1 . Scientists are urging that deep sea metal mining should be stopped temporarily. They warn in a report that it can cause severe damaging effects on Pacific Ocean areas.

The recently-released report examined more than 250 published studies on deep-sea mining. The research was examined by the Deep Sea Mining Campaign — a collection of not-for profit organizations. The report centers on mining activities related to small metallic particles(金属颗粒)，called nodules, found on the seabed. The material can contain different metals. Increasing demand for these metals has led to a rise in deep-sea mining operations. The metals are commonly used in battery manufacturing and other technology products.

However, the scientists warn that mining for these nodules will cause irreversible(不可逆的) damage to an ocean already under pressure. The operations will affect areas across the South Pacific, including the nations of Kiribati, the Cook Islands, Nauru, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.

The report notes that a moratorium is the only responsible way to move forward until certain conditions surrounding deep-sea mining can be met. The scientists are calling for additional study to fully understand the environmental, social and economic risks.

Andrew Chin is the report's lead researcher. He says in a statement that nodule mining will likely result in the loss of sea life and cause damage to deep seabeds for thousands of years. He adds that the operations can put people at risk who depend on the ocean and its continued health.

A company planning to be one of the first to carry out mining operations in the area is Canada's DeepGreen, which aims to begin by 2024. It seeks to mine metallic nodules to be used in power systems for electric vehicles. DeepGreen Chief Executive Officer Gerard Barron defended the company's plans in reaction to the report. He said deep-sea mining offered the best alternative to surface mining, which has long history of pollution and destroying forests and wildlife.

4 . Inside a brightly-lit classroom, around 20 schoolchildren are singing the Chinese national anthem. That song is followed by another tune in Chinese—one typically sung during the Lunar New Year. But this scene is not taking place in a Chinese school but at Lakewood Premier school, thousands of kilometers away in Nairobi(内罗比). Here, schoolchildren are learning Mandarin, a language spoken by nearly 1 billion people almost 8,000 kilometers away from their home. More will join their ranks in 2020 when Mandarin will be officially taught in all Kenyan schools alongside French, Arabic and German, which are already on the curriculum.

Sandra Wanjiru, 13, is one of hundreds of African schoolchildren who are increasingly skilled in the Chinese language. Lakewood Premier School, where Wanjiru studies, has begun the program a year early to give its pupils a head start. "I chose to learn Chinese first not only because it's interesting to learn a foreign language but also because I would want to travel and do business in China," said Wanjiru.

Julius Jwan, CEO of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) told Chinese state-owned Chinese news agency Xinhua： "The place of China in the world economy has also grown to be so strong that Kenya stands to benefit if its citizens can understand Mandarin. " China has become increasingly powerful across Africa over the past two decades. Through President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road Initiative, China has loaned money to African countries to build highways, dams, stadiums and airports.

Henry Adramunguni, a specialist at Uganda's National Curriculum(课程)Development Centre, said Mandarin was included in the curriculum because it is one of the United Nations' languages of work. "We want to give the opportunity for our young Ugandans to have access to jobs, education and business beyond our borders. That's why we've given them this opportunity to learn Chinese," he said,

5 . Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly as they drive on the street. Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, and the life of American people. Most of the radio programmes are music.

Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in many places. Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tape. Some of the money from these tapes goes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.

There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk (民间) music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys (牛仔) who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.

6 . It has been two months since I moved to China, but its digital advancement hasn’t stopped impressing me ever since. One of the major things that I cannot imagine living without anymore is mobile payment. There are two major mobile payment apps here, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both have similar payment features, though WeChat has more like a social media. That’s why I will focus on this “super app”.

So far, I’ve been overwhelmed by how efficient life can be with WeChat. It is present in every aspect of people’s daily life, from paying water and electricity bills, meals, cinema tickets to calling a taxi, following news, and chatting with friends. Most merchants have adopted it, from tiny local street food stalls to high-end（高端的）stores. A cashier may be surprised if you do not pay with WeChat or Alipay at the grocers or in restaurants. And it seems like the entire payment industry has encouraged this shift to mobile payment, equipping payment terminals with QR code scanners to simplify payments. Mobile payments are so common here that I realize that I can perfectly survive if I forget my wallet at home one day because most days I just don’t take it out of my bag!

As mentioned earlier, WeChat is also a major social media platform with about one billion daily users, which is more than the entire population of European Union. So I have to say Chinese technological and digital development is a real miracle.

7 . Four interesting festivals :

Grand Old Days:

Phone numeber: (651) 699-0029          E-mail address: fo@grandave.com

Grand Old Days is one of the Midwest’s largest one-day festivals. It’s held every year on the first Sunday in June. It starts at 7:45 am until 5:00 pm. You should pay $8 for a ticket to enter the live music festival gardens and you must be at least 21 years old. There are a lot of interesting activities for the whole family.

Uptown Art Fair:

Phone numeber: (612) 823-4581     E-mail address: info@uptownminneapolis.com

There is a wide variety of artwork you can buy from only a few dollars to thousands of dollars. There are also activities held by some artists. Uptown Art Fair starts on August 5th and ends on August 7th. It is free to attend. The opening time and closing time are Friday 11 am-8 pm, Saturday 10 am-8 pm, and Sunday 10 am-6 pm.

Minnesota State Fair:

Phone numeber: (651) 288-4400       E-mail address: fairinfo@mnstatefair.org

It is one of the most popular fairs in Minnesota. It starts on August 25th and goes through Labor Day on September 5th. Tickets for adults (aged 13-64) are $11, seniors (aged 65 and older) $9, kids (aged 5-12) $8 and children under 5 are free of charge. It opens at 6 am and closes at midnight. The State Fair has lots of fun activities, bands, games, and rides.

Nativity County Fair:

Phone numeber: (651) 696-5401       E-mail address: info@nativitycountyfair.com

The Nativity County Fair is a kid’s fair, but it has some fun things for adults as well. You can buy tickets for the rides and games, and the price depends on how many tickets you want to buy. It starts from September 16th to September 18th.

8 . The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at the Valentine's Day traditions in three countries.

Wales：land of love spoons

In Wales, it is called St. Dwynwen's Day, which takes place on January 25. The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon.

Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men made beautiful wooden spoons as a show of their love for that special person in their lives. Each shape of the spoons has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck； keys represent the key to a lover's heart； and wheels are a sign of support.

Argentina：a week of sweets

Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.

Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called “Candy for a Kiss”. The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected—it led to a new holiday!

Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.

South Korea: three is a charm

For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts： February 14, March 14 and April 14.

On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their love. One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name “White Day” comes from the custom of giving white-colored gifts.

Let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat noodles with black bean soup.

9 . Things to Do in London This Weekend

Now, some of the most cherished London venues have opened their doors again. Take a look at our lists of exactly what is opening up in London.

Columbia Road Flower Market

The Columbia Road Flower Market is reopening this weekend, but it will be quite different. Stands will be spread out. Nearby roads will be closed and there will be a limit on the number of people who can enter the market. The statement is also calling on locals to support the market but advises people not to visit frequently in order to avoid overcrowding.

Lambeth Country Show

The festival of countryside won' t be held in its usual home of Brock well Park this year. However, it is being taken online instead. All your favourite aspects of the fair will be part of the virtual edition this weekend, including the highly popular Vegetable Sculpture Competition and other usual lower show competitions, local-themed talks, craft market and virtual music performances.

Walthamstow Garden Party

The free two-day festival in E17 is going online this year. Over the weekend you can tune in to music and take part in online workshops from crafting to Tai Chi. Don't miss the highlight of the weekend: East London Radio' s first-ever live show taking place across the weekend with behind-the-scenes chats with local artists, live music from St Mary's Church and much more.

Brixton Courtyard

A new beer garden is opening in Brixton with D sets, wine tastings and more in a safe environment. South London music venue Brixton Jamm has improved its outdoor space with spaced-out booths and picnic benches.

10 . Museums for Summer Fun and Learning

Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

Located in a historic Manhattan Project-era building, this museum is the place for visitors to earn about art, science, history, culture, and healthy living. With over 20 child-friendly exhibits to explore, it provides something of interest for everyone.

Address: 461 W. Outer Dr. Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Admission: Adults: $ 8.00; Seniors: $ 7.00; Children 3 & Up: $ 6.00; Children under 3: Free

Children's Museum of Science and Technology

Founded in 1954, CMOST is the region's only science center. CMOST provides an engaging, child-directed learning environment which enables children to learn and grow through play. Designed for children aged 18 months through the tween years, the museum enables children to observe, think, and learn in a pressure-free environment by pairing creative educational tools and techniques with engaging exhibits to support active learning.

Address: 250 Jordan Road Troy, NY 12180

Admission: $ 8.00 per person aged 2 and up

African American Museum of Iowa

The AAMI is a statewide museum aimed at keeping and teaching Iowa's African American history. As Iowa's leading educational resource on the topic, it educates more than 30,000 people each year through museum tours, travelling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community and fundraising events.

Address: 5512th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Admission: Adults: $ 6.00; Seniors: $ 5.00; Students / Youth: $ 3.50; Children under 5: Free

Kingman Museum

Kingman Museum is a hidden treasure in Southwest Michigan housing an extensive （大量的） natural history collection. As a local landmark in Battle Creek for over 80 years, Kingman Museum works to provide a universal place of hands-on learning for the community.

Address: 175 Limit St. Battle Creek, MI 49037

Admission: Free