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world news Diabierna 8 Juli 2022

France unveils measures to boost household purchasing power

(AP) — The French gov- comes as annual inflation
ernment unveiled Thurs- reached a record 8.6% for the
day a 20 billion-euro 19 countries using the euro,
($20.3-billion) package swollen by a huge increase in
of measures meant to food and energy costs fueled
help struggling house- partly by the war in Ukraine.
holds cope with the con-
sequences of the war in In France, annual inflation is
Ukraine, including rising estimated to 6,5%, among the
energy and food prices. lowest in the eurozone.
"The cause of the inflation
The proposed legislation was is not to be looked for in a
presented at a Cabinet meet- French structural economic
ing Thursday, a day after problem, but in the Ukrai-
French Prime Minister Elisa- nian conflict," government
beth Borne detailed the gov- spokesperson Olivier Veran
ernment's economic strategy said. "No way will we let the
in parliament. French worry about not be-
The measures will be de- ing able to pay for their shop-
bated at parliament later this ping like they used to do."
month and are seen as a cru- The measures include in-
cial test for the government's creasing pensions, which will
ability to govern. give people on the basic state
pension an additional 62 eu-
President Emmanuel Ma- ros ($63) per month, Veran
cron's centrist alliance won said. Civil servants will see their be replaced by a check from electricity prices and a gas
the most seats at the National salaries rise 3.5%. 100 to 200 euros ($101 to price freeze until the end of
Assembly in elections last A series of welfare payments "Today, what is penalizing the 203) for low and middle in- the year.
month, but lost its straight will also increase by 4%. Fi- most the daily life of our fel- come workers who need to
majority — while a leftist nance Minister Bruno Le low citizens? Housing, fuel use their car, which repre- Private companies which
coalition and the far-right Maire said family benefits and food. On these three sents about 12 million house- make profits are also encour-
made big gains, becoming will be included, which "is items, we're bringing three holds. aged to offer their employ-
strong opposition forces. The fair, because families with massive, efficient responses," In addition, 9 million poorer ees an annual bonus of up
government offered to make children are the most im- Le Maire said. families will receive a check to 6,000 euros ($6,092) that's
compromises on a case-by- pacted by food price rises. Rent increases will be capped of 100 euros and an addition- tax-free for employees and
case basis with other politi- When you have three or four this year at a maximum 3,5%. al 50 euros per child to buy tax-deductible for employers
cal forces to avoid legislative mouths to feed, it's necessar- food, Le Maire said. — in line with a campaign
deadlock. ily expensive." Regarding fuel, a current re- The government also plans promise from Macron, who
The government's move bate of 18 cents per liter will to maintain a current cap on was reelected in April.

China lashes out at US, British intelligence services

(AP) — The United States about the Chinese govern- "The relevant U.S. politician the Chinese government that and institutions, both pub-
is "the biggest threat to ment, warning business lead- has been playing up the so- poses the biggest long-term lic and private, as it seeks to
world peace, stability and ers that Beijing is determined called China threat to smear threat to our economic and dominate global markets and
development," China said to steal their technology for and attack China," Zhao told national security, and by 'our,' emerging technologies.
Thursday, continuing its competitive gain. reporters at a daily briefing I mean both of our nations,
sharp rhetoric in response when asked about FBI Direc- along with our allies in Eu- The Chinese government
to U.S. accusations of Chi- The heightened tone comes tor Christopher Wray's com- rope and elsewhere," Wray and its "covert pressure
nese spying and threats to ahead of a meeting Saturday ments reaffirming longstand- told attendees. across the globe" amounts
the international order. between U.S. Secretary of ing concerns in denouncing McCallum said the Chinese to "the most game-changing
State Antony Blinken and economic espionage and government and its "covert challenge we face," McCal-
Foreign Ministry spokesper- Chinese Foreign Minister hacking operations by China pressure across the globe" lum said in his Wednesday
son Zhao Lijian's comments Wang Yi at the Group of 20 as well as the Chinese gov- amounts to "the most game- remarks.
came a day after the head of leading rich and developing ernment's efforts to stifle dis- changing challenge we face." In his response, Zhao said
the FBI and the leader of Brit- nations' ministers summit in sent abroad. British intelligence was "sim-
ain's domestic intelligence Bali, Indonesia. Under Xi Jinping, president ply projecting their own
agency raised fresh alarms "Facts have fully proven that and head of the ruling Com- dishonorable behavior onto
the U.S. is the biggest threat munist Party, China has as- China."
to world peace, stability and sumed an increasingly ag-
development," Zhao said. gressive foreign policy, join- "The head of the British in-
"We urge this U.S. official ing with Russia in seeking to telligence service should cast
to have the right perspective, undermine the influence of away (his) evil in mind, come
see China's developments in the U.S. and its allies. out of the dark room and see
an objective and reasonable the sunshine, and not always
manner and stop spreading Beijing has refused to con- hold on to the zero-sum
lies and stop making irre- demn Russia's invasion of thinking or set up so-called
sponsible remarks." Ukraine — which is expected imaginary enemies," he said.
to dominate the G-20 foreign
Wray's speech was particu- ministers meeting — while Zhao on Wednesday slammed
larly notable because it took condemning Western sanc- Blinken's comments at last
place at MI5's London head- tions against Moscow and week's NATO summit in
quarters and alongside the accusing Washington and Spain, in which the Secre-
agency's director general, Ken NATO of provoking the tary of State accused China
McCallum, in an intended conflict. of "seeking to undermine the
show of Western solidarity. At the same time, the party rules-based international or-
exercises sweeping powers der."
"We consistently see that it's over all Chinese companies