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WORLD NEWS Thursday 18 april 2019
German government halves 2019 growth forecast to 0.5%

porters. Chancellor Angela Merkel colleagues in the often-
The government’s eco- and Finance Minister Olaf fractious governing coali-
nomic outlook “is at the Scholz. tion of Merkel’s conserva-
lower end of the forecast However, he said the gov- tive bloc and the center-
spectrum” in keeping with ernment should “consider left Social Democrats.
its tradition and, as it now a moratorium on new mea- The Federation of Ger-
stands, has a good chance sures that lead to burdens man Industries, an influen-
of being reflected in reality, for business” until the econ- tial business lobby group,
Altmaier said. omy “has again reached a called for the government
He rejected talk of a stimu- clear path of growth.” to provide incentives for
lus program for the econo- Altmaier wouldn’t specify investment in climate pro-
my, echoing comments this what measures he meant tection and to embark on
week by spokespeople for ahead of discussions with a tax reform.q

German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier briefs the media about
German government’s economic growth forecast for 2019,
during a news conference in Berlin, Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
Associated Press
By GEIR MOULSON sions standards.
Associated Press Economy Minister Peter
BERLIN (AP) — The German Altmaier predicted growth
government on Wednes- of 1.5% in 2020, a margin-
day slashed its 2019 eco- ally worse outlook than the
nomic growth forecast for 1.6% forecast in January.
the country for the second Last year, gross domes-
time this year, halving its tic product expanded by
outlook to a meager 0.5%. 1.4%.
The update came less than Altmaier said growth should
three months after the gov- perk up in this year’s sec-
ernment cut its forecast to ond half, pointing to solid
1% from 1.8% in late Janu- domestic demand, boom-
ary. ing construction and ex-
Weaker growth elsewhere pectations that the global
as a result of global trade economy will pick up. He
tensions and uncertain- also noted receding pros-
ty over Britain’s exit from pects of a chaotic no-deal
the European Union has Brexit and the possibility of
weighed on Germany’s Britain leaving the EU on
prospects — along with softer terms than it originally
the after-effects of its own envisioned after the dead-
weak performance at the line for its EU withdrawal
end of last year, when out- was put back to Oct. 31.
put was dragged down Germany has Europe’s big-
largely by one-time factors gest economy and is one
related to new car emis- of the world’s biggest ex-

Lightning hits Acropolis in

Greece injuring 4, site intact

By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS
Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A lightning bolt struck the Acrop-
olis in Athens during a rainstorm Wednesday, lightly injur-
ing two visitors and two guards but causing no damage
to the country’s most famous ancient site, Greek officials
said.
A culture ministry statement said the citadel’s lightning
conductor, which is set apart from the 2,500-year-old
marble buildings, was hit. The impact shattered glass win-
dows in two nearby guard booths, and the guards inside
as well as two female visitors were taken to hospital with
light cuts.
The hilltop UNESCO World Heritage site is Greece’s most
popular archaeological site, attracting 3.15 million visitors
last year.
The ministry said none of the Acropolis monuments, which
include the 5th Century B.C. Parthenon and Erechtheion
temples, were damaged. The two visitors were discharged
from hospital after receiving first aid while the guards re-
mained for precautionary reasons.q