Topic Reading-Vol.4816-7/1/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Is an apple a day really good for your health?

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is a well-known English proverb, but is it true? Like any other fruit, apples are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Also, apples are rich in polyphenols, which are beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant properties. However, the apple is not the only fruit that has such health and nutritional benefits. What makes apples so beneficial to our health is that they are so widely available, mostly affordable, and have a long shelf life. Unlike bananas or papayas, apples are grown in many regions worldwide. Because of their availability, apples are economically and environmentally friendly. Also, apples can be stored longer than other seasonal fruits like strawberries or oranges. Indeed, apples are nearly everyone’s fruit almost throughout the year. But do apples really keep the doctor or pharmacists away?

Read the article and learn what apples may do to your health.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250620-is-an-apple-a-day-really-good-for-your-health

Topic Reading-Vol.4815-6/30/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

24 of the world’s best salads

A salad is a dish typically consisting of a mixture of ingredients, most commonly vegetables, and often with fruits, nuts, cheese, seafood, or meat. It is usually served at room temperature or sometimes warmed, and is dressed or mixed with salad dressing or oil. Salad can be eaten as an appetizer, intermezzo, side dish, or main dish. Just like soup, rice dishes, or noodles, there are so many varieties of salad dishes around the world, each representing local or regional food culture and produce. How often do you eat salad? Here are some popular salad dishes that you may want to try for your next meal or trip.

Read the article and see the images of 24 popular salad dishes from around the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/worlds-best-salads

Topic Reading-Vol.4814-6/29/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

'Eldest daughter syndrome' to the rebellious youngest sibling: Does your birth order shape your personality? 

In most developed countries or established societies, the number of family members is shrinking to as few as three or even two. Declining birthrate, unmarried couples, housing costs, inflation, working mothers, and higher education costs, to name a few reasons why parents are contributing to fewer or no children. Do only children have distinctively different personality traits, like selfishness or narcissism, from children with siblings? Also, it is often said that the firstborns are more responsible and caring because they often look after younger siblings. But are there any significant characteristics, behavioral, or intellectual gaps between earlier-borns and later-borns? In fact, the only child or the first-born child tends to have more time to communicate with and learn from their parents, while later-born children often spend more time with their elder siblings. In the meantime, later-borns often have a better chance of growing up in a better financial situation. Another aspect to be taken into consideration is that young siblings are often compared at the same time, which means they are of different ages. For example, if you compare a teenager, the most sensitive age group, with a six or eight-year-old child, the happiest and carefree age, they certainly exhibit very distinct characteristics. Indeed, there seem to be so many aspects to compare siblings.

Read the article and think whether the birth order really matters to the personality or ability of siblings.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250619-does-birth-order-shape-your-personality

Topic Reading-Vol.4813-6/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The women at the centre of Somalia's construction boom

Located on the Horn of Africa, Somalia is the easternmost country in Africa, facing the Gulf of Aden to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east. Former Italian and British territories united and formed the independent Somali Republic in 1960. However,  the nation had been under domestic conflicts and also suffered a US-backed Ethiopian invasion until 2012, when the Federal Government of Somalia was established. Somalia, with a population of around 18 million, is among the least developed countries in the world, with a large portion of the population living by subsistence farming. In the meantime, in Mogadishu, the capital city, the post-conflict reconstruction has led to a construction and housing boom, and thousands of new buildings have been constructed since 2020. Unfortunately, since this construction boom occurred before building regulations were put into force, there are mounting concerns about the safety of the buildings. Also, the city’s infrastructure, including water and sewage systems, has not caught up with the booming construction. In addition, there is a severe shortage of workforce, particularly construction engineers. Surprisingly for an Islamic society, two young female engineers are now overseeing construction work in a traditionally male-dominated workplace, putting hard hats on their hijabs. Rapid urban development in a least developed country gave young Muslim women the chance to work in a male-dominated construction workplace.

Read the article and learn what is happening in the capital city of Somalia.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj427dy11j0o

Topic Reading-Vol.4812-6/27/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

AI to help tell donkeys apart at island sanctuary

Facial recognition is a technology that identifies or verifies a person's identity using their face. It works by comparing a facial image from a camera or a video frame to a database of known faces. Facial recognition is used in various applications, including security systems, smartphone unlocking, law enforcement, airport passenger screening, and automatic ticket gates. It first identifies key facial features from the image, such as the distance between the eyes, the shape of the nose, and the contour of the jawline, and then compares them with the features in the database. Can we use the same or similar technology to identify a particular animal within a herd of cattle? With the help of the University of Southampton, a donkey sanctuary in the Isle of Wight, England, is developing a mobile app to identify particular donkeys by using AI. With the mobile app, visitors will be able to find the identity and profile of the donkey they are interested in soon. In the future, the sanctuary hopes to use the app to help monitor health issues in the animals. Once developed, such technology might help farmers monitor the health and growth of dairy cattle, too.

Read the article and learn how AI can help identify a particular donkey from others.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrxjd1l2p1o

Topic Reading-Vol.4811-6/26/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why Ukraine is one of the world's most digital countries

Denmark, Estonia, and Singapore are among the few most recognized leaders in digital government. They use digital technologies and data to transform how governments operate and deliver services to citizens and businesses, including tax, pension, IDs, certification, and elections. For example, Denmark is shutting down its postal service by the end of the year because it can provide governmental services without mail. Ukraine is another country that has an advanced digital government platform, apps, and services. Its digital service portal offers 130 services for 22.7 million users, about 60% of the nation’s population. Since citizens’ data are shared by government departments and organizations, users do not have to re-enter their profile or record again when they apply for a benefit. Also, as the country has been at war against Russia since 2022, users can apply for damage compensation for their property or report the location of Russian troops through the app. What creates a digital divide may not be citizens’ digital literacy but a bureaucratic divide.

Read the article and learn how Ukraine has advanced in digital services.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm234l04xmro

Topic Reading-Vol.4810-6/25/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Social media now main source of news in US, research suggests

What is the main source of news for you, if you have any? According to a recent survey, over half of the respondents in the US obtain news from social media, such as Facebook, X, and YouTube. In the meantime, around 50% said they get news from TV, and 48% said they get it from news sites and apps. TV news and news sites cover a wide range of topics from different places and fields, and most of them are fact-based and less biased. In the meantime, SNS news and videos show what their viewers are interested in and are often biased, opinionated, and personalized. Nowadays, younger generations spend much more time on their smartphones and watch TV or read paper media much less or not at all, so you can plan media coverage and count on influencers for your marketing or election campaign. However, you cannot predict a sudden sensation spurred by video clips. An effective media mix and quick response to reactions are essential for today’s campaigns.

Read the article and learn which news source is more popular these days.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lzyxkklpo

Topic Reading-Vol.4809-6/24/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

What are rare earth minerals, and why are they central to Trump’s trade war?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are 17 metallic elements in the periodic table made up of scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides. Rare earths are ubiquitous in the technologies we rely on today, from smartphones to wind turbines to LED lights and flat-screen TVs. They’re also crucial for batteries in electric vehicles, MRI scanners, and cancer treatments. They are called "rare" not because they are scarce in the Earth's crust, but because they are difficult to find in concentrated, economically viable deposits. Also, while some REEs are relatively abundant, they are usually dispersed and mixed with other elements, making extraction challenging, expensive, and environmentally damaging, which has made China and a few other countries the dominant suppliers of the processed REEs. In fact, while China produces approximately 60% of the world’s raw magnet rare earth elements, it occupies over 90% of the global refined supply. For the USA to domestically process enough REEs for its needs, it’ll take years of financial investment, regulatory approvals, and environmental studies, in addition to access to REEs. No wonder the US administration wants Ukraine and Greenland to become suppliers of REEs.

Read the article and learn what rare earth minerals mean to trade and national security.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/03/business/rare-earths-us-china-trade-war-explainer

Topic Reading-Vol.4808-6/23/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How the Air India crash investigation is unfolding

On June 5, London-bound Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing all 243 people but one on board and dozens on the ground. Investigators are trying to determine if the incident was just a unique issue to that particular flight, or a systematic issue affecting the B787, which more than 1,100 are in use around the world. From the wreckage, they’ve retrieved the cockpit voice recorder, which should have recorded all the vocal communication and noise in the cockpit, and the flight data recorder, which should have stored information related to engine and control settings. They will also examine scorched cables, damaged turbine blades, parts including wires, nuts, and bolts, and the maintenance log of the aircraft to help determine the cause of the incident. While the investigation is ongoing, over 1,100 B787s will continue flying around the world.

Read the article and learn how a commercial airplane accident is investigated.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxw6331grxo

Topic Reading-Vol.4807-6/22/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How airline fees have turned baggage into billions

An airfare is a fee paid by a passenger for air transport. Airfares vary by class, fare restrictions like changeable or cancelable, and seat selection for most airlines. In-flight services such as meals, drinks, and wifi access are mostly optional for budget airlines. Nowadays, what costs you quite substantially is baggage fees. Recently, a growing number of airlines are charging fees for checked baggage, whether for excess, additional, or even the only bag. Furthermore, some European budget airlines, such as Ryanair and Easyjet, are now charging fees on carry-on baggage that doesn’t fit under the seat in front of the passenger. Even if you manage to put all your belongings into a bag and put it under the seat in front of you, you’ll sacrifice the already-squeezed legroom. So, when you’ve found a very good airfare, you surely want to check the fees on both check-in baggage and a cabin bag before touching the “Buy” button.

Read the article and learn how much your total airfare could cost nowadays.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0qg3ylx2g9o

Topic Reading-Vol.4806-6/21/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

‘We do this to survive’: Harvesting opium poppies in Myanmar’s Shan State

Myanmar, also referred to as Burma, is a country in northwest Southeast Asia with a population of around 55 million. The country has been under a civil war since 2021 between the Myanmar military, ethnic armed organizations, pro-democracy forces, and civilian-led militia groups. Bordered by China to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, the Shan State of Myanmar is home to several armed ethnic groups, and recently, it has come under Chinese economic influence. The region has become the epicenter of synthetic drug production, opium, and is part of the Golden Triangle, the area around the Ruak and Mekong rivers bordered by Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. After Afghanistan’s Taliban prohibited opium production in 2022, Myanmar became the world’s largest producer of opium again because the demand surged and so did the price. More farmers in the region are now engaged in opium poppy farming and gum production, which brings them decent money quickly. Those farmers now work like factory workers for illegal produce.

Read the article and learn about the life of the “farmers” in Shan State of Myanmar nowadays.

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/6/7/we-do-this-to-survive-harvesting-opium-poppies-in-myanmars-shan-state

Topic Reading-Vol.4805-6/20/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

World’s most beautiful castles

A palace is a grand residence of the ruling monarchy or noble family. A fortress is a large, strong building or a group of buildings to defend from attack. A castle is a fortified residential structure for the ruler. Many castles were built during the Middle Ages in places like Europe, the Middle East, and Japan. They were built primarily for defense and residence, but they also served as symbols of power, status, and authority of the ruler. Some of them have moats, high walls, towers, and battlements to reinforce defense. Castles are called Castillos in Spain, Château in France, and Shiro or Jo in Japan. Many were destroyed during battles and wars, while others were demolished or became ruins. However, there are still quite a few castles that are preserved and maintained as historic symbols and landmarks, such as Himeji Castle in Japan, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, and Prague Castle in the Czech Republic. Visiting a castle, you can not only enjoy seeing the beautiful architecture but also feel the historical significance of the structure.

See the photos and read the descriptions of beautiful castles around the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/beautiful-castles-around-the-world

Topic Reading-Vol.4804-6/19/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The everyday activity that can reveal your brain's age

The faster you walk, the slower the aging of your physical and cognitive health seems to be, according to studies. Walking speed varies by age, person, and health conditions. For example, the average walking speed for 60-69 year-old men is around 1.43 meters per second, but it declines to below one meter for 80-89 year-olds. Also, a 45-year-old adult may walk as fast as healthy 20-year-olds, while others walk as slowly as much older adults. Walking relies on the coordination of various body systems, including bones, muscles, eyes, heart, lungs, brain, and nerves. As you age, these functions slow down, which affects the person’s walking speed. Also, if your physical or cognitive conditions decline faster than your aging, your walking speed becomes slower than that of others in the same age group. Then, how fast is normal or too slow at your age?

Read the article and learn what walking speed means to your health and aging.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250609-can-your-walking-speed-reveal-your-brains-rate-of-ageing

Topic Reading-Vol.4803-6/18/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Has AI 'transformed' university for the better?

Some students feel helped and improved by AI to do their academic tasks. Indeed, AI can find, sort out, and compile the information you need, the grueling process that you used to do with Google search. Furthermore, AI can help summarize the research results, organize the information, and even write the content. If students try to use AI responsibly and properly, AI tools help them focus more on the important parts of learning. However, if they use AI only to save time or ease the task, they won’t learn as much as they would by studying or doing the research work themselves. As everyone uses AI in every corner of their studies and work, the playing field is being elevated, just like what IT tools have done to workplaces. Consequently, skills to use AI tools productively and creatively are now expected in academic studies and businesses. AI gives everyone the chance to do tasks more, better, and faster.

Read the article and learn how AI affects higher education.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge9kggp1go

Topic Reading-Vol.4802-6/17/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

World fertility rates in 'unprecedented decline', UN says

Just several decades ago, countries in eastern Asia such as Japan, South Korea, and China were struggling to deal with an increasing number of newborns. For example, China implemented the infamous one-child policy in 1979 to control population growth, but in the last several years, it has been trying to increase the low fertility rate of only 1.2 children per woman, which is well below the replacement level of 2.1. Also, the number of Japan’s newborns exceeded two million between 1971 and 1974, but it fell to below 700,000 last year, much fewer than the number of deaths of 1.6 million. According to the recent UN report from a survey of young adults and those past their reproductive years in 14 countries with various fertility rates, one in five said they haven't had or expect to have as many children as they desire, even though most of the respondents want to have two or more children. Nearly 40% cited financial limitations as the main reason for not having the desired number of children. But in general, developing countries tend to have higher fertility rates than developed countries. So, what does the financial restriction mean to couples? As the number of expected parents who have fewer or no siblings increases, the world may see even fewer children per couple in developed countries.

Read the article and think about what could prevent couples from having as many children as they want.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clynq459wxgo

Topic Reading-Vol.4801-6/16/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Google’s DeepMind CEO says there are bigger risks to worry about than AI taking our jobs

AI is getting many kinds of jobs and tasks done more easily, productively, and even more creatively. It finds information much faster from vast resources, organizes it, and provides solutions. Also, AI generates code or creates stories or artworks based on natural language prompts. Many kinds of jobs have already been affected or replaced by this autonomous and even creative intelligence, and more are expected. Indeed, humans have experienced such job transformations when innovation appeared, such as steam engines, automation, computers, and the Internet. But as AI is getting better at almost all intellectual tasks than humans, it could be used for harmful or malicious purposes, such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and creating content like deepfake pornography. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which is capable of performing most intellectual and cognitive tasks that humans can, is on the horizon. Humans may no longer be capable of detecting and stopping AI crimes, but AI police may be.

Read the article and learn about what AI bosses are concerned about the impact of AI

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/04/tech/google-deepmind-ceo-ai-risks-jobs

Topic Reading-Vol.4800-6/15/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Traffic saved me': Student missed Air India crash by just 10 minutes

On June 11, Air India flight AI171 bound for London Gatwick crashed only moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad, western India, at 13:39 local time. All of the 12 crew members and 241 passengers onboard the flight were killed but one. The sole survivor on board was a 40-year-old British man of Indian origin who was seated in economy class seat 11A. Surprisingly, there was another lucky person who did not die in the crash. An Indian student who lives in Bristol had been visiting western India for a holiday. She was scheduled to fly the same flight and was assigned to seat 36G. However, she arrived at the airport 10 minutes late to board the plane due to heavy traffic and missed the flight. After she left the airport sadly, she learned that the airplane had gone down. There may be similar or opposite stories like these in the building that the airplane crashed into.

Read the article and learn about two people who survived the crashed Air India flight.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgv26zz5wzo

Topic Reading-Vol.4799-6/14/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The pandemic generation: How Covid-19 has left a long-term mark on children

Five years have passed since the COVID-19 outbreak spread around the world. Many places, including offices, shops, restaurants, and schools, were shut down for months or even longer. As frontline school teachers have been witnessing, such social isolation appears to have profound effects on children, including toddlers. When they were at the age of learning the foundation of social communication, they were only with a few family members in an isolated space without interactions with other people or the outside world. Also, as many school children had to take classes online or from their caregivers for months or even longer, they missed the opportunities to interact with other students, participate in school or club activities, and have hands-on learning. Teachers have been adjusting curricula to help those students catch up with the requirements. Researchers are studying the social, mental, physical, and economic impacts of the missed opportunities on the pandemic generation.

Read the article and learn about the impacts of social isolation on young children during the pandemic.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250605-the-pandemic-generation-how-covid-19-has-left-a-long-term-mark-on-children

Topic Reading-Vol.4798-6/13/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Video: Humanoid robots fight in Chinese boxing competition

Humanoids are general-purpose, bipedal robots modeled after the human form factor and designed to work alongside humans to augment productivity. They are expected to learn and perform tasks in factories, warehouses, kitchens, hospitals, and more, where hands and legs are needed. On the practical side, they can learn to move and pack boxes, assemble parts and modules, flip patties for burgers, or lift and carry a person. Chinese humanoid inventors and developers are also trying to have robots learn to run a road race (Vol. 4749), dance, and exercise. Recently, a humanoid robot fighting competition was held in Hangzhou, China. The participating robots had to go through stress tests to prove their ability to perform in the fight. Soon, we may not only be working with humanoid robots but also be helped or entertained by them.

Watch the video on how robots can perform like human fighters in a boxing competition.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/22/world/video/china-humanoid-robots-boxing-ldn-digvid

Topic Reading-Vol.4797-6/12/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Japan’s annual births fall to record low as population emergency deepens

The population of the Japanese declined by nearly 900,000 last year to 120 million. While over 1.6 million died, fewer than 700,000 were born. Why were there so few newborn children? In fact, 1974 was the last year when Japan’s total fertility rate marked 2.0 or higher. The number has been consistently falling to 1.50 in 1992, 1.36 in the millennium year, and 1.15 last year. Also, fewer than 500,000 Japanese couples got married in the last few years. Japan is one of the East Asian countries, like China and South Korea, whose number of newborns and population have been declining rapidly. Also, these societies are aging fast. Nearly 30% of Japan’s population is 65 or older, who are eligible for a pension. Despite the financial incentives and social support, young people in Japan and these countries don’t seem to be encouraged to get married or have children. In the meantime, the number of foreigners living in Japan increased by 337,000 to 3.6 million. They are young, eager to work, and reproductive. In order to sustain the economy and society, what matters more is the population than nationality.

Read the article and learn how and why the number of births is declining so fast in Japan.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/05/asia/japan-birth-rate-record-low-intl-scli

Topic Reading-Vol.4796-6/11/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How your pets alter your immune system

Living with animals can significantly enhance our lives by providing companionship, reducing stress, and offering a sense of purpose and meaning. Trained service animals, in particular, provide support to the disabled both physically and mentally. Domesticated animals also contribute to our physical health by increasing exercise and potentially impacting heart health. Indeed, animals make us work physically. In addition, studies have found that children living in farming communities where cattle, farm animals, and pets live close to humans have a lower risk of allergies, asthma, and hay fever. That is because exposure to microbes during infancy and childhood helps train the immune system to distinguish between harmless and harmful microorganisms, fostering tolerance to commensal bacteria and preventing overreactions to foreign invaders. While AI-powered humanoid robots might take over or help human labor, pet animals do provide physical and mental benefits to our lives.

Read the article and learn how animals help our immune system.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250602-how-your-pets-alter-your-immune-system

Topic Reading-Vol.4795-6/10/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

One death every seven minutes: The world's worst country to give birth

With an estimated population of nearly 240 million, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the sixth most populous country in the world. Its population is growing rapidly due to a high fertility rate, nearly five births per woman, a large young population, and relatively low death rates. However, the number of Nigeria’s maternal deaths, the death of a woman while pregnant or within six weeks of the termination of pregnancy, is the highest in the world, with about 75,000 deaths in a year. Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, infections, and prolonged or difficult labor are common causes of maternal deaths, along with unsafe abortions. There were only 121,000 midwives for a population of 218 million in 2021, which is well short of the 820,000 that the WHO recommended for the country. Also, many healthcare facilities lack proper equipment, supplies, and trained experts. In addition, many expecting mothers, especially in rural areas, are reluctant, cannot afford, or don’t have access to hospitals. Since more and more young girls are growing into reproductive age, Nigeria needs to improve maternal care urgently.

Read the article and learn how serious maternal death is in Nigeria.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yk8ek86kdo

Topic Reading-Vol.4794-6/9/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Hagia Sophia: Secrets of the 1,600-year-old megastructure that has survived the collapse of empires

The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was a continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, lasting from 330 CE to 1453 CE. Its capital was Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul, which was founded by Emperor Constantine. The Byzantines developed their own distinct cultural and religious practices, including Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Greek became the official language, and the Byzantine Empire preserved and developed aspects of Greco-Roman culture. Hagia Sophia, meaning holy wisdom in Greek, is a significant historical and architectural site built in 537 CE in Constantinople. It had been the hub of Orthodox Christianity and the last standing symbol of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. Subsequently, the holly church was converted into a Sunni Muslim mosque, and minarets were added. In 1935, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum by Atatürk, the founder and the first President of modern Turkey, but in 2020, it was re-converted into a mosque. Only the second floor is now serving as a museum where tourists can enjoy seeing and feeling the magnificent architecture and artworks that represent the long history of the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Empire, and the religious conversion from Christianity to Islam.

Read the article and see the photos to learn about one of the most significant architectural sites in Istanbul, Turkey.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/hagia-sophia-istanbul-hidden-history/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4793-6/8/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The Hajj explained visually

Today ends the annual Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is a mandatory religious duty for financially and physically capable Muslims at least once in their lifetime. Though depending on where the pilgrim travels from, it costs at least hundreds to thousands of dollars to take part in the five to six-day pilgrimage to Mecca. In addition, pilgrims have to bear the lost income and the cost of living of their family member at home during the trip. Furthermore, Hajj is physically demanding, challenging, and even dangerous. Pilgrims are required to walk more than 10 kilometers each day under the scorching desert sun at temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius. In fact, temperatures during last year’s hajj soared past 50 degrees, and over 1,300 people on the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca died due to extreme heat. So, what kind of rituals do those pilgrims perform in what kind of places in Mecca?

Read the article and watch the animated video to learn what the Hajj is really about.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2025/6/3/hajj-explained-a-visual-step-by-step-guide-to-the-pilgrimage-in-mecca

 

Topic Reading-Vol.4792-6/7/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Five-year forecast paints a troubling picture of extreme weather and deadly heat

10 years ago at the UN climate summit in Paris, 190 countries agreed to limit global warming to 2.0 degrees Celsysus, preferably 1.5 degrees, warmer than the time before the Industrial Revolution when humans started burning a substantial amount of planet-heating fossil fuels, so-called the Paris Agreement. However, the planet has experienced the 10 warmest years, and last year, it crossed the 1.5-degree threshold. Now, meteorologists predict there is a 70% chance that global warming will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius, and even a higher chance that we’ll experience the hottest year on record in the next five years. As the planet warms, sea ice and glaciers in polar regions melt, causing further sea level rise. Also, glaciers in high mountains collapse and destroy settlements in valleys, like Blatten in Switzerland (Vol. 4788). China, the largest emitter of warming gases, has been promoting new energy vehicles (NEVs) and extending its high-speed railway network to reduce fossil fuel emissions. However, the US, the second-largest warming gas emitter, decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement again. The world seems likely to experience warmer temperatures, more extreme weather conditions, and further sea level rise in the coming years.

Read the article and learn how the planet has been and will be warming.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/28/climate/wmo-ukmet-5-year-report

Topic Reading-Vol.4791-6/6/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Millions of honeybees abuzz after truck overturns in Washington state

Honey bees play a vital role in plant reproduction and food production. While foraging for nectar, Bees collect pollen on their bodies. When they visit another flower, some of this pollen is deposited on the stigma, enabling fertilization. This process is crucial for the reproduction of many crops, including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus, and melons. Beekeepers manage and care for honeybee colonies for harvesting honey and other hive products like beeswax and pollen. They also provide pollination services for crops. They transport bees to take advantage of different growing seasons and control the environment in which their bees live. On May 30, in northwestern Washington state in the USA near the Canadian border, a truck carrying over 30 tons of active honey bee hives rolled over, and as many as 250 million honeybees escaped. Local beekeepers responded to rescue as many honeybees as they could to rehive the worker bees and find their queen bees. The public was warned to avoid the swarm until they were retrieved. An emergency bee response!

Read the article and learn what happened to millions of honeybees during transport.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/31/us/washington-state-honeybee-hives-crash

Topic Reading-Vol.4790-6/5/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

France to ban smoking on beaches, parks and near

Smoking in enclosed public places, such as restaurants, schools, workplaces, and public transport, is usually banned in most developed countries. Also, some local municipalities ban smoking on beaches, in parks, and around schoolyards. From July 1, France will ban smoking nationwide in all outdoor areas where children frequently appear, including beaches, parks, public gardens, outside schools, bus stops, and sports venues. The new rule affects about 23% of the French population who smoke regularly. Economically, smoking in France is prohibitively expensive, costing over 10 euros per 20-cigarette pack. Now, finding a place to smoke a cigarette is even more difficult. Gone are the days when smokers enjoyed puffing whenever and wherever they wanted, like they did in movies.

Read the article and learn how strict France is going to be about smoking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7873veygv2o

 

Topic Reading-Vol.4789-6/4/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

13.4m students register for gaokao this yearIn China, more than 10 million students have been admitted to colleges or universities annually in the last four years, representing roughly 60% of the 18-year-old population. Of the over 3,000 higher education institutions, 140, or roughly 5%, are designated as prestigious Double First-Class Universities. The admission is mainly judged by the scores at the National College Entrance Examination, commonly known as Gaokao, which is held in early June each year. Students have to take three mandatory subjects: math, Chinese, and another language, usually English. They also take art subjects like history, political science, and geography, or science subjects, including physics, chemistry, and biology. High school seniors who want to be accepted by good universities study very hard to get good grades on the two-day examination. This year’s Gaokao starts from June 7^, and both exam takers and the Education Ministry are preparing for the make-or-break exams. This year, a record number of 13,35 million students are taking the exams nationally, nearly 1% of the population.

Read the article and learn about the world’s toughest college entrance exam.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202505/28/WS68367b7ba310a04af22c1fa8.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4788-6/3/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Glacier collapse buries most of Swiss village

Global warming is melting ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, raising sea levels around the world. Rising sea levels are posing a significant threat to coastal areas, especially in tropical and subtropical river deltas, low-lying islands, and densely populated coastal zones. Warming temperatures are also melting snow, ice, and glaciers in arctic regions and mountains at an unprecedented pace. Blatten is a small mountain valley village in Switzerland with a population of around 300. On May 28, approximately 90% of Blatten was lost under a landslide triggered by the collapse of the Birch glacier. Debris destroyed large parts of the village, and ice, earth, and rock partially blocked the Lonza River. Thanks to prior warning, all the residents but one had evacuated from the village safely before the glacier collapsed. Glaciologists have been monitoring melting glaciers and permafrost and warning some other alpine towns and villages of such incidents. Since the glacier is unstable, many of the residents of Blatten may never be able to return to their homes.

Read the article and learn what global warming could do to an alpine village.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnv1evn2p2vo

Topic Reading-Vol.4787-6/2/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

So what happens to America’s 114 billion pennies once the US stops making them?

A penny is the smallest denomination coin in the US, worth 0.01 or a cent of a dollar. The penny was one of the first coins made by the US Mint, a bureau of the Department of the Treasury responsible for producing coinage, that entered circulation in 1793. A modern US penny is made of  97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, and the cost of producing a penny is now 3.69 cents per coin. Thus, the US Treasury Department has decided to stop producing pennies next year. While existing pennies will retain their value for transactions indefinitely, those in circulation will decrease gradually. So, what’ll happen if you try to pay your bill in cash? In Canada, the distribution of pennies ceased in 2013. Retailers were then no longer expected to return pennies as change for cash purchases, and they started to round purchases to the nearest five cents, even though goods are still priced in one-cent increments. For example, totals ending in 1 or 2 round down to 0, totals ending in 3, 4, 6, or 7 round to 5, and totals ending in 8 or 9 round up to 10. Non-cash transactions like credit cards or mobile payments will not be affected and will be paid to the exact cent. After all, it is a matter of cash transactions, not a re-denomination of the currency.

Read the article and learn what will happen when pennies are no longer produced in the USA.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/25/business/penny-what-happens-to-them

Topic Reading-Vol.4786-6/1/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Scientists propose novel way of treating mosquitoes for malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes, which are still common in tropical and subtropical countries. People who have malaria usually feel very sick with a high fever and shaking chills, and in severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. In fact, as many as 600,000 people die of malaria each year, mostly in Africa. The infection does not spread from person to person, but is caused by a parasite, which is carried by some type of mosquito. Human malaria infection is initiated when a female anopheline mosquito injects Plasmodium sporozoites into the skin during a blood meal. To prevent malaria, you should reduce contact with mosquitoes by wearing protective clothing, using window screens, and sleeping under a bednet. You can also use insecticide to kill mosquitoes, but they’ve become resistant to it. Now, researchers at Harvard University have come up with a new way to prevent malaria by using drugs that kill parasites in mosquitoes instead of mosquitoes themselves. In their test, the drug applied onto bednets didn’t kill all mosquitoes, but killed all the parasites. After all, it is the parasites that spread malaria, not mosquitoes themselves. More research is still needed, but the effectiveness of bednets against malaria infection might improve significantly.

Read the article and learn how the spread of malaria could be prevented.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j554pgjgko

Topic Reading-Vol.4785-5/31/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

'Shrinking Nemo': Smaller clownfish sound alarm on ocean heat

Finding Nemo is a 2003 animated comedy-adventure movie by Disney about a tropical clownfish that lives in the Great Barrier Reef. He embarks on a dangerous journey to find his son after his son, Nemo, was captured by a diver and taken to Sydney. 20 years after the movie production, ocean temperatures heated up and caused a severe and widespread coral bleaching event. Recetnly, new research found that clownfish living on coral reefs became shorter by several millimeters during the heatwave while keeping the same weight. The researcher thinks the clownfish made themselves smaller to survive with less food and oxygen. The surprising finding could help explain the declining size of other fish in the world’s oceans. Since clownfish live only for several years to ten years in the wild, provided that they aren’t eaten by a larger fish, they seem to adjust themselves to the changes in their environment quite fast.

Read the article and learn about shrinking clownfish in coral reefs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c629z4y762xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4784-5/30/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Denmark raises retirement age to 70 — the highest in Europe

Retirement age is the age at which people usually retire from work and become eligible for social security or a pension. With better health and longer life expectancy, more people are able to and want to keep working in their 60s or even 70s. This is good and needed for aging societies whose pension budget has been squeezed due to rising pension costs, underfunded funds, and poorer investment returns on pension fund assets. Recently, the retirement age has been increased in many developed countries whose society is aging rapidly: 67 in Australia, 65 in Canada and Japan, 63 in China (men), 62 in the USA, and 60 in Turkey (men). In Europe, the pension eligibility age is 62 in France and Italy, 63 in Germany, 66 in the UK, and 67 in Sweden and Denmark. This month, Denmark’s parliament has voted to raise the retirement age to 70, the oldest in the world, in order to maintain its welfare for future generations. In fact, more people continue working while receiving a pension nowadays, thanks to their health and more accommodating work conditions. In the meantime, it may be a stretch for those who work for physically demanding jobs like construction or teaching. How old is too old to work seems to depend on the individual’s health condition, mental motivation, and the type of job.

Read the article and learn about the highest retirement age in the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/23/business/denmark-retirement-age-rise-70-intl-scli

Topic Reading-Vol.4783-5/29/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What you eat can hurt your sleep. What to eat insteadYou know that regular exercise helps you sleep better. You might also know that you should avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, sugary, or spicy food before going to bed. Then what kinds of food promote your sleep? What regulates your sleep and wake cycles is a hormone called Melatonin, which is produced by an amino acid, tryptophan. Foods that are rich in this amino acid are basically low in saturated fats and healthy, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds. Also, in order to establish a regular sleep cycle, you want to eat these foods not just once a day but regularly. It seems that no one particular thing can promote a good night’s sleep, but regular exercise and a healthy diet do. 

Read the article and learn how to sleep better.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/23/health/sleep-nutrition-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4782-5/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

India’s caste system is controversial and discriminatory. So why is it being included in the next census?

Originating as far back as 1500 BCE, India's caste system is one of the oldest forms of social stratification in the world. The Varna system consists of four divisions: Brahmins (priests and scholars),  Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and landowners), and Shudras (laborers and service providers). The Dalits, formally known as “Untouchables”, were considered below the Varna system. Over time, the Varna became rigid and birth-based, and this social division persisted in India’s society until it was banned in 1950 under the new constitution. However, this segregatory stratification persists in today’s India, the world’s most populous country. For example, only about 5% of marriages are inter-caste, and there are gaps in wealth, health, and educational attainment between different castes. The national and local governments have been offering affirmative action quotas and benefits for jobs and educational opportunities for people in marginalized castes, but without knowing exactly who and how many in a specific caste. In order to better aid and allocate resources to those who need the most, Modi’s administration recently announced that caste will be included in the next national census, which was last surveyed in 1930 during the colonial period. India is the world's most diverse country, with a variety of languages, religions, ethnicities, customs, and social structures, and different regions boast unique blends of traditions and cultures. Will the census results be published?

Read the article and learn what caste is and does to India’s society even today.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/16/india/india-census-caste-counting-intl-hnk-dst

Topic Reading-Vol.4781-5/27/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Nine out of Gaza doctor’s 10 children killed in Israeli airstrike

Dr. Alaa Najjar, 38, is a Palestinian pediatrician and the mother of her ten children in southern Gaza. While she was working in the emergency room at the medical complex on May 23, a missile fired by Israeli aircraft struck her house. Nine of her ten children were killed at the site. Charred remains of the seven children were taken to the hospital in white plastic bags, where she was working, but the other two bodies were charred on the site. The only surviving child, 11-year-old Adam, was severely injured and taken to the same hospital. Also, when her husband returned home after having dropped her at the hospital and gone to grab food for their children, he found that his house was on fire. He then immediately rushed inside to rescue his children, but he was struck by another missile. He was critically injured and taken to the hospital, where his wife was at work. There, Dr. Alaa Najjar was met by the seven bodies of her children, the only surviving child, and her husband in the hospital, and was notified of what had happened to the other children. Yet, she continued her work to look after other patients while checking her injured son and husband from time to time. Can the killing of civilians help return the hostages?

Read the article and learn what happened to a family of 12 in southern Gaza.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/24/middleeast/gaza-doctor-children-bodies-hospital-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.4780-5/26/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

A crucial system of ocean currents is slowing. It’s already supercharging sea level rise in the US.

It’s not just melting ice sheets from Antarctica and Greenland that cause sea level extremes, but storm surges, tides, waves, and the expansion of seawater itself all affect sea levels. Ocean currents also affect sea levels. When a current weakens, water becomes less dense and expands. For example, flooding on the US Northeast coast has risen substantially as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) weakens. In addition, weakened AMOC seems to have affected the flow of the Gulf Stream and caused water to flow back onto the Northeast coast. According to a new study, up to half of the flooding events along the northeastern coast in the last two decades were driven by a weaker AMOC, which could have been interconnected with warming sea temperatures. We now know better why some coastal regions are experiencing higher sea level rise than others.

Read the article and learn how ocean currents affect sea level rise.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/16/climate/ocean-currents-sea-level-rise-northeast

Topic Reading-Vol.4779-5/25/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump administration ends Harvard's ability to enroll international students

Founded in 1636, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher education in the US. It is one of the eight Ivy League schools and is regarded for high academic standards, social prestige, and selectivity in admissions, with a less than 4% acceptance rate. JFK, Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, John Roberts (Chief Justice), and scores of Nobel laureates are all Harvard graduates, to name a few. Also, Harvard is known for its student and faculty diversity. In the last academic year, about 27% of its enrollment was from other countries. However, the Trump administration has accused Harvard of antisemitism and DEI (diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, frozen and cut federal grants and aid, and threatened to strip tax-exempt status. Now, it has announced to revoke the university’s ability to enroll international students. The decision also affects existing foreign students, who now have to be transferred to other institutions or lose their legal status.

Read the article and think what could justify threatening the integrity and continuation of the six-century-old higher education institution.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05768jmm11o

Topic Reading-Vol.4778-5/24/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

31 million tons of supercharged seaweed is creeping toward beaches in Florida and around the Caribbean

Sargassum is a brown seaweed that typically floats on the surface of warm, nutrient-rich waters. While it provides vital habitat and food for various marine species, including fish, crabs, shrimp, sea turtles, and birds, it could create "brown tides" that smother coastal flora and fauna, including coral reefs, when it blooms. Also, when it rots on shore, it emits harmful gases and stinks. This year’s bloom of sargassum in the Caribbean region, the Gulf, and the South Florida region is estimated to be 31 million tons, about 40% more than the previous record in 2022. Rising ocean temperatures due to global warming is the first to blame. Also, runoff of the nitrogen-rich agricultural fertilizers from the Mississippi and Amazon rivers supercharges the brown seaweed. Sargassum’s impacts on the ocean ecosystem, fisheries, tourism industry, and health of coastal residents are substantial. But just like other environmental disasters and catastrophes that are triggered by human-caused global warming, sargassum may bloom even more in the coming years.

Read the article and learn about the brown seaweed that is showing the record-high blooming off the coast of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (America).

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/15/climate/seaweed-bloom-florida-atlantic-ocean-climate

Topic Reading-Vol.4777-5/23/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

The top baby names of 2024 may look familiar

What names are popular for newborn babies in the US? About three decades ago, in the 1990s, when their parents were likely born, Jessica, Ashley, and Emily were the top three names for girls, and Michael, Christopher, and Matthew were the top three names for boys. When their parents were likely born in the 1960s, Lia, Mary, and Susan were the most popular girls’ names, and Michael, David, and John were the top three names for boys. Last year, Olivia, Emma, and Amelia were the top three girls’ names, and Liam, Noah, and Oliver were the top three boys’ names. You can see that none of these names are seen in other generations. Interestingly, the popularity of these names has been consistent. Olivia for girls and Liam for boys have been at the top of the list for the last five years, and other top names have been on the top list, too. As a matter of fact, the most popular girls’ name by sound is Sophia/Sofia, which were ranked number 6^th and 10^th, respectively. Combined, Sophia/Sofia outnumbers Olivia by a substantial margin.

Read the article and check America’s top 10 popular names list to learn which names are popular for newborns.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/13/us/top-baby-names-2024-cec

Topic Reading-Vol.4776-5/22/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. Where do other countries stand?

In many countries in Asia and Europe, have the right of blood principle, where children legally inherit their nationality from their parents, regardless of their birthplace. In contrast, around 30 or so countries, including the USA, grant citizenship to anyone born in the country, called birthright citizenship. However, as illegal immigrants and birth tourism, where foreign women visit a country to give birth, increase, some countries that once granted birthright citizenship have revised the policy, such as India, Ireland, and the Dominican Republic. Now, the Trump administration is trying to terminate the US birthright citizenship policy that was established by the Constitution about 160 years ago to address the legal status of freed slaves. It is part of the move to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or on temporary visas, including birth tourism. Will the US just end the 160-year-old birthright citizenship policy or even revoke already-granted citizenship of the children of illegal or non-permanent residents? 

Read the article and learn about citizenship laws in the USA and the world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c983g6zpz28o

Topic Reading-Vol.4775-5/21/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Super-sized cruise ships are becoming the norm. Is there an end in sight?

One way to enjoy your vacation is to get on a cruise ship. Over 37 million passengers are expected to cruise this year alone, about the same number of foreign visitors to Japan last year, and the number is expected to grow in the coming years. Also, more and more mega cruise ships have been and will be added to the cruise market, which accommodate thousands of passengers at a time. Some of them have more than 3,000 cabins and a capacity of 8,000 guests. Those mega cruisers are larger than mega resort hotels on land, and are almost like resort destinations by themselves. To accommodate passengers of different generations, companions, preferences, and expectations, those ships have neighborhoods or districts in addition to various dining options, shows, shops, swimming pools, playgrounds, and other entertainment facilities. Typically, cruise ships visit popular tourist destinations or tropical islands, but nowadays, some cruise vacations offer an integrated experience in a private island or destination with water parks or beaches. But what about the environmental impact (Vol.4774) of increasing floating cities on the oceans?

Read the article and learn what mega cruise ships are like these days.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/07/travel/mega-cruise-ships-coming-soon

Topic Reading-Vol.4774-5/20/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

8 ways to travel more sustainably in 2025

When you travel to a popular tourist destination in high season, you’ll pay high prices for everything and wait in lines to visit or take photos at hotspots. Also, as overtourism is negatively impacting local communities, residents, and the environment, travelers to popular destinations like Barcelona, Venice, and Kyoto aren’t so welcome any longer. In addition, when you fly, drive, and stay, you’ll leave substantial carbon footprints. Isn’t it time to rethink how to plan your travels? Instead of heading for travel hotspots at peak times, you could choose less crowded or popular places in the off-season and experience local cultures. You may take a train rather than flying so that you can enjoy the scenery along the way instead of gazing at your smartphone in a tiny seat on the flight. Also, there is an increasing number of environmentally friendly, sustainable accommodations. How about dedicating some time of your stay to an environmental, cultural, or social activity, such as beach cleanups or habitat restoration? There are many ways to enjoy your travel with less impact on society and the environment. 

Read the article and learn a few tips to travel more sustainably.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250509-8-ways-to-travel-more-sustainably-in-2025

Topic Reading-Vol.4773-5/19/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Can AI care for your loved ones?

A baby monitor has an audio or visual monitor that allows the carer to remotely listen to or observe the baby from a different place. Such monitors are also used to monitor pets, patients, or elderly people. They may be programmed to send an alert if an unusual pattern is monitored, such as excessive noise or sudden movement. When AI technologies are embedded in such monitors, they will learn the normal noise or movement patterns of the individual, so that they can alarm the carer when attention is required. This could eliminate, or at least reduce, routine checks or constant monitoring of the carer in hospitals or nursing homes. As many developed societies like the UK and Japan are aging fast, more people will need care 24/7 while having fewer carers. Machines with learning capabilities may help care for those in need of help better.

Read the article and learn how AI could be used to care for people.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62z5yl2l1lo

Topic Reading-Vol.4772-5/18/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer

Visual images are impactful, and sometimes more appealing and convincing than written statements or evidence to the audience. The family members of a victim of a road rage incident in Arizona, USA, used AI to recreate the victim to speak in the courtroom. It was played not as evidence but to give the deceased family member the chance to express forgiveness to the defendant during the sentencing hearing. They trained AI software platforms with photos and videos of the victim to create a video replica to speak what he would have said to the shooter. The defendant's lawyer indicated that the use of the video in a courtroom might become an issue when the case is appealed, even though it was not used as evidence. Nowadays, you can use AI software to create a video of a dead person, which could be played to remember the person or deliver messages. Indeed, avatars and AI-created yourself can speak for you even after your death.

Read the article and learn about a remarkable use of AI-created video.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/09/tech/ai-courtroom-victim-impact-statement-arizona

Topic Reading-Vol.4771-5/17/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Global sea levels are rising faster and faster. It spells catastrophe for coastal towns and cities

We know why and how much sea levels are rising, yet we aren’t certain how fast sea levels will be rising in the future. Sea levels are rising because of global warming caused by human activities, particularly by burning fossil fuels. Oceans expand as water heats up, and as a result, sea levels rise. Also, sea levels rise as ice sheets melt in Greenland and Antarctica. It is unclear how fast the ice sheets melt as the temperatures increase, whether they’ll melt gradually or rapidly collapse. In fact, the rate of sea level rise has doubled in the last three decades, by about 10 centimeters. Some areas experience higher sea level rise because of regional currents, erosion, tectonic plate movements, and groundwater extraction, like Louisiana in the US. Also, low-lying Pacific islands, such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji, are directly affected by sea level rise, and some communities have been forced to relocate. Global sea level rise is a clear and present danger, and it is accelerating. 

Read the article and learn again how fast sea levels are and will be rising.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/09/climate/sea-level-rise-melting-ice-sheets

Topic Reading-Vol.4770-5/16/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Yawning may be more dangerous than you think, experts say

People often yawn when they become sleepy, get bored, or wake up. Also, stress, mild anxiety, or a change in altitude could trigger yawning. However, if you regularly yawn and tend to fall asleep during the day, say sitting after lunch, reading in a quiet space, or sitting in a car, it might indicate insufficient sleep or even sleep deprivation. With continued sleepiness, the brain might take microsleeps for seconds, which could lead to physical danger or serious mistakes. Also, sleepiness or sleep disorders could be caused by health problems, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and chronic pain conditions. So, if you yawn, it might not be caused just by boredom, but it might be a warning sign of underlying physical or medical issues. 

Read the article and learn what yawning or sleepiness could mean to your health.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/14/health/sleepiness-dangers-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4769-5/15/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Disney announces a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, its first new resort in a generation

There are six Disney theme parks and resorts around the world. 

1. Disneyland Resort (California) opened in 1955 

2. Walt Disney World (Florida) Resort in 1971 

3. Tokyo Disney Resort in 1983

4. Disneyland Paris in 1992

5. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in 2005

6. Shanghai Disney Resort in 2016

You can see when and where economic growth was expected. So, where will the next Disney resort be? Disney announced that its 7th theme park will be developed in Abu Dhabi, its first theme park resort in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates with a population of about 3.8 million, about the same as the nearby emirate, Dubai, which is only 140 kilometers away. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have busy international airports. Combined, over 120 million terminal and transit passengers flew in and out of these two airports by Etihad Airways, Emirates, Flydubai (LCC), Air India, and many other airlines. If you take a look at a world map centered on the UAE, you’ll find prosperous Europe, populous South Asia, and growing Africa are all within the reach of non-stop flights. Then what kind of Disney theme park is going to be developed in its first resort in the Islamic emirate? 

Read the article and learn about Disney’s new theme park in the Middle East. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/07/travel/disney-earnings-new-themepark-abu-dhabi

Topic Reading-Vol.4768-5/14/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

How to flourish –– even when you aren’t at your happiest, according to research

Both "happy" and "flourishing" relate to well-being. However, while happiness is primarily an emotional state, flourishing involves experiencing a sense of purpose, meaning, and positive relationships, in addition to positive emotions. Nordic countries like Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden are often ranked among the happiest countries. Recently, a new study was conducted with 200,000 people in over 20 countries in a broadly inclusive understanding of what it means to flourish: living in a state in which all aspects of a person’s life are going well. It found that Indonesia had the highest flourishing score 8.10, followed by Israel’s 7.87, the Philippines’s 7.71, and Mexico’s 7.64. Japan landed at the bottom of the list with a considerably lower score of 5.87 compared to Turkey’s 6.32, the second lowest. The “Flourish” measure consists of two questions or items from each of six domains: happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, financial and material stability, and close social relationships. Each of the questions is assessed on a scale of 0 -10, 0 being negative or the least agreeable and 10 being positive or the most agreeable. These are the 12 questions that were asked in the research.

1. Overall, how satisfied are you with life as a whole these days?

2. In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel?

3. In general, how would you rate your physical health?

4. How would you rate your overall mental health?

5. Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

6. I understand my purpose in life.

7. I always act to promote good in all circumstances, even in difficult and challenging situations.

8. I am always able to give up some happiness now for greater happiness later.

9. I am content with my friendships and relationships.

10. My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be.

11. How often do you worry about being able to meet normal monthly living expenses?

12. How often do you worry about safety, food, or housing?

The report also found that flourishing tends to increase with age. What is your score?

Read the article and learn how flourishing people feel around the world.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/30/health/global-flourishing-study-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4767-5/13/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Americans still don’t know how and when to wash their hands

When do you usually wash your hands, and how long? While we all know that routine and proper handwashing reduces the risk of infecting or spreading infectious diseases like the flu, COVID-19, or norovirus, we tend to forget or ignore the practice. A survey of nearly 3,600 adults in the USA found that people most often wash their hands when using the bathroom, handling waste, and handling food. However, only 30% said they wash their hands after sneezing or coughing, when respiratory diseases like the flu can spread. Also, older adults tend to wash their hands more regularly after using the bathroom or when handling food. That may be because they are more health-conscious or they have developed the habit throughout their lives. It is evident that timely and proper handwashing can prevent infectious diseases much more efficiently than going to the doctor and sleeping for days when infected. We’d better keep or revive the habit that we got accustomed to during the pandemic for our health.

Read the article and learn how essential it is to wash your hands timely and properly. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/05/health/handwashing-habits-survey-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4766-5/12/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

After 50 years, Thailand finally strikes down strict rules on students’ hair lengths

In 1975, Thailand's Ministry of Education issued a directive that heavily restricted students' hairstyles and makeup to promote a more disciplined and uniform appearance among students. The directive required male students to keep their hair short and forbade mustaches, while female students were restricted to ear-length bobs and prohibited from wearing makeup. It reflects Thailand’s conservative, hierarchical Buddhist society under years of authoritarian rule, as well as the influence of the military that staged coups over ten times in the last 100 years. Schools regularly checked students’ appearances and hair lengths, enforced the rules, and deducted academic points from the students who didn’t comply with the rules. However, things began to change after the nationwide student protests in 2020, and in March this year, the highest administrative court announced that the 50-year-old directive was unconstitutional and revoked it. Even though it is unclear how soon and how much the hairstyle and appearance regulations will be loosened in schools across the country, the change has begun. 

Read the article and learn about Thailand’s half-century-old school rules.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/03/style/thailand-hairstyle-dress-code-students-intl-hnk-dst

Topic Reading-Vol.4765-5/11/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Oscar-winning director reveals the secret lives of pangolins

Pangolins are solitary, nocturnal mammals that live in South Asia and Africa. There are nine existing species that range in size from 30 to 100 centimeters. Pangolins have a long, toothless muzzle, and their legs are short with sharp claws for digging to eat ants and termites. They have large, protective keratin scales, similar in material to fingernails and toenails, covering their skin. When threatened, they can curl up into a tight ball for protection. Like rhinoceroses and elephants, pangolins are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals for their meat and scales used in traditional medicine and folk remedies, especially in China and Vietnam. Protection and rescue efforts to save these scaly anteaters have been made, but it is challenging. For example, when in captivity, they don’t eat at all. So, in order to feed a pangolin, the carer has to walk wth the pangolin for hours. Recently, Netflix created a documentary of a rescued pangolin called “Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey.” It hopes to raise awareness of this fragile, scaled mammal for conservation. 

Read the article and learn about this unique endangered mammal species. 

https://edition.cnn.com/world/pippa-ehrlich-pangolins-kulus-journey-cte-hnk-spc

Topic Reading-Vol.4764-5/10/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

When the world’s tallest dog met the world’s tiniest

Originating from Mexico, the Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds, with a height ranging from 15 to 23 centimeters and weighing between 1.4 and 2.7 kilograms. Known for their large personalities and loyalty, Chihuahuas are a popular companion animal, often kept as city pets due to their compact size. In contrast, the Great Dane is a large working dog breed originally from Germany. Males typically stand between 76 and 81 centimeters at the shoulder and weigh between 54 and 79 kilograms. As they are friendly, gentle, and loyal family dogs, they are often referred to as the Apollo of dogs. The world’s shortest living dog is Peral, a 9.14-centimeter-tall female Chihuahua in Florida. She traveled to Idaho with her owner to meet the world’s tallest living dog, Reggie, a meter-tall male Great Dane. What happened to them?

Read the article and see the video to find out how they got along with each other.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/30/us/worlds-biggest-tiniest-dogs-meet-intl-scli/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4763-5/9/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

AI turns old photos of the Borders into 'motion pictures'

An AI video generator is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to automatically create video content from various inputs like text descriptions, images, photos, or existing videos. AI video generators automate tasks like script creation, visual generation, voiceover, music addition, and even stock footage licensing by utilizing advanced machine learning. Recently, a young Scottish man created a moving montage from old still shots of the town where his grandparents lived long ago by using an AI video generator. It greatly pleased his grandparents and also others in the wider community, so he created similar videos of neighboring towns. Now, those videos are not only enjoyed by older people’s social groups but also used in history classes in local schools. There are so many still photos taken in the last century. We can turn them into montages to revive the scenes and memories in just a few minutes. 

Read the article and watch the videos of old towns revived by an AI video generator. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cq5wx27gne1o

Topic Reading-Vol.4762-5/8/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What you need to know about US Real ID

In order to establish more stringent security standards for identification documents like driver’s licenses, the US citizens and residents aged 18 and older are required to present a REAL ID-compliant document or other TSA-accepted ID, such as passports, to board domestic flights and access secure federal facilities starting May 7.  A REAL ID is a federally compliant driver’s license or non-driver ID that is more difficult to forge. The document is indicated by a star in the upper right-hand corner of the ID. If an American traveller cannot present a REAL ID, they will be asked to complete an identity verification process by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, which would take extra time and create longer lines at airport security checkpoints. So, air travelers in the USA, whether US citizens or visitors, are advised to arrive early for their flights. 

Read the article and learn about a new, tighter security policy implemented recently in the USA.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250505-real-id-the-big-change-affecting-us-air-travel

Topic Reading-Vol.4761-5/7/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Five things you need in case of a power outage

There was a nationwide power outage in Spain and Portugal on April 29. Whatever the cause was, nearly the entire peninsula was without power for almost 24 hours. How prepared are you for a power blackout that might last for hours, if not days? Unless your house is self-powered by solar, battery, or generator, lights, A/C, fridge and freezer, TV, and other appliances are of no use. If you live in a tall apartment or work in a building, you’ll have no choice but to walk down the stairs to get out or walk up to get home. Also, internet connections, card or phone payment systems, cashiers, and even traffic lights might be unusable. So, how did people in the peninsula manage the recent power outage? Overall, if you wind the clock back by a century, you might find what is needed to spend a day or days without power, such as cash, candles, a radio, and canned food. Also, it would be helpful if you have a power bank or solar charger. Indeed, a power outage reminds us of how dependent we are on electricity. 

Read the article and learn what it took to survive a day without power in Spain and Portugal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy6d0987r0o