Topic Reading-Vol.4890-9/13/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Visiting the US is about to get more expensive for foreign travelers

Visitors to the USA are required to pay higher fees from next month. Citizens of 42 countries listed on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are eligible for entry to the US without a visa, including most EU nations, Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Israel, and Qatar. On September 30, the VWP fee will increase from USD21 to $40. Also, visitors arriving through a land border will see a steep hike in the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record price from $6 to $30. Now, travelers from non-VWP countries for business or tourism are required to apply for a B1 or B2 visa, which costs $185. In addition, Chinese travelers will have to pay a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee in addition to their visa application fees. Because of the current administration’s unfriendly foreign policies, or even hostile in some cases, the US is predicted to lose a substantial amount of international tourism spending this year. Is that what the USA is aiming for?

Read the article and learn how economically restrictive the USA is going to be.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/06/travel/travel-news-us-visa-fees-foreign-travelers

Topic Reading-Vol.4889-9/12/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

McSpaghetti to McAloo Tikki: Inside the world's local McDonald's

McDonald’s operates over 40,000 outlets in more than 100 countries around the world, including 13,500 outlets in the USA, nearly 7,000 in China, around 3,000 in Japan, and one in Samoa. Every day, they serve 65 million people around the world. Do they all eat the same burgers and fries? In fact, McDonald’s menus are very diverse, reflecting local tastes, traditions, and religious restrictions. For example, in India, you’ll find a plentiful vegetarian menu and Mararaja Mac instead of Big Mac. Other variations are: Mc Baguette in France, Mc Iberica in Spain, McSpaghetti in the Philippines, and Entrecote Burger in Israel, to name a few. After all, McDonald’s restaurants aren’t just places that serve food and drinks, but they also provide quality, service, safety, cleanliness, bright atmosphere, and a smile.

See the photos and read the article to learn how adaptable the world’s largest restaurant chain is.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250904-inside-the-worlds-local-mcdonalds

Topic Reading-Vol.4888-9/11/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Energy drinks to be banned for under 16s

Caffeine enhances wakefulness, energy levels, concentration, attention, and even physical performance. In the meantime, it often triggers nervousness, prevents sleep, elevates blood pressure, or increases urination. How much caffeine is too much depends on the individual’s age, sensitivity, health conditions, and the time of day, but in general, up to 400 milligrams a day is regarded ok for most adults. For example, a can of cola contains 40 mg and a mug of coffee 100 mg of caffeine. Energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Monster, contain as much caffeine as a mug of coffee, but they are sugary and sold in larger cans than mug cups. Consuming such drinks in large amounts could cause a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms, damage to teeth, and obesity. These drinks are geared towards young people, associated with sports, gaming, and music. Young people’s bodies and brains are still developing, and they are more sensitive to caffeine than adults. If they consume sports drinks like water or tea regularly, their health, mental, and emotional health might be affected. Now, the government in England is planning to prevent young people under the age of 16 from buying energy drinks.

Read the article and learn why energy drinks are going to be banned for young people in England.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707074qdnko

Topic Reading-Vol.4887-9/10/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The pandemic generation: How Covid-19 lockdowns is having a long-lasting effect on children

All of a sudden, schools, offices, and commercial and public facilities in many places were closed in March 2020 for months when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world. It appears to have a profound impact, especially on young children whose mental, physical, academic, and social developments are yet to mature and are in a critical phase. Even after schools began to open and restrictions were eased, children were told to wear masks, keep distance from others, avoid interactions and conversations with others, and stay at home. Children then missed the chance to feel, smell, and engage with the social environment. They end up spending a lot of time on their smartphone or game machines by themselves. In many schools, as classes were held online for months or even longer, many students didn’t seem to have learned as well as they were supposed to in actual classes. How are they doing now? 

Read the article and learn about the effects are teachers and experts are finding among the COVID-affected children, a few years after the social distraction

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

Topic Reading-Vol.4886-9/9/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Is a low-salt diet as unhealthy as having too much?

It is recommended that we take no more than 5 grams of salt per day to reduce the risk of heart disease. That is about 2000 milligrams, or two grams, of sodium, which is usually stated on food labels. The WHO estimates that the average salt intake per day is a little over 10 grams globally, only a quarter of which comes from salt we add to food ourselves. In fact, most of the salt we eat is already included in the food before we prepare or serve it. For example, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes contain over 200 mg of sodium per serving (42g), and a slice of cheddar cheese contains between 150 and 200 mg. You probably know that high salt consumption causes high blood pressure, which could lead to strokes and heart disease. Is it then true that the lower the salt intake, the lower the risk of heart disease will be? No. Salt is essential for nerve and muscle function, fluid balance, and nutrient transport. How can we balance salt intake when we consume more prepared or packaged food?

Read the article and learn what salt, or sodium, does to your body and health.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20181029-eating-less-salt-benefits

Topic Reading-Vol.4885-9/8/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Sunscreen myths: The real science behind sun protection

The summer is about to phase out in the northern hemisphere. However, you aren’t free from the harmful effects of sunlight. The ultraviolet index (UV index) is a measurement of the strength of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn and even cancer to our skin. When the UV index is three or higher, you want to protect yourself with a hat and clothing, or stay indoors or in shade. But if you still need to or want to be out under the sun, you should put sunscreen on your face, neck, hands, and any other exposed skin to prevent sun damage. Then what level of skin protection factor (SPF) of the sunscreen is enough to protect you on the beach? Do you need to put on sunscreen under a cloudy sky? Are you safe outside once you put sunscreen on, and how long does the effect of sunscreen last?

Read the article and learn how and when you should use sunscreen.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250829-the-real-science-behind-sun-protection

Topic Reading-Vol.4884-9/7/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

India’s growing lion population should be cause for celebration, but it’s also a deadly problem

India, the world’s most populous country, is trying to be a global leader in feline conservation, including tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars. Wild lions in India were once hunted to the brink of extinction, but after the state of Gujarat, a western coastal state north of Mumbai, banned the killing, the state’s lion population has increased by 30% to 891 in the last five years. Instead of conserving the species in a protected area, Gujarat communities coexist with lions. In fact, lions help bring more tourists to the state. Also, lions prey on abandoned old cattle and unwanted wild pigs or antelopes. However, as the lion population increases, so do the chances of lion attacks on humans and cattle. In the year ending June this year, as many as seven people were killed by lions. Should they keep living with wild lions, relocate them to a wildlife sanctuary, or isolate them from human habitats?

Read the article and learn about how an Indian state is trying to live with lions.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/31/world/india-lion-human-conflict-intl-dst-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.4883-9/6/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Five of the world's safest countries for 2025It seems that small, isolated countries are safer than others, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), which measures trends in peace, economic value, and how to develop peaceful societies. Its three domains include the level of social safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization. This year, three island nations, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand, and two landlocked mountain countries, Austria and Switzerland, are found to be at the top of the list, followed by Singapore. Among the European nations, Iceland is a member of NATO, but Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland are not. New Zealand has a small but capable military, and Singapore maintains one of the highest levels of military expenditure per capita. While compulsory military service applies in Austria, Switzerland, and Singapore, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand rely on voluntary military service. What makes a nation more peaceful than others?

Read the article and learn about the countries that are regarded as the world’s safest.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250822-five-of-the-worlds-safest-countries-for-2025

Topic Reading-Vol.4882-9/5/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

150 job applications, rescinded offers: Computer science grads are struggling to find work

Big tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta, and IBM, are cutting jobs, programs, and investment because of economic uncertainty, a post-pandemic slowdown, and the increasing adoption of AI. In the US, software development job postings have plummeted to below pre-pandemic times, especially after AI coding tools began taking junior engineer jobs. Indeed, with AI, many companies can now automate some parts of the coding and software development process and have reduced their human workforce, especially in entry-level roles. As a result, entry-level job opportunities for new graduates with computer science or engineering degrees have become scarce. To live and work with AI, human workers are required to understand how systems work, develop critical thinking, and become creative. However, the number of such job opportunities may not be as many as they used to be. Some universities are evolving for the AI era by allowing students to use generative AI or rolling out AI-assisted software development courses. AI and robots are very helpful and productive, but they are taking over many human job opportunities. The time might have come for humans to evolve to live and work with AI and robots. 

Read the article and think about what the job opportunities will be like in the future.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/28/tech/computer-science-graduates-job-hunt-ai

Topic Reading-Vol.4881-9/4/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How Russia’s drone attacks have reshaped the war in Ukraine: An illustrated guide

On August 28, Russia attacked Ukraine with over 30 missiles and nearly 600 strike drones, killing more than 20 people and wounding dozens. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, both countries have been using drones extensively. In the military, aerial drones are being used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and direct attacks. While smaller drones are portable and deployed for low-altitude, short-range operations, larger drones can fly at higher altitudes and longer distances, deploy smaller drones, and carry heavier explosives. Many of the attack drones are disposable, designed to be destroyed upon hitting their targets with payloads, called kamikaze or suicide drones. They are very economical because they can be produced cheaply on a massive scale and programmed instantly and remotely. Also, they require no training, accommodation, or compensation like human soldiers. So, what kind of drones are used in today’s warfare?

Read the article and learn about Russia’s attack drones.

https://edition.cnn.com/world/russia-drone-attacks-ukraine-war-intl-vis?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc&recs_exp=up-next-article-end&tenant_id=related.en

Topic Reading-Vol.4880-9/3/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

One million stray dogs in India’s capital regain the right to roam after legal battle with nation’s top court

In India, people pay an ingrained cultural respect for animals. It is estimated that over 60 million stray dogs roam the streets, neighborhoods, slums, and villages in the country, and many of those live in harmony with humans. Even though there are cases of dog attacks on humans, it is illegal to euthanize healthy stray dogs. The latest ruling by the nation’s supreme court states that stray dogs should be picked up, neutered, and vaccinated before being released. However, there are just too many of them to properly care for and feed. In fact, due to the limited funding and veterinary capacities, the dogs’ breeding cycle outpaces sterilization rates. The ruling sounds humane and respectful to India’s tradition, but the nation still needs more funding, infrastructure, and manpower to put the ruling into practice and keep the streets and neighborhoods safe and livable for both humans and dogs. Also, what about the safety of little children? It is never easy to plan or control the population.

Read the article and learn about the stray dogs in the world’s most populous country.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/22/india/india-stray-dogs-supreme-court-intl-hnk-dst

Topic Reading-Vol.4879-9/2/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Sitting up straight isn't the only secret to good posture - here are three more tips

Good posture is not about being stiff or holding yourself upright all day, but about balanced, efficient movement that protects your body from strain and damage. It includes keeping your back straight, shoulders relaxed, head centered, and your abdomen pulled in. To keep good posture, whatever your position is at a desk or on a sofa, you definitely do not want to stay locked in one position for a long time. Instead, stand, move, and stretch your body from time to time to release tension. Also, exercise regularly to build a stronger core and back. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, your emotional and physical health does affect your posture. If you’re stressed or pressured, your posture tends to deteriorate. Posture seems to reflect the person’s mindset, physical conditions, exercise level, and tension. 

Read the article and learn about what could improve your posture.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250703-the-body-parts-evolution-still-cant-explain

Topic Reading-Vol.4878-9/1/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Your subway wasn’t built for this world 

The first subway, the London Underground, opened in 1863, using gas-lit wooden carriages hauled by steam locomotives, and the first electrified underground line opened in 1890 in the same city. Then in 1967, the first air-conditioned subway cars were introduced in New York, and the first air-conditioned subway system began its service in Hong Kong in 1979. Now, most subway lines are air-conditioned, except for many of the legendary London Underground lines that were built ages ago. However, even though susways have become heat-resistant, they are vulnerable to torrential rainfall events, which occur more often recently due to global warming. Flooded water rushes down to the platforms and railways from the entrances and grates, suspending the service and even causing damage to the operation system. It seems that human-engineered underground mass transportation systems need another innovation to cope with human-caused climate events.

Read the article and learn what problems modern subways are facing.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/25/climate/subway-cities-infrastructure-flooding

Topic Reading-Vol.4877-8/31/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The surprising foods that lead to better sleep

If you want a good night's sleep, you do not want to eat a heavy meal or drink too much alcohol or caffeinated drinks before going to bed. Then what are foods that help you sleep better, a cup of warmed milk or some cookies? Melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, is released with darkness. It can be supplemented from foods, including eggs, fish, nuts, and seeds. Also, a plant-based diet, including leafy vegetables, beans, peas, and lentils, is rich in magnesium and helps you sleep better. But food itself isn’t enough to assure you a sound sleep. When your brain recognizes the distinctive separation between day and night, it tells your body to sleep or wake up. In addition, if you keep regular hours and eat at consistent times, your body will naturally go into sleeping or active mode. So, it’s not just one super food that helps you sleep better, but healthy eating and regular hours do. And no smartphone in the bed. 

Read the article and learn what could help you sleep better.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250822-the-best-foods-to-help-you-sleep-better

Topic Reading-Vol.4876-8/30/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

What happens when a device nearly every passenger carries onboard a plane erupts in smoke and flames

Most portable electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, are powered by lithium-ion batteries. They offer high energy density, a long lifespan, fast charging, and a low self-discharge rate. However, they are sensitive to temperature extremes and pose safety risks like fire when overheated. Thermal runaway is a self-perpetuating chain reaction that starts when a battery overheats due to physical damage, overcharging, manufacturing defects, or extreme external temperatures. Nowadays, nearly every airplane passenger brings in or checks in lithium battery-powered devices, and occasionally, they cause a fire during the flight. The US aviation administration now prohibits passengers from packing lithium devices in their checked baggage. China bans passengers from carrying uncertified or over 160Wh power banks on their flights, and South Korea bans passengers from charging devices on board. As more airlines, especially low-cost carriers, are eliminating in-flight entertainment, and more passengers prefer to entertain themselves with their own portable devices, the chances of lithium battery fires on board are increasing. What should you do if a fire breaks out during the flight?

Read the article and learn about the risk of lithium-powered devices on board.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/22/travel/battery-fire-risks-planes

Topic Reading-Vol.4875-8/29/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

New video reveals third strike in deadly ‘double-tap’ attack on Gaza hospital

On Monday, the 25^th of this month, a shell fired by an Israeli tank struck a balcony of the biggest hospital in southern Gaza, targeting a journalist’s camera. Nine minutes later, while first responders, including civil defense workers and other journalists, were attending to the victim, the second and third strikes hit the staircase. At least 22 people, including health workers, emergency response crews, and five journalists, were killed by the attacks. This practice of following a strike with a second strike several minutes later is called a  “double-tap” strike, intending to hit emergency responders and medical personnel rushing to the site. Targeting civilians, the wounded, and those who cannot keep fighting is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it doesn’t intentionally target civilians.

Watch the images and read the article to learn how journalists and rescue workers were killed at the largest hospital in southern Gaza.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/27/middleeast/gaza-nasser-hospital-israel-attack-three-strikes-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.4874-8/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Italy gives final approval for world's longest suspension bridge to Sicily

Lying just off the “toe” of Italy’s “boot”, Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island. It is rich in historical sites, including the Valley of the Temples, Doric-style Greek temples, and Byzantine mosaics. A ferry service across the Strait of Messina connects Messina, Sicily’s harbor city, and Reggio Calabria, the toe of the Italian Peninsula. Since the narrowest point of the strait is only around three kilometers, there have been discussions about building a bridge across the strait. Supporters claim the benefits of boosting tourism to the island and creating jobs, while opponents raise concerns over the mafia’s involvement and safety because the area has an intense seismic record. Earlier this month, Italy’s administration decided to build a 3.3km-span suspension bridge over the strait, the world’s longest, with two railway lines in the middle and three lanes of traffic on either side. Rome hopes to include the construction costs in its defence expenditures, which are expected to amount to 5% of the nation’s GDP. Connecting two distinct lands may spur the local economy, but it’ll also have an impact on local ecology, environment, and heritage.

Read the article and learn about Rome’s attempt to connect Sicily to its mainland.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80d74v0e4lo

Topic Reading-Vol.4873-8/27/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Watch out, Orlando, a new world theme park capital is rising in the Arabian desert

The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is one of seven emirates that constitute the United Arab Emirates. The city of Abu Dhabi is the capital of both the emirate and the UAE, with a population of a little over two million. As the home base of Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi International Airport served nearly 30 million passengers last year. It is accessible from Europe, India, and Asian countries, and is known for its fast border processing and easy connections. The subtropical, arid desert city is famous for beautiful beaches, architectural wonders, rich cultural experiences, entertainment attractions, and modern city landscapes, including Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World, and the Harry Potter-themed land. Now, Disney has chosen Abu Dhabi to build its first new theme park in 15 years. It will be Disney’s most technologically advanced park when it opens in the early 2030s. With Disney’s theme park, Abu Dhabi may host more attractions, hotels, resorts, and entertainment facilities in a climate-controlled indoor environment. Which is more accessible, attractive, or welcoming, Orlando in Florida, or Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Peninsula?

Read the article and learn about how Abu Dhabi is being developed as a modern entertainment hub.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/20/travel/abu-dhabi-world-theme-park-capital

Topic Reading-Vol.4872-8/26/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Why firms are merging HR and IT departments

Traditionally, the human resources department deals with people while the IT department handles information technologies. In general, HR people are good at talking and asking questions to people, but IT people usually aren’t. However, when information technologies further advance with AI and become essential resources to improve work efficiency, some companies are merging or collaborating these two once distinct functions. True. New technologies and methodologies are developed to complement human skills and tasks. When new technologies are introduced, people need to adapt and evolve to leverage them. So, if HR and IT work together, both resources can be used more efficiently and productively. And if certain repetitive tasks by humans are taken over by machines or AI tools, people can work on more complex or sensitive tasks that require human ingenuity. Indeed, people need to work more closely with technologies.

Read the article and learn about how HR and IT can work hand in hand.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0w8gvq84xo

Topic Reading-Vol.4871-8/25/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Is it time to retire the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet?

If you stay at a budget hotel in Western countries, you are likely to find simple breakfast offerings, such as cereals, fruit juices, cups of yogurt, breads, and coffee/tea, most of which are consumed in the morning or the next morning. Other hotels may serve a breakfast plate with an egg, ham, and cheese, along with a small basket of bread. But at a four or more-star hotel, you’ll probably find an all-you-can-eat American or full breakfast buffet that offers a variety of salads, cuts, fruits, hot meals, and desserts. At such an alluring buffet, people tend to grab much more food than they usually eat or finish. Also, a lot of food still remains on the counter when the last guest finishes their meal. Indeed, all-you-can-eat buffet has been a symbol in hospitality when abundance was considered luxury. However, as hotel guests have become more environmentally conscious, hotels are now trying to offer more thoughtful and sustainable breakfast offerings for their guests and the planet. Does it have to be a buffet? What is wrong with a made-to-order breakfast? How about a hybrid?

Read the article and think about what breakfast you expect at your next hotel you will stay at.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250815-the-slow-death-of-the-breakfast-buffet

Topic Reading-Vol.4870-8/24/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Israel and the Palestinians: History of the conflict explained

Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world and is also considered holy to three major Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Jerusalem is claimed as the capital city by Israel and Palestine. Palestine is a Middle Eastern nation-state including the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, which is currently occupied by Israel. In the small land space, over five million, mostly Arabian Muslims, live. In 1947, the UN voted for Palestine to be split into separate Jewish and Arab states. A year later, Israel was established and was recognized by the UN. The newly formed Jewish country fought several wars against its neighbouring Arab states for its territory and security. In the meantime, Palestine declared independence in November 1988, and it is recognized by 147 UN member states. In October 2023, Hamas, a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political organisation with a military wing, launched armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into the surrounding area of Israel and abducted over 250 Israelis. As a response, Israel quickly attacked Gaza and restricted the flow of people and goods into and out of Gaza. The Gaza war still continues and worsens, having killed over 50,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 100,000. Want to learn more?

Read the article and learn about the history and conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgr71z0jp4o

Topic Reading-Vol.4869-8/23/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

What is AI, how does it work and why are some people concerned about it?

AI can create new content, including text, images, and videos, write code, or hold text conversations with users by learning from vast quantities of existing data. AI is also used for voice-controlled virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, and recommending features in social platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook. In addition, generative AI can produce music and artwork. In the meantime, while AI improves productivity, it has eliminated thousands of human jobs. Also, critics are concerned about AI reproducing biased information, discriminating against certain social groups, and creating biases when it learn information from inaccurate or inappropriate sources. Indeed, AI is so convenient and helpful that students and workers often use it inattentively or unconsciously in schools and workplaces, creating irresponsible outputs. In addition to generative AI, agentic AI is on the horizon, which autonomously takes actions, makes decisions, and adapts to new situations once specific goals are given. In order to provide AI services and solutions, a lot of new data centers are being built, and more are being planned. They house thousands of racks of computer servers that require an enormous amount of electricity to run and water to keep them cool. Another human-caused pressure on the environment. Does AI provide solutions to its own problems?

Read the article and learn about what and how AI works

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2l799gxjjpo

Topic Reading-Vol.4868-8/22/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Nearly a million more deaths than births in Japan last year
It’s not just South Korea that is facing a population crisis. 50 years ago, Japan’s population was 112 million, and it increased to 127 million in the millennium year, including 840,000 and 1.3 million foreigners, respectively. Now, the total population has declined to 124 million this year, including 3.6 million foreigners, representing nearly 3% of the population. In the last three years, over 1.5 million Japanese died while only 810,000, 770,000, and 686,000 Japanese were born in the same years, meaning more than two people died for every newborn recently. In the meantime, around 30% of the population, or around 36 million, is 65 years or older. The declining birth rate and aging population are putting pressure on pension and health care systems. The government is encouraging senior citizens to work more and put off their state pension, while adding measures to help young people start their families. The good news is that the number of foreign residents has increased by around 300,000 in each of the last three years, many of whom take jobs that are unpopular with the Japanese, earn and spend money, and pay taxes. Many businesses are already relying on foreign workers, including healthcare, services, construction, and even manufacturing. In the near future, the number of new foreign residents may outnumber Japanese newborns.
Read the article and learn how seriously Japan is losing its population.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74dnzr4jdvo

Topic Reading-Vol.4867-8/21/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

A heartbreaking economic indicator: More people are giving up their pets

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as in some other countries, pet adoption surged in the US as people suddenly had more time at home and sought companionship. Naturally, as the pandemic eased, the market for pets slowed down as well, largely due to the pulled-forward demand. Some pet owners then realized that owning and caring for canine and feline companions are more demanding and costly than they had expected. Daily walk, vet visits, food, treats, and pet sitters during absence all add up. Some pet owners gave up living with their once-beloved pets and surrendered or abandoned them. In addition, recent inflation has hit pet owners even more severely. For example, the price of dog food has increased by over 40% on average when compared to 2020 prices. In addition, inflation has pushed up housing costs and food prices. As a result, an animal care & control center in North Carolina has received 43% more owner surrenders so far this year over last year. With higher tariffs on commodities, deportation of undocumented workers (Vol. 4853), rising housing prices and home insurance premiums, and continuing layoffs by tech companies, more pet owners may have to make a hard decision. Will all those abandoned or surrendered pets be rescued and adopted? A deposit or insurance for new pet owners might ease the financial burden on animal shelters.

Read the article and learn about increasing pet surrenders in the US.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/27/economy/us-pet-surrenders-shelters-economy

Topic Reading-Vol.4866-8/20/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Watch a cheetah up-close as it chases its prey
The cheetah is a large wild cat that has narrow shoulder blades and long limbs. Adult cheetahs reach 67 to 94 cm at the shoulder and weigh between 21 and 65 kg. Unlike other big cat species, cheetahs cannot roar. Instead, they chirp, purr, and make other noises. They mainly live in grasslands, mountains, and deserts in southern and eastern Africa, some in Iran, but their habitat has shrunk to one-tenth of their historic range. Because of the habitat loss, conflict with and poaching by humans, their population is estimated to be around 6,500, and the cheetah is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. They are active during the day, during dawn and dusk in particular, and hunt small mammals like hares and birds, to medium-sized mammals like gazelles and impalas, in deserts, savannas, or grasslands. The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal, top speed reaching 100 km/h, to chase their prey. Can you imagine how it runs?
Watch the video to see how the fastest land animal runs in close range.
https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0lsb4qj/watch-a-cheetah-up-close-as-it-chases-its-prey

Topic Reading-Vol.4865-8/19/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why Americans can’t chill out about ice-free European beverages

In Europe, it is uncommon to put ice into cold drinks. If you request ice for your drink in Europe, you may find an ice cube in your drink. However, in America, cold drinks are usually served with ice cubes, and they aren’t floating in cold drinks but the drink is poured into a mass of ice cubes. For example, if you order a glass of Coke or iced tea at a café or on a flight, you’ll find massive ice with little drink. If you stay at a hotel in America, you’ll likely find ice machines on each floor. Also, American refrigerators usually have huge freezers and ice dispensers. It is an American custom to enjoy cold drinks with ice, even though ice dilutes the drink and changes the taste. Why are Americans so obsessed with ice? Is that because of Americans’ love for soda, which tastes dull if you drink it lukewarm? Interestingly, you’ll also see ice in cold drinks in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, whose modern cultures are somewhat more influenced by the US than Europe. One thing you might want to check before enjoying your drink with ice is if the tap water there is safe to drink.

Read the article and learn why Americans love ice in cold drinks but Europeans don’t.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/25/travel/european-versus-us-ice-water-debate

Topic Reading-Vol.4864-8/18/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Make your daily walk do more for your body

We all know that walking offers a lot of benefits to our physical and mental health. Many of us also know that 30 minutes of brisk walking per day helps enhance fitness, improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress or anxiety, and even lower the risk of chronic diseases. However, some people walk like ducks, hips open and feet angled outward, or the opposite, hips internally rotated and feet angled inward, both of which could hinder glute activation and postural alignment. Also, carrying a bag or gazing at a smartphone with one hand would outbalance your walking posture. To improve your daily walking quality and benefits, there are several aspects you want to pay attention to, such as foot strike, balance, use of glutes, eyes, breathing, and arm movements. Do you want to do the wrong thing for your body for half an hour every day, or do the right thing?

Read the article and watch the video to learn how to walk better.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/24/health/walking-full-body-exercise-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4863-8/17/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Turbulence is increasing.  Here's how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out

Most air travelers, whether on commercial or private flights, have probably experienced bumps or shaking during flight. Turbulence is irregular air movements that are caused by various factors, including weather events, jet streams, and geographical features like mountains. Also, clear-air turbulence (CAT) sometimes occurs suddenly and violently in clear skies, which is invisible to satellites, radar, or human eyes. The number of CAT incidents reported has been increasing, and some of them have caused injuries and even deaths. Last year, when a London-Singapore flight encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, the aircraft dropped over 50 meters in less than five seconds, killing one passenger and injuring dozens. Because of global warming, air turbulence is expected to increase by three times in the next 20 years and have impacts on busy routes across East Asia and the North Atlantic. One of the countermeasures is to use AI to predict turbulence, especially CAT, more accurately. Another approach is to use Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) to create a 3D map of the air around an airplane, just like self-driving vehicles on the road. Also, adding small flaplets to larger flaps on aircraft wings could counteract changes in airflow. In the meantime, always buckle up when you are seated on your flight.

Read the article and learn about increasing air turbulence.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250725-how-aircraft-designers-are-beating-rising-turbulence

Topic Reading-Vol.4862-8/16/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

India can't wish away coal - but can it be made cleaner?

India, the world’s most populous country with over 1.4 billion people, is situated in the tropical and subtropical temperate zones where summer temperatures often go well over 40 °C. Its economy is the fourth largest in the world and is growing rapidly, and also the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter after China and the US. India's greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing rapidly due to its growing population, expanding economy, and therefore, rising energy demand, which has grown nearly 10% in the last several years and is growing more rapidly. More than 40% of the carbon emissions are created by electricity generation, and over 70% of the nation’s electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants, emitting a significant amount of greenhouse gases. To clean the air on the road, drive EVs and E-motorcycles. To make the room temperature livable or workable in the heat, turn on the air conditioning. How should India deal with the rapidly growing demand for electricity while limiting greenhouse gas emissions?

Read the article and learn about India’s high dependency on coal-fired power generation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd184g6dj8o

Topic Reading-Vol.4861-8/15/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Denmark zoo asks people to donate unwanted pets to feed predators and imitate ‘natural food chain’

Carnivores, like lions, tigers, wolves, and sharks, are animals that primarily eat meat or other animals. They can be predators or scavengers and play a vital role in the food chain by regulating populations of other animals. In zoos in Denmark, when animals have died or been culled to avoid inbreeding or maintain a healthy population, they are fed to predators in the zoo. For example, when a young healthy giraffe named Marius was euthanized to avoid inbreeding in 2014 in the Copenhagen Zoo, it was fed to other zoo animals (Vol. 685). So, it was not new when a zoo in northwest Denmark posted on social media channels last month a call for unwanted animals, such as chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, and small horses, to feed its carnivores. It said those donated animals would be gently euthanized by the zoo’s trained staff and then served as food for lions, lynxes, and Sumatran tigers. It is, indeed, the natural food chain that is essential for the survival of all animals in a given biosphere. When you have a domestic animal whose life is about to end, would you eat it yourself, bury it if you have the land, or donate it to feed predators?

Read the article and learn about how the food chain is maintained in zoos in Denmark.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/04/europe/denmark-aalborg-zoo-pets-predators-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.4860-8/14/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Italy's undercover pizza detectives

Born as a street food in Naples, Italy, in the late 1800s, pizza has become one of the most popular dishes in many places around the world. There are diverse styles and regional variations, such as Pizza Napoletana, Pizza Romana, Sfincione (Sicilian pizza), pizza al taglio, and pinsa romana. Two traditional types of Neapolitan pizza represent the typical Neapolitan pizza: the Margherita, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, and the Marinara with oregano, garlic, and tomatoes but without cheese. In 1984, the True Neapolitan Pizza Association (AVPN) was founded to promote and protect in Italy and worldwide the true Neapolitan pizza, which is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. After its rigorous nine-day training course at AVPN, trainees take exams to be certified pizzaiolo. There are about 1,000 accredited pizzerias in many parts of the world that employ an AVPN-trained pizzaiolo and maintain strict standards. Those restaurants and pizzerias are secretly inspected by pizza agents from AVPN, and if a problem is verified, the restaurant or pizzeria is removed from the list. While the organization is committed to preserving the tradition, it is also accepting new styles of cooking, including electric ovens and untraditional toppings. After all, the pizza of today isn’t the same as the one when the organization was established four decades ago.

Read the article and learn about what is so special about authentic Pizza Napoletana.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250801-italys-undercover-pizza-detectives

Topic Reading-Vol.4859-8/13/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

North Korea sent me abroad to be a secret IT worker. My wages funded the regime

North Korea has been imposed economic and financial sanctions by many countries, including the US, the EU, India, Japan, and the UN for more than a dozen years to pressure it to give up its nuclear projects, cyberattacks, money laundering, and human rights violations. But the world’s most secretive and authoritative nation still needs to earn foreign currencies to purchase electric parts, equipment, machinery, oil, and luxury items for the elite from other countries. They send dancers and singers to state-run Korean restaurants abroad to earn money and send it back to North Korea. Also, they make their IT specialists disguise their identities to work for foreign employers and send back most of their earnings to the regime. Those IT workers abroad make little money for themselves, but most of them feel their lives are better than back home. In some cases, such workers are forced to engage in stealing data or hacking their employers to demand ransoms. How will North Korea use agentic AI to manage the international sanctions?

Read the article and learn about secretive North Korean IT workers working abroad.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15wk77zxngo

Topic Reading-Vol.4858-8/12/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why Filipinos keep getting married in flooded churches

Situated on the eastern shore of Manila Bay, Manila is the capital of the Philippines, where over 13 million people live in the Metro area, one of the most densely populated and flood-suffering areas in the world. Naturally, the area is a floodplain with four rivers that act as natural water channels. Also, as many as 10 typhoons hit the Philippines each year, making the island nation one of the most vulnerable countries to tropical cyclones. Furthermore, human factors, including overdevelopment, over-extraction of groundwater, insufficient drainage systems, and the buildup of silt and waste in waterways, make the metro area more vulnerable to flooding. For those who plan to have an event in a week or so in advance, they can take the weather forecast into consideration. But wedding ceremonies are usually scheduled months in advance. Also, funeral services cannot be planned earlier than a week. So, sometimes, the bride and groom have to wade through knee-deep water, and a casket can be placed on stilts above water for their services in church. Will the Philippines relocate its capital functions to a less crowded place like Indonesia did in its sinking capital city, Jakarta?

Read the article and learn how vulnerable the Philippines’ capital is to flooding.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9y02rn7pzo

Topic Reading-Vol.4857-8/11/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The new tourist fines sweeping Europe

Though it may be too hot in many places, summer is the time for many to have fun. But there are summer vacationers who enjoy just themselves doing what they want with little or no respect or consideration for the residents, local community, or environment. In addition to overtourism, many popular tourist destinations in Europe have come to the point of imposing penalties on unruly tourists who behave poorly, causing trouble or disruption to the local community. In Barcelona, Cannes, and Venice, those who wear only swimwear away from the beach will be fined up to €1,500. In Mallorca and the Canary Islands, drinking alcohol in public may cost €3,000. In Greece, if you take a shell or pebble from a beach, you may be fined as much as €1,000. Also, if you swim in a canal in Venice, you could get a €350 fine. These rules may sound too rigid or punitive, but they also protect the vacation experiences of responsible and considerate travelers. And again, your travel destinations are also the hometowns for the residents. Do you want to be welcomed or unwelcomed?

Read the article and learn about fines introduced for unruly tourists.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250808-the-new-tourist-fines-sweeping-europe

Topic Reading-Vol.4856-8/10/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

YouTube to be included in Australia’s social media ban for children under 16

Children are vulnerable to cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content, especially on social media. Last November, Australian parliament passed a bill to ban children under 16 from using social media, the world’s strictest laws. Australian children below the age of 16 will be unable to have social media accounts under the ban, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube after December 10 this year. These social media companies will be required to take "reasonable steps" to ensure there are no workarounds before the restrictions take effect, or they could face fines of up to $50 million. Children will be able to access YouTube, the most popular video platform, but will not be allowed to have their own YouTube accounts. The decision was made after the nation’s online regulator found that nearly 40% of children surveyed reported seeing harmful content on YouTube, including sexist, misogynistic, or hateful ideas, dangerous online challenges, fights, or unhealthy eating or exercise habits videos. SNS platformers are trying to detect underage users by using AI to deactivate personalized ads while activating well-being tools. But most children spend hours each day on screens. What will they do? Will they watch Disney videos or read educational content?

Read the article and learn about Australia’s strict ban on social media for underage users.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/30/tech/australia-youtube-social-media-ban-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.4855-8/9/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The Caribbean islands that give you a passport if you buy a home

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia are five island nations in the Eastern Caribbean, with each population ranging from 53,000 to 183,000. They not only attract tourists to their coastal resorts and communities but also welcome new citizens who invest or donate money to their countries. They offer a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, which allows individuals to gain citizenship in a country by making a significant financial contribution to its economy. They will issue a passport that allows the holder to enter 150 countries without a visa to those who purchase a property or make a donation of greater than USD200,000. Having a second citizenship in a country where capital gains or inheritance taxes is strong incentives to those who want to save taxes. Also, it could serve as a safety guard for those who are concerned about their nation’s status or future, including the USA. However, the program could be used by those who try to evade taxes or conduct criminal activities. Still, CBI has become an integral part of their GDP and infrastructure development for those Caribbean countries where sea levels are rising faster than the global average. 

Read the article and learn about the Caribbean countries that are effectively selling a passport.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly88xg5d9vo

Topic Reading-Vol.4854-8/8/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

What ‘starvation’ really means, for the human body and for Gaza

The Gaza Strip is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories in the Southern Levant region, surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, and Israel. An estimated two million people, mostly Muslims, live in the narrow 365 km² area. Immediately after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, Israel started attacking and invading the Gaza Strip. It killed tens of thousands of civilians and destroyed most dwellings, buildings, roads, and infrastructure, and made the area nearly uninhabitable. There are only three crossings in and out of Gaza, all of which are now controlled by Israel. Far less than the daily essentials needed, including water, food, and medicine, have been brought into the strip for the two million residents, journalists, medical staff, and aid workers. This man-made starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths, or famine, among everyone in Gaza. What does severe and prolonged starvation do to the body? What is starving to death like?

Read the article and learn how people in Gaza are suffering from man-made starvation.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/4/what-starvation-really-means-for-the-human-body-and-for-gaza

Topic Reading-Vol.4853-8/7/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

How Trump’s mass deportations could backfire on the American economy by shrinking paychecks

Under a deep, prolonged recession, people are content with any jobs they can get to bring food to the table. However, in peacetime in developed countries, people prefer doing skilled or white-collar jobs to unskilled labor, such as farming, construction, restaurants, and car washing. In fact, around 40% of crop farmers in the US are unauthorized workers, mainly illegal immigrants. For example, if you visit a strawberry farm or a car wash, you’ll find most of the workers are undocumented Latinos. The current administration is trying to deport illegal immigrants on a massive scale, saying they have caused violent crimes, raised housing costs, eroded social trust, and crowded emergency rooms. However, a new analysis suggests such mass deportations reduce paychecks for most workers, erode economic output, and increase the federal government budget deficit. Indeed, the fewer the bodies to produce, the smaller the economic outputs and consumption will be. And the longer the deportation continues, the more substantial the economic impacts will be. What is those illegal immigrants were legalized, at least economically, wouldn’t they pay taxes, contribute to social security, and eventually stimulate economic activity?

Read the article and learn about the illegal labor force in the US.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/25/business/trump-jobs-immigration-economy

Topic Reading-Vol.4852-8/6/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

80 years ago today at 8:15 am (Japan time), the first atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, was dropped by a US B-29 bomber, Enola Gay, on Hiroshima. It exploded at 580 meters above the city, destroyed 12 square kilometers, and killed over 100,000 people, mostly civilians, by the end of the year. Three days later, on August 9, the second atomic bomb, nicknamed Fat Man, was dropped by Bockscar, another US B-29 bomber, at 11:02 am, killing more than 40,000 civilians instantly and an additional 30,000 by the year's end. In both sites, many survivors who were injured or appeared uninjured had to live torturous days until their death or throughout their lives because of the radiation. The nuclear weapons were said to be used to end the long-lasting war with Japan, avoid creating further US casualties, and demonstrate power to the Soviet Union. However, a recent survey of Americans shows mixed views about the use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, among justified, not justified, and not sure. Now, eight decades after the bombings, fewer than 100,000 atomic-bomb survivors are alive. The inhumanity of nuclear weapons should never be forgotten.

Read the Wikipedia explanation about the atomic bombings eight decades ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki

Topic Reading-Vol.4851-8/5/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

World’s top court says major polluters may need to pay reparations for climate harm

Established in 1945 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. The ICJ is the only international court that settles general disputes between countries, with its rulings and opinions serving as primary sources of international law. On July 23, the top UN court said polluting countries may be in breach of international law if they do not protect the planet from the “existential threat” posed by climate change. In addition, the court said countries that suffer from climate change can ask for compensation from countries that have burned the most fossil fuels. In addition, the court ruled that subsidizing the fossil fuel industry or approving fossil fuel exploration licenses could breach their obligations to the 2015 UN Paris Agreement. Though the ruling is not legally binding, climate-vulnerable states and frontline communities are delighted.

The US is the country that has cumulatively emitted the most greenhouse gases, and China is currently the largest annual emitter. The Trump administration withdrew from the World Health Organization in January. In June, it proposed opening the large national petroleum reserve in Alaska for oil and gas leasing. Last month, it announced that it would pull out of UNESCO for the second time. In China, nearly half of the new cars sold were EVs this year. How will the largest greenhouse gas-emitting countries react to this landmark ICJ ruling?

Read the article and learn about the recent ICJ ruling on global warming.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/23/climate/icj-advisory-opinion-climate-un-court

Topic Reading-Vol.4850-8/4/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Will AI really wipe out white collar jobs? Tech insiders are split

Automation performs repetitive tasks that were done by humans in a more precise manner by robots or machines. It has been used in various fields, such as manufacturing, robotics, automotives, and service. Those robots and machines are costly because they require capital expenditures, hardware repair, upgrade, or replacement. On the other hand, AI is easily adopted to improve human tasks. Also, since AI is installed and upgraded by software, AI tools can be used without upfront capital expenditures, but with subscription fees. Tech companies say a quite significant part of their coding tasks has already been done by AI, and they expect more will be done by AI in the coming years. In addition, agentic AI is emerging, which can operate autonomously, making decisions and taking actions to achieve goals with minimal human intervention. With such an autonomous tool, humans can work on more creative or relational tasks. In the meantime, it may take over jobs that are done by human workers soon, if not tomorrow.

Read the article and learn about what AI does and will do to human jobs.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/tech/ai-replace-human-workers-tech-insiders-split

Topic Reading-Vol.4849-8/3/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Solar and batteries could help Egypt beat its blackouts

Summer is hot in many parts of the world, especially in Egypt. Average high temperatures go well over 30 degrees, even though nighttime temperatures drop significantly. Indeed, except for the coastal regions on the Mediterranean Sea, most of the land in Egypt is desert, where there is a lot of sunshine but little or no rain. Recently, demand for electricity has surged in summer to combat the intense heat with air conditioning. For now, nearly 90% of the country’s electricity is generated by fossil fuels, mainly gas. The problem is that production from the nation’s major gas field is declining, and Egypt is struggling to supply enough electricity, especially in summer. In the meantime, there is more than enough sunshine in the desert, which could be turned into a mega solar power plant. However, since solar panels only work when there is sunshine, battery storage is also needed to supply electricity even when the sun isn’t shining. The good news is that costs for batteries, solar panels, and installation have been falling recently, which allows Egypt to develop a large-scale solar power plant. The Obelisk solar energy project is Egypt’s first gigawatt-scale solar and battery plant to make use of the abundant sunshine in the desert.

Read the article and learn about Egypt’s attempt to combat summer with solar power.

https://edition.cnn.com/world/africa/egypt-solar-battery-energy-obelisk-spc

Topic Reading-Vol.4848-8/2/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

English majors face uncertain future as AI replaces basic skills

Some students choose language majors for their interests, while others study foreign languages for their careers. However, AI tools aren’t limited to just one foreign language that students major in. They can now translate many languages almost accurately, quite fluently, and economically, 24/7 for most business and practical purposes. As a result, those who have majored in foreign languages are not as in demand as they were before in China. In the last few years, Chinese students with foreign language majors have had difficulty finding good jobs, if any. For example, international trade and business hires declined from 28 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2023, while translation and localization roles dropped from 15 percent to 8 percent during the period. Accordingly, Chinese students are now choosing more practical and skill-oriented majors, such as IT or engineering. Accordingly, some universities, including top-tier ones, have stopped enrollment for foreign language majors and master’s programs. Even though language learning isn’t limited to translation, more Chinese students now prefer studying more business-oriented academic fields or developing practical skills in college for their careers.

Read the article and learn how AI affects college majors in China.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202507/15/WS68759d64a31000e9a573bfc5.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4847-8/1/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Unique 1.5m year-old ice to be melted to unlock mystery

An ice core is a core sample removed from an ice sheet in Antarctica or a high mountain glacier. Analyzing an ice core is like riding on a time machine. It contains ice formed hundreds of thousands to over a million years ago. From deep inside Antarctica’s ice sheet, 2.8km of ice core was extracted, chopped into one-meter blocks, and transported to research facilities in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. Researchers are now analyzing them to learn wind patterns, temperature, sea levels, and more, hoping to identify the cause of a mysterious change in climate that occurred 800,000 to 1.2 million years ago when the planet's glacial cycles suddenly changed. Very careful handling is required in order not to have the ice cores affected by today’s environment.

Read the article and learn about what ice cores from Antarctica could reveal about the climate of a million years ago.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ygwd6yj28o

Topic Reading-Vol.4846-7/31/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Humanoids are leading China’s AI and tech revolution

Tesla introduced its first mass-produced EV sedan, Model S, in 2012. It delivered nearly 1.8 million EVs globally in 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year. In the same year, around 1.5 million EVs were sold in the USA, while over 11 million EVs and PHEVs were sold in China. The world’s largest EV manufacturer was BYD, which sold over four million EVs and PHEVs in 2024 alone. ChatGPT was launched by OpenAI, a US AI organization, in November 2022. It immediately became popular around the world. DeepSeek, a Chinese company founded in July 2023, released its chatbot and AI model in January 2025. As for robots, Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics company now owned by South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, has introduced a number of four-legged robots since 2005. China, already home to over half of the global industrial robot installations, is aggressively developing AI-embodied humanoid robots, not only for practical uses like delivery or security but also for entertainment and human assistance. Space ships, high-speed railways, smartphones, drones, EVs, AI, and robots. Indeed, China is one of the leading runners in the innovation race, and Chinese people seem to be comfortable with and adaptive to new technologies. How fast will China’s tech industry grow?

Watch the video from Beyond Expo 2025, Asia’s largest tech showcase held in Macao, to learn what kinds of technologies are emerging recently.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/16/business/video/china-artificial-intelligence-humanoids-mpa-hnk-spc

Topic Reading-Vol.4845-7/30/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

'Autofocus' specs promise sharp vision, near or far

Nearsightedness is a common vision condition in which close objects look clear but faraway objects look blurry, which is becoming more common worldwide, particularly among children, who stare at tiny screens of their smartphones or video machines for hours every day. In the meantime, as people age, their eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects tends to deteriorate, a condition called presbyopia. Bifocal lenses are eyeglasses that combine both prescriptions in a single lens by splitting the glass into two vertical regions, the upper for near-sightedness and the lower for far-sightedness. Now, a Finnish eyewear firm is developing high-tech auto-focus lenses that respond to whatever correction the wearer needs spontaneously by using liquid crystals. The lenses seem to function quite well, but they need to be framed. However, even though the frame is packed with technologies, it is still expected to be wearable, durable, and fashionable. VR goggles are still clumsy and pricy. When will we have affordable and fashionable autofocus eyeglasses?

Read the article and learn about these innovative autofocus eyeglasses.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6r06d7xdjo

Topic Reading-Vol.4844-7/29/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

China takes a ‘stand’ on escalator etiquette

Escalators are designed to transport a large number of people between floors in buildings or levels in structures. Escalator users are advised to stand still and hold the handrail because walking on escalators increases the risk of accidents and can disrupt the flow of traffic for other users. Also, walking on one side and standing on the other can cause the escalator to operate unevenly, potentially leading to mechanical issues. In fact, the steps of escalators are higher than ordinary staircase. However, in many regions, including Western countries, China, and Japan, people often stand on the right side of escalators and walk on the left (except for Tokyo where people stand on the left side to leave the right side open for those who want to walk or pass by). Now, Chinese authorities say walking on escalators is unsafe, uneconomical, and inefficient, and it is safer and more efficient if people stand on both sides. This way, escalators can carry more people and cause fewer accidents and mechanical troubles. To remind people of this new etiquette, some escalators are painted with yellow footprints side by side in every other step. Those who are in a hurry to catch a train or attend a meeting are advised to walk up or down the stairs.

Watch the video about a new escalator guideline for 1.4 billion people.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/17/travel/video/china-escalator-etiquette-stand-digvid

Topic Reading-Vol.4843-7/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Kids are asking AI companions to solve their problems, according to a new study. Here’s why that’s a problem

AI companions are artificially intelligent systems designed to engage users in human-like interactions, including emotional support, companionship, and entertainment. Using natural language processing, generative AI, and emotional recognition, they can ask and answer questions, offer advice, and provide an emotional connection while adapting to the user’s personality, preferences, and emotional state over time. Imagine a kid is spending hours on their smartphone chatting with an artificial chatbot that tends to provide enticing and comforting responses and suggestions for each individual. They will hear or see what they naturally like while losing time interacting with their friends or family members. Human interactions are dynamic, emotional, situational, and unpredictable. Also, children learn more and better as they interact with others, not only through conversations but also by tone and manner, facial expressions, and body language. Children should learn to use AI, but they also need to learn how to interact with humans.

Read the article and learn how kids are using AI companions nowadays.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/16/health/teens-ai-companion-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4842-7/27/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Could axing two national holidays save France from its mountain of debt?

When you have mounting debts that you cannot pay off with your current income, one option is to work more days to earn more. That is what the French government is proposing. As part of an emergency plan to plug a budget hole, the prime minister has proposed scrapping two of the nation’s 11 public holidays to increase economic output. Will it work? Denmark abolished one national holiday in 2023, and economic output increased by much less than one percent or even one-365ths. In fact, France has the same number of national holidays as Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA. Since workers and students won’t be happy with such a reduction in the holidays, it is uncertain if such an unpopular proposal will get the parliament’s approval, especially when populism is on the rise. In the meantime, the governments of NATO countries are all required to increase their defence budgets. It’s going to be a tough sell.

Read the article and learn about the French government’s idea to increase its economic output.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrq8epk7vjo

Topic Reading-Vol.4841-7/26/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

They made America's clothing. Now they are getting punished for it. 

In 2024, Cambodia purchased goods worth $12.7 billion from the US, while generating $12.3 billion trade surplus, a trade deficit for the US. In the same year, Sri Lanka exported goods worth $3.0 billion to the US but imported only $368 million, creating 2.6 billion trade surplus with the US, or a trade deficit for the US. Cambodia and Sri Lanka, along with Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Vietnam, are the apparel industry’s alternative sources for China, where labor costs have increased to an uncompetitive level. The Trump administration wants all the countries around the world to reduce their trade surpluses with the US, or deficits to the US, and has threatened any country that has a trade surplus with the US with unbearably high tariffs, like over 20%. One question is whether these deficit-laden developing countries can afford to buy much more US goods like Boeing jets or Tesla EVs, which are unbearably expensive for them. Also, will US consumers be willing to bear the price increase due to the higher tariffs on the once-affordable garments? Manufacturers, exporters, and retailers all need to make money to pay salaries to their employees and taxes to their governments. No one wins by high tariffs, not to mention the workers in the garment factories in Cambodia and Sri Lanka, who work for the minimum wage or even less.

Read the article and learn about how the US administration’s “reciprocal tariffs” could affect the workers in developing countries.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9xw5vrvevo

 

Topic Reading-Vol.4840-7/25/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

New Caledonia to become a state in 'historic' agreement, but will remain French

New Caledonia is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, about 1,200km east of Australia. It was colonized by France in 1853 and became an overseas territory after World War II. Of the 270,000 population, about 40% are the Kanaks, the indigenous Melanesian inhabitants. Despite the full French citizenship and economic support from France, New Caledonians were calling for full independence. A referendum on independence was held in 2018 and again in 2020, both of which resulted in favor of the status quo. The 2021 referendum was boycotted by pro-independence groups over the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Kanak population, and the political situation of New Caledonia has since been deadlocked. On July 12, France announced a deal with New Caledonia to grant more autonomy. It proposes the creation of a “State of Caledonia”, with its own nationality, but not full independence. It allows New Caledonia to control its foreign policy immediately and create a Caledonian nationality along with French nationality. Also, it paves the way to become a member state of the United Nations. Since the agreement still needs to be approved in New Caledonia, more negotiations and concessions might be made for ratification.

Read the article and learn about a French archipelago territory 17,000km from Paris.

https://www.euronews.com/2025/07/13/new-caledonia-to-become-a-state-in-historic-agreement-but-will-remain-french

Topic Reading-Vol.4839-7/24/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Cell phone use affects parent-child interactions, even when adults aren’t online

Social networking services, SNS, allow users and organizations to connect, communicate, share information, and form relationships. At a social networking site, users can create their profiles and build a personal network that connects them to other users. Social networks also show tailored content that is interesting to the user, including children, students, adults, and parents. Some users spend less than half an hour on SNS, while others use hours each day. And those heavy users often say their minds are still occupied with social media even after they log off. This is problematic for young children when they learn language from their parents or caregivers, whose attention stays elsewhere. Also, interactions with adults or elders play an important role in children’s socioemotional development. If a child isn’t given good attention, they will know it. Also, they will know what their parents are busy with. So, it’s not just the length of time that you spend with your children, but how you spend the time with children is also essential.

Read the article and learn about how essential parents’ attention is to their children.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/13/health/parents-social-media-use-affects-kids-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.4838-7/23/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Thailand was the first country in Asia to legalize marijuana. Things didn’t go as planned

In Thailand, cannabis has been widely consumed for both medical and recreational purposes, even though it was criminalized in 1935 and again in 1979. In 2018, Thailand legalized the use of cannabis for medical purposes, becoming the first nation in Asia. Then in 2022, the cannabis flower was removed from the narcotics list, which effectively decriminalized planting, growing, trading, selling, and consuming of cannabis. Numerous cannabis dispensaries emerged for locals and tourists, creating child users, addiction, narco-tourism, and smuggling. Last month, the government reclassified the cannabis flower as a controlled herb and prohibited its sale for recreational purposes. Now, buyers of cannabis are required to present a prescription from a doctor, which might be purchased unofficially. What will happen to the already-established cannabis production, distribution, and sales network? Will re-criminalizing marijuana stop leisure consumption, or just add some cost and enhance the value of cannabis?

Read the article and learn about Thailand’s struggle with the use of marijuana.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/28/travel/thailand-cannabis-laws-tourism-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.4837-7/22/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

In the country with the world's lowest birth rate, fertility clinics are booming

South Korea is known for its low birth rate. In the last several years, its birth rate has been below 1.0, the world’s lowest, and went down to 0.72 in 2023 and 0.75 in 2024. Higher education, job competition, patriarchal culture, high living and education costs, and late or no marriage are some of the social and financial factors for the extremely low birth rate. For example, the average age at which South Korean women have their first child is 33.6, much older than in other countries. In the meantime, the number of fertility treatments carried out increased by 50% between 2018 and 2022. In fact, one in six babies born in Seoul, the capital city where about half of the nation’s population lives, were helped by fertility treatment. Why so? Do women of reproductive age in South Korea have difficulty conceiving or want to control when and how to become pregnant?

Read the article and learn why fertility treatments are on the rise in South Korea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20wg50l563o