Topic Reading-Vol.5277-10/5/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Italy ministers agree to ban burqa and niqab in school and cap foreigners in class

Italy’s right-wing coalition government is set to ban outer coverings worn by some Muslim women at schools. It said it is common sense to show faces at school, and also that the ban is a matter of gender equality. The burqa and niqab are outer coverings worn by some Muslim females; the former covers the face and body, and the latter covers the face. The government also intends to put a 30% cap on children without Italian citizenship or poor knowledge of the Italian language in the first year of school. Over 11% of Italy’s school students are non-Italian citizens. The Prime Minister said these measures are not intended to divide students but to help them integrate. Recently, in many European countries, nationalist and populist parties are gaining momentum in local and national elections. Immigration pressures from displacement by wars and conflicts, rising housing prices and rents, and concerns about cultural and national identities are said to be some of the factors behind this move. School children of a different nationality, race, or faith have to study and develop their identity in a different language, culture, and society. They may be learning a lot to live in different or mixed societies.

Read the article and think about the challenges foreign students are facing.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw99d8g48873o

Topic Reading-Vol.5276-10/4/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

The world's five best economy airlines for 2026 - and what makes them so much better

When you travel long hours in economy class, how do you choose an airline besides schedule and price? Legroom, seat width, meals, service, onboard entertainment, and internet connectivity all matter to your comfort, especially on a long-haul flight. You can find the type of aircraft, cabin layout, legroom, seat width, and wifi connection on the booking site or somewhere online, but you won’t know if the meals, service, cleanliness, and wifi connectivity are satisfactory to you until you get onboard. Skytrack, a UK-based research service company, conducted its 2026 annual satisfaction survey of international travelers to rate airlines. Of the top 10 airlines, seven are based in Eastern or Southeastern Asia, only one in North America, and none in Europe. Nowadays, onboard connectivity is more important to passenger satisfaction because it is one of the few things they can enjoy during the flight at the back of the plane. But in reality, other factors such as seat position, like window, middle, or aisle, the passenger(s) sitting next to you, and cabin crowdedness also matter greatly to your onboard experience.

Read the article and learn how international passengers rate airlines in economy class.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260924-the-worlds-five-best-economy-airlines-for-2026-and-what-makes-them-so-much-better

Topic Reading-Vol.5275-10/3/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Quiet on set. How AI transformed China’s microdrama scene

Originating and exploding in popularity in China, micro-dramas are short, serialized video series designed for smartphone viewing. Microdramas became popular during the pandemic when people stayed home, spending most of their time with smartphones. Each story is made of dozens of 90-second episodes and is mostly produced and acted by young talents. These dramas are released on online platforms like Douyin, Hongguo, and Kuaishou as they are produced. If the first few episodes aren’t viewed, the rest of the episodes won’t be seen. It’s a shotgun approach; the more, the better.

Hengdian in Zhejiang province had been a hot spot in the microdrama industry for the last few years until early this year. Soon after Seedance 2.0, an advanced cinematic AI video generation model created by ByteDance, the owner of Douyin and Hongguo, was released early this year, the microdrama industry faced existential challenges. Production crew, actors, and extras have far fewer job opportunities, and if any, the pay is significantly lower than before. Studios and film sets in the town are no longer used. Short-lived opportunities in the fast-moving microdrama industry.

Read the article and learn about China’s microdrama production.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/22/style/short-drama-ai-china-intl-hnk

Topic Reading-Vol.5274-10/2/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

McDonald’s is spending billions to make major changes

Founded as a drive-in restaurant near Los Angeles in 1940, McDonald’s is the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain with over 46,000 locations in more than 100 countries. McDonald’s is famous for its hamburgers, fries, and drinks, but its menu varies by market, such as Teriyaki McBurger in Japan, McBaguette in France, and Chikien Maharaja Mac in India. Although most of its restaurants are operated by franchisees, independent owner-operators, its service and operating systems are standardized, which makes customers feel safe and assured at any of its restaurants. However, like any other business, size itself doesn’t ensure success. In fact, the largest operator always faces fierce competition from existing and emerging competitors, and McDonald’s is no exception. So, the mega fast-food chain has been continuously inventing new menus, renovating restaurants, updating operational systems, and launching marketing campaigns. Recently, the chain announced a multi-billion-dollar investment in remodeling, menus, and operations to beat the competition and please more customers. Will we get tastier, cheaper, and healthier food in a cleaner, safer environment, with faster, better service?

Read the article and learn about McDonald’s initiatives in the coming years.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/24/food/mcdonalds-franchises-billions-spending

Topic Reading-Vol.5273-10/1/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Indians are discovering the thrill of shopping without paying

Many people like shopping or ordering food delivery, and some people enjoy just window shopping or surfing food menus online. Indeed, searching for something you like online gives you mental pleasure even if you don’t actually buy or order it. If you want to go one step further than just surfing, there is a popular virtual space in India where you can search for and order your desired items, but without actually paying for them. Your order will be shown on the screen, and a fake call from a delivery person will appear, but it will never arrive. You don’t have to worry about your wallet or stomach. The slogan of this website is “The food never comes, but the *dopamine does.” It’s like chasing something without intending to catch it, or the pleasure of anticipation rather than ownership. In addition to this virtual food delivery site, there is a new site that offers users the chance to plan trips, called “TripNeverLeaves”, where users can book a trip without leaving their home or paying the bill.

Read the article and think about whether searching for and ordering food delivery excites you.

*dopamine: a crucial neurotransmitter and hormone that acts as the brain's primary driver for motivation, pleasure, and movement.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwn741v5rdpxo

Topic Reading-Vol.5272-9/30/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Japan is famous for its spotless streets. So why are public rubbish bins so hard to find?

If you visit a popular tourist destination or walk down a street in a Chinese city, you’ll find countless trash bins, but hardly any in Japan. Still, most places in Japan are no less clean than those in China. But after consuming sandwiches and drinks bought at a convenience store or McDonald’s, where do people discard the trash? In Japanese cities, trash bins are only found at convenience stores, train stations, and service areas on toll highways, but not at public places or facilities, such as parks or museums, where signs asking visitors to take their trash home are put up. So, tourists end up hanging on the trash until they find trash bins. Once they find trash bins, they need to sort out which garbage to put into which bins, because proper waste management is a key part of daily life and culture in Japan. Waste is generally divided into several categories, such as burnable, plastic, PET bottles, cans, and glass bottles. Though you may feel it is a little inconvenient, garbage sorting is the first step to keep the societies and the environment clean.

Read the article and learn why trash bins are so rare in Japan.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260921-why-are-there-so-few-rubbish-bins-in-japan

Topic Reading-Vol.5271-9/29/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Denmark

Lying between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. The world’s largest island is icy, cold, and sparsely populated by about 57 thousand residents, 20,000 of whom live in Nuuk, the capital. Recently, the US showed renewed interest in this icy island because of its strategic importance for Arctic military defense, missile warning systems, critical mineral supply chains, and control over emerging polar shipping lanes. After escalating threats to take or annex the territory, the US reached an agreement with both Denmark and Greenland that allows it to build two new military bases and to modernize the operating space base on the northwestern coast of the island. Even though Greenland appears to shrink on the new Equal Earth world map, its strategic importance seems to have become more significant to world security.

Read the article and learn what has been agreed on the icy island.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dr74g32g8go