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://surl.lu/txerki 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? Photo illustration by Ina Jang SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Passengers Say Turkish Airlines Flights Have Unwelcome Guests: Bedbugs Bedbugs are a recurring issue in travel, showing up in hotels, on public transportation and in luggage. Arno Burgi/picture alliance, via Getty Images In Some Doctors’ Offices, the Weigh-In Is No Longer Required Xanthia Walker started going to the doctor more regularly when she found a physician who rejected the “weight-centric” model of medicine. Ash Ponders for The New York Times 6 Relationship Resolutions for the New Year Image by Ben Hickey Editors’ Picks A Photo of Nancy Pelosi, Rediscovered Decades Later This image of Nancy D’Alesandro ran in The New York Times’s Society pages in 1963. She would become better known by her married name: Nancy Pelosi. Bradford Bachrach Last Call for Neon in New York City Ashok Sinha for The New York Times The Midnight Pasta to Make for New Year’s Eve David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Trending in The Times A Mayor’s Odyssey: From Undocumented Migrant to Cartel Target Norovirus Outbreaks Are Rising Nationwide, C.D.C. Says Orca That Carried Dead Calf for Weeks Appears to Be in Mourning Again Stream These 11 Titles Before They Leave Netflix in January Two Killed and 19 Injured in Fiery California Plane Crash The Duke’s Mayo Bowl Is Gross and Weird. That’s Why People Love It. Book Review: Life in the Tudor Industrial Complex: Sex, Beheadings, Fur A Half-Ton Piece of Space Junk Falls Onto a Village in Kenya Do You Believe in Life After Death? These Scientists Study It. 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Are public libraries still useful?

elderly people are bound to tell you how useful public libraries were when they had to study to prepare their college subjects however , times have changed remarkably can you discuss this topic ? here the CEI is suggfesting to you some interesting links that deal with this topic Cohen, K. (2023). Advantages and disadvantages of online classes. IU International University of Applied Sciences. https://www.iu.org/blog/studying-online/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-... Guaranteeing access to knowledge: The role of Libraries. (s. f.). https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2012/04/article_0004.html Why do we still need public libraries in the digital age? (s. f.). British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/why-still-need-public-lib...

Are so many pills always necessary ? ORNELLA DISCO

IN OUR SOCIETY THERE IS A STRONG DEPENDANCE ON PILLS OR MEDICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY DOCTORS TO CURE OUR DISEASES OR DONDITIONS HOWEVER, THESE PILLS MAY BRING ABOUT A STRONG DEPENDANCE THAT IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SIDE EFFECTS DOCTORS ARE ALSO WORKING NOWADAYS ON ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF MEDICNE WHICH WERE NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN THE PAST READ THIS ARTICLE AND PASS YOUR COMMENTS IN YOUR LIVE CLASSES https://theconversation.com/drugs-dont-cure-everything-doctors-can-be-helped-to-prescribe-other-options-69140 I FOUND THIS QUITE INTERESTING BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE OF MY SON S AILMENTS . ORNELLA DISCO