Topic Reading-Vol.5044-2/14/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

These nets used to catch fish. Now they’re catching Russian drones

Last year, more than 2,000 Russian drones attacked the southern city of Kherson every week and killed over 100 people. While shooting down every drone is nearly impossible, there is an innovative and practical tool that helps protect people and infrastructures on the ground, nets. Tulip nets can thwart small drones, and fishing nets can protect tanks and electricity utilities from deadly kamikaze drones, which carry heavy explosives. These nets are donated by farmers and fishermen from many parts of Europe, and are being trucked to Ukraine by a variety of volunteer groups. They now protect hospital courtyards, power generators, shopping streets, and even open roads. Just like mosquito nets prevent mosquito bites and diseases such as malaria in tropical and subtropical regions, tulip nets and fishing nets are now protecting lives in Ukraine from Russian drones.

Read the article and learn how conventional nets are being used in Ukraine.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/01/europe/ukraine-fishing-farming-nets-drones-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5043-2/13/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, Protein is so last year. 

Why fiber is the next big thing

Fiber is a carbohydrate in plant food, such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. It passes through the body undigested, promotes bowel regularity, helps control blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol. Also, because fiber-rich foods are filling, they help you control your appetite and thus reduce overeating. You should get enough fiber, say 25g to 30g+ daily, with a healthy diet. For example, eat whole grains instead of refined grains, keep the skin on potatoes, cucumbers, apples, and pears, or add berries and nuts to your breakfast cereal. These days, younger consumers in the USA are getting obsessed with their digestive health to improve their skin health and cognitive function. Food companies are then launching fiber-enriched food, snacks, and even drinks to capitalize on the trend. But why do they need highly processed, packaged products to get enough fiber, which is naturally included in real foods?

Read the article and learn what American consumers are keen on after protein.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/25/food/fiber-food-trends-2026

Topic Reading-Vol.5042-2/12/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

He calls me sweetheart and winks at me - but he's not my boyfriend, he's AI

AI companions are AI-powered chatbots or virtual avatars that provide human-like interactions, emotional support, friendship, or companionship. They adapt to user inputs to form deep, personalized, and even romantic relationships, and offer 24/7 emotional support and personalized interactions via text, voice, or visual. As they keep learning from what you’ve said, asked, shown, and searched, the more time you spend with them, the closer they become to you. Research in the UK found that over 60% of teens are using AI chatbots to get help for their studies, receive emotional advice, or companionship. Another study found that a third of teenagers under 19 said conversation with their AI companion was more satisfying than with a human friend. ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and My AI all offer such companionship, but age restrictions are tightening to protect young people and children from harmful attachments, sexual content, and emotional manipulation. 

Read the article and learn about how widely and deeply AI companions are used by young people.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62njv82n0wo

Topic Reading-Vol.5041-2/11/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

UN risks 'imminent financial collapse', secretary general warns

Founded in 1945 after World War II, the United Nations (UN) is an international organization dedicated to maintaining international peace, security, and cooperation. The organization is primarily funded by its 193 member states through mandatory assessed contributions for its two main budgets, the regular budget and the peacekeeping budget. The US and China are charged over 20% respectively for these two main budgets, followed by Japan, Germany, the UK, and France, while 175 of the 193 member states were each responsible for less than 1% of these budgets. However, a substantial portion of members’ obligations have not been paid in full or on time, particularly by the largest contributors, including the USA, China, and Russia, all of which are permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council. The USA alone owed 1.5 billion each in regular assessment and peacekeeping dues as of April last year. Without budgeted assessments and dues payments, the UN cannot maintain its operations or fulfill its financial obligations. Last month, the UN chief urged the member states to pay their unpaid dues ASAP, otherwise, the organization could financially collapse by July.

Read the article and learn about the financial crisis of the United Nations.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr579mdv4m7o

Topic Reading-Vol.5040-2/10/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Doomsday Clock 2026: Scientists set new time

Maintained by scientists since 1947, the Doomsday Clock is a symbol that represents the estimated likelihood of a human-caused global catastrophe, such as nuclear threats, climate change, and disruptive technologies. The initial setting of the clock was seven minutes to midnight, where some sort of nuclear exchange or catastrophic climate change wipes out humanity. It was wound back to 17 minutes in 1991 when the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) was signed by the US and the Soviet Union. However, the clock has been wound forward continuously since then and was set at 85 seconds to midnight last month, due to ongoing wars and armed conflicts in many parts of the world, rising nuclear proliferation, and effects of climate change, as major countries have become more aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic. Also feared is the rapid growth and use of AI, which could exacerbate misinformation and disinformation. Are only powerful or influential governments responsible for advancing the clock’s hand? In fact, personal actions can also make a difference to help mitigate the climate crisis. Water and energy conservation, proper recycling, and the reduction of food waste could all help slow, or even reverse, the clock’s movement.  

Read the article and learn how close the world has become to Doomsday.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/27/science/doomsday-clock-2026-time-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.5039-2/9/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The surprising benefits of standing on one leg

Standing on one leg is a more physically demanding exercise than you might think. It strengthens ankle stabilizers, calf muscles, quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes while improving stability. Also, how long you can stand on one leg is a good indicator of your ability to balance, neurological function, and how well you’re ageing. That’s because starting from our 30s, we lose muscle mass as much as 8% in each decade. Also, our brain’s ability to integrate information from the eyes, sense the body position and the ground, and balance our body, declines as we age. Single-leg training exercises help us improve balance control and joint stability, and reduce the risk of falls. This simple exercise of standing on one leg doesn’t take so much of your time. You can stand on one leg while you’re brushing your teeth, watching TV, or chatting on the phone. Just be careful not to fall during the exercise.

Read the article and learn about what standing on one leg does to you and your ageing.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260114-the-surprising-benefits-of-standing-on-one-leg

Topic Reading-Vol.5038-2/8/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Spain plans to give half a million undocumented migrants legal status

In the last four decades, the total fertility rate in Spain has been well below the reproduction level of 2.1. However, its population has grown from 40 million to nearly 50 million in the last 25 years, mostly due to immigration. Now, a little over 80% of the Spanish population is White Europeans, about 8% are Latin Americans, and the rest came from other places. Since Spain’s population is aging and the fertility rate has been declining, the contribution of young immigrants is essential for its economy, social security system, and communities. Last month, Spain’s government announced that it would grant legal status to half a million or more undocumented immigrants living and working in the country for at least five months as of the end of last year. While the US is brutally cracking down, detaining, and deporting undocumented immigrants and revoking visas, Spain is trying to legalize immigrants for them and for the country.

Read the article and learn about Spain’s latest immigration policy.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62n6gw1dp9o