French train lines hit by ‘malicious acts’ disrupting traffic ahead of Olympics, rail company says

OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate target by 25 basis points to 4.25 per cent on Wednesday. Here is the text of the central bank’s decision:

The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate to 4.25 per cent, with the Bank Rate at 4.50 per cent and the deposit rate at 4.25 per cent. The Bank is continuing its policy of balance sheet normalization.

The global economy expanded by about 2.5 per cent in the second quarter, consistent with projections in the Bank’s July Monetary Policy Report (MPR). In the United States, economic growth was stronger than expected, led by consumption, but the labour market has slowed. Euro-area growth has been boosted by tourism and other services, while manufacturing has been soft. Inflation in both regions continues to moderate. In China, weak domestic demand weighed on economic growth. Global financial conditions have eased further since July, with declines in bond yields. The Canadian dollar has appreciated modestly, largely reflecting a lower US dollar. Oil prices are lower than assumed in the July MPR.

In Canada, the economy grew by 2.1 per cent in the second quarter, led by government spending and business investment. This was slightly stronger than forecast in July, but preliminary indicators suggest that economic activity was soft through June and July. The labour market continues to slow, with little change in employment in recent months. Wage growth, however, remains elevated relative to productivity.

As expected, inflation slowed further to 2.5 per cent in July. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation averaged around 2.5 per cent and the share of components of the consumer price index growing above three per cent is roughly at its historical norm. High shelter price inflation is still the biggest contributor to total inflation but is starting to slow. Inflation also remains elevated in some other services.

With continued easing in broad inflationary pressures, Governing Council decided to reduce the policy interest rate by a further 25 basis points. Excess supply in the economy continues to put downward pressure on inflation, while price increases in shelter and some other services are holding inflation up. Governing Council is carefully assessing these opposing forces on inflation. Monetary policy decisions will be guided by incoming information and our assessment of their implications for the inflation outlook. The Bank remains resolute in its commitment to restoring price stability for Canadians.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2024.

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BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top migration official expressed concern on Wednesday about a Hungarian work visa program open to citizens from Russia and Belarus, just as sabotage attacks and spying allegations raise alarm across Europe.

Hungary extended its National Card program to citizens from Russia and Belarus as it took over the EU’s rotating presidency in July. It happened as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a trip slammed by his EU counterparts.

The card also allows easier entry into Europe’s ID-check free zone for work purposes to citizens from Bosnia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine. All six countries are candidates to join the EU. Russia and Belarus are not.

“It’s a bit strange to actually welcome specifically citizens from Russia and Belarus in a situation where we know that these countries are hostile to the European Union,” European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson told EU lawmakers.

The Hungarian prime minister, widely seen as having the warmest relations with Putin among EU leaders, has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to assist Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.

Belarus is Russia’s main ally and has served as a rear base for Russian troops.

Johansson listed a series of incidents since Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, including sabotage or hacking attacks in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. She also noted possible threats to military bases in Germany.

“This is a time for more vigilance, not less. This is not a time to be soft on security,” she said, adding that safe travel within the passport-free zone linking 29 countries, most of them EU nations, could be undermined. “We must keep each other safe.”

Early last month, Johansson sent a letter to Hungary seeking clarification about its National Card, notably whether the program imposes stricter security checks on Russian and Belarus nationals. She received a reply two weeks ago but on Tuesday wanted to know more.

Johansson asked: “Why does the Hungarian government consider such a scheme necessary or appropriate in the current political situation? The expected national economic gains seem limited (and) disproportionate to the potential security impact.”

At a news conference in Brussels, Hungarian EU Affairs Minister Janos Boka played down the commission’s concerns. He said that seven countries, including Germany, Latvia, Poland and Spain have issued more visas to Russians.

“In the past two months, 10 permits were issued for Russian citizens and four permits were issued for Belarus from citizens. This is not an increasing trend, and these numbers are statistically irrelevant,” Boka told reporters. Johansson said the number of visas issued to Russians have dropped by almost 90%.

Boka insisted that for Hungary “there is no legal and security issue whatsoever when it comes to the National Card.” Hungarian officials complained that he had not been invited to the European Parliament to address Johansson’s questions in person.

The parliament’s press service said Hungary had not expressed a wish to attend.

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As simple as it sounds, Lindsay Kee’s revamped exercise routine began with standing up to take the dog out.

She decided to do a few standing stretches before leaving, and did some squats or jumping jacks when she got back home. Over time she added to the routine, and now it’s been over a year that she consistently exercises around the dog walk.

“Adding it to something I was already doing, it just took so much pressure out of it,” said Kee, an executive coach in Portland, Oregon. “I’ve found it to be really effective in helping me be consistent with things that I really do want to do.”

What Kee was doing is called habit stacking, a term coined by author S.J. Scott in his 2014 book of the same name. It also goes by habit pairing or piggybacking. The premise is intuitive: Attach a behavior you want to start doing to something you already do automatically every day.

A classic example is flossing after brushing your teeth, though it can apply to many aspects of daily life. Kee, for instance, also places vitamins next to the coffee machine to help her remember to take them every morning.

Fitness experts say pairing habits is particularly helpful if you’re trying to increase your time spent exercising. Dana Santas is a mobility expert who has trained more than 50 professional sports teams. She said that while using an electric toothbrush, she does squats or lunges or works on her balance by standing on one leg.

“The cool thing about an electric toothbrush is that it has a timer for two minutes, and it should buzz every 30 seconds for you to change your quadrant,” said Santas, who also does 22 push-ups before every shower. “So you can switch your exercise at the buzz. It’s perfect.”

Though two minutes of exercise won’t get you in shape, every little bit helps, experts say. The Centers for Disease Control recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like brisk walking) per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week (like jogging), plus two days of strength training

Habit pairing is hardly a magic bullet, and most people find maintaining new habits difficult.

But Gretchen Rubin, author of “Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives,” said pairing is among the best ways to start and maintain new habits. That’s because it can remove the barrier of deciding when or if to do something.

“Decision fatigue is the enemy of habit formation,” said Rubin, who added that when she was in college, she allowed herself to shower only if she had exercised that day.

She recommended pairing the new behavior with something you have to do or deeply want to do. “So you have to do the shaky habit before you get to the strong habit,” she said. “If I want to listen to a podcast, I have to be on the treadmill.”

Or try a technique recommended by Lisa Jhung, author of “Running That Doesn’t Suck.”

“If you have an errand to run, why not run it?” she said. “Literally, run it.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about food, travel and wellness. Find his work at

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