Step to Curb Prices

Kenya

The Kenyan Government assured citizens that it is taking both short and long term measures to cushion them from increased food and fuel prices. In his address during the celebrations to mark the Independence Day, President Mwai Kibaki cited the zero rating of duty on paraffin and a drastic reduction of duty on diesel as some of the government's efforts. He assured that the government is building the strategic grain reserves to 8 million bags of maize to ensure ready availability of food in the country.

Growth Drop

Zimbabwe

The IMF has stated that Zimbabwe's economic growth is set to slow sharply this year and the country's recovery from a decade-long deep economic contraction remained fragile. An IMF review of Zimbabwe's economy projected that economic growth would drop to 5.5 percent in 2011 from 9 percent in 2010.

No Tourists

Tunisia

Tunisian tourism professionals said they are bracing for a catastrophic tourism season. Indicators point to a 50 percent decrease in tourism in comparison with 2010 due to the current situation characterized by strikes, sit-ins, events in neighboring Libya, and the absence of short-term economic visibility in the coming period. The country's 700 travel agencies are also threatened with bankruptcy as a result of the slump in the sector. Tourism professionals have called for the boosting of local tourism to compensate for the lack of remittances generated by foreign tourism.

French Triumph

China

Chinese tennis player Li Na beat Francesca Schiavone of Italy in the women's final of the French Open tennis tournament held in Paris this June. The victory made her the first Chinese and Asian player to don a crown at a Grand Slam tournament and will elevate her to world No.4, equaling the Asian record set by Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm. The newly-crowned French Open champion is already thinking about winning another Grand Slam title after her epic triumph.