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

Topic Reading-Vol.5286-10/14/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

'Every museum in the world is stressing': How brazen art heists are affecting visitors

A museum is a place where valuable objects, artifacts, or chronological items are conserved or displayed for the public. It offers visitors the opportunity to see, feel, and connect with the original piece made or used by another human or a masterpiece created by a genius long ago. However, museums’ visibility, accessibility, and connectivity create vulnerability to theft. Lately, the number of museum robbery cases has increased steeply in Europe, including the Napoleonic crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris and Impressionist masterpieces by Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca in Parma, Italy. Museums are doing their best to protect their most prized pieces from theft while displaying them to visitors. They may protect their valued pieces better by keeping visitors farther away, using thicker glass, or showing replicas instead of originals, but such measures could change or diminish the visitor experience. Will AI and humanoids help museums protect valuable pieces from thieves while keeping a sense of connection with visitors?

Read the article and learn about recent challenges European museums are facing.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260930-what-the-rise-in-museum-heists-means-for-visitors

Topic Reading-Vol.5285-10/13/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

New York has a food waste problem. South Korea has already solved it

When organic waste is buried in a landfill, it breaks down without oxygen and releases methane, a greenhouse gas that traps much more heat than CO2, and leachate, a noxious liquid that contaminates soil and groundwater. In a circular economy, organic waste should be separated, recycled, and reused as energy. In 1997, food waste separation became mandatory in South Korea. Now, over 95% of residential organic waste is collected and recycled, and over 340 bioenergy centers produce electricity from food waste across the country. They are funded by fees residents pay each time they dispose of food waste into smart bins and also by government subsidies.

Following South Korea’s food waste recycling initiative, New York mandated that residents separate food waste and put it into a designated bin in 2024. A year later, the city collected about 9% of household food waste. Not a bad start, but still a long way to go. The government and municipalities can collect designated trash bins, such as garbage, cans, bottles, PET bottles, and plastic waste. But it is the residents who sort their trash and put it out separately. Indeed, food waste recycling is a collective responsibility that might be cultivated over time.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260916-new-york-has-a-food-waste-problem-south-korea-has-already-solved-it

Topic Reading-Vol.5284-10/12/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Russian search engine Yandex struggles after Ukrainian strikes on data centres

A data center is a physical space, building, or facility that houses computers, servers, storage hardware, and networking gear to store, process, and distribute digital information 24/7. It consists of servers, cooling systems, power backups with diesel generators, and security controls. Data centers are being built around the world to meet the expanding demand for AI. When a major data center becomes dysfunctional or goes offline, disruptions spread across digital services, business operations, and infrastructure, including streaming services, card payments, databases, search engines, government services, and military operations. To mitigate such impacts, major data center operators use multi-site replication and reroute data traffic and processing, but disruptions of some degree are inevitable. Also, it takes resources, equipment, manpower, and time to recover from the damage. Data centers are essential infrastructure for today’s lives, businesses, services, and operations, just like power plants. However, unlike military facilities, they are highly vulnerable to military or terrorist attacks, and they have become military targets in the Russia-Ukraine war. Data centers, undersea cables, and communication satellites are essential yet vulnerable social infrastructure.  

Read the article and learn how critical data center disruptions are to today’s lives and war.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c68xzqqn4ekro

Topic Reading-Vol.5283-10/11/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

US unveils sanctions on ICC in move court condemns as 'assault on rule of law'

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent, treaty-based international court established to prosecute individuals for the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Unlike the International Court of Justice, the ICC prosecutes individuals, including political leaders and military commanders. For example, Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, is awaiting trial, and Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been issued an arrest warrant. 125 countries, including the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Japan, are member states and are reaffirming their continued support, but not Israel, Russia, India, China, or the USA. Hours after Navi Pillay, who sat on the ICC's Appeals ​Chamber from 2003-2008, was awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law, the US announced sanctions on the ICC, which will stop US companies from providing goods and services to the court. The US has already sanctioned 17 of the ICC's judges and officials, including the President of the court from Japan. The prize committee emphasized that the award was intended to support justice under political attack.

Read the article and think about what the ICC, the US sanctions, and the Nobel Peace Prize mean to the world.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj20vkkx3rdvo

Topic Reading-Vol.5282-10/10/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Over 90% of common household items contain hazardous plastic chemicals

How much do you think we are exposed to plastic? Most of the produce and food we buy at supermarkets or convenience stores are packed or wrapped in single-use plastics unless they are bottled or canned. At home, kitchens are filled with plastics, including pots, utensils, and containers, and toys children put into their mouths are also made of plastic. According to a recently published database by scientists, about one in every four chemicals they identified in plastics were hazardous to our health and the environment. Those chemicals are also persistent, bioaccumulative, and mobile, so they spread easily, stay long, and build up over time in the body or the environment. It is still unknown which specific chemicals are more harmful than others, or how much of these chemicals are contained in certain plastic products. We’ve been using more and more plastic wraps and containers for the sake of economy, hygiene, and convenience. However, even though plastics look clean and free from germs and bacteria, they are full of invisible chemicals.

Read the article and learn what plastic chemicals are and what they do to us.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/30/health/hazardous-household-plastics-wellness

Topic Reading-Vol.5281-10/9/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Scientists deliver ‘starkest warning yet’ of profound changes sweeping the planet’s oceans

Ocean temperatures shape global climate by absorbing, storing, and moving vast amounts of heat and moisture around the planet. The oceans absorb over 90% of the excess heat trapped in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases. In the last few years, the rate of ocean warming has been accelerating and breaking previous records. Warmer surface waters pump more heat and moisture into the air, fueling heavier rainfall, severe flooding, and more powerful storms. Also, the oceans have become more acidic, which severely affects underwater ecosystems. And as water warms, it expands and raises global sea level alongside melting ice sheets. Both polar regions are affected the most by global ocean warming. Sea surface temperatures in the Arctic region have risen by over four degrees Celsius over the past four decades. Antarctica is experiencing rapid ice loss and ocean warming, too. The newly released Copernicus Ocean State Report warns that the world's oceans are undergoing rapid, interconnected, and long-term transformation driven by climate change.

Read the article and learn what is behind the scenes of recent extreme weather events.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/30/climate/ocean-report-copernicus-warming-sea-level-rise

Topic Reading-Vol.5280-10/8/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

What are the US midterms? A simple guide

On November 3, US voters will cast their ballots in midterm elections. The general elections are held every four years at the midpoint of a president’s four-year term. All 435 seats of the House of Representatives are up for election as they serve two-year terms, and about one-third of the 100 seats of the Senate will be elected or reelected. Voters will also elect state- and local-level leaders and representatives, including 39 governors this time. The results of the elections will show how voters approve or disapprove of the incumbent president and Congress, as both houses have been outnumbered by Republicans. Also, the forthcoming elections will redraw the landscape of US politics as the attention of both people and politicians will shift to the next presidential elections in 2028. Inflation, tariffs, war, fuel, immigration, and AI, along with Greenland, Canada, White House ballroom, and countless executive orders, will all be judged by voters. A recent online poll shows over 60% disapprove of Trump, but election outcomes are hard to predict. In any case, the upcoming elections are pivotal not only to US politics but also to the world’s economy and peace.

Read the article and learn about the upcoming US midterm elections.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6wyz223j19po

Topic Reading-Vol.5279-10/7/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Cattle to feed: Why a global meat crisis is looming

Recently, cattle herds of the world’s top three beef-producing countries, Brazil, China, and the US, have been shrinking, and the price of beef is soaring. Raising cattle to beaf takes time, water, grass and/or feed, and thus money. Producing one kilogram of edible beef requires 25 kg of dry-matter feed, and it takes nearly a year for a cow to produce a calf and over a year to raise cattle for beef. What about chicken, whose demand is increasing as an alternative to more expensive beef or pork? Producing poultry meat takes much less time and money, but when the cost of key feed, soya meal, rises, rearers are discouraged from raising chickens. All in all, meat prices are rising around the world due to increasing demand, rising costs, climate change, and trade barriers.

Read the article and learn about the demand and supply of the global meat market.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/28/cattle-to-feed-why-a-global-meat-crisis-is-looming

Topic Reading-Vol.5278-10/6/2026

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

New aircraft carrier, 10,000 US troops: Is the Iran war about to escalate?

Since 1958, the US has shown a strong presence in the Middle East and deployed as many as 50,000 troops in about 20 locations in the region before the war with Iran that began February 28 this year. In addition to the 7,000 troops already added since then, the US is now deploying more military assets in the region, including thousands of sailors and Marines, F-35 fighter jets, and another mighty aircraft carrier. Has the US already made up its mind despite the ongoing peace talks? Pounding heavily from the air using aircraft, drones, and missiles seems to have only solidified Iran’s resistance against the US and Israel. Is the US preparing to invade Iran on the ground only with thousands of paratroopers and Marines, or just showing the determination to close a deal favorably and honorably? Whichever the case might be, things are expected to become clear after November 3, the day of the US elections. But it is not just the US preparing for the next move. Iran says it is fully prepared for US attacks.

Read the article and learn what is cooking in the Middle East now.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/2/new-aircraft-carrier-10000-us-troops-is-the-iran-war-about-to-escalate

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