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How moms’ mental load became digital overload

5 days ago

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THEY say that women have more words than men. Let me just say, modern motherhood is challenging even the most verbose of us.

I recently had lunch with two fellow millennial mothers; one a corporate executive, the other a stay-at-home mom. Before the food arrived, the executive picked up her phone. “I’ve gotten 36 messages since we’ve been sitting here!” she exclaimed. No, not from work. From friends planning a girls’ weekend.

The other mom confessed that the pickleball league she leads had turned into a fulltime job from the constant communication. I glanced down at my own phone: 118 unread texts, 548 unread Group Mes, 937 unread emails. I’ve looked at (some of) them. Really.

To be sure, motherhood has always come with its share of communication demands. A 2025 study from the University of Arizona found that women between the ages of 25 and 64 speak about 3,000 more words per day than men of the same age — 21,845 words to 18,570. Researchers hypothesise this isn’t due to gender differences, but because women in this age group are more likely to be a primary caregiver. Children tend to ask a lot of question, and their brain development benefits from more conversational parents and greater word exposure.

But these days, talking is just the tip of the maternal iceberg. In 2026, the volume of digital communication for American mothers has reached record highs. According to a 2026 YouGov survey, 30% of Americans say that rates of text messaging have increased year-over-year.

Gone are the days of text plans that limited the number of messages sent or received and you had to be choosy. Gone are the days when people were willing to wait a day or three for their email to be answered. Email now seems as archaic as a beeper.

Messaging apps and texts impose urgency. You don’t want to be the last one to answer on a thread, lest you get stuck bringing the paleo-friendly class treats or are seen as uncaring and aloof.

Trying to do something “just for you”? That’s no break — that’s just more messages. (See above under: Girls’ weekend. Pickleball league.

This all creates a state of constant interruption.

A decade ago, school information came home in a folder or an envelope. Now it’s a game of catch-me-if-you-can with moms sifting through Group Mes, text threads, school emails and SchoolPass and Vidigami notifications — and that’s before you ever get to planning a sleepover or figuring out a child’s homework.

This adds up to real time and responsibility. Recent parenting polling by Harris, conducted on behalf of a popular digital calendar that promises to reduce this overload, suggests that parents (disproportionately mothers) spend roughly 30 hours a week solely on planning, scheduling and family logistics — much of which is conducted through digital messaging.

That may sound high to some. (Or self-serving from a company selling a solution.) But it makes sense to me. A single line-item on a group chat, such as for a birthday party invitation, might lead to a whole new set of logistical questions. Do I need a gift? What are my other kids doing then? Do I need to rearrange an appointment? Not to mention trying to sort and navigate upcoming summer camps and childcare.

Dads feel it, too — but the data suggest moms feel it most. A 2026 study from the University of Bath found that mothers handle roughly seven out of 10 mental-load tasks (remembering dental appointments or creating the grocery list). These mental tasks tend to promulgate digital labor of their own, such as adding calendar appointments, sending reminders, even sending messages to oneself.

There are management techniques for our new reality, but they don’t solve the problem. I’ve mostly logged off of the school text threads. I brick my phone for periods during the day. I batch-answer my emails to preserve time to think. I move my lists to notebooks and sticky notes rather than rely on yet another app. For tech-savvy parents, I’m told there are artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline and synthesise all the incoming chatter; a bit like spending more to save more, if you ask me.

But none of this brings the word count demanded by modern motherhood back to the 1990s.

Are there upsides to all this communication? You bet. Never has so much been able to be shared in a 24-hour period. I see pictures of my children’s class and grades in real time. I can multitask while getting groceries. Friends’ birthday gifts are coordinated and classroom parties are Pinterest-worthy. I can ping all the moms in a grade, or our neighbours, or all our friends in three seconds’ time from halfway around the world.

But there can be too much of a good thing.

Which is why on Mothers’ Day, I called my own mom and then promptly remove my phone from my bedroom for a long morning in bed of no words — written or spoken.

To my fellow mothers out there, may you have a day to do the same. — Bloomberg

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition

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Why the fight for equal justice is far from over

5 days ago

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Parliamentary involvement remains crucial because Parliament, despite its flaws, remains Malaysia’s most transparent public institution (pic: MEDIA MULIA FILE)

Malaysia’s ‘dua darjat’ problem endures — the perception that the law is applied differently depending on status, power and political alignment

by NURNABIHAH DINI

EIGHT years after Malaysia’s historic 2018 political transition, the country’s democratic reform debate is increasingly centring on a question many Malaysians continue to ask: Why does justice still appear unequal?

That question formed the backdrop of a wide-ranging discussion on prosecutorial independence, parliamentary oversight and institutional reform, as civil society group Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) launched its Prosecutorial Accountability Watch (PAW) database.

Held on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the May 9, 2018, general election (GE), the event brought together lawmakers, lawyers, activists, diplomats and researchers to examine what speakers repeatedly described as Malaysia’s enduring “dua darjat” problem — the perception that the law is applied differently depending on status, power and political alignment.

For Projek Sama co-founder Ngeow Chow Ying, the issue cuts deeper than political rivalry or institutional inefficiency.

“‘Dua darjat’ describes a system where the law bends according to who you are. One where certain people are untouchable by the law, and one where the rest of us are ruled by it,” she said in her opening speech.

Unequal treatment under the law has survived changes in government and coalition alignments since 2018, evolving into a broader crisis of confidence in public institutions.

“The pandemic made this viscerally clear,” she said, referring to public anger over perceived double standards during Movement Control Order (MCO) enforcement. “Since then, the examples have kept coming.”

She cited public outrage surrounding the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir at a boarding school in Papar, Sabah, and recent allegations involving a “corporate mafia” linked to enforcement agencies as evidence of growing distrust in institutional integrity.

“When the system is corrupt, no one — not investors, not entrepreneurs, not any of us — is truly safe,” she said.

PAW Database Aims to Close Information Gap

The PAW database was designed as an attempt to address what organisers described as “informational asymmetry” between prosecutors and the public.

Developed in collaboration with legal scholar Farah Izzah Haron, data journalists Kuang Keng and Yan Naung Oak, the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform compiles political corruption and prosecution-related cases involving elected representatives from 2018 onwards.

The database focuses particularly on cases involving discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) outcomes, tracking whether prosecutorial withdrawals were linked to procedural failures, evidentiary issues or other factors.

“The prosecution has the full picture. The public gets fragments: Scattered news reports, legal jargon, incomplete records,” Ngeow said. “The result is either apathy or inaccuracy. Neither serves justice.”

The project was intended not to fuel cynicism, but to ground public debate in documented facts and accessible data.

While the event centred on the long-discussed proposal to separate the roles of attorney general (AG) and public prosecutor (PP), speakers stressed that structural separation alone would not automatically restore public trust.

Among the strongest interventions came from former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, who warned that reform efforts would fail without meaningful parliamentary oversight.

The Pandan MP said he would refuse to support the proposed constitutional amendments if Parliament is excluded from the appointment and accountability process.

“Unless the new draft includes parliamentary oversight and parliamentary participation, I am not going to vote. It is not going to move without us,” he said.

Rafizi framed the issue as part of a larger democratic transition problem facing Malaysia’s increasingly fragmented political system.

Under the traditional Westminster model inherited at independence, he said, the prime minister (PM) was assumed to carry a broad public mandate once elected into power.

“That may have worked in the past because Malaysia was almost a one-party country. Things are no longer straightforward,” he added.

With no single party securing even 40% of the vote in recent elections, Rafizi argued that concentration of prosecutorial authority within the executive branch is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.

“That presents a big issue for the future if we do not redefine the relationship between public mandate and prosecutorial power,” he said.

Rafizi frames the issue as part of a larger democratic transition problem

‘Familiarity’ as Hidden Institutional Risk

Beyond legal structures, Rafizi repeatedly returned to a less tangible concern: Familiarity.

According to him, institutional relationships built over time between ministers, civil servants and enforcement agencies create powerful informal loyalties that can dilute independence even without overt political interference.

“The more you spend time in the corridors of power among senior civil servants, with the AG and the PP, the more you think alike and cover each other’s backs,” he said.

Excessively long tenures for an independent prosecutor could unintentionally entrench internal patronage networks within prosecutorial institutions.

“My apprehension if the tenure is longer than seven years is precisely because of familiarity,” Rafizi said. “By the time he leaves, the whole prosecutor’s office has been filled with people who think like him.”

Despite acknowledging criticisms that many MPs lack technical expertise, Rafizi insisted parliamentary participation was still necessary to gradually build a stronger culture of democratic accountability.

“We may take many years before we have MPs who dedicate themselves to check-and-balance roles instead of ministerial ambitions. But the process must start now.”

Ong urges the PAW database to be expanded beyond political corruption cases

Calls for Wider Institutional Accountability

Former International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Dr Ong Kian Ming echoed the call for parliamentary oversight, arguing that no major reform bill tabled under the Madani government has meaningfully institutionalised such mechanisms.

“As far as I know, there has not been any parliamentary bill introduced under this government that explicitly includes parliamentary oversight,” he said, adding that he fully supports Rafizi’s position.

Ong also urged organisers to expand the PAW database beyond political corruption cases to include corporate governance and capital market investigations.

“In the context of discussions about corporate mafia and the health of capital markets, these cases are equally important,” he said.

He proposed collaborations with universities and law faculties to transform the database into a broader research tool capable of supporting both qualitative and quantitative analysis of prosecutorial patterns.

The public had expressed anger over perceived double standards during MCO enforcement (pic: HUSSIEN SHAHARUDDIN/TMR)

Meanwhile, parliamentary and institutional development specialist Maha Balakrishnan said the deeper issue confronting Malaysia is not merely legal design, but the collapse of public confidence in prosecutorial legitimacy itself.

“For a moment in time, it felt like the weaponisation of state apparatus was one person’s problem,” she said. “Then 2018 happened, and now it is everyone’s problem. It is happening under every single PM.”

Years of perceived selective prosecution and politically sensitive case outcomes have left Malaysians increasingly divided over whether high-profile prosecutions are genuine anti-corruption efforts or politically motivated actions.

“The end result is we have all lost trust and confidence in the prosecutorial service,” she added.

Public prosecutors should not be insulated from scrutiny when other professions operate under strict accountability systems.

“Why should the prosecutorial service be placed in a position of privilege where no one gets to ask questions?” she asked.

According to Ngeow, when the system is corrupt, no one is truly safe (Source: Ngeow Chow Ying’s LinkedIn)

Parliament as Key Safeguard

Maha also raised concerns over the government’s proposal to grant discretionary appointment powers to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) for selecting a future public prosecutor.

While acknowledging the intention to reduce executive influence, she warned that transferring discretion to the monarchy without transparent accountability mechanisms could create new constitutional complications.

“What happens if there is a bad appointment? How do we question it?” she asked.

Parliamentary involvement remains crucial because Parliament, despite its flaws, remains Malaysia’s most transparent public institution.

“All the proceedings are televised. All the records are uploaded publicly. The inclusion of Parliament ensures at least some level of transparency and distributes accountability instead of concentrating it in one individual,” she said.

Underlying the entire discussion was a broader anxiety about the state of Malaysia’s democratic transition eight years after Barisan Nasional’s (BN) historic defeat.

The optimism of 2018, several speakers suggested, has gradually given way to institutional fatigue, political fragmentation and public cynicism.

Yet organisers insisted the solution is not abandonment of reform, but deeper public engagement with institutional accountability.

As Ngeow put it, curbing “dua darjat” should no longer be viewed as a partisan issue, but as a national democratic benchmark.

“It does not matter which party you support or which coalition you want to govern next. This is bigger than that,” she said.

This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition

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5 days ago 0 comments

PR Newswire

In HelloNation, Real Estate Expert Tom McKnight Examines What Makes Minneola, Florida a Strong Choice for Families

6 days ago

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The Article Reviews Schools, Commute Realities, Home Costs, and Outdoor Recreation in a Growing Central Florida City

MINNEOLA, Fla., May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Is Minneola, Florida the right community for families considering a relocation to Central Florida? a HelloNation article examines the city’s strengths and trade-offs to help Minneola Florida families make a well-informed decision before relocating.

Tom McKnight, Owner of the McKnight Group

Minneola sits roughly 25 miles west of downtown Orlando in Lake County, offering rolling hills, lake access, and a community character that sets it apart from the denser urban areas to the east. The article notes that families will find the city worth serious consideration, provided they assess both its advantages and its practical limitations.

Schools are among the first things families investigate when evaluating a new community. The HelloNation article explains that the Minneola area is served by Lake County Schools, a district offering traditional public schools, charter options, and magnet programs across grade levels. Several schools in Minneola’s attendance zones have performed consistently well on state assessments and maintain strong parental involvement programs.

The daily commute is one of the most important factors to evaluate honestly before choosing Minneola as a home base. The article notes that U.S. Highway 27 and State Road 50 are the primary corridors connecting Minneola to Orlando, and both experience significant congestion during peak hours. Families employed in downtown Orlando or along major employment corridors should map their specific routes in advance, since travel times can regularly approach or exceed an hour each direction.

Neighborhood selection carries real weight in a city that has expanded considerably over the past two decades. The article describes communities near the historic downtown waterfront as walkable and scenic, while newer master-planned developments on the city’s southern and eastern edges offer larger lots and recently built homes. As a Real Estate Expert, Tom McKnight works in a market where understanding neighborhood-level distinctions is essential for buyers making long-term decisions.

Home prices in Minneola have climbed steadily, driven by strong demand from buyers seeking more space outside Orange County. The article notes that buyers should plan for Florida homeowners insurance, property taxes, and HOA fees alongside the purchase price, since these ongoing costs significantly affect overall affordability. Taking all expenses into account gives Minneola Florida families a far more accurate picture of what living in the community actually costs.

Outdoor recreation is a consistent draw for active families. The article highlights the South Lake Trail, a paved multi-use path that winds through neighborhoods and along Lake Minneola, offering cycling, running, and walking access throughout the year. Minneola’s chain of lakes supports fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, and the city’s hillier terrain has made it a recognized destination among cyclists across a range of skill levels.

Community life in Minneola has maintained a small-town character despite significant population growth. The article notes that farmers markets, youth sports leagues, holiday events, and seasonal festivals give families consistent ways to connect with neighbors and build roots. A Real Estate Expert familiar with this market knows that residents relocating from denser metro areas frequently cite this sense of community as one of the most rewarding aspects of life in Minneola.

The article draws a straightforward comparison between Minneola and Orlando. Orlando provides more employment options, cultural variety, and a wider range of price points. Minneola offers more open space, lower internal traffic, and a community environment that many Minneola Florida families find more sustainable over the long term, with the right fit depending on where family members work, which schools they prefer, and how much the daily commute affects household life.

Is Minneola, Florida a Good Place to Live for Families? features insights from Tom McKnight, Real Estate Expert of Minneola, Florida, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. HelloNation maintains partnerships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the United States First Responders Association.

www.hellonation.com

HelloNation (PRNewsfoto/HelloNation)

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SOURCE HelloNation

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6 days ago 0 comments

PR Newswire

Ammaar’s Toyota Vacaville Now Adds the 2026 Toyota Camry to Its Inventory in Vacaville, California

6 days ago

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Sedan Shoppers in California Can Now Find the Latest Toyota Camry at Ammaar’s Toyota Vacaville.

VACAVILLE, Calif., May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ammaar’s Toyota Vacaville proudly announces the arrival of the 2026 Toyota Camry to its new vehicle inventory in Vacaville, California. Known for its long-standing reputation for reliability, comfort and efficiency, the latest Toyota Camry introduces updated hybrid performance, advanced technology and refined styling for modern drivers.

2026 Toyota Camry on the road

The 2026 Toyota Camry continues its evolution with a sleek exterior design, an athletic stance and a premium interior. Every 2026 Camry model now features a hybrid powertrain, delivering an impressive balance of responsive performance and fuel efficiency for commuters and families alike.

Drivers can choose between front-wheel drive and available Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive for added confidence in changing weather and road conditions. In addition, the hybrid system delivers smooth acceleration and enhanced efficiency while maintaining the comfortable driving experience drivers expect from the Toyota Camry lineup.

Inside the cabin, the 2026 Toyota Camry offers advanced technology designed around convenience and connectivity. Available features include a large touchscreen multimedia display, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto compatibility, wireless charging and a fully digital instrument cluster. Premium interior materials and spacious seating also help create a refined driving experience for everyday travel.

Safety continues to play a central role in the Camry experience. Every 2026 Toyota Camry includes advanced Toyota Safety Sense technologies, offering driver-assistance systems such as Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Road Sign Assist. These systems help support driver awareness and confidence during everyday travel.

Beyond vehicle sales, Ammaar’s Toyota Vacaville remains committed to supporting customers long after delivery. The dealership offers professional Toyota maintenance services, certified technicians, genuine Toyota parts, tire services, battery inspections, brake maintenance and routine hybrid system care to help drivers protect long-term vehicle performance. Customers can also take advantage of online scheduling, service specials and personalized maintenance support throughout ownership.

Drivers interested in exploring the 2026 Toyota Camry can visit Ammaar’s Toyota Vacaville at 500 Orange Dr., Vacaville, CA 95687, to review available inventory, discuss financing opportunities and schedule a test drive. They can also contact the dealership’s sales team directly at 707-446-7000 for additional information about current offers.

Media Contact: Gul Parpia, 707-446-7000, gparpia@toyotavacaville.com

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SOURCE Ammaar’s Toyota Vacaville

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6 days ago 0 comments

PR Newswire

Flagship Honda Now Adds the 2026 Honda HR-V to Its Inventory in San Juan, Puerto Rico

6 days ago

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Compact SUV Shoppers in Puerto Rico Can Now Explore the Latest Honda HR-V at the Flagship Honda Dealership.

2026 Honda HR-V on the road

Drivers searching for a stylish, efficient and technology-focused compact SUV can now explore the 2026 Honda HR-V at Flagship Honda in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The dealership recently added the latest Honda HR-V models to its growing inventory, giving customers access to one of the brand’s most versatile and urban-friendly SUVs.

The 2026 Honda HR-V offers refreshed styling, enhanced interior comfort and upgraded technology features that appeal to both first-time buyers and active urban drivers. Every trim includes a touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay^®and Android Auto compatibility, helping drivers stay connected on every trip. Honda also equips the latest HR-V with a wireless phone charger and intuitive cabin controls designed for daily convenience.

Under the hood, the 2026 HR-V features a responsive 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC^®four-cylinder engine producing 158 hp and 138 lb.-ft of torque. A continuously variable transmission helps deliver smooth acceleration and balanced fuel efficiency for city and highway driving. In addition, available real-time AWD with Intelligent Control System provides added confidence during changing weather and road conditions.

The brand also continues emphasizing driver confidence through its standard Honda Sensing^®suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies. Features include Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System and a multi-angle rearview camera. These technologies help support safer driving experiences for commuters and families alike.

Inside the cabin, the HR-V delivers impressive comfort and flexibility for daily life in Puerto Rico. Available leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient LED lighting and a one-touch power moonroof create a refined atmosphere. The brand’s thoughtful interior layout provides flexible cargo utility while maintaining comfortable passenger space.

In addition, the dealership offers financing assistance, trade-in evaluations and personalized vehicle consultations for customers shopping for a new Honda SUV. Customers can explore available HR-V trims, technology features and interior configurations directly at the dealership showroom, Marginal Ave. Kennedy, Km 3.2, Urb. Industrial Bechara Pueblo Vi, San Juan, 00920.

Customers interested in learning more about the 2026 Honda HR-V inventory can visit the dealership’s online inventory or contact 787-302-2722 to schedule a test drive.

Media Contact: Sandra Huerto, 939-639-9719, shuerto@bellagroup.com

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SOURCE Flagship Honda

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6 days ago 0 comments

PR Newswire

HILTI NAMED OFFICIAL POWER TOOL PROVIDER FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER

6 days ago

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Hilti’s Nuron cordless battery platform supports operational excellence at one of the nation’s premier sports and entertainment venues

PLANO, Texas, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hilti North America, a global leader providing innovative tools, technology, software, and services to the commercial construction industry, is proud to announce its designation as the Official Tool Provider of American Airlines Center (AAC) in Texas.

HILTI IS THE OFFICIAL POWER TOOL PROVIDER FOR THE AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER

Located in the Victory Park district in Dallas, American Airlines Center is a multi‑purpose indoor arena and one of the nation’s premier sports and entertainment venues. The 840,000 sq. ft. facility serves as the home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and hosts hundreds of concerts, live events, and entertainment experiences each year.

As the arena’s official power tool provider, Hilti will support AAC’s ongoing maintenance and operational needs through its Nuron 22‑volt cordless platform. Nuron is Hilti’s all‑on‑one battery system designed to deliver corded‑level performance across a broad range of light‑ to heavy‑duty applications, helping teams work more efficiently without the constraints of cords or multiple power platforms.

“Hilti’s Nuron tools give our team the high performance and flexibility needed to keep the AAC operating at its highest level,” said Mose Boyer, Vice President of Operations at the American Airlines Center. “The all-on-one cordless battery platform helps us stay efficient, responsive, and event ready year round, while the enhanced smart safety features, tool and battery health insights and inventory management capabilities provide unique value to Hilti’s already robust offering.”

By standardizing a single, high‑performance cordless system, AAC can reduce downtime, simplify tool fleet management, and maintain optimal operational readiness across the venue. And Nuron’s built‑in cloud connectivity and battery diagnostics provide valuable insight into tool usage and battery health, enabling facility teams to proactively plan maintenance, respond faster to issues, and ensure equipment is ready when it matters most. For a high‑traffic venue operating year‑round, this translates to improved productivity, increased efficiency, and consistent performance behind the scenes.

To stay up to date on Hilti news, visit www.hilti.com.

About Hilti
Hilti is a world-leading provider of high quality, innovative and specialized tools, fastening systems and software-based solutions for the professional user. With more than 3,800 highly trained Hilti account managers, engineers, and Hilti employees throughout North America, Hilti’s expertise covers the areas of powder actuated fastening, drilling and demolition, diamond coring and cutting, measuring, firestopping, screw fastening, adhesive and mechanical anchoring, strut and hanger systems, solutions for tool crib productivity as well as worker health and safety.

About American Airlines Center
Designed by architectural wizard David M. Schwarz and Dallas based HKS, Inc., American Airlines Center is considered one of the nation’s top arenas. Since opening its doors in 2001, the Center has been setting the precedent for sporting and live entertainment events. Bringing in a wide variety of big name shows as well as being home of both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars, American Airlines Center consistently displays its unique versatility. Billboard Magazine named American Airlines Center the 6th busiest arena in the world in 2022.

Hilti, Inc. Logo (PRNewsfoto/Hilti, Inc.)

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SOURCE Hilti, Inc.

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6 days ago 0 comments

PR Newswire

Government of Canada announces Grand Prize Winners of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge

6 days ago

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TORONTO, May 20, 2026 /CNW/ – Diabetes is a common chronic condition affecting many, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes varies due to many factors, including social, economic, environmental, and genetic influences.

Today, Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced the two Grand Prize Winners of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge: Kinvia and the Black Creek Community Health Centre. Both projects demonstrated innovation and long-term potential to support people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Each winner received $1.25 million in funding to continue scaling up their innovative concept.

Kinvia deployed the Creating a Sustainable Mechanism for Nutritious Food to Combat Type 2 Diabetes in Indigenous Communities project in collaboration with six Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick. The project aims to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes and improve overall health of Indigenous youth in the community by increasing accessibility to fresh produce via 365-day greenhouses.

The Black Creek Community Health Centre’s Digital Health Coaching Delivered by Community to Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes project formed a community/corporate partnership to co-design and train community health workers with lived-experience to deliver health coaching through a digital health platform. The project’s focus is to improve the sustained adoption of health behaviours across this Black and high-risk community in northwest Toronto.

Supporting equitable access to prevention, early detection, and care, alongside promoting overall well-being through physical activity, tobacco cessation, and nutritious eating, can help reduce the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and improve health outcomes for all.

Quotes

“Congratulations to Kinvia and the Black Creek Community Health Centre for their creativity and commitment to designing and implementing projects that benefit Indigenous and Black communities. The Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge connected innovators and partners to break down barriers and turn prevention strategies into action. By strengthening on-the-ground partnerships like these, we are advancing health equity so that no one is left behind.”

The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health

“As Grand Prize Winners, Kinvia and the Black Creek Community Health Centre, are improving access to health care services for communities in Canada that are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes. They are creating supportive communities and are contributing to research, surveillance and prevention activities, addressing the risks and barriers that increase the risk of developing this disease. We look forward to seeing how these investments support continued scaling of their projects, making them sustainable and increasing their impact at the community-level.”

Sonia Sidhu
Member of Parliament for Brampton South

“Organizations across the country, like Kinvia and the Black Creek Community Health Centre, are recognizing the need to better understand the unique challenges that Indigenous Peoples and communities with a higher risk of diabetes face. By working together, we are combining our expertise to advance innovative approaches to diabetes prevention and improve health outcomes for Canadians.”

The Honourable Judy A. Sgro
Member of Parliament for Humber River – Black Creek

Quick Facts

There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type; about 90 to 95% of people living with diabetes have type 2. A variety of factors influence the development of type 2 diabetes, including age, genetics, modifiable lifestyle risk factors, and intersecting social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, healthy eating, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking.
Diabetes disproportionately affects certain populations within Canada. Evidence shows that Indigenous Peoples and people of African, East Asian and South Asian ethnic backgrounds have higher rates of type 2 diabetes compared to the general population.
Since 2023, the Government of Canada invested a total of $7.4 million through the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge‘s three stages. The two Grand Prize Winners have been selected by the panel of expert judges for their most impressive results from stage three.
The Framework for Diabetes in Canada, tabled in October 2022, provides a common policy direction to focus efforts to address diabetes and to ensure better health outcomes for people in Canada.

Associated Links

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge
Information about diabetes

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

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6 days ago 0 comments

News World

Putin, Xi hail ‘unyielding’ ties in talks after Trump visit

6 days ago

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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping tour a photo exhibition on Russia-China ties in Beijing on May 20, 2026. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP)

BEIJING – President Xi Jinping hailed China and Russia’s “unyielding” ties in talks with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, as the pair met to underscore their alliance days after Donald Trump’s own visit to Beijing.

The two countries’ ties have deepened since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as Russia has become increasingly dependent on China, its main oil customer.

Putin was received by Xi outside Beijing’s opulent Great Hall of the People in much the same fashion as Trump last week, complete with chanting children and military fanfare.

But the language was much warmer, with Xi telling the Russian leader Beijing and Moscow have “continuously deepened our political mutual trust and strategic coordination with a resilience that remains unyielding”, according to Chinese state media.

Opening talks, both were quick to laud their countries’ special ties as they extended their treaty of “friendly cooperation”.

Putin, quoting a Chinese phrase, told Xi: “A day apart feels like three autumns”, adding that relations had reached an “unprecedentedly high level” despite “unfavourable external factors”, Russian media footage showed.

In an apparent swipe at the United States, Xi warned of “unilateral and hegemonic countercurrents running rampant” in the world.

In contrast to Trump’s visit last week, which yielded little in the way of immediate concrete announcements, Putin and Xi signed a slew of agreements on Wednesday on trade, media and energy.

The two leaders later had talks over tea, which the Kremlin had previously said would be reserved for “the most important issues” such as Ukraine, Iran and relations with the US.

That session lasted around 1.5 hours before Putin headed to the airport, according to Russian media.

Fossil fuel push

Beneath the camaraderie, Putin is now perceived by many to be the junior partner in the relationship.

The Russian leader has been weakened over four years of the Ukraine conflict, with his country’s economy shrinking in the first quarter of the year as factors such as wartime spending, labour shortages and sanctions take their toll.

Analysts believed Putin would use his visit to push for progress on the “Power of Siberia 2”, a major natural gas pipeline running from Russia to China through Mongolia.

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media Wednesday that while the two sides had reached a “basic understanding” — including on “the route and how it will be built” — there was no “clear timeline”, and “there are still some details to be worked out”.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has hampered crude and gas flows from the Middle East, giving an opportunity for Putin to offer Russian energy sources as an alternative.

“Russia and China are actively cooperating in the energy sector… We are, of course, ready to continue reliably supplying all these types of fuel to the rapidly growing Chinese market,” Putin said Wednesday.

His priorities may differ from China’s, which wants the Middle East conflict concluded as soon as possible.

Underlining that, Xi told Putin on Wednesday that “a comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency, resuming hostilities is even more inadvisable and maintaining negotiations is particularly important”.

‘Sovereign foreign policy’

Xi has played host to a series of world leaders as an increasingly unpredictable United States under Trump has pushed many to shore up alliances with Beijing.

Many have urged him to use his influence with Russia and Iran to help bring an end to the respective conflicts there.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had asked Trump to discuss ending the war during his meetings with Xi last week.

The pair did talk about the issue, but the US president left China without a breakthrough.

Beijing has regularly called for talks to end the war in Ukraine, but has never condemned Russia for sending in troops — presenting itself instead as a neutral party.

The two leaders talked about Ukraine, Chinese state media said after the visit had ended, without giving further details.

On Wednesday Putin said that Russia and China were “committed to an independent and sovereign foreign policy”.

In a joint statement released by the Kremlin, Russia said it “positively assesses the objective and unbiased position of the Chinese side regarding the situation in Ukraine and welcomes China’s aspiration to play a constructive role”. –AFP

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Bank executives’ AI talk takes frightening turn for workers

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WALL Street leaders’ rhetoric about the impact of artificial intelligence on their firms has taken a dystopian turn.

At Standard Chartered Plc, Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters said Tuesday he’s replacing “lower-value human capital” with financial and technology capital to cut 8,000 support roles over the next four years. A week earlier, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer John Waldron described his firm’s traditional operations as a “human assembly line” ripe for automation.

Even in finance, where executives are known for talking tough, discussions of jobs used to be delicate matters. Wells Fargo & Co. CEO Charlie Scharf said at a conference in December that “no one wants to stand up and say that we should have — that we’re going to have — lower headcount in the future. It’s a difficult thing to say.” The more recent statements from bank executives suggest that’s no longer the case.

“It’s frightening language indeed,” said Denise Shull, a longtime leadership and performance coach for finance executives. “Would you say those words to your kids?”

By using dehumanizing language, “you tell your employees exactly where they stand,” added Brian Elliott, a workplace consultant and author of How the Future Works.

Where they stand is this: AI agents are already able to handle routine back-office tasks and even some of the work performed by junior bankers. Roughly 30% of work hours in finance and insurance could be automated by 2030, McKinsey & Co. estimates. And more than half of jobs across banking have a high potential to be replaced by technology, according to research from Citigroup Inc.

“Our human assembly lines will become more digitized,” Waldron said in a CNBC interview on May 12. “I’m not sure dynamically how the overall headcount will change, but I think the firm is going to get much more resilient and much more scalable.”

Citadel chief Ken Griffin recently said that a “step change” in AI’s capabilities is allowing AI agents to do in hours what staffers with advanced degrees previously took weeks to do.

“It’s like, wow, like that’s the first time I’ve seen real impact in our four walls,” Griffin said in April at Stanford University. “These are not mid-tier white collar jobs. These are, like, extraordinarily high-skilled jobs being — I’m going to pick a word — automated by agentic AI.”AI’s potential to boost productivity on Wall Street has led to the jarring juxtaposition of reducing headcount while bank stocks soar, helped along by record earnings. Last year, big US banks reduced staff by the most in almost a decade. The cuts continued in the first quarter at four of the six largest firms.

In 2027, global banks could see pretax profits as much as 17% higher than they would otherwise have been — adding as much as $180 billion to their combined bottom line — as AI boosts output, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

“We’ve actually gone from hype to real execution and scaling,” said Kevin Brunner, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s global chair of investment banking and mergers and acquisitions, said this week in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

AI rollouts are happening across large banks, from their call centers and commercial lending businesses to their investment banking pitch books.

In a December interview, Bank of America Corp. CEO Brian Moynihan said employees “don’t have to worry” as AI was “not a threat to their jobs.” In April, after reporting a first-quarter profit of $8.16 billion fueled by strong trading, Moynihan said “eliminating work and applying technology” allowed the bank to shed 1,000 people through attrition. –BLOOMBERG

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China signals it would accept some US tariff increase in talks

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CHINA indicated it would accept some increase in US tariffs to a level agreed upon last year and would continue talks to extend a trade truce — a sign ties between the world’s two largest economies are further stabilizing.

“We hope that the US will honor its commitments and that, regardless of the reasons given for imposing or replacing tariffs on China in the future, the level of US tariffs on China will not exceed the level” agreed upon at negotiations in Kuala Lumpur back in October, the Commerce Ministry in Beijing said in a Wednesday statement.

Trade teams from both countries would discuss extending the one-year agreement worked out at the time, the ministry said. The sweeping pact was later unveiled at a leaders’ summit in Busan, South Korea, leading to a suspension of some tariffs, rare earth curbs and investigations into China’s shipbuilders until November this year.

Working toward an extension “aligns with the two countries’ common interest, as well as international expectations,” it said.

The ministry’s comments are a reason for cautious optimism that the one-year cessation in trade hostilities clinched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump will remain in place. Trump’s visit to Beijing last week for a summit with Xi saw the two countries agree to a new relationship centered on stability, although it was marked by a stark warning from Beijing over how the US deals with Taiwan.

The ministry’s statement signals Beijing would accept US tariffs provided they do not exceed the level agreed in Malaysia that brought the effective rate to about 30%. That was later reduced to an estimated 21% after some tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court.

The Trump administration has sought new Section 301 investigations to return levies to the level before the court ruling. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said those tariffs may be restored by July. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao previously raised serious concerns over the probes.

In the Wednesday statement, the ministry also said the US should further remove unilateral tariffs upon follow-up talks to “create favorable conditions for expanding economic and trade cooperation.”

The benchmark CSI 300 Index of Chinese stocks erased a drop to end the day little changed.

The Commerce Ministry listed other areas of agreement, including China’s purchase of 200 Boeing aircraft and the creation of mechanisms to manage trade and investment to institutionalize bilateral discussions.

It confirmed that the Board of Trade will seek to cut tariffs on at least $30 billion worth of goods. That amounts to about 7% of Chinese exports to the US last year. The board also set guidance targets on expanding bilateral agriculture trade.

The US said in a fact sheet earlier that China has agreed to buy at least $17 billion of agricultural products annually through 2028, in addition to soybean-purchase commitments made last fall.

The readout also mentioned that both countries discussed the flows of critical rare earth materials, reiterating that Beijing will approve compliant, civilian applications. The US said earlier China would address its concern on supply shortages and export restrictions tied to rare earths and other critical minerals.

In addition to the measures disclosed on Saturday, China will also start communicating with the US on agriculture biotechnology, and send technical teams to the US to inspect some beef plants.

China typically brings in billions of farm goods, though that slowed sharply last year. US agricultural exports to China in 2024 were valued at $24 billion, half of which were soybeans, according to US Department of Agriculture data. Overall shipments to China fell to $8.3 billion in 2025 after the trade dispute ratcheted up. –BLOOMBERG

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