Topic Reading-Vol.5293-10/21/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
How much should you actually tip on a 'free' walking tour?
There are quite a few travel websites that list “free walking tours” for popular tourist destinations, such as Rome, New York, or Tokyo. In reality, these tours are not really free of charge, but tip-based. It’s a pay-what-you-wish model where you can book for free online and tip your guide at the end of the tour based on what you feel the tour was worth for you within your budget. For travelers, it is appealing because there are no upfront booking fees or financial commitment. For freelance tour guides, the tour not only eats up other income opportunities but also costs them booking fees to the online platform. Some platforms show a suggested tipping range, but it depends on where, when, and how satisfactory the tour was to the individual. In reality, those tour guides aren’t really volunteers but freelance guides who make their living from tips. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Read the article and learn about how free walking tours work.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260924-how-much-should-you-actually-pay-on-a-free-walking-tour

Topic Reading-Vol.5292-10/20/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

This city is on track to run out of water by 2030. For many residents, that day is already here

Kabul is the capital of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. It sits in an east-central mountain valley of Afghanistan along the Kabul River. Kabul’s population increased rapidly from 2.4 million in 2000 to over five million today, one of the world’s fastest-growing cities. Unfortunately, however, Kabul’s water supply has been declining in recent years. The Kabul River is fed by melting snow and glacial ice, both of which are diminishing, and aquifers aren’t replenished for pumping and wells. Also, it is estimated that as much as 80% of the city’s groundwater is contaminated by sewage and naturally occurring substances. Kabul’s residents are now facing water bankruptcy because its water resource is not recoverable. Those who can afford to dig their wells deeper or buy water from private water tankers, but others walk long distances to fetch water from community wells. Continuous droughts, declining snowfall, melting glaciers, and increasing water demand from homes, agriculture, and businesses all contributed to Kabul’s water bankruptcy, and there is no immediate solution to the crisis. Bombs are no longer falling onto Kabul, but neither is the rain. What choices are left for Kabul’s residents?

Read the article and learn how serious Kabul’s water shortage is.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/climate/water-crisis-city-day-zero-kabul-afghanistan

Topic Reading-Vol.5291-10/19/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Post-Assad Syria is facing its biggest stress test yet. Here’s why that matters

Surrounded by Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan, and also bordered by Israel and Lebanon, Syria is an Arab republic in West Asia. Most of its 26 million population are Arabs and Sunni muslims, and about 10% are Kurds. The republic was established in 1953 and was ruled by the notorious Assad family until its collapse in 2024, when the nation’s capital, Damascus, fell to its opposing coalition. The country is now ruled by a transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander. After decades of international isolation and sanctions because of the former regime’s repression of civilians and support for terrorism, the interim government has been trying to bring the country back onto the global stage and invite foreign investment. Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the EU have invested handsomely so far, which has helped Syria rebuild key infrastructure from a nearly bankrupt state. However, despite the government’s ambitious long-term plans, ordinary citizens' daily lives haven’t improved much, and people are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. Economic strain, especially in food and fuel, leads to social unrest. How will Syria’s transitional government manage the nation until the next presidential election that is supposed to take place before December 2029?

Read the article and learn about Syria’s status.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/29/middleeast/syria-post-assad-what-comes-next-intl

Topic Reading-Vol.5290-10/18/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Inside the ‘Americanization’ of French dining

When people visit other places, their cultures tend to influence others, and vice versa. Each year, over 1.5 million French people visit the US, and around five million Americans visit France. With these exchanges and interactions, along with entertainment and technological influences, Americanized dining experiences are emerging in France, where gastronomy is regarded as a core of life. For example, various kinds of Americanized menus are appearing in some restaurants with American-flavored interiors. Also, some restaurants accommodate early-hour diners, like 6:30 pm, as opposed to traditional French dinner time that starts around 7:30 pm. Another American custom emerging in France is tipping. Tipping isn’t usually expected in France because a 15% service charge is already included in menu prices. Diners may leave the change or €1 to €2 as appreciation for good service. But as digital tipping options on card machines and QR codes have become more common in the last few years, a 5-15% tipping option is shown to diners in addition to the already-included service charge. More smiles and engaging service might become very expensive in some restaurants in France.

Read the article and learn about the American influence on French dining.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/04/travel/french-restaurants-american-influence

Topic Reading-Vol.5289-10/17/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Yoga bears to resting owl face: 10 of the funniest animal photos of 2026

Founded in 2015, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards is a fun, light-hearted photo competition. Entries for the competition have just closed, and the finalists and winners will be revealed soon. But for those who cannot wait for the final results, here are 10 amusing photos of the animal kingdom this year, including a bear performing yoga, a red squirrel trying to bite off too much grass, an eagle landing elegantly, a squirrel attacking an owl, and so on.

Check the article and enjoy seeing amazing photos of wild animals.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20261002-10-of-the-funniest-animal-photos-of-2026

Topic Reading-Vol.5288-10/16/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why doesn’t high speed rail work in America?

China operates over 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail (HSR) network, the world’s largest. The HSR network runs on newly built rail lines at a speed of over 200 km/h, some over 300 km/h. The network is almost entirely owned and operated by the state-owned rail transport company. Other major economies, such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in Asia, and Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK in Europe, all have HSR networks that connect major cities. However, the US has only two relatively high-speed railways: Acela between Boston and DC via New York, and Brightline, bankrupt yet still operating, between Miami and Orlando in Florida. While railways are more comfortable and environmentally friendly than driving or flying, why aren’t US cities connected by high-speed rail services like other countries? There are several factors that explain why there is no HSR network except for two in the USA, including lack of government support, politics, public need, geography, and user convenience.

Read the article and learn why most people fly or drive to travel in the USA.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/04/business/high-speed-rail-america

Topic Reading-Vol.5287-10/15/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why billions spent on defense haven’t shielded Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia holds the world's second-largest proven crude oil reserves and is a leading global petroleum exporter. As the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia holds unique moral and spiritual authority across the global Muslim world, drawing millions of pilgrims annually for the Hajj. Under Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom has expanded non-oil sectors such as tourism, logistics, digital infrastructure, and green energy. Saudi Arabia spends over $80 billion on its defense budget, the world’s 8th-largest spender, owns state-of-the-art aircraft, tanks, and air defense systems, and has around 250,000 active troops. Yet recently, its key infrastructure, including refineries, pipelines, and airports, has been attacked by missiles and drones fired by the Houthis, a Shia Islamist political and paramilitary organization in northern Yemen. In fact, the vast kingdom, about one-third the size of the US, has been threatened on three sides: Iran from the east, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq from the north, and other Iran-supported Houthi rebels from the south. But why are the Houthis attacking Saudi Arabia now? And why is the mighty Saudi struggling to defend its key facilities and people?

Read the article and learn what is causing problems in Saudi Arabia’s defense.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/13/middleeast/saudi-arabia-defenses-yemen-houthis-intl