BEIJING

Growth rate at 11.5%

The International Monetary Fund yesterday raised its growth forecast for China's sizzling economy this year to 11.5 percent from 11.2 percent and said Beijing's efforts to cool the economy would be more effective if currency controls were eased.

The IMF said it raised its forecast after the economy expanded by 11.9 percent in the second quarter, driven by an export boom. It said growth was expected to slow to 10 percent in 2008.

However, the Washington-based institution said that easing "may not materialize unless the authorities tighten monetary policy more decisively and allow a faster appreciation of the exchange rate".

WUHAN

Clean restaurants

Ninety-five percent of China's catering establishments will have a certified hygiene grade by the end of this year as part of a nationwide effort to improve food safety, a senior health official said yesterday.

Health departments will issue four grades from A for the best restaurants to D for the worst in accordance with their basic hygiene facilities, said Vice-Minister of Health Chen Xiaohong at a conference on catering consumption safety in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province.

Health departments will strengthen supervision of restaurants with low grades and advise the public against eating in them, Chen said.

HONG KONG

Herbs ease pain

A study involving nearly 3,500 women in several countries suggests that Chinese herbs might be more effective in relieving menstrual cramps than drugs, acupuncture or heat compression.

Researchers said herbs not only relieved pain, but reduced the recurrence of the condition over three months, according to the Cochrane Library journal.

Xinhua - Agencies

(China Daily 10/18/2007 page2)