Samsung loses Qualcomm contract to TSMC for making next-gen Snapdragon chipsInternational Conference on Entrepreneurship discusses business transformations in the era of AIIsrael approved a United States-brokered with Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel’s security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Israel says it will ‘attack with might’ if Hezbollah breaks truce Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu’s office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut’s bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah’s financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. ___big fish casino reddit 。

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3rd China-Indian Ocean Forum: Pakistan underlines Gwadar development under CPEC Forum in Kunming, China, was organised by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional marine cooperation and ensuring peace, progress, and sustainability in the Indian Ocean region. Addressing the 3rd China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Cooperation held from December 14 to 16 in Kunming, China, via a video message, the President underscored the development of Gwadar Port under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is being transformed into a regional connectivity hub to drive trade and maritime economic growth. The Forum in Kunming, China, was organised by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) which focused on promoting collaboration among countries in the maritime sector. The President praised Pakistan’s partnership with China under the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasising its role in knowledge exchange, technological advancement, and marine conservation. The President stressed the need for collective action to harness the ocean’s potential while addressing the challenges of climate change, pollution, and ecosystem degradation. “Pakistan stands ready to partner with all stakeholders to promote marine cooperation and ensure that our region remains a bastion of peace, progress, and sustainability,” the President said. The President said that the future economic growth was going to be driven by the East due to its large population resources. Highlighting the importance of the ocean as a shared lifeline and a source of immense economic opportunities, President Asif Zardari pointed out Pakistan’s efforts to enhance its blue economy, including the National Maritime Policy, initiatives on sustainable fisheries and marine conservation, and the Living Indus Project, to protect ecosystems and combat pollution. The President commended China’s Global Development Initiative and CIDCA’s efforts to embed sustainability in the Forum’s goals. He expressed appreciation for capacity building and island nations in the Forum’s agenda, saying that it is aligned with Pakistan’s vision of transnational collaboration and environmental stewardship. About the Forum’s outcomes, the President said, “I am sure that this Forum will pave the way for greater economic cooperation among member countries.” He called for collective efforts to protect marine resources and promote the blue economy for future generations. The 3rd China-Indian Ocean Region Forum seeks to unite leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore maritime collaboration and sustainable development.The absurdity of it all: A Nigerian saga...Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100

Subscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today . Already a member? Sign in here. We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, please join us as a member . DETROIT — Food has always played a vital role in fostering and maintaining community. It’s a key component of cultural heritage: How food is prepared, served, and shared is oftentimes communal and ritualistic. Food tells us stories — be they personal, historical, or social. And food culture is a form of art. The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World , currently on view at the Detroit Institute of Arts, transforms meals into narrative experiences, showing how food connects people not only to their roots, but also to each another. The exhibition showcases almost 230 pieces, spanning centuries and ranging from cooking vessels to paintings, from 30 public and private collections across the world. Our introduction to this realm comes initially from a map of the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region, which greets the visitor as they enter the show. Several cities are highlighted on this map: Istanbul, Cairo, Mecca, Baghdad, Isfahan, and Delhi. The captions explain that these sites have been significant for trade, artistic production, and pilgrimage. They were also both culturally and historically important for Islam, the exhibition posits, and they hold a special place for the food culture that was nurtured in historically Muslim-majority regions of the world. What makes this show truly commendable is its expansive perspective on food. The works on view emphasize everything associated with the craft of dining. Steel fruit sculptures (pear, quince, melon) made for the processions commemorating the martyrdom of Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī (626–80), a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia imam , are on display. The exhibit also features different types of spice dishes, tin-glazed plates with peacock feather patterns, glazed porcelain bowls, copper alloy cauldrons, flasks, and drinking vessels. It draws our attention to the processes of preparation, presentation, and enjoyment associated with food culture, such as the hospitality of hand washing, demonstrated via an ewer from Iran or Iraq circa the 1200s; a basin from Egypt dating from the 1300s; and even a description of dining etiquette from the Sunni polyhistor and mujaddid (or “one who brings renewal to the religion”) Al-Ghazali (1058–1111). Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities The Art of Dining also explores the etiquette of eating across this realm. In one large room, a table invites us to a digitally created sufra (floor spread) meal where adapted historical dishes, prepared by chef Najmieh Batmanglij , are projected at the center of each plate. There is even a cooking display with multiple televisions where you can watch the preparation of different dishes live on a screen. Cookbooks, handbooks for health, and a glimpse into the kitchens and pantries that supported food culture throughout the Islamic cultures emphasized in the show are dispersed throughout the galleries. Stories around food further narrate the visitor’s journey. Medieval illuminated manuscripts draw attention to images of picnics; depictions of scenes known as maqama (meaning “assembly” in Arabic) that would have been read out loud at social gatherings; and banquet scenes from a copy of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdawsi. Together, these works foreground the importance of hospitality in class and political power. They illustrate how culinary traditions and communal meals serve as vital expressions of identity and social cohesion within various cultural and class contexts. These books are placed alongside musical instruments — a kamancha made from fish skin from the 1800s, the taus (meaning “peacock” in Persian) from 19th-century India, the oud of the Greek Maol (Emmanuel Venios) — calling to mind the practices of entertainment present in these cities and in Islamic courts. At one point, the viewer is also invited to join the table by sharing on circular, blank white pages “how food connected you to people, places, and memories.” The exhibition ends with a contemporary multimedia installation by Iraqi-born artist Sadik Kwaish Alfraji titled “A Thread of Light Between My Mother’s Fingers and Heaven.” This captivatingly layered piece is influenced by the artist’s memories of his mother and the bread she baked as they gathered as a family around their table in Baghdad. The black and white sketched animations reflect how memories and food intertwine to create a tapestry of shared experiences, evoking nostalgia and a profound sense of identity that transcends time and place. Though not all the objects on display serve religious functions, the show paints a well-rounded picture of food culture in Islam. The Art of Dining was originally organized and displayed by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For the DIA iteration, the curators made modifications in response to feedback that called for a more multicultural perspective, as opposed to one that overly homogenizes what’s referred to here as the Islamic world. This approach is evident as the exhibition acknowledges how the everyday lives of different ethnoreligious cultures in these regions were informed by different or varying practices. While looking at food cultures through the lens of intercultural connection added complexity that was presumably lacking in the LACMA version, the DIA’s presentation would have been made stronger by recognizing the non-Islamic peoples who lived in these cities and across the SWANA region. Although these communities — for example, Greek, Chaldean, and Armenian — may not have practiced the Islamic faith, their customs around food were influenced by these same practices. Though a section of the exhibit acknowledges shared cultures in tableware from this region, identifying Chinese porcelain, Ottoman ceramics, and Italian pottery as points of connection, there are many other examples of commonalities around food that could have helped represent links between communities across these geographies. The city of Istanbul — with its far-reaching Byzantine, Cilician Armenian, Jewish, and Parthian presence — is one such example where multiple influences collectively shaped the cultural identity of its premodern history. Using the term “Islamicate,” coined by historian Marshall Hodgson, could have alluded to the importance of Islam as a cultural force that influenced non-Muslims in the region, while also acknowledging their presence and contribution to the development of a sociopolitical and economic cosmos there. Doing so would have also reinforced the exhibit’s already strong foundation by showcasing Islamicate civilization as an integral component of world history and Islam’s influence upon it — especially through the exquisite ways in which it highlighted the history of food culture as a unifying element within this narrative. The Art of Dining: Food Culture in the Islamic World continues at the Detroit Institute of Arts (5200 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan) through January 5, 2025. The exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook

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Leo Daily Horoscope Today, December 27, 2024 predicts health at your side

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Jonah Goldberg: What if most Americans aren't bitterly divided?World-renowned health innovator will lead global collaboration and health equity work FLINT, Mich. , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Insight Health System (Insight), a physician-led organization focused on excellence in health care and community well-being, has named Dr. Maliha Hashmi , a pioneer in the fields of AI-driven prevision care, health equity and wellness advocacy, as the organization's first Global Ambassador. "Dr. Hashmi's unparalleled reputation as a health leader and innovator around the world, combined with her dedication to underserved populations and her commitment to using technology for good, aligns perfectly with Insight's mission focused on providing care that is second to none through love and compassion," said Dr. Jawad Shah , founder and chief executive officer of Insight. "Her leadership will be invaluable in helping Insight shape the future of health care." As Global Ambassador, Dr. Hashmi will be intimately involved in a range of large-scale initiatives aimed at population health, health equity, value-based care and preventative care. She will play a critical role in ensuring that Insight hospitals remain leaders in global health care innovation and advancing patient-centered care while fostering sustainable growth and economic development within the communities they serve. Her strategic vision will ensure that Insight continues to deliver health equity and forward-thinking care for generations to come. Throughout her career, Dr. Hashmi has championed the humanization of technology, ensuring advancements in health care strengthen human connection, compassion and accessibility. Her innovative approach integrates smart systems designed to enhance efficiency, elevate patient care and improve health outcomes – all under the guiding principle of "health care for everyone, everywhere." Dr. Hashmi has earned numerous accolades, including recently being ranked first among the Top 10 Female Innovators and Leaders Globally by Entrepreneur Mirror, and one of the Top 50 Most Influential Muslims in America by EqualityX. She holds advanced degrees from Harvard and MIT and has served as a World Economic Forum Global Future Expert and V20 Delegate for G20. "I am deeply honored to take on this role as Global Ambassador for Insight," said Dr. Hashmi. "My goal is to champion health care for everyone, everywhere, supporting Insight's mission to refine processes, increase efficiency and deliver patient care second to none to communities across the globe. I am excited to drive innovation, compassion and excellence in patient care, making health care accessible and dignified for all." Insight, led by Dr. Jawad Shah , is committed to serving underserved communities through a multidisciplinary approach that balances cutting-edge medical technologies with compassionate patient care. Dr. Hashmi's appointment as Global Ambassador further solidifies Insight's mission to expand the boundaries of health care innovation and equitable service delivery. Follow along with the latest from Insight Health System on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , TikTok and YouTube . Follow updates on Dr. Maliha Hashmi on the following platforms: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dr-maliha-hashmi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malihahashmiofficial/ About Insight Health System Insight Health System is a physician-led organization focused on pioneering excellence in health care and community well-being. Our expertise is in transforming distressed hospitals into stable, patient-centric care that is second-to-none. With a track record for innovation in health care, research and development, Insight Health System provides the communities we serve with world-class health care services at the forefront of medical technology. Our network currently includes a portfolio of entities encompassing six acute care hospitals (three of which are nonprofit), six surgery centers, 28 clinics, 580 physicians, 10 unions and 4,200 employees. Collectively, Insight Health System hospitals provide nearly 100,000 patient days annually. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insight-health-system-appoints-dr-maliha-hashmi-as-global-ambassador-302332878.html SOURCE Insight Health System

By Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.As I listen to my friends sprinkle “Pookie” into conversation like a modern-day sonnet, I can’t help but wonder: Is this what poetry has become in the 21st century? Sonnets, once prose dipped in honey, now seem to have dissolved into emojis and cutesy nicknames. Has poetry lost its shine, its luster, in our era of abbreviations and TikTok trends? Of course, I am not hoping my friends write me poems proclaiming my beauty and intellect each morning (although I wouldn’t mind it). Still, in contrast to a century ago, or even thirty years ago, our language and poetry have been reduced to abbreviations and line breaks. Has poetry lost its shine and luster, turned into jargon being spoon-fed to the masses? With the welcoming of niche groups all over social media platforms, including groups for the more literary-minded amongst us (search for “BookTok,” for example), anything and everything is out there. However, despite that, it seems people have only further diluted the meaning of poetry and art for cheap and quick views. This brings me back to the question: is poetry alive, especially within young people? Or does our Rilke lie within TikTok slideshows? With little to no encouragement in public schools toward careers in the arts, many are left to find their interest in poetry piqued within the confines of TikTok. To explore this question further, I turned to young creatives who are redefining what poetry means today. First up, Roswitha Bwanga, who was the second-place winner of the Allyship Poetry Contest. They have been completing their studies in visual and creative arts at Sheridan College. They explore many fields of artistry, dabbling in poetry. In order to maintain clarity and flow, the following interview has been lightly edited. How did your interest in poetry emerge? I started writing poetry when I was 15, at first just to appreciate things I saw in nature. A beautiful sunrise, or a pleasant sunny day, I just wanted to write about things I would see. Then I went through a brief phase of thinking poetry was cringe-worthy, and I stopped writing altogether. But soon my life went through a lot of changes: I went to university, I learned more about the world and I realized how stressed I felt most of the time. While it was a rough time to go through, that’s how I rediscovered poetry. Writing poems became a way to get rid of all the negativity that was always holding me down, and I’ve continued to write ever since. Was there any specific poem that shaped your own life, inspiring you to write? If so, what in particular stood out? I’ve only recently started to read other poems. Before then, I never really read any classical, or contemporary poetry. Essentially, there has not been a specific poem that inspired me to write, rather it was the need to process emotions that became the motivation for me to write. As a writer, how have you adapted methods of the classics and applied them to modern pieces? I’ve never paid much attention to classical poetry methods when I originally started writing, but now I’m interested in learning about rhyming schemes and different meters. I think free verse style poetry is the most appealing to contemporary poets because there is no ideal to follow. While studying how other people approach poetry is interesting, I think poets, especially young poets just starting to write, should just write how they feel. Writing without restrictions will help you get your words out. Do you think most teenagers are capable of connecting to poetry today? This is a huge question because I think there is a multitude of factors that differ for each individual, which influences whether a person connects with poetry or not, but on the surface, I think most teenagers today think of poetry as outdated, boring, or cringey. While part of the problem lies in the way many teens might associate poetry with Shakespeare, an unpleasant English course, or school in general, I believe an inability to discuss and deal with feelings is another big reason for the disconnect between youths and poetry. It’s unfortunate because, in my opinion, many teens could benefit from writing poetry, so I really wish there was a way to get more of them engaged with writing. Even something small, like including more diverse and contemporary perspectives about poetry in school might help change their perception. —————————————————————————————————————————— After speaking with Bwanga, it seems that the key issue might not be whether teens have an innate interest in poetry, but whether they are provided with the resources to explore it. While factors like literacy rates and a focus on STEM subjects in schools play a role, the way poetry is approached within the English curriculum in Ontario’s schools also significantly influences students’ engagement with it. The only way we can expect our generation to produce poetry is to push avenues toward pursuing poetry and reading modern poetry. The curriculum pushes Shakesphere under the guise we can always learn from the past, which isn’t wrong, but rarely are students ever given opportunities to be pushed towards poetry that reflects their own lives today, leaving disinterested minds in and out of the classroom. This also becomes a discussion, then, on the value of art, and the value of learning art; while it is easy to find articles online that support teaching arts and crafts in early childhood, with benefits ranging from development of fine motor skills to overall growth and wellbeing, you need to dig a bit deeper see the benefits for older students. But find it you can: a study from earlier this year, for example, reported better problem-solving and cognitive flexibility in arts-educated students. Creativity, in other words. If we understand and buy into the argument for teaching the arts to young people, we should also be concerned with offering material that speaks to young people, material that they can connect with and may spur on their own artistic journeys. However, those who seem to be interested aren’t exactly uplifted in their environments to pursue poetry. Shakespeare does give lessons in how the magic of language changes over time, but when was the last time a teenager found inspiration for their Instagram caption in iambic pentameter? I discussed the twisted discourse with Patricia Zhang, a young creative who resides in Toronto — considered by many as the epicentre of arts and culture in the surround sound of placid Ontario. Her work consists of photography, capturing her own stylistic shots as well as portraits for smaller magazines. Although it isn’t necessarily poetry, Zhang can speak for being a young creative who pursued the arts on her own. What type of art do you do? Have you tried poetry? I do photography and writing — I have tried poetry but am not great at it, I prefer prose. Has your school encouraged you to explore other artistic pursuits, perhaps in the form of extracurriculars or via a range of courses on offer? Since I don’t go to an art school I can’t really speak on this — but I think the school I go to does have a lot of opportunities for art and I’ve participated in our school-wide art show in photography and won first. We also have a really amazing photography and art department overall. Is there a desire in teenagers to dabble in art and poetry? Is it a lack of interest or support? There is a desire in teens to dabble in art and poetry. I think that a lot of the time, it seems really scary or impossible to get published — and that deters a lot of young artists. I think there is a lot of interest for these young voices in art, but for support, I would definitely say for things such as writing and art it would be great if young artists could have a way to access a larger network of people who can help them get published since it looks super daunting at first sight. The art culture in Toronto specifically is really beautiful, though, and so, so, so welcoming to emerging artists. —————————————————————————————————————————- Zhang seems to be in the lucky majority, residing in Toronto where art runs around like the debris of construction. But she does offer more evidence that teens are willing and able to write poetry, they just lack access to the tools needed. Networks that offer connections and provide examples of what a successful working artist (in whatever medium) looks like in today’s world might encourage more young creatives to enter into that space. Representation is, as ever, another essential piece — seeing successful, working artists of colour can only expand minds and possibilities. It is up to you to decide whether or not poetry is still alive. The exploration of poetry’s relevance today is far from settled, but I can’t dictate what poetry means to you. Though I may trash it, people are fleeing to TikTok and other social media apps to access their dose of poetry. Does this type of poetry, that great tweet, a J. Cole song, or a surprisingly inspiring real-estate slogan, make the medium less valuable — or simply more accessible? Language, after all, is an ever-morphing tool that will carry new turns of phrase to new generations. And social media, like it or not, is where young people congregate today, so if socials manage to engage teenagers in poetry and other art forms that they may not otherwise see, this surely is a positive. It’s up to us to decide whether we see poetry as something to be left in the past or as a powerful catalyst for creativity and progress — a medium that not only evolves with each generation but also propels us forward, shaping how we express, connect, and grow as individuals and as a society. Maybe poetry is now tucked inside the emojis we send, the lyrics we hum, and the TikTok slideshows we scroll past. Like sunlight through curtains, it sneaks in, whether we notice it or not.