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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
National Middle Child Day 2025: Know history, significance and more
Image credits: Getty Images In families across the borders, a sort of tradition prevails. The eldest child becomes the leader of the family, and the youngest one is babied through life. A person who has to be both for themselves, who has to grow into their own self independently, is the middle child. While it can have a lot of positive effects on their life, it can also give rise to a variety of self-worth and mental issues that they end up dealing with for their entire lives. Thus, a national day celebrating the middle child is not only appreciated but needed. On August 12, National Middle Child Day is celebrated annually. In 2025, the day will be on Tuesday, honouring the child in between, the often-overlooked sibling. National Middle Child Day: History Image credits: Getty Images National Middle Children's Day was created by a woman named Elizabeth Walker in the 1980s. In a newspaper article submitted by her grandson, Litton Walker III, she stated that she wanted to create a National Day to honour those children "born in the middle of families" who she felt were "left out." While the first celebrations of the day took place on the second Saturday of August, over time, it has generally come to be celebrated on August 12th. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Additionally, the name of the day has also been changed to National Middle Child Day over the years. National Middle Child Day: Significance Image credits: Getty Images Many state that birth order plays a significant role in a person's personality. While the firstborn learns to lead, the lastborn learns to rely, and the one in the middle remains undefined. It also contributes to the Big Five personality traits: extroversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience. Research conducted by Canadian researchers Michael Ashton from Brock University and Kibeom Lee from the University of Calgary revealed that middle children are more agreeable, honest, avoid manipulation, have less interest in wealth or luxury, and don't feel entitled to elevated social status, when compared to their elder and younger siblings. Thus, the day serves as a reminder to shower love and value upon the middle children and engage with them in life just like parents do with their elder or younger child. National Middle Child Day: Popular middle children Image credits: X A personality study claimed that middle children tend to be more artistic and creative. And did you know that some of the most artistic and innovative people in the world, who are still remembered for their contributions, were middle children? In the past, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Buffett, Prince Diana, David Letterman, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Charles Darwin and more were all middle children who came out on top as some of the most impactful people of their time. Present day, famous faces like Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Mark Zuckerberg, Anne Hathaway, Chris Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus and more are middle children carving their names into forever. National Middle Child Day: How to celebrate? Well, the easiest way to celebrate National Middle Child Day is to make your middle children/child feel special and loved, a bit extra today. Make their favourite meal, take them on a parent-child date, gift them a card or a fun memory, play their favourite games with them and do anything that will make the smile on their face a little brighter today.
17-07-2025
- Health
'Japanese walking' a fun way for some to boost their health
It's no magic bullet, but a recent TikTok trend could boost your health without too much extra legwork. Users of the social media app are spreading the gospel of high-intensity interval walking, after latching onto a nearly 20-year-old Japanese study (new window) that touted some health benefits for older and middle-aged people. The 2007 study found the technique of switching back and forth between periods of high-intensity and more relaxed walking — a technique TikTokers are calling Japanese walking because of the study's country of origin — could do more to lower blood pressure and build muscle and aerobic capacity than the same amount of continuous walking at a more moderate pace. Participants in the 2007 study did three minutes of fast walking, followed by three minutes of slower walking, for 30 minutes per day at least four days per week. Subsequent studies have also found the technique (new window) to have a range of potential health benefits. While it may seem obvious that working a little bit harder on your walk will be better for your body, Nancy Salbach, professor at the University of Toronto's Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, said high-intensity interval walking is accessible to many people who are not necessarily used to aerobic exercise. You need to get your heart rate up; you need that three minutes of high intensity. That's what's pushing you over the edge to get greater benefits than just walking at a moderate pace, she said. You probably can do better if you can do 30 minutes of running, but not everybody wants to go for a run. LISTEN Why Japanese Walking is the latest fitness craze (new window) Salbach, who does research to promote older adults to walk in their communities, says the physical and mental health benefits can be amplified by walking in green spaces like parks and gardens, which she says is proven to reduce blood pressure and heart rate. If possible, she says, it's also best to do with a friend or in a group. Then you have the chance for social interaction, social support, and that can make the whole activity more enjoyable. Getting out is key, prof says Some TikTok users are touting high-intensity interval walking as a way to save time, to allow people who are used to taking longer, slower walks to meet their health goals. Fitness coach and content creator Eugene Teo, in a video that has nearly a million likes, claims it offers 10 times the benefits of walking 10,000 steps per day. (That in itself may be an arbitrary figure (new window) , researchers say.) Stephen Cheung, professor and senior research fellow at Brock University's kinesiology department, says the exercise will provide maybe five per cent more health benefits on average than walking at a normal, continuous pace. Some have also suggested it's a way to lose weight, though Cheung says the exercise won't necessarily burn many more calories than more moderate walking. But he still encourages people to try the technique, saying it offers the psychological motivation of doing something different than a normal walk. He also urges walkers not to get hung up on the details. It doesn't have to be kind of really regimented in terms of, there's this optimal interval of three minutes on, two minutes off, he said. I don't want people to think, 'Oh, I need a stopwatch. I need the latest kind of tracker to do this.' Every so often, whenever you feel like it, just pick up the pace a little bit and then slow down and go back to your normal pace. Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults (new window) recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity for people aged 18 to 64, which amounts to 30 minutes, five days per week. The guidelines also recommend doing muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week. The important thing, Cheung says, is to get out and walk, regardless of how you do it. As with any fitness trend, it's not the one magic bullet. There is no one perfect exercise for that's going to fit everyone, he said. This is just another tool in your arsenal. If you are already used to walking, just try to add some variety by incorporating something like this. Kevin Maimann (new window) · CBC News · Digital Writer Kevin Maimann is a senior writer for CBC News based in Edmonton. He has covered a wide range of topics for publications including VICE, the Toronto Star, Xtra Magazine and the Edmonton Journal. You can reach Kevin by email at
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rogers falls short in communication with fans over Sportsnet price hike, prof says
Rogers fell short in its communication with fans over its significant price hike of Sportsnet+ Premium, a sport management professor says. Rogers is raising the price of the streaming service starting Sept. 9, with the annual plan jumping from $249.99 to $324.99 and the monthly price rising from $34.99 to $42.99. That means hockey fans who only subscribe for the nine-month NHL season will now pay more on the monthly plan ($386.91) than they would have previously paid for the full year. By comparison, U.S. viewers can stream out-of-market NHL games via ESPN+ for US$11.99 a month or US$119.99 a year. International fans can access games through for US$14.99 a month. Brock University professor of sport management Michael Naraine calls the increase "incredibly frustrating" from a fan's perspective He added that Rogers could have instead shown some appreciation to its consumers by providing opportunities for discounted pricing and better explained why the prices are being increased. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2025. The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Global News
10-07-2025
- Global News
Can youth ever be sentenced as adults? How the law works in Canada
A 17-year-old teen has been charged in what Ontario Provincial Police are calling a 'horrific' attack on an eight-year-old girl in eastern Ontario that police initially believed was done by an animal. It has left some wondering on social media — can young offenders in Canada who are near the age of majority ever be prosecuted or sentenced as adults? In Canada, those under 18 face charges under the Youth Criminal Justice Act regardless of the crime, which also states that they cannot be named. 'We have a separate youth justice system because the law recognizes that young people have reduced moral blameworthiness,' said Voula Marinos, director of Brock University's forensic psychology and criminal justice program. She's also a professor of child and youth studies. 'They're still changing in terms of their maturity. Emotionally they're changing, developmentally they're changing and we recognize that they, as a result, ought to be less criminally responsible than adults.' Story continues below advertisement The Act says sentencing for a youth must be the 'least restrictive sentence' that will hold them accountable, while also promote his or her rehabilitation into society. Under section 13 of the Criminal Code, no person shall be convicted of an offence nor can charges be laid on someone under the age of 12. Can a youth be sentenced as an adult? While youth cannot face trial as an adult, adult sentencing is possible for convicted youth if the crime was committed after they turned 14. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Justice for Children and Youth, which provides legal representation in Ontario, says an adult sentence can be laid against a child 14 to 17 if convicted for murder, attempted murder, manslaughter or aggravated assault. They can also face an adult sentence if convicted of an indictable offence or serious violent offence and the prosecutor applies for such a sentencing, or if found guilty of committing a serious offence for the third time. Story continues below advertisement The Youth Criminal Justice Act says the person could be sentenced as an adult if they are or have been found guilty for a crime that would see an adult serve more than two years in prison. What goes into that decision? According to the Act, after a youth is found guilty but before sentencing, the Crown may make an application to the youth justice court for the youth to face an adult sentence. The court will hold a hearing for arguments to be heard and then rule on the issue. The judge would also look at various factors including the seriousness and circumstances of the offence, the person's age, background and criminal record. An adult sentence would be imposed if, as laid out by the Act, it's deemed a youth sentence would 'not be of sufficient length' to hold the young person accountable. Story continues below advertisement But Marinos said even a murder charge against a youth doesn't automatically mean an adult sentence is sought. 'It may be that by the time the young person has been found guilty and sentencing is to take place, that perhaps the young person has made a lot of changes already and the court recognizes that they're moving in the right direction,' she said. Youth given an adult sentence can ask their lawyer about a potential appeal. What could sentencing look like? Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, sentences for youth are different than the sentences for adults. Unlike an adult being sentenced for first-degree murder who could face life in prison, for example, a young person could face no more than 10 years. If a youth is convicted as an adult for the same charge, they could face life in prison if adult sentencing is allowed in their case. Story continues below advertisement Should a convicted youth be sentenced as an adult, they would likely be placed in a youth facility until they become an adult at which point they'd be sent to an adult facility. Justice for Children and Youth says at the age of 18, a judge must order the remainder of a sentence be served in an adult facility unless it's deemed not in their best interest and 'would not jeopardize the safety of others.'
Globe and Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The U.S. is not our friend any more. Has anyone told Mark Carney?
Blayne Haggart is a professor of political science at Brock University. His latest book, with Natasha Tusikov, is The New Knowledge: Information, Data and the Remaking of Global Power (Routledge, 2023). If Canadians were confused by Prime Minister Mark 'Elbows Up' Carney's axing of the digital services tax in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to scuttle trade and security negotiations between the two countries, that's understandable: Nothing about Mr. Carney's U.S. strategy, particularly his pursuit of a 'comprehensive' trade and security agreement, makes a lick of sense. The DST cave, a walk-back of a bill passed in Parliament, got Canada less than nothing. In exchange for so grovellingly ceding our sovereignty, Mr. Carney got the promise of a serial liar to continue talks on an agreement that, because it's not a treaty, will exist wholly at the whim of the capricious authoritarian in the White House. The Prime Minister's pursuit of a treaty itself faces the same objection. Given the ephemeral nature of any potential agreement, why does he think a comprehensive agreement is even possible, even without giving away the store? To quote a former prime minister, 'Make that make sense.' Trump to impose copper tariffs, in potential blow to Canadian exporters of the metal Trump's new tariff deadline prolongs instability, says UN trade agency Mr. Carney and the Liberals' inattention to such basic questions suggest they have completely misread the nature of the threat facing Canada. They're acting as if the threat is purely economic and resolvable by normal, rational negotiations. In reality, the underlying problem is political: The United States' descent into authoritarianism and fascism has dynamited the foundations of North American governance that made co-operation and agreements possible for decades. For all his talk of embracing change, Mr. Carney's pursuit of a far-reaching economic and security agreement to convince the United States to lower its tariffs reflects the dominant orthodoxy of the past 40 years: a belief in rational economic interest as the driver of politics and an understanding of North America that is years out of date. Mr. Carney's archaic understanding of Canada-U.S. relations is nicely captured by his Finance Minister, François-Philippe Champagne, who said 'the competitiveness of North America depends on what happens between Canada and the United States.' Ten years ago, appealing to 'North America' as a shared economic space would have been entirely appropriate. Canadian economic development policy since the late 1980s has been built on the presumption of a single North American economy, nurtured through deliberate policy actions and binding economic treaties. From this perspective, the main threat to Canada comes from Mr. Trump's erratic nature and promotion of an absurd, unsustainable economic policy based on tariffs that threaten the viability of the Canadian economy and, by extension, the ability of the North American economy to compete globally. If this assessment were accurate, it would make sense for Canada to push to eliminate and reduce trade barriers, as well as (economically rational) deeper integration while mollifying Mr. Trump, making the long-term argument that we're stronger together than apart and hedging somewhat against U.S. risk through trade diversification and strengthening the economy. The problem is that there is no more 'we.' There's a difference between a North America in which the U.S. is the dominant player and one in which the United States seeks to dominate. We now live in the latter world of us versus them. The North America in Mr. Champagne's and Mr. Carney's minds no longer exists. As Wilfrid Laurier University professor of political science Jörg Broschek pointed out on Bluesky, this trade-only focus ignores the fact that the foundations of the North American economy are political, not economic. Politicians and academics have long recognized that North America was built not just on commercial self-interest but on shared values and norms: the rule of law, respect for national sovereignty, and U.S. self-restraint. The U.S. has turned its back on all of these, making any traditional trade agreement literally impossible. Mr. Trump is an autocrat, a fascist, dragging the United States into a despotism that will take years, if not decades, to overcome. His goal is domination, not co-operation or rational win-win scenarios. He doesn't care about U.S. 'security' or 'economic prosperity.' There is no win-win agreement on the table. As the DST cave suggests, and as was previewed in the Trump-negotiated (and then violated) United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), any agreement would come with independence-impeding restrictions on Canadian economic and social policies, existing and future. Negotiating an agreement in the absence of the political foundations for an agreement is little more than cargo-cult policymaking. Addressing the U.S. threat requires thinking and actions appropriate to our changed circumstances. Not just more guns, but weaning our military from U.S. influence, protecting our communication networks from U.S. software vulnerabilities and making peace with the loss of guaranteed access to the U.S. market. Domestically, Washington's evisceration of its regulatory and statistical agencies will require greater, not less, Canadian government capacity. Governments that truly believe they're facing an existential crisis don't cut taxes or cap the size of the civil service and slash government program spending, as Mr. Carney is doing. The government must also start attending to the vital, non-tariff-related aspects of our relationship. Mr. Carney has been conspicuously silent on the Canadians being harassed at the border and detained by ICE, illustrated most sharply by Ottawa's almost-comical intransigence regarding pleas to change its U.S. travel advisory to reflect reality. On defence, the government is not taking seriously how our reliance on U.S. tech giants is a significant vulnerability, not least through software-enabled U.S. devices, from jet planes on down, that gives the U.S. a de facto veto over Canadian military missions. Canada will always have to deal with U.S. issues and complaints as they come up. It comes with the territory. But we need to do so with the full understanding of who we're dealing with, and what's possible, should we want to maintain our independence. That starts with ending comprehensive trade negotiations and getting serious about policies that will actually promote Canadian sovereignty. Until Mr. Carney realizes this truth, expect more of the same, giving away the store in pursuit of the fantasy of a return to a world that's not coming back.
