It’s sometimes said that the US is a “melting pot” of different racial groups living together, but a decision last month set fire to the pot.

On Nov 24, a local court decided not to charge(控告) Darren Wilson, a 28-year-old white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, US. Wilson shot dead the 18-year-old unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson on Aug 9.

By Nov 26, people who were against the decision in 37 US states and Canada had taken to the streets, said a newspaper.

Wilson said that Brown had hit him and tried to get his gun. In fear for his life, Wilson shot Brown 12 times and killed him. However, some said that Wilson attacked Brown for breaking traffic laws, and shot him for no good reason.

People are wondering whether the same thing would have happened if Brown had been white. The deep racial divide in the US makes the case more than a crime story, said a New York Times article.

It’s been five decades since legal segregation (种族隔离政策) was banned, but a wide gap remains between black and white Americans. The unemployment gap between them is unchanged in 40 years, while the gaps in wealth, income and educational attainment have widened, according to the newspaper.

The case is the latest reminder for some people that the US judicial（司法的） system doesn’t treat black and white people the same, CNN reported.

Just days before the decision, a white police officer shot and killed a 12-year-old black child, Tamir Rice. Police said that Tamir had an air gun that looked real, according to CNN.

To help with the distrust between police and minority communities, President Obama said that he would ask Congress for $263 million to buy 50, 000 body-worn cameras for police to record themselves, and improve training to make sure law is obeyed.

“For the people who just feel pained because they get a sense that some communities aren’t treated fairly — I understand that, and I want to work with you, and I want to move forward with you,” Obama said on Dec 2.

The cost of living in countries like the United States, Britain, Australia or France has increased in recent years. But, if you're willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries having an extremely cheap and low cost of living. So, if you have the flexibility of living wherever you please, and want to live in a country the cost of living is the cheapest in the world, check out these 3 countries when planning your next move.

Cambodia

Cambodia may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of a tropical paradise, but it's pretty close. The added bonus is that living here is insanely cheap, unlike some other tropical getaways. A luxury home with four bedrooms and a pool would only cost about $600 a month. A decent three-bedroom vacation home can be purchased here for just $20,000. And, for only about $2,000 a year, you can also hire a gardener and housekeeper to take care of your property.

Ecuador

Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result, it has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it's cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on a budget in the U. S. You can even buy a property for around 50，000 and hire someone to tend to it while you're away.

Mexico

Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there are many wealthier areas that provide every amenity you might need. You can live off a mere $700 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, amenities, food, and any sights.

BEIJING/SAO PAULO—Chinese traditions like cockfighting, flying and fireworks have been quite common in Brazil for many years.

“Despite the thousands of kilometers between them, China’s historical and artistic mark on Brazil has existed for about 300 years,” said Brazilian sinologist (汉学家) Jose Roberto Teixeira Leite in his book China in Brazil. “Influences from china can date from the colonial the two countries has existed for a long time,” he noted, adding that incoming ships would fill up Brazilian cities like Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and Recife with Chinese products like porcelain (瓷器), silk and fans. He also found Chinese influence not only in the arts and architecture of Brazil but also in the most diverse areas of Brazilian society, like the economy, medicine and popular culture. “At the end of the 19th century, in Pernambuco (a state in northeastern Brazil), there was a custom that children slept with clothes decorated with Chinese dragons.” Teixeira added.

The book took him about 15 years to finish. “The impact of the book surprised me, though it was published by a university publisher and it had a print run of just 1,000 copies,” he said. “Some have said that the book represents a turning point in Chinese studies in Brazil.”

Besides, the sinologist did research on the mark and presence of China in the architecture and arts of Brazil. “It was through art that China awoke in me, first, curiosity, after that, interest, and finally, passion,” Teixeira said.

In 1992, the sinologist visited Macao to do research for his doctoral thesis about the marks and presence of China in Brazil, and that trip impressed him a lot. In 2013, Teixeira had a chance to visit the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai, and got to know “the past and present of the great country culturally, as well as its incredible material development.”