1 . International Day of Education

24 January

Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed (宣布) 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Today, 250 million children and youth are out of school, and 763 million adults are illiterate (文盲的). Their right to education is being violated (侵犯) and it is unacceptable. It’s time to transform education.

International Day of Clean Energy

26 January

The International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January was declared by the General Assembly as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition (过渡) to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. 26 January is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions.

World Health Day

7 April

It is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7 April marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948.

The theme for World Health Day 2024 is “My health, my right”, which was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions.

World Environment Day

5 June

World Environment Day, held annually on 5 June, brings together millions of people from across the globe, engaging them in the effort to protect and restore the Earth. People from more than 150 countries participate in this United Nations international day, which celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world. The event has been led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since its start in 1973.

2 . Aptitude Tests Recommendations

Aptitude tests are helpful to job seekers of all ages. While career quizzes explore your values and work style, aptitude tests provide a more objective evaluation of your skills, helping you select a career you’re most likely to succeed in. Below are some of the best aptitude tests out there.

Clifton Strengths

The Clifton Strengths program was created based on research around leadership. The research in question pointed to common strengths among successful leaders, like strategic thinking, adaptability and communication. To complete the test, you must answer around 150 questions, each within 20 seconds. Allen Cheung, a tech blogger, notes that CliftonStrengths is more valuable than your average career test because it includes “tricky questions which aren’t as easily gamed”.

Red Bull Wingfinder

Developed and tested out by psychology experts, the Red Bull Wingfinder assesses your thinking under pressure. Questions include image sorting, logic puzzles and leadership-related questions. Once you complete the test, you’ll receive a nine-page report and career coaching tailored to your results.

SEI Development Report

The SEI Development Report is an extensive EQ aptitude test that has timed right-and-wrong answers that assess eight fundamentals, including emotional literacy, emotional management and empathy. At the end, you’ll receive a 20-page report with recommended courses on workplace EQ development.

CareerOneStop

While it only takes a few minutes to complete, the CareerOneStop Skills Assessment will help you rank both your technical and soft skills. The career suggestions at the end can be sorted by relevance, annual wages, and job outlook, coupled with with professional coaching or consultation improve your skills.

3 . Online Jobs for School Students

Selling products online is a great way to earn extra cash while showcasing your creativity. Online retailers (零售商) like CafePress, Redbubble, and Society6 allow you to create custom designs for a variety of products, including shirts, mugs, tote bags, buttons, and stickers. Creators generally earn 10% — 20% of the sale price.

If you excel in one or more academic subjects and already have some experience instructing your fellow students, you can find tutoring jobs or advertise your services on Facebook. If you’re 18 or older, you may be able to find clients through a tutoring site like Wyzant.

Do you have a beautiful voice? Are you able to speak in different accents and take on different voice “personas?” If so, you might consider offering your services as a voice actor. Businesses often need voice actors for things like commercials, videos, audiobooks, games, and more. You will likely need to buy professional recording equipment, so be sure to research the market demands on your voice before investing in equipment.

Technologically-skillful teens may want to pursue work as a programmer. If you know HTML 5, CSS, Java, Python, or another programming language, consider putting your expertise to use with a job in coding. You can advertise your skills and availability on Fiverr or Upwork, or look for open assignments on Craigslist.

4 . Vietnam Quality Tour

This tour is the perfect introduction to Vietnam, with cultural activities and plenty of opportunities to interact with the locals. Learn more about the history of Saigon, and explore Hue for a glimpse(一睹) of the grand past of this ancient country. Hoi An will impress you with its stone streets and scenic riverside setting, while the capital city Hanoi features timeless streets full of local life, wonderful colonial(殖民的) architecture and a splendid history. The tour finishes as it started, with a showstopper—Halong Bay, where you’ll take an overnight journey by sea out onto the calm waters and wind your way through the breathtaking karst(喀斯特) scenery.

When booking this tour with The Times Travel Offers, you will get a high-quality free pre-tour extension, which includes an extra hotel night with breakfast and dinner, as well as a half-day cooking class which is of great value-make sure to quote TIMES-ON when booking.

5 . La Royale Maison de Savoie

Alexandre Dumas, author of several popular novels, was pressed to write La Royale Maison de Savoie for money in 1854. It was so rushed that neither the National Library of France nor the Alexandre Dumas Museum had any knowledge of it. In 1998, two historians discovered it in an Italian antique bookstore. Since then, it has been published again in France.

Profile of a Young Fiancée

The art piece has created quite a storm in the art world since its discovery. At first, it was thought to be a piece of a late 19th century German artist. In 1998, it was sold to a private collector. Over the next 10 years, some experts, including Nicholas Turner, closely examined the work and determined it was probably drawn by Leonardo da Vinci around 1485.

War Thoughts at Home

This 35-line poem by Robert Frost remained unknown to all but his friend Frederic Melcher until 2006-88 years after it was written. Melcher donated the poet’s letters and books to the University of Virginia. And Robert Stilling, a graduate student, came across the poem inside a copy of Frost’s 1914 book North of Boston.

Trio in E Flat Major

Ludwig van Beethoven composed this untitled work in 1792, then rearranged it about eight years later. Only partly completed, the project was abandoned and subsequently lost for over 100 years. German musicologist Willy Hess published the handwritten manuscript (手稿) in a scholarly review in 1920, gaining little attention. The first known performance of the 12-minute piece was on March 1, 2009.

As a professional author, I love talking about books with students, and I especially love urging them to dig deep and think about books beyond a simple “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it”. This class seeks to engage students in meaningful discussions about books while also touching on literary devices like symbolism, foreshadowing, tone and voice. The books selected for this course are modern reads that are less likely to strike students as “required reading”. There is so much to be learned from reading outside our “comfort zone”.

Students need to independently purchase or borrow the selected book, and should have read approximately 1/4 before our first meeting.

January: The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst by Jaclyn Moriarty

February: Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart

March: Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

April: The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

May: The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor

June: The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

July: A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

August: The Van Gogh Deception by Deron R. Hicks

September: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

October: Ghost by Jason Reynolds

November: Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

December: My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder

●To ensure an engaging and social experience, students are required to have microphones and videos for the entirety of this class.

●Students are asked not to use filters or virtual backgrounds.

●Students will be asked to introduce themselves by sharing their name and a favorite book.

●The Zoom text chat is set to “host only”, meaning students can chat with me, but not to one another or the entire classroom.

8 . If you want to learn more about traditional Chinese culture, try these awesome offerings at the following places in Chinatown Singapore during the Five Foot way Festival 2024, which will last from 9 to 17 March, 2024.

Chinatown Visitor Centre

Start an exciting journey with us to explore the fascinating traditional Chinese weddings and modern adaptations. Here you will also have the chance to try traditional Cantonese wedding cakes. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to deepen your understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture!

Time: 16 March.11:00 — 12:30

Ticket: $15.00

Xin Sheng Poets Society

The masters and students from Xin Sheng Poets Society’s calligraphy group are presenting a calligraphy workshop. Sign up now to experience the beauty of their written Chinese characters and take home your own work.

Time: 10 March, 14:00 — 16:00

Ticket: $18.00

Ping Sheh Open House

Come and join our workshop to explore the costumes and make-ups of Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou — the basic roles of Peking Opera. Understanding the designs and their symbolic meanings is crucial for appreciating the Peking Opera performances.

During our interactive session, you’ll learn the basic skills of Peking Opera — singing and acting. Get ready to enjoy a truly unique experience!

Time: 10 March, 14:00 — 16:00

Ticket: $20.00

Theatre Circle Teahouse

Prepare to dive into Cantonese Opera through our professional workshops. To enhance your experience, we will wrap up the evening with a Cantonese Opera performance led by a very famous actress, Ms Hu Gui Xin.

Time: 15 March.14: 00 — 15: 00

Ticket: $32.00

9 . North Rim to reopen on June 2 with limited services available

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open as scheduled, on June 2, with limited visitor services and water conservation measures due to a break in the North Rim water pipeline. A landslide from winter storms destroyed more than 300 feet of the North Rim water pipeline.

The Grand Canyon Lodge will operate day-use services with limited food and beverage service beginning on June 2. No overnight accommodations will be available until at least July 23,2023.

The North Rim Campground, managed by the National Park Service, will operate as scheduled beginning on June 9 with potable drinking water and toilets available. The public laundry and shower facilities will not be open at least through July 23, 2023.

The North Rim Visitor Center and Grand Canyon Conservancy’s bookstore open as usual, 8 am to 6 pm daily, with a variety of ranger programs offered.

Visitors exploring the North Rim this summer should be self-sufficient and should bring adequate food and water for the day as services are limited and may be subject to change. Nearby, accommodating is available at the Kaibab Lodge and food services and fuel at the North Rim Country Store. Year-round accommodating, food services and fuel are located 45 miles north of the North Rim at Jacob Lake. As a result of substantial winter rockfall and landslides, trail (步道) repair work on the North Kaibab Trail continues. There is a trail closure in effect on the North Kaibab Trail and it will officially reopen on June 16, 2023.