Magazine zone: English reading articles for B1 and B2 learners

What risks do people face when they are in countries at war? And why are humanitarian workers a target for attacks? The UN's World Humanitarian Day puts the focus on these important questions.

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on 9 August is a day to promote indigenous peoples' rights and celebrate indigenous communities, from the Inuit in the Arctic Circle to the Tuareg in the deserts of northern Africa.

The horrific crime of human trafficking may be closer to you than you realise. Read more about the UN's World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

July 30 is the United Nations International Day of Friendship. Read about the importance of friendship and find out why the UN decided to give it a special day.

What do you know about chocolate? Learn about the history of chocolate and the interesting journey from cocoa bean to chocolate bar.

World Music Day, on 21 June, is a global celebration of music. Read about how this special day started and how it's celebrated worldwide.

Yoga is becoming more and more popular around the world. What exactly is it, where did it come from and what are the health benefits of doing yoga?

World Oceans Day is a day to think about the extremely important role that the oceans play in all our lives, the dangers that are facing our oceans and the actions we can take to protect them.

Did you know that every day thousands of people leave their homes to escape war or terror? World Refugee Day is a day to support refugees worldwide and help them rebuild their lives.

On World Environment Day people from countries all around the world come together to take action to defend our planet. Find out about some of the things people are doing to celebrate this special day.

English Language Day is celebrated on 23 April. Read about where English came from, how it came to be spoken all over the world and how it is changing.

International Mother Earth Day, on 22 April, promotes harmony with nature and reminds us of the importance of protecting all the different ecosystems and species on our planet.

Tea is the world's second most popular drink (after water!). In the UK, you can even celebrate drinking it on 21 April.

Easter is the most important festival of the year for most Christians and a holiday for many others. Read on to find out more about it.

April Fool's Day is a special day for jokes and tricks in many countries. Read this article to find out all about it.

Every year, millions of people around the world switch off their lights for one hour to draw attention to the environment. Read on to find out more.

World Water Day, 22 March, draws attention to the essential role of water in our lives, the difficulties people face in getting it and solutions to these problems.

Nowruz is an important festival in Iran, Central Asia and beyond. Read on to find out how people celebrate the Persian New Year.

There's more behind the International Day of Happiness than you might think. Find out more by reading the article and answering the questions.

March 20 is World Rewilding Day. But what is rewilding? And how is wilder nature better for animals, people and the planet? Read the article to find out more.

Get ready for green lights, green hats, even green beer! Saint Patrick's Day is on 17 March. Why is Ireland's national day such a worldwide party?

March 8 is International Women's Day, but the global campaigns for equal rights for women continue all year round. Read more about it in this article.

Holi is sometimes called the festival of colours. Find out more about this very special springtime festival in this article.

On World Wildlife Day, 3 March, people all around the world hold events to celebrate the natural world and to raise awareness of the importance of protecting wildlife. Read the article to find out more.

Pancake Day is on a different date every year and is a popular celebration in the UK. Read the text and find out why British people celebrate with pancakes.