ULTRAPROCESSED FOOD? NATION¿ From THE MORNING AM NEWSPAPER

Good morning. Apologies that you’re getting this newsletter later than usual. It’s because Amazon Web Services — which supports many websites, including nytimes.com — had outages overnight. It’s coming back online, but you may have trouble logging on elsewhere today. Read the latest. Here’s what else is happening: • Gaza: Israel temporarily suspended aid and attacked Gaza after it accused Hamas of violating a cease-fire. • Crown jewel heist: Thieves used a portable electric ladder to break into a second-floor wing of the Louvre and steal jewels from Napoleon’s reign. More news is below. But first, we look at how ultraprocessed foods overtook grocery shelves and American diets. Jessica Attie for The New York Times Ultraprocessed nation By Alice Callahan Alice Callahan, a Times reporter, has a Ph.D. in nutrition. Humans have been processing food for millenniums. Hunter-gatherers ground wild wheat to make bread; factory workers canned fruit for soldiers during the Civil War. But in the late 1800s, food companies began concocting products that were wildly different from anything people could make themselves. Coca-Cola came in 1886, Jell-O in 1897, and Crisco in 1911. Spam, Velveeta, Kraft Mac & Cheese and Oreos arrived in the decades that followed. Foods like these often promised ease and convenience. Some of them filled the bellies of soldiers in World War II. Eventually, these products overtook grocery shelves and American diets. Now they are among the greatest health threats of our time. How did we get here? Today’s newsletter is a tour through food history. Wartime innovation During World War II, shelf-stable foods were developed to feed soldiers. During World War II, companies devised shelf-stable foods for soldiers — powdered cheeses, dehydrated potatoes, canned meats and melt-resistant chocolate bars. They infused new additives like preservatives, flavorings and vitamins. And they packaged the foods in novel ways to withstand wet beach landings and days at the bottom of a rucksack. After the war, food companies realized that they could adapt this foxhole cuisine into profitable convenience foods for the masses. Advertisements told homemakers that these products offered superior nutrition and could save them time in the kitchen. Wonder Bread commercials from the 1950s, for instance, claimed its vitamins and minerals would help children “grow bigger and stronger.” An ad for Swift’s canned hamburgers boasted that they were “out of the can and onto the bun” in minutes. Getty Images More women found work outside the home, and by the mid-1970s, they spent much less time cooking. But they were still expected to feed their families. Fish sticks, frozen waffles and TV dinners filled modern freezers, and convenience foods became more popular. These products weren’t all ultraprocessed — some were just whole foods that had been frozen or canned with a simple ingredient, like salt. Still, people got used to the idea that packaged goods could replace cooking from scratch. An explosion By the 1970s, innovations in fertilizer, pesticide and crop development, along with farm subsidies, led to a glut of grain. Companies turned it into ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and modified starch to fill sugary cereals, sodas and fast foods. In the 1980s, investors wanted food manufacturers to show larger profits, so they developed thousands of new drinks and snacks and marketed them aggressively. (Have a look at how the ads changed over the last century.) The tobacco companies Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds diversified into the food industry, dominating it through the early 2000s. They applied the same marketing techniques that they crafted to sell cigarettes — targeting children and certain racial and ethnic groups. Kraft, owned by Philip Morris, created Kool-Aid flavors for the Hispanic market and handed out coupons and samples at cultural events for Black Americans. Obesity tripled in children and doubled in adults between the mid-1970s and the early 2000s. A health crisis Getty Images By the 21st century, you couldn’t walk through a school cafeteria, a supermarket or an airport without being inundated by ultraprocessed foods. Obesity kept rising, and food companies addressed it by making products they marketed as “healthier,” like low-carb breakfast cereals, shakes and bagels; artificially sweetened ice creams and yogurts; and snacks like Oreos and Doritos in smaller, 100-calorie packs. They were popular, but they did not make us healthier. Scientists soon linked ultraprocessed foods to Type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease. For generations, obesity had been seen as a problem of willpower — caused by eating too much and exercising too little. But in the last decade, research on ultraprocessed foods has challenged that notion, suggesting that these foods may drive us to eat more. Today, scientists, influencers, advocates and politicians publicly condemn ultraprocessed foods, which represent about 70 percent of the U.S. food supply. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls them “poison.” Are we at a tipping point? Maybe. There are signs that people are eating slightly fewer of these foods. But our reliance on ultraprocessed food was “decades in the making,” one expert told me, and “could take decades to reverse.” THE LATEST NEWS Trump Administration • The U.S. military killed three men and destroyed another boat it suspected of smuggling drugs for Colombian rebels, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. • Colombia’s president accused the U.S. of killing an innocent fisherman in a boat attack last month. President Trump said he would slash aid in response. • An immigration raid on an apartment building in Chicago followed years of crime, and neglect by landlords. It swept up dozens of U.S. citizens who were detained in the middle of the night. • The Trump administration is deploying the Border Patrol to arrest immigrants in cities farther from the border. What powers does it have across the country? International The Louvre in Paris. Kiran Ridley/Getty Images • In all, yesterday’s brazen daylight robbery at the Louvre in Paris took no longer than seven minutes. • The stolen items include glittering royal tiaras, necklaces and earrings. See what they look like. Middle East • The clashes in Gaza revealed the cease-fire’s fragility, with a rougher road ahead, David Halbfinger writes. • Paterson, N.J., is the longtime center of New Jersey’s Palestinian community. Its members reflected on how the war in Gaza had changed them. • Relief and grief: What Jewish New Yorkers feel after the hostage release. Other Big Stories • An Emirates cargo plane slid off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and hit a patrol vehicle, killing two ground crew members, local officials said. • In China, a forbidden question looms: Who will lead the country after Xi Jinping? • Food allergies in children have dropped since new guidelines encouraged parents to introduce infants to peanuts, a study found. • Grand theft otter: Sea otters near Santa Cruz, Calif., have started taking surfboards from the area’s wave riders again. OPINIONS Prioritizing housing — not mental health services or employment — is what ends homelessness, Philip Mangano writes. Chatbots might sometimes be able to stand in for therapists and teachers, but they can’t replace human creativity, Margaret Renkl writes. Here are columns by David French on the Young Republicans and Carlos Lozada on speaking Spanish. Morning readers: Save on the complete Times experience. Experience all of The Times, all in one subscription — all with this introductory offer. You’ll gain unlimited access to news and analysis, plus games, recipes, product reviews and more. MORNING READS Patrick Hill, a registered nurse. Mark Abramson for The New York Times From N.F.L. to nursing: A handful of players are choosing scrubs after leaving football. Furry roommate: He swore he would never leave downtown Manhattan. But when a cat named Lucy came into his life, plans changed. Travel basics: Oops! You broke something at an Airbnb. Here’s what to do next. The New Yorker’s Femme Fatale: Alison Rose started at the magazine as a receptionist and found her way into its pages with her idiosyncratic essays and profiles. She died at 81. SPORTS M.L.B.: The Blue Jays forced a winner-take-all Game 7 in the A.L.C.S. with a 6-2 victory over the Mariners. Toronto hosts Seattle tonight, with the winner advancing to play the Dodgers in the World Series. N.F.L.: The Broncos scored 33 points in the fourth quarter, the most a team has ever scored after being shut out through three periods, to pull off a 33-32 comeback win over the Giants. N.H.L.: The Sharks apologized after a message displayed on the scoreboard appeared to praise U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Hispanic Heritage Night. ARTS AND IDEAS Amina Gingold for The New York Times The Metropolitan Museum of Art has long been heralded as a temple of beauty; a labyrinth of marble gods, shimmering Impressionist landscapes and silken kimonos that promises an orderly march of human history. But in October, the spookiest month, another museum reveals itself: a theater of phantoms. Here are the museum’s 20 scariest artworks. They tell a story of saints and sinners, monsters and myths. Follow their trail and the Met Museum starts to feel like a haunted house. More on culture: This week’s episode of “S.N.L.” featured Sabrina Carpenter as both host and musical guest. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Enjoy one-pot roasted garlic pasta. Enhance your home with these essential-oil diffusers. Spend 36 hours in Majorca. Watch “Nobody Wants This” and six other recommendations. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were befitting, benefiting and benefitting. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Sports Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch

WHAT IS ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

This word sounds a bit dfifficult to pronounce but it is quite relevant nowadays READ THIS ARTICLE AND COMMENT IN CLASS https://www.shopify.com/blog/why-is-entrepreneurship-important?term=&adid=775765067439&campaignid=19685764045&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19685764045&gbraid=0AAAAADiv1InaToIHDQmCffZrJ5Yjc7GQC&gclid=CjwKCAjwmNLHBhA4EiwA3ts3mSCGlkphEdCqQehFOusCZQutXFnFlEdGdm1Gm-KGRkZTm1cQBjxaJRoCxKwQAvD_BwE

ENTREPRENEURSHIP : RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Reasons to start and successfully run a business In this post, get ready to discover some of the main motivations for becoming an entrepreneur and building a successful business. Motivaciones para emprender Entrepreneurship is much more than starting a business; it is a journey full of dreams, challenges, and the possibility of transforming reality. Entrepreneurs seek not only to make a living but also to solve problems and leave a mark on the world. Although each person has their own reasons, there are common factors that inspire them to move forward. According to the GEM Spain 2022-2023 report, the main motivation for more than 70% of entrepreneurs is "making a living due to a lack of jobs." Among the secondary motivations highlighted in the report are "generating great wealth or a very high income," "making a difference in the world," or "continuing a family tradition." Each entrepreneur has a unique motivation and personal story that has driven them to venture into creating a project. This path, although full of challenges, also offers opportunities for personal growth and the realization of dreams and goals. In this post, get ready to discover what drives you as an entrepreneur and how you can channel that energy toward achieving your goals. What does entrepreneurship mean to you? What qualities or skills do you need to possess? Are entrepreneurs born or made? Do you need to have a "special knack" for entrepreneurship? We will examine these questions, from economic necessity to the search for purpose and the desire to leave a lasting legacy. Each motivation has its importance and its story. Here are various motivations that can drive entrepreneurship, along with real cases of entrepreneurs, from those in the early stages to those who have sold to large companies. These examples can inspire you to find your path when it comes to entrepreneurship. Personal Fulfillment. The passion for a project can be the engine that drives some people to pursue their dreams. However, besides passion, discipline and knowledge are required to achieve success in any venture. More and more people, who do not feel fulfilled in their jobs, decide to take the leap and dedicate themselves to what they are truly passionate about while maintaining the income generated by their employment. Economic Aspects. The possibility of earning high incomes is a strong motivator for many people to become entrepreneurs. A successful business can offer financial stability and a substantial increase in income compared to a traditional job. However, the path to success is not easy and often requires more dedication than a standard workday. Carlos Martínez, former founder of Enjoyers and founder of Tengo Mentalidad Emprendedora, comments on his motivations for entrepreneurship and how they have evolved over time. Initially, he was motivated by "making money," but over time he has experienced a growing trend towards personal fulfillment: "When I started at 20, I became an entrepreneur for money because I wanted to be a millionaire. As I matured, I realized that entrepreneurship for money makes no sense; you have to do it out of a desire to solve a problem. That is, you are so motivated by this problem that you don't expect monetary return as a major motivation. The money may or may not come, and it's usually not in the amounts we imagine. Now, however, I become an entrepreneur for freedom and for projects that motivate me." Independence. The search for independence, both financial and personal, is another great motivation. Being your own boss gives you control over your destiny, allows you to make your own decisions, and work on your own terms. The autonomy achieved through entrepreneurship also provides greater flexibility to balance personal and professional life, helping you design a lifestyle that better suits your needs and priorities. This is a significant motivation for those seeking a more satisfying balance in their daily lives, as in the case of Beatriz Turumbay, External CPO of Code Contract, who comments that "becoming your own boss gives you a new vision of the work environment. But above all, being independent pushes you to be the first and last responsible for each of the steps executed from bottom to top, to risk making decisions without a safety net, and to trust your intuition and the trial/error of past experiences, to make decisions that lead your company to a good port." Personal Changes. Significant moments in personal or professional life, such as a career change, unemployment, a move, or a new life stage like parenthood, can be triggering factors for entrepreneurship. These transitions often inspire people to reevaluate their goals and aspirations, which can lead to the decision to start their own project and pursue dreams that previously seemed unattainable. An example of motivation for personal change is the case of Paula Villamarín, CEO of LinkedAI, who argues that "Every step I have taken, whether moving to a new country or making a strategic pivot, has been key to realizing my vision. Facing and embracing changes is a determining factor in my career as a CEO in the AI industry; in the end, it is the path to our true potential." Social Impact. The desire to have a positive impact on the community or the world is another key motivation. These people not only seek material success but also aim to contribute to solving social, economic, or environmental problems. Social entrepreneurs, in particular, are driven by the mission to create significant and lasting change. Mercedes Boyero, CEO and co-founder of ONKLUB, comments that "I became an entrepreneur to create opportunities and generate a positive impact on society, guiding young talents and helping them find their first jobs. My goal is for others not to face the same difficulties I experienced." Personal Development. The desire to develop new skills, face challenges, and continually grow drives other people to launch their own projects. Entrepreneurship not only allows them to learn in practice but also to discover new abilities and strengthen their confidence. Gerónimo Marsico, CEO of TwinTune, recounts that "At 16, I became an entrepreneur with the goal of personal improvement and to be a financial support for my family. My goal is to inspire other young people to face their fears and also surpass themselves." In addition to all these motivations, many entrepreneurs are driven by the desire to leave a lasting legacy. They want to build something that endures over time, transcending their own lives and contributing positively to society and the world at large. From this desire, entrepreneurs can make strategic decisions that go beyond immediate profits, seeking a lasting and meaningful impact on their community and the world. This motivation is exemplified in figures like Elon Musk, who emphasizes, "I always have optimism, but I'm realistic. I didn't start Tesla or SpaceX with the expectation of great success. I just thought they were important enough to do anyway," or Carlota Pi, CEO and co-founder who comments that "we created Holaluz to change the world." Remember that your motivations may change over time, just like your project, but the desire to be an entrepreneur always remains. The challenge lies in discovering how to integrate that motivation with your project.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ECONOMIST ON CHIPS CEI

The Economist this week Highlights from the latest issue ________________________________________ The Economist this week Highlights from the latest issue ________________________________________ WHO CAN LIVE WITHOUT DOMPUTERS NOWADAYS ? EVEN IF YOU DOBN T HAVE ONE, THEY HAVE YOU ________________________________________ Edward Carr Deputy editor The Economist was founded 182 years ago to further the cause of free trade. But even we acknowledge that some goods are special—and few more so than semiconductor chips. Entire industries depend on them. Weapons systems are built around them. And in the contest between America and China to dominate artificial intelligence they could be the difference between victory and defeat. Less understood is that chips also pose a fiendish test for proponents of industrial policy. Their manufacture is a marvel of specialisation, complexity and globalisation. Under those conditions, intervening in markets is prone to fail. What is America to do? Our cover leader this week begins with the parable of Intel. Despite lavish subsidies, America’s chipmaking champion is in grave trouble. An attempt to attract world-beating TSMC to spread from its base in Taiwan is faring better. However, although stronger chipmaking at home will make America more resilient, vital parts of the supply chain will continue to exist abroad. What’s more, TSMC’s factories in Taiwan will remain the single source of the best semiconductors for years to come. With something as important as chips, even the world’s biggest economy cannot afford to shut itself off from the world. highlights from the economist on chips ________________________________________ Edward Carr Deputy editor The Economist was founded 182 years ago to further the cause of free trade. But even we acknowledge that some goods are special—and few more so than semiconductor chips. Entire industries depend on them. Weapons systems are built around them. And in the contest between America and China to dominate artificial intelligence they could be the difference between victory and defeat. Less understood is that chips also pose a fiendish test for proponents of industrial policy. Their manufacture is a marvel of specialisation, complexity and globalisation. Under those conditions, intervening in markets is prone to fail. What is America to do? Our cover leader this week begins with the parable of Intel. Despite lavish subsidies, America’s chipmaking champion is in grave trouble. An attempt to attract world-beating TSMC to spread from its base in Taiwan is faring better. However, although stronger chipmaking at home will make America more resilient, vital parts of the supply chain will continue to exist abroad. What’s more, TSMC’s factories in Taiwan will remain the single source of the best semiconductors for years to come. With something as important as chips, even the world’s biggest economy cannot afford to shut itself off from the world.

PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAMS WHAT ARE THEY DO THEY EXIST IN YOUR COUNTRY ? MONICA FUIN

Global parental leave turns 1 year Jul 4, 2025 3:27 PM CEST Watch One year ago, Sandvik began rolling out its global parental leave program, offering 14 weeks of leave with 90 percent of base pay to all employees. The benefit has become a success and is now implemented in 54 countries. Sandvik launched this gender-neutral benefit to offer new parents the opportunity to bond with their baby, and to promote work life balance and employee well-being. The worldwide implementation is now complete – an important milestone truly worth celebrating. “To be successful as a company, we believe it is crucial for us to attract, retain and develop our employees,” said Sandvik President and CEO Stefan Widing at the time of the launch. “With this benefit, we can improve work-life balance for new families and people whose families are growing, and that is import to be an attractive employer.” Positive response to the parental leave program One year after the launch, the parental leave benefit has been implemented in 54 countries and 105 employees have submitted leave applications. Canada, Australia, and India are the countries with most applications and 79 percent were submitted by male employees. The global parental leave has been very well received by employees. Stories from employees around the world “Parental leave gave me the opportunity to bond with my son and to help my wife, for example by cooking nutritious meals for her. Taking care of a baby is a tough job – but I love it! Overall, this experience taught me to be patient," says Haijiang Feng, Quality Professional, China. “One key lesson I learned during this period was the importance of being present and fully engaged with my family. ” “The time away from work allowed me to appreciate the small moments and understand the significance of a supportive family environment,” says Criziel Adzuara, Field Service, Philippines. “Being able to be truly present during the first three months of my son's life was wonderful. I will 100 percent recommend it to others,” says Christobal Alessandro Giordano, Parts & Pricing Planner, Chile. Parental leave podcasts Supporting families worldwide with new global parental leave benefit In this podcast episode, Nidhi Gokhale, Head of HR at Sandvik Manufacturing Solutions, highlights the new global parental leave benefit of Sandvik and how it supports employees across the globe. Supporting families worldwide with new global parental leave benefit A researcher’s perspective on parental leave In a new episode of the Meet Sandvik podcast, Dr. Richard Petts, professor of sociology at Ball State University and an expert in parental leave policies, joins to discuss the new global parental leave benefit of Sandvik. A researcher’s perspective on parental leave Do we have your dream job? We offer career opportunities in many different job areas worldwide. View all available jobs here.

GREENLASH from THE ECONOMIST

DEAR MATES ANA , OUR TEAcher told us to include any news on THE ENVIRONMENT I founbd this update and I ll share it with you MARIANA ALZUA B2 Read in browser JULY 31ST 2025 The Economist this week Highlights from the latest issue ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Edward Carr Deputy editor Welcome to what, in house, we have started to call e-week—when we produce a digital-only edition. Aptly for a paper- and ink-saving issue, the focus of this week’s edition is on the environment—in particular, the growing objection to policies designed to force down emissions of greenhouse gases. Many proponents of this “greenlash” do not believe that the strict net-zero targets are in their interest, or that they will bring benefits to anyone else. Some think they are being taken for chumps, paying good money to meet bad targets while businesses and people elsewhere are belching out carbon. Seeing an ever-more-powerful China emitting more than Europe and America combined makes resentful Western voters seethe. Our leader argues that, in the face of immovable politics, climate policy should instead focus on the art of the possible. That may sound flat. But a politics of new possibilities can put climate policy on a more sustainable footing, as well offering hope. E-week dishes up plenty of fare for readers to enjoy. Our cover package includes pieces on energy in America and Europe, as well as the once-greenwashing global firms that now pursue greenery in stealth mode—a phenomenon called “greenhushing”. We also have coverage of Iran after the bombing, the short war between Cambodia and Thailand, LVMH in crisis and the late Tom Lehrer. If you subscribe to The Economist you can enjoy all of this and more in our updated and improved app.

I.E.L.T.S. UNDERSTANDING ECONOMICS WHAT ARE BONDS .

STUDENTS OFTEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH ARTICLES ON ECONOMIC ISSUES AND THEY GET BOGGED DOWN SOMETIMES THEY DON T CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAIN ISSUES ARE ABOUT THEY DON T THINK THAT THEY HAVE TO DO WITH THEM . THAT THESE ISSUES ARE FOR ECONOMISTS TY H E Y A R E N O T THEY DEFINHITELY AND ASSUREDLY HAVE TO DO WITH ALL OF US CITIZENS IN OUR FRIDAY CLASSES ON AUGUST 3RD AND 4TH FRIDAY AT 6.30 PM WE WILL BE EXPLAINING THESE ISSUES IN SIMPLE ENGLISH THEY ARE GOOD DISCUSSIONS FOR ALL OUR STUDEN TS THAT IS WHY WE CEI S TEACHERS HAVE DECIDED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU

EARLY READING WILL EASE YOUR DISCUSSIONS IF YOU CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE CEI S TEACHERS Faith and credit By German Lopez Investors consider U.S. Treasury bonds one of the safest investments in the world. But lately, they haven’t looked so safe. Their value has gyrated up and down. A previous fluctuation appeared to worry President Trump so much that he called off most of the tariffs he announced on “Liberation Day.” Bonds are basically I.O.U.s from the federal government. When the government needs more money — say, because it spends more than it collects in tax revenue — it sells bonds with the promise that it will pay buyers back with interest. If you bought a 30-year Treasury bond for $1,000 at today’s rate, you’d get back around $2,500 by 2055. The market for these bonds is opaque. Descriptions of it can sound as if someone is reading the glossary of an economics textbook. But as Trump’s reaction suggests, the bond market really matters, and it’s worth taking the time to understand it. Here’s what you need to know. What decides bonds’ worth? In short, demand. When people don’t want to buy bonds, the government has to entice them with the promise of higher interest rates — a bigger payout. And when people are hungry for bonds, the government can lower interest rates and still find buyers. Much of this depends on trust. Some people buy bonds expecting them to pay off over 30 years. They have faith that the federal government will be able to make good on the investment in three decades. U.S. bonds have been considered one of the safest assets in the world because the United States always pays its debts (even if it does so by selling more bonds). Why are bonds volatile now? Chaos: Investors want certainty when they put money into something; otherwise, they could lose it all. But Trump’s erratic approach to tariffs — he proposed, then delayed, new levies against the European Union over the weekend, for instance — makes U.S. policy feel very uncertain. So investors are losing faith in the government and now see bonds as more of a gamble. Debt: Another problem is that the United States already owes more than $36 trillion. By 2032, it will have more public debt as a share of the economy than it did after the Great Depression and World War II. At the same time, Republicans in Congress are trying to pass a budget bill that would add trillions more to the debt. Investors are asking: Can the government really repay all of that? Sources: Congressional Budget Office (historical); Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (projections) | By The New York Times The nightmare scenario That loss of trust could lead to a debt crisis. Bond buyers don’t all agree on a specific level of debt that goes too far and tips the nation into a crisis. But one day, investors may conclude that the government can’t pay its lenders. Then comes a spiral: People stop buying bonds, the government has to raise interest rates to find new buyers and then it owes even more money. Suddenly, the debt becomes truly unsustainable — too expensive to maintain or pay off. When might investors stop believing in America’s future? Nobody knows; it’s largely about feelings. But the bond market and its gyrations are clear warnings that the United States is on the wrong track.

2024 UK ELECTIONS

https://election2024.electoral-reform.org.uk/

CENSORSHIP by Eliana frenk

" I DON T WANT MY ENEMY TO KNOW WHAT HE WILL USE TO ATTACK ME " WHAT DO YOU THINK ? By German Lopez Good morning. We’re covering a lesser-known side of Chinese censorship — as well as emails to government employees, the pope’s health and a book to read. Marvel Rivals Marvel Chinese influence Marvel Rivals is one of the biggest video games in the world. Since its launch in December, more than 40 million people have signed up to fight one another as comic book heroes like Iron Man and Wolverine. But when players used the game’s text chat to talk with teammates and opponents, they noticed something: Certain phrases, including “free Hong Kong” and “Tiananmen Square,” were not allowed. While Marvel Rivals is based on an iconic American franchise, it was developed by a Chinese company, NetEase Games. It has become the latest example of Chinese censorship creeping into media that Americans consume. You can’t type “free Tibet,” “free Xinjiang,” “Uyghur camps,” “Taiwan is a country” or “1989” (the year of the Tiananmen Square massacre) in the chat. You can type “America is a dictatorship” but not “China is a dictatorship.” Even memes aren’t spared. “Winnie the Pooh” is banned, because people have compared China’s leader, Xi Jinping, to the cartoon bear. The restrictions are largely confined to China-related topics. You can type “free Palestine,” “free Kashmir” and “free Crimea.” Why does all of this matter? Video games are not just sources of entertainment; they are also social platforms. Every day, hundreds of millions of children and adults log on to games like Fortnite, World of Warcraft and, yes, Marvel Rivals to play together and hang out. For many young people, these games are as social as Facebook or X. China’s video game industry is growing. As it does, the country’s authoritarian leaders are setting the terms of how these social platforms work. Growing problem In Shanghai. Hector Retamal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images China’s market, with hundreds of millions of potential customers, has long enticed game developers. But companies have to play by China’s rules to get in, and that means accepting censorship. (Other industries, including movies and sports, have faced similar challenges.) Until recently, this censorship mostly appeared in the Chinese versions of Western-made games. China deemed the military shooter PUBG too violent, so its developers reworked it. When someone shoots and kills another player in the Chinese version, the victim doesn’t exactly die; he kneels and waves goodbye before vanishing. As China’s game developers have grown and gone international, however, they’ve also exported their style of censorship. Last year, the Chinese developer Game Science released Black Myth: Wukong. It was a hit with Western audiences, and it became the first Chinese-made game to be nominated for game of the year at the Game Awards, the industry’s equivalent to best picture at the Oscars. But before the game’s release, a company affiliated with Game Science told people streaming the game that they should avoid talking about certain topics, including “feminist propaganda” and Covid. The problem stands to get worse. As China’s economy grows, Western developers will have greater incentives to release games there. China’s game industry is taking off and will continue to export games. Chinese publishers, such as the conglomerate Tencent, have also bought Western developers, and the Chinese government could push them to censor their games, too. Player pushback In some cases, consumers have pushed back against censorship. In 2019, the American developer Blizzard suspended a player from Hong Kong and revoked his prize money after he said, “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” at a competitive event. Many fans saw the punishment as Blizzard bowing to censorship so it could continue to sell games in China. The fans started a boycott and canceled subscriptions to Blizzard games. Members of Congress spoke out. Blizzard eventually reduced the player’s punishment and returned his prize money. Chinese developers are insulated from this kind of public criticism. But Western companies like Blizzard aren’t. With Marvel Rivals, Disney licensed its intellectual property for the game. Microsoft allows the game on its Xbox consoles. The Valve Corporation, based in Bellevue, Wash., hosts the game on Steam, the biggest marketplace for computer games. In that sense, the responsibility for censorship is shared by China’s leaders and the Western companies that play along. Related: I recommend reading The Times’s exploration of Metroidvanias, a video game genre that leverages mysterious, mazelike settings to evoke feelings of discovery and progression. THE LATEST NEWS Trump Administration • Elon Musk ordered federal workers to send an email detailing their accomplishments last week or lose their jobs. Some agencies, including the F.B.I. and the State Department, told employees to hold off. • At CPAC, President Trump celebrated his firing of federal workers and his attempt to purge the government of his political enemies. • Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, fired the top lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force. • Maine is facing a federal investigation after it refused to comply with Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. Its governor told Trump, “See you in court.” German Election • Germany is holding national elections today. Polls show the Christian Democratic Union, a center-right party, with a comfortable lead. Read what to know. • The nationalist, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party could finish second. A surge in youth support has helped elevate it. More International News Pope Francis at the Vatican last month. Andreas Solaro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images • Pope Francis, 88, is in critical condition but had a restful night, the Vatican says. Catholics around the world prayed for his recovery. • Israel delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners. It wants Hamas to commit to free hostages from Gaza without “humiliating ceremonies.” Both sides accused the other of violating the cease-fire agreement. • Austria is using geothermal energy to heat homes to wean itself off Russian natural gas. Other Big Stories

FOR OUR TEACHERS TO BE : A HISTORIC VIEW OF METHODS

DEAR TRAINEES If you have come across this web page it is probably because you want to train to become a teacher of ENGLIS as a SECOND LANGUAGE We will be working on the implications of each method that has been tired through times we will be saying why they worked or they didn t In the meantime , read this web page and send us your comments from your personal experience https://eflcafe.net/the-journey-through-time-a-historical-overview-of-english-language-teaching-methods/

OUR ANCESTORS : EARLY HUMANS WHAT WERE THEY LIKE ? by MARITA

HI DEAR READERS MARITA IS ONE OF CURIOUS CEI S STS AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLIDAYS , SHE SENT US THIS LINK FOR YOU TO READ ABOUT WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE 80 THOUSAND YEARS AGO ? OR EVEN FURTHER BACK WE HAVE ENJOYED READING IT . LET US KNOW IF YOU TOO HAVE ENJOYED WRITE YOUR VIEWS ON INSTAGRAM https://www.exploredplanet.com/info/what-life-was-really-like-as-an-early-human/?utm_source=ob&utm_campaign=00928ff5c16818cc63faeea7ebf21a617c-ob&utm_medium=00c8e13c1b4dbd08a35b361af495798fcf-ob&utm_content=002c226261f441e96e681995b7a8bf9eb7&utm_cpc=0.010&utm_term=-&dicbo=v4-2Y9bMZS-1077451370-1 THNKS MARITA !!!

ALCOHOL AND CANCER RISK by Sandra Buis ( C1 )

Surgeon General Calls for Cancer Warnings on Alcohol Dr. Vivek Murthy’s report cites studies linking alcoholic beverages to at least seven malignancies, including breast cancer. But to add warning labels, Congress would have to act. New Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer, and alcoholic beverages should carry a warning label as packs of cigarettes do, the U.S. surgeon general said on Friday. It is the latest salvo in a fierce debate about the risks and benefits of moderate drinking as the influential U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans are about to be updated. For decades, moderate drinking was said to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. That perception has been embedded in the dietary advice given to Americans. But growing research has linked drinking, sometimes even within the recommended limits, to various types of cancer. Labels currently affixed to bottles and cans of alcoholic beverages warn about drinking while pregnant or before driving and operating other machinery, and about general “health risks.” But alcohol directly contributes to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths each year, the surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, said. He called for updating the labels to include a heightened risk of breast cancer, colon cancer and at least five other malignancies now linked by scientific studies to alcohol consumption. “Many people out there assume that as long as they’re drinking at the limits or below the limits of current guidelines of one a day for women and two for men, that there is no risk to their health or well-being,” Dr. Murthy said in an interview. “The data does not bear that out for cancer risk.” Only Congress can mandate new warning labels of the sort Dr. Murthy recommended, and it’s not clear that the incoming administration would support the change. Still, President-elect Donald J. Trump does not drink, and his choice to head the Health and Human Services Department, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., swore off alcohol and drugs decades ago, and says he regularly attends AA meetings. There is no question that heavy consumption is harmful. But supporters of moderate drinking — including makers of wine, beer and spirits, and some physicians and scientists — argue that a little alcohol each day may reduce cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer in the United States. Newer scientific studies have criticized the methodology of earlier studies, however, and have challenged that view, which was once a consensus. While most cancer deaths occur at drinking levels that exceed the current recommended dietary guidelines, the risk for cancers of the breast, the mouth and the throat may rise with consumption of as little as one drink a day, or even less, Dr. Murthy said on Friday. Overall, one of every six breast cancer cases is attributable to alcohol consumption, Dr. Murthy said. More recent studies have also linked moderate alcohol consumption to certain forms of heart disease, including atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia. Two scientific reviews will be used to inform the updated recommendations about alcohol consumption in the federal dietary guidelines. Five years ago, the scientific report that informed the writing of the 2020-2025 dietary guidelines acknowledged that alcohol is a carcinogen and generally unhealthy and suggested “tightening guidelines” by capping the recommendation for men at one standard drink, or 14 grams of alcohol a day. When the final guidelines were drafted, however, there was no change in the advice that moderate drinking of up to two drinks a day for men was acceptable. But the government acknowledged emerging evidence indicating that “even drinking within the recommended limits may increase the overall risk of death from various causes, such as from several types of cancer and some forms of cardiovascular disease.” Since then, even more studies have linked alcoholic beverages to cancer. Yet any attempt to change the warning labels on alcoholic beverages is likely to face an uphill battle. The current warning label has not been changed since it was adopted in 1988, even though the link between alcohol and breast cancer has been known for decades. A It was first mentioned in the 2000 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. In 2016, the surgeon general’s report on alcohol, drugs and health linked alcohol misuse to seven different types of cancer. More recently, a scientific review of the research on moderate drinking, carried out under the auspices of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, was commissioned by Congress. That analysis found a link between alcohol consumption and a slight increase in breast cancer, but no clear link to any other cancers. The report also revived the theory that moderate drinking is linked to fewer heart attack and stroke deaths, and fewer deaths overall, compared with never drinking. The World Health Organization says there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption, however, and 47 nations require warnings on alcoholic beverages. But cancer is rarely mentioned. To date, only South Korea has a label warning about liver cancer, though manufacturers can choose alternative labels that don’t mention cancer. Ireland is currently slated to introduce labels that say there is a “direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers” in 2026. T The industry has a strong history of fighting warning labels that mention cancer, and alcohol-producing nations have also challenged warning labels under international trade law. Industry opposition led to the premature termination of a federally funded Canadian study of the impact of warning labels that mentioned cancer. The surgeon general’s advisory provided a brief overview of research studies and reviews published in the past two decades, including a global study of 195 countries and territories involving 28 million people. They all found that higher levels of alcohol consumption were associated with a greater risk of cancer. Other studies looked at specific cancers, like breast cancer and mouth cancer, finding the risks increased by 10 percent and 40 percent, respectively, for those who had just one drink a day, when compared with those who did not drink. The report described the biological mechanisms by which alcohol is known to induce cancerous changes at the cellular level. The most widely accepted theory is that inside the body, alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, a metabolite that binds to DNA and damages it, allowing a cell to start growing uncontrollably and creating a malignant tumor. Animal experiments have shown that rodents whose drinking water was spiked with either ethanol, the alcohol used in alcoholic beverages, or with acetaldehyde developed large numbers of tumors all over their bodies. Research has shown that alcohol generates oxidative stress, which increases inflammation and can damage DNA. It also alters levels of hormones like estrogen, which can play a role in breast cancer development, and makes it easier for carcinogens like tobacco smoke particles to be absorbed into the body, increasing susceptibility to cancers of the mouth and the throat. The surgeon general’s report also goes into detail about the increase in risk associated with drinking, differentiating between the increases in absolute risk and in relative risk. For example, the absolute risk of breast cancer over a woman’s life span is about 11.3 percent (11 out of 100) for those who have less than a drink a week. The risk increases to 13.1 percent (13 of 100 individuals) at one drink a day, and up to 15.3 percent (15 of 100) at two drinks per day. For men, the absolute risk of developing an alcohol-related cancer increases from about 10 percent (10 of every 100 individuals) for those who consume less than one drink a week to 11.4 percent (11 per 100) for those who have a drink every day on average. It rises to 13 percent (13 of 100 individuals) for those who have two drinks a day on average. Many Americans don’t know there is a link between alcohol and cancer. Fewer than half of Americans identified alcohol use as a risk factor for cancer, compared with 89 percent who recognized tobacco as a carcinogen, according to a 2019 survey of U.S. adults aged 18 and older carried out by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Yet alcohol consumption is the third leading preventable causes of cancer, after tobacco and obesity, according to the surgeon general’s report. Dr. Murthy said it was important to know that the risk rises as alcohol consumption increases. But each individual’s risk of cancer is different, depending on family history, genetic makeup and environmental exposures. “I wish we had a magic cutoff we could tell people is safe,” he said. “What we do know is that less is better when it comes to reducing your cancer risk.” “If an individual drinks occasionally for special events, or if you’re drinking a drink or two a week, your risk is likely to be significantly less than if you’re drinking every day,” he added. Roni Caryn Rabin is a Times health reporter focused on maternal and child health, racial and economic disparities in health care, and the influence of money on medicine. More about Roni Caryn Rabin See more on: 2024 Elections: News, Polls and Analysis, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vivek H. Murthy Read 1122 Comments Share full article THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER 1.1k The Fight Against Cancer Starting at 30, women can collect their own vaginal samples at a doctor’s office for testing for HPV — the infection that causes most cases of cervical cancer — according to new guidelines. Death rates are declining among U.S. women with breast cancer. But the disease is turning up more often in women under age 50. A new report described deep links between alcohol and cancer, as scientists continue to rethink the idea that moderate drinking offers health benefits. An estimated 13% of all cancer cases globally are linked to four common infections, according to researchers. After a cancer diagnosis, finding an oncologist is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Here’s how to find the right one for you. Related Content More in Health 10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Healthy in 2025 Maria Hergueta She Often Fainted in Hot Weather. What Was Wrong? 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