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world news Diamars 11 OctOber 2022

German expert panel proposes 2-stage gas price subsidy

said, telling reporters in Ber-
BERLIN (AP) — A gov- lin that the plan aims to in-
ernment-appointed ex- troduce a “new normal” but
pert panel on Monday pro- prevent price rises beyond
posed a two-stage system that. “It’s not going to be the
for distributing some of case that the price goes back
the up to 200 billion euros down to 7 cents in the future
($195 billion) in subsidies — we won’t receive Russian
Germany has announced gas for a long time.”
to ease the strain of high
energy prices, a plan that Co-chair Siegfried Russ-
the group said would still wurm, the head of the Feder-
encourage people to save ation of German Industries,
gas. said the proposal foresees
businesses paying 0.07 euros
The panel suggested that the per kilowatt hour for 70% of
state take on the cost of natu- their 2021 gas use, starting at
ral gas customers’ monthly the beginning of January.
bill in December, followed
by a price subsidy for part of Russwurm said that gas price
their consumption starting rises are posing an “existen-
next spring. tial” threat to an increasing
number of companies.
That “gas and heating price
brake” would kick in next The panel, which included
March and apply until April representatives of industry
2024, panel co-chair Veronika and labor unions, scientists have proposed similar sub- Scholz argues that the criti- The government will “work
very quickly on implement-
sidies on fossil fuels, prices cism is based on a misunder-
Grimm said. Private gas cus- and lawmakers, earlier Mon-
tomers would pay 0.12 euros day presented its conclusions for which have increased standing of his government’s ing the proposals” by the
sharply worldwide in the plans and says Germany’s panel, Scholz spokesman
per kilowatt hour for the first to Chancellor Olaf Scholz
80% of the amount they used and the country’s economy wake of Russia’s attack on subsidy will prevent a short- Steffen Hebestreit said. He
age of gas that might occur noted that a check on whether
Ukraine. But some of Ger-
in 2021. and finance ministers. It put
the cost of the proposed gas many’s neighbors have criti- under a system of enforced they comply with European
That “corresponds roughly price subsidies at about 90 cized the huge sum Berlin is price caps proposed by other Union law will be necessary,
to the price level that is ex- billion euros. setting aside, arguing that it countries. He also has noted and said that Germany “will
will price others out of the that it applies to a relatively act in European solidarity.”
pected in the future,” Grimm Many European countries
market. long period.
Japan eager to welcome tourists from abroad amid cheap yen

TOKYO (AP) — It’s hard and making Japan nearly ir- of visiting crowded destina-
to tell from his serious resistible to bargain hunters. tions, said Katsunori Tsuji
demeanor, but Akky In- of Nara Prefecture’s tourism
ternational Corp. Chief Abe employs about 50 people promotion division.
Executive Hideyuki Abe and had resorted to layoffs
can barely contain his ex- after the pandemic struck in “There are aspects of life that
citement. 2020. Some Akihabara shops Japanese have preserved over
have closed down since then, the years in Nara that you can
Foreign tourists are com- but he bided his time. truly sense and enjoy, that
ing back, those big-spending spiritual element,” he said.
visitors from abroad who “Hanging on is where power
used to flock into his colorful lies,” Abe said. “Now, I am a About 10 years ago, Chi-
store in Tokyo’s Akihabara bit worried about a shortage nese tourists, visiting in huge “The impact incoming visi- more than a dozen languages
electronics district, its color- of workers.” groups to snag European tors have on the Japanese among them.
ful shelves filled with watch- luxury brands and even high- economy is said to be some
es and souvenirs like samurai Retailers in Akihabara and tech toilet seats, bought so 5 trillion yen ($35 billion), He has endured various cri-
swords and toy cats with bob- other businesses in Japan much their purchases were so we have great hopes about ses, including the nuclear
bing heads. that relied heavily on visi- known as “baku-gai,” com- what we can expect,” ANA disaster in Fukushima in
tors from all over have had bining the Japanese words for
Individual travelers will be a tough couple years. Major “explosive” and “purchase.” Chief Executive Shinichi In- March 2011, at a time when
oue recently told reporters.
the yen was stronger against
able to visit Japan without retail chain Laox shuttered its the dollar, making Japan an
visas beginning on Tuesday, Akihabara store, keeping only Some 32 million foreign Flights resuming in the ultra-expensive destination.
just like in pre-COVID-19 its outlets at Narita airport tourists visited Japan in 2019, months ahead include routes
times, and electronics stores, and in the ancient capital of before the pandemic. The to and from places like Ho- In 2011, the U.S. dollar cost
airlines and various tourists Kyoto open. travel and tourism sector nolulu, Frankfurt, New York, about 80 yen. Last year, the
spots have big hopes for a re- then contributed more than Seoul and Paris. They are dollar cost about 111 yen.
vival of their businesses. The city of Nara, famous for 7% to Japan’s economy, ac- meant to appeal not only to Now, it’s at a nearly three-
its temples, shrines and sake cording to the World Travel incoming tourists but also decade high of about 145 yen,
Japan kept its borders closed breweries, is banking on the & Tourism Council. to Japanese planning dream and the pandemic restrictions
to most foreign travelers dur- return of tourists from oth- vacations over the Christmas are waning. The tourists will
ing much of the pandemic. er parts of Japan along with Japan’s major carriers All and New Year’s holidays. be back.
Only packaged tours have those from abroad. A pasto- Nippon Airways and Japan
been allowed since June. ral getaway with deer roam- Airlines are increasing flights To cater to shoppers from “This time, it’s a perfect op-
Meanwhile, the yen has ing free in parks and glorious in response to expected high- various countries, including portunity,” Abe said.
weakened sharply against the autumn foliage, it’s a des- er demand. Both sharply re- places like Vietnam, Europe
dollar, giving some visitors tination recommended for duced flights during the pan- and the Americas, the staff
much heftier buying power people worried about risks demic.
in Abe’s three stores speak