s overtime policy? 
• What did a Chinese state-run newspaper have to say about Ma’s statements in favor of 996 culture? 

South African Gender-Based Violence Crisis – Facts, Causes & Ramaphosa’s Plan

• A series of horrific rapes and murders in South Africa captured national headlines in August, renewing public outrage over gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.
• The social movements #TotalShutdown and #AmINext rallied thousands of women to protest against femicide and the abuse of women in Cape Town on the 4th of September, the first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa. 
• Protesters called for stronger action from the government, including harsher sentences for perpetrators of sexual offenses and changes in how the criminal justice system handles sexual assault cases.

Go beyond the headlines…

• What is President Cyril Ramaphosa’s national plan to deal with the issue of gender-based violence? 
• What does South African crime data show about the history of violence, and violence against women in particular, within the country?
• How are civil societies and activists pressuring the South African government, businesses and society as a whole to make needed cultural changes?

Trump-Ukraine Scandal – Checking Trump’s Counterclaims About Joe Biden

As the scandal surrounding US President Donald Trump’s interactions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky escalates, the Trump Administration is enduring a new level of scrutiny.

A majority of members of the US House of Representatives now publicly support the newly launched impeachment probe.

Meanwhile, Trump allies are focusing their attacks on Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who was heavily involved in US-Ukraine political negotiations from 2014 through 2016.

Go beyond the headlines…

• What do we know about Trump’s accusations about Biden and Ukraine?
• What is the connection between Joe Biden’s son Hunter and Ukrainian criminal prosecutions? 
• Why did Biden’s role in the Ukraine increase during the years 2014-2017? 

Indonesia halts controversial penal code revision amid nationwide protests

• On September 20, 2019, President Joko Widodo abruptly delayed the passage of Indonesia’s Draft Penal Code, a controversial 628-article bill that would overhaul the nation’s criminal laws. 
• The revised code would further restrict freedom of speech in a country where it is already limited, and also ban sex outside of marriage. The bill had been expected to win the approval of the Indonesian Parliament in a vote scheduled for September 25.
• With the vote now delayed, the matter will be taken up by the newly elected Parliament later this month.

Go beyond the headlines…

• What other piece of legislation did protesters decry? 
• Why are protesters unappeased by the delay of the vote? 
• What would passage of the Draft Penal Code mean for Indonesians?

Philippines Declares Polio Epidemic and Launches New Immunization Campaign

• On September 19, 2019, the Philippines announced the re-emergence of polio within the country. 
• The announcement came 19 years after the WHO declared the infectious disease eradicated on the islands in 2000. 
• The announcement came following two confirmed cases of polio, a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur in the Davao region, and a 5-year old boy from Laguna province, south of Manila. 
• A single confirmed polio case or the collection of two positive, genetically linked environmental samples from separate locations is considered an epidemic in a polio-free country.

Go beyond the headlines…

• What is polio and how does it spread? 
• What caused the public distrust of vaccinations among Fillipinos?
• How is the Philippines responding to the new polio epidemic?

Everything you need to know about China’s controversial Xinjiang Muslim Camps

• Xinjiang, China’s westernmost region, revised its laws in October 2018 to legitimize the use of “vocation training centers” for Muslim citizens. The stated purpose of these centers is to “educate and transform” individuals identified as potential terrorists.
• Since the centers were officially sanctioned, detailed accounts from former “trainees” have surfaced in the international press, alleging harsh treatment inside the camps. The reports have sparked global criticism of China’s treatment of minority ethnic groups.  

Go beyond the headlines…

• What is China’s history of ethnic, economic and religious struggles in Xinjiang?
• Why has international scrutiny of the re-education camps risen in recent months?
• What is Beijing’s response to the international criticism? 
• What do former Xinjiang re-education camp detainees say about the camps?

What you need to know about the wildfires in Indonesia – Causes and impacts

• October 2019 – Forest fires continue to wreak havoc on Indonesia’s western island of Sumatra, as well as in Central Kalimantan on Borneo. Hundreds of wildfires have spread across the islands, devastating ecosystems and creating smog so heavy that some regions were forced to close schools and cancel airline flights.
• Indonesia’s disaster management agency identified the leading cause of the forest fires as slash-and-burn agriculture – the deliberate setting of fires to clear land for palm plantations.

Go beyond the headlines…

• Who are accountable for the fires?
• What are the impacts of the Indonesian forest fires on wildlife?
• What are the human health risks created by the fires
• Which neighboring countries have lodged complaints?

Good News for Today Feature – 2019 October Updates

• Amidst the unfolding Trump-Ukraine scandal, South Africa and France struggling to respond to femicide crises, and continual demonstrations and violence in Hong Kong and Indonesia, it can seem as if the world is spiraling backwards.
• As part of our ongoing commitment to showcasing the good news stories alongside the bad, The Millennial Source has once again arrived at that time in our publishing calendar when we try to put current affairs into greater perspective.

1. Chinese conglomerate applauded by the UN for environmental protection initiative
2. UCLA is creating the world’s first research institute on kindness
3. After a year of experimenting, Ocean Cleanup vessel is successfully collecting plastic from the Great Pacific Vortex
4. Sales of plastic bags have fallen by 90% in the UK

11 Quotes from Hollywood’s Poker Princess – Molly Bloom on Money & Life

Molly’s Game, a 2017 film by award-winning director Aaron Sorkin, depicts the true story of a young American woman who founded “…the Most Exclusive, High-Stakes Underground Poker Game in the World.” Sorkin adapted the screenplay from a book by the same title, written by the woman herself – Molly Bloom.

Bloom’s rise from the depths offers plenty of lessons in determination, self-awareness, “owning it” and learning from past mistakes.

“I have been hugely successful at times in my life, and I have also been in ruins. But the lessons I learned on the way up were just as valuable on the way down.”

Typhoon Hagibis kills over 70 and inflicts widespread damage in Japan

• Typhoon Hagibis, the worst storm to hit Tokyo since 1958, made landfall southwest of the Japanese capital city around 7 p.m. local time on October 12.
• Wind gusts of up to 216 kilometers per hour (134 miles per hour) were reported in some parts of the country.

Go beyond the headlines…

• What were the economic impacts of the typhoon across Japan?
• What did Japanese agency damage reports reveal?

Apple App Store removes Hong Kong protest mapping app, sparking user outrage

• As of October 10, 2019, Apple has removed the HKmap.live app from the App Store, stating that the app “has been used in ways that endanger law enforcement and residents in Hong Kong.”
• Apple originally rejected HKmap.live from inclusion in the App Store on October 1, claiming that it allowed users to “evade law enforcement”. After reversing this decision three days later, the company has now flip-flopped again.

Go beyond the headlines…

• What were the reactions to Apple’s stated reasons for removing HKmap?
• What is China’s influence over Apple?
• What does the Chinese economy mean to Apple?