MBTA riders face a substantial fare increase - perhaps as soon as 2010 - unless the Legislature steps in to help the debt-ridden transit system, the agency's chief said yesterday.

The agency has raised fares every three years since 2001 and that the last increase - 27 percent - came in January 2007, sending the subway fare to $2 and the bus fare to $1.50. The previous two increases, in 2001 and 2004, were 25 percent each.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/08/05/t_warns_of_fare_hike_if_agency_is_not_rescued/
*********************************
Looking to bring more value-seeking consumers through its doors for a late afternoon caffeine fix, Starbucks Corp. said it will now offer its morning customers any iced grande beverage for $2 after 2 p.m.

The price is a big cut from the normal price of most grande-sized iced drinks. A grande iced latte, for example, costs about $4. To get the discount, customers must present a receipt from their morning Starbucks visit.

The company said it is taking it nationwide beginning Tuesday to answer consumers' calls for more value at the chain, which has seen traffic drop as gas prices rise and consumer spending falters. It runs until Sept. 2.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/05/starbucks.deal.ap/index.html
*************************

Days before the Olympic Games open in Beijing, the Chinese authorities have said they are confident that athletes and spectators will be safe.

This assurance comes after an attack - blamed on separatist Muslim militants - that killed 16 policemen in the western region of Xinjiang.

A spokesman for the organisers said preparations had been made to meet all conceivable threats at Olympic venues.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7542167.stm