Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Commodity Crops & Weather News | Mekong Delta drought hits hard on Vietnam | 15 July 2010 | www.commodityonline.com

Commodity Crops & Weather News | Mekong Delta drought hits hard on Vietnam | 15 July 2010 | www.commodityonline.com: "World’s largest rice exporter, Vietnam’s Mekong Delta which accounts for more than half of its output is hit by drastic climate changes, resulting huge losses of crops.

Drought caused by a hot spell over the past month has hurt rice fields in the region with nearly 100,000 hectares destroyed or partly destroyed.

A total of 25,000 hectares of rice was ruined and yields on another 70,000 hectares will drop sharply, the report said, giving no forecast for output losses."

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Bangkok free buses a big success

Free buses save THB3.3 billion for low income riders

The free bus service available from February 2009 to May 2010 have helped save more than 3.3 billion THB in fare for low-income earners.

According to Director of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, Opart Petchmunee, the free bus operation which is part of the relief measures of the government could effectively alleviate low-income earners’ burdens from the high cost of living. More than 477 million people used the service during the period.

According to Mr Opart, about 800 free public buses are plying 76 routes around Bangkok in the project. SiamDailyNews