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2010-09-04, South Korea To Sell Surplus Rice Stocks »»

2010-09-04, CBOT Rice Review: Rough Rice Futures Lower Tuesday »»

2010-09-04, Thailand Weekly Rice Export Highlights »»

2010-09-04, India August Rice Sowing Up On Year »»

2010-09-04, CBOT Rice Review: Rough Rice Futures Unchanged Monday »»

2010-09-04, Black Rice: Economical Antioxidants Alternative »»

2010-09-04, CBOT Rice Review: Rough Rice Futures Lower Friday »»

2010-09-04, China Early Season Output Down On Year »»

2010-09-04, US-Asian Exports To Rise Amid Pak Floods »»

2010-09-04, Guyana-Venezuela Ink Rice Deal »»

2010-09-02, USDA Announces Loan Program for Natural Resource Conservation »»

2010-09-01, USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September 2010 »»

2010-08-27, Indiana Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Expanded »»

2010-08-26, USDA Reminds Producers That the Conservation Reserve Program General Sign-up Ends on Friday »»

2010-08-19, USDA Announces Final FY 2010 and Initial FY 2011 Sugar Marketing Allocations »»

2010-08-04, Farm Bill Statement from the Senate Agriculture Committee Chair »»

2010-08-04, Better Late Than Never »»

2010-08-04, Foreign Competitors Seek Advantage Over U.S. Growers »»

2010-08-04, Farm Groups Ask USDA to Stop Crop Insurance Cuts »»

2010-08-04, Agricultural Community Offers Advice on TPP Trade Deal »»

2010-11-06, GIEWS Update of Food Security Situation, June 2010 »»

2010-09-07, GIEWS Country Policy Monitoring - Main Food-related Policy Measures »»

2010-09-03, Import/Export Price Indexes Latest Numbers »»

2010-09-03, Study raises concerns over aluminium levels in infant formula »»

2010-09-03, Sustainable, edible nanostructures could have food applications »»

2010-09-03, Beverage machinery market tipped for rebound »»

2010-09-03, Initial results of German efficiency research show PET promise »»

2010-09-03, UK unveils new labelling responsibilities »»

2010-09-03, Alufoil awards 2011 »»

2010-09-02, California finally rejects bisphenol A ban »»

2010-03-29, CGIAR Science Awards 2009 : Winners are Announced »»

2010-03-29, Story of the Month - March 2010: Taking Stock of Biotech »»

2009-12-27, Story of the Month - Dec 2009-Jan 2010: Farms and Forests: Part of the Solution to Climate Change »»

2009-11-10, Rural Climate Exchange Blog: Connecting Agricultural and Environmental Science to the Climate Change Agenda »»

2009-11-01, Story of the Month: November 2009: A microcosm of global food security »»

2009-10-13, Publications: CGIAR Fact Sheets »»

2009-09-30, October 2009 Story of the Month: Curbing Desertification Today: A Prelude to Coping with Climate Change »»

2009-09-22, Publications: CGIAR E-News September 2009 »»

2009-09-15, Publications: CGIAR Annual Report 2008 - Global Recommitment to Agriculture »»

2009-08-10, International Potato Center - Employment Offers »»

2010-09-03, Nine die in New Zealand air crash »»

2010-09-03, Coulson 'safe' over phone claims »»

2010-09-03, Police question Pakistan players »»

2010-09-03, Poll 'backs move from New Labour' »»

2010-09-03, Taxpayers 'should not fund Pope' »»

2010-09-03, Tennessee mosque fire 'was arson' »»

2010-09-03, Earthquake hits south New Zealand »»

2010-09-03, Blair in 'radical Islam' warning »»

2010-09-03, Bank customers in 'dire poverty' »»

2010-09-03, Worshippers 'just escaped blast' »»

2010-09-03, By-elections underway in NA-184 »»

2010-09-03, Blackwater created shell companies: NYT »»

WASHINGTON: The security company Blackwater Worldwide formed a network of 30 shell companies and subsidiaries to try to get millions of dollars in government business after the company faced strong criticism for reckless conduct in Iraq, The New York Times reported Friday.

The newspaper said that it was unclear how many of the created companies got American contracts but that at least three of them obtained work with the US military and the CIA.

Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has asked the Justice Department to see whether Blackwater misled the government when using the subsidiaries to gain government contracts, according to the Times.

It said Levin's committee found that North Carolina-based Blackwater, which now is known as Xe Services, went to great lengths to find ways to get lucrative government work despite criminal charges and criticism stemming from a 2007 incident in which Blackwater guards killed 17 Iraqi civilians. A committee chart outlines the web of Blackwater subsidiaries.

Messages left late Friday with spokespeople for the Michigan Democrat and Xe were not immediately answered.

The 2007 incident and other reports of abuses by Blackwater employees in Iraq led to criminal investigations and congressional hearings, and resulted in the company losing a lucrative contract with the State Department to provide security in Iraq.

But recently the company was awarded a $100 million contract to provide security for the agency in Afghanistan, prompting criticism from some in Congress. CIA Director Leon Panetta said that the CIA had no choice but to hire the company because it underbid others by $26 million and that a CIA review concluded that the contractor had cleaned up its act.

Last year, Panetta canceled a contract with Xe that allowed the company's operatives to load missiles on Predator drones in Pakistan, and shifted the work to government personnel.

However, the Times quoted former Blackwater officials as saying that at least two Blackwater-affiliated companies, XPG and Greystone, obtained secret contracts from the CIA to provide security to agency operatives.

The newspaper said the network of subsidiaries, including several located in offshore tax havens, were uncovered as part of the Armed Services Committee's examination of government contracting and not an investigation solely into Blackwater. But Levin questioned why Blackwater would need to create so many companies with various names to seek out government business, according to the Times.

The report quoted unidentified government officials and former Blackwater employees as saying that the network of companies allowed Blackwater to obscure its involvement in government work from contracting officials and the public, and to ensure a low profile for its classified activities. ? AP

2010-09-03, Powerful 7.1 quake hits New Zealand's South Island »»

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake damaged buildings, cut power and knocked fleeing residents off their feet on New Zealand's South Island early Saturday, but there were so far no deaths and only two injuries reported.

Panicked residents in their pajamas ran into the streets of the southern city of Christchurch after the pre-dawn quake, residents said. There were reports of some people trapped in damaged buildings _ though none appeared to be crushed by rubble _ and a few looters broke into some of the damaged shops in the city of 400,000, authorities said.

A state of emergency was declared and army troops were on standby to assist after the quake, which hit 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of Christchurch, according to the state geological agency GNS Science. No tsunami alert was issued.

Roads had been blocked by rubble, power and traffic lights were out, and gas and water supplies disrupted, while chimneys and walls had fallen from older buildings, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said. He warned that continuing aftershocks could cause masonry to fall from damaged buildings.

Suburban dweller Mark O'Connell said his house was full of smashed glass, food tossed from shelves, with sets of drawers, TVs and computers tipped over.

''We were thrown from wall to wall as we tried to escape down the stairs to get to safety,'' he told The Associated Press.

GNS Science initially reported the quake as magnitude 7.4, but later downgraded it after re-examining quake records. The US Geological Survey, in America, measured the quake at 7.0.

Minister of Civil Defense John Carter stressed the low number of casualties.

''I think we've been extremely lucky as a nation that there's been no fatalities,'' Carter told reporters.

Still, infrastructure damage was major, with ''a lot of damage to our key infrastructure ... water, waste water (sewerage) systems.'' Earthquake and insurance specialists would give an initial damage assessment within 48 hours, he said.

Experts said the low levels of injury reflect the strict building codes that apply in New Zealand, which records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year.

''New Zealand has very good building codes ... (that) mean the buildings are strong compared with, say, Haiti,'' which suffered widespread death and devastation in a magnitude 7.0 quake this year, earth sciences professor Martha Savage said.

''It's about the same size (quake) as Haiti, but the damage is so much less. Though chimneys and some older facades came down, the structures are well built,'' said Savage, a professor from the School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University in the capital, Wellington.

Christchurch fire service spokesman Mike Bowden said a number of people had been trapped in buildings by fallen chimneys and blocked entrances, but there were no reports of people pinned under rubble. Rescue teams were out checking premises.

Christchurch Hospital said it had treated two men with serious injuries and a number of people with minor injuries.

One man was hit by a falling chimney and was in serious condition in intensive care, while a second was badly cut by glass, hospital spokeswoman Michele Hider said.

Christchurch police reported road damage in parts of the city, with a series of sharp aftershocks rocking the area. Police officers cordoned off some streets where rubble was strewn about. Video showed parked cars crushed by heaps of fallen bricks, and buckled roads.

''There is considerable damage in the central city and we've also had reports of looting, just shop windows broken and easy picking of displays,'' Police Inspector Mike Coleman told New Zealand's National Radio.

Police Inspector Al Stewart told the radio that some people had been arrested for looting.

The quake hit at 4:35 a.m. (1635 GMT) shaking thousands of residents awake, New Zealand's National Radio reported. Some 12 aftershocks have rocked the region since, ranging from 5.3 to 3.9 in magnitude, GNS Science reported on its web site.

Prime Minister John Key, Carter and Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee were to fly to Christchurch to inspect damage and review the situation, officials said.

Key said his sister, who lives in Christchurch, messaged him that ''they had had an enormous earthquake and it had been terrifying ... that it went on for so long and was so violent they were getting knocked off their feet.''

Civil defense agency spokesman David Millar said at least six bridges in the region had been badly damaged, while the historic Empire hotel in the port town of Lyttelton was ''very unstable'' and in danger of collapse. Several wharves at the port had been damaged.

People in the city's low-lying eastern suburbs had been advised to be ready to evacuate after power, gas, sewerage and water systems were cut by the quake, Inspector Coleman said. ? AP

2010-09-03, Top seeds ease through at US Open »»

NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray stayed on course for a US Open semi-final showdown in Friday?s second-round action with both recording straight sets victories.

Top-seeded Nadal pounded his way past Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 in the featured night session match on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

Fourth-seeded Murray saw off Jamaica?s Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-3, 6-0 on the same court earlier in the day.

Nadal next plays France?s Gilles Simon who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, while Murray takes on Stanislas Wawrinka of Swizerland who ousted Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

There were mixed fortunes for US hopes with teenager Ryan Harrison squandering three match points against Ukraine?s Sergiy Stakhovsky in a fifth set tie-breaker before losing 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)

But twin giants Sam Querrey and John Isner both won through in the same quarter as Murray.

At the start of the day there were nine Spaniards and seven Frenchmen involved in the 16 ties that made up the top half of the draw.

By the end of play, seven of the Spanish had survived (the two losers going down to compatriots) and only two Frenchmen remained.

Nadal ? seeking in New York to become just the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam of Australian, French, Wimbledon and US crowns ? was made to dig deep from 1-5 down in the second set tie-break against the 39th-ranked Istomin, taking six points in a row.

He then grabbed the only additional break he needed in the 12th game of the third set to clinch the win.

?He was playing really well, played well last week in New Haven,? Nadal said of Istomin.

?I was a little bit lucky in the tie-break in the second set.

?A few days ago I started to feel the ball well with my serve so that is very good for the confidence.?

Murray had been expected to sweep past the unconventional Brown with little or no effort, and in the end he did so.

But he was left scratching his head at times in the first set by the towering Brown?s unorthodox play focused around a huge, whipping serve and some outrageous drop shots.

On top of that, early play was suspended for around 20 minutes as, courtesy of Hurricane Earl churning up the US eastern seaboard, a rain shower dampened the Flushing Meadows courts.

In the end, the dreadlocked Brown, ranked 123rd in the world, had little left to offer and Murray even went for some extra practice afterwards to complete his day.

?I?d never played him before so the match was very interesting with him hitting big and fun shots,? the Scot said.

?It was very difficult. He is a shot maker and is fun to watch so I am just glad to get through.

The emotional high of the day for home fans came out on the atmospheric Grandstand Court where 18-year-old Harrison, the youngest player left in the tournament, had three match points against Ukraine?s Stakhovsky in the fifth set tie-break.

But a double fault and some brave net play from a tiring Stakhovsky saved the day for the east European.

Harrison said that although he was downcast over the way the match had ended, it gave him hope for the future.

?Obviously I?m not the happiest person in the world right now,? he said.

?But looking back on it, it was a great experience. My ranking is 220 in the world right now, and I?m trying to hopefully get to the top 10.

There was better news for US hopes, however, shortly afterwards on the adjacent Louis Armstrong Court when Wimbledon marathon man Isner won through to the third round with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 win over Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland, setting up a third round clash against Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.

Querrey then cruised past Spain?s Marcel Granollers 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

Tommy Robredo got the Spanish challenge off to strong start when his French opponent, Julian Benneteau, retired in a second set tie-break after injuring his left wrist stretching for a shot. Robredo had won the first set 6-4.

David Ferrer, the 10th seed, then bulldozed his way past Benjamin Becker of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and Feliciano Lopez saw off the challenge of France?s Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.

French hopes suffered another blow when Jeremy Chardy fell to Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (7/2) and then Fernando Verdasco ousted Chardy?s compatriot Adrian Mannarino 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

But serve and volley expert Michael Llodra brought some consolation for the French when he defied a painful left foot injury to defeat Victor Hanescu of Romania 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-2.

And late in day, Simon came through against Kohlschreiber to set up a third round clash with Nadal.

CLIJSTER, IVANOVIC, VENUS ROLL INTO LAST 16

Defending champion Kim Clijsters advanced to a fourth-round matchup with fellow former world number one Ana Ivanovic at the US Open on Friday while third seed Venus Williams also rolled into the last 16.

Belgian second seed Clijsters struggled briefly before winning the last 12 games to defeat Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-0 while Ivanovic won the last nine games to oust French wildcard Virginie Razzano 7-5, 6-0.

US third seed Williams, with injured world number one sister Serena watching from the stands, ripped Luxembourg?s Mandy Minella 6-2, 6-1 in 74 minutes to book a fouth-round matchup against Israel?s Shahar Peer.

French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, the sixth seed from Italy, and French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur, the fifth seed from Australia, also advanced with straight-set triumphs.

Stosur beat Italy?s 37th-ranked Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3, while Schiavone ousted Ukraine?s 29th-seeded Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 7-5 and 16th seed Peer eliminated Italy?s Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 6-4.

Clijsters ousted the 27th-seeded Czech in 62 minutes for her 17th victory in a row on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts as brisk winds whipped across Arthur Ashe Stadium with Hurricane Earl passing southwest of the area.

?I just had to adjust and get used to the wind. It was tough,? Clijsters said. ?I was glad after those first three games I could get my serve going.

?When you don?t have that full confidence on your serve and you have the wind interfering with what your ball does, it?s never that easy. You just have to go back to the basics, really focus and maybe not go for it as much.?

Clijsters, trying to become the first back-to-back US Open women?s champion since Venus Williams in 2001, won her only Grand Slam titles on the New York hardcourts in 2005 and 2009.

But injuries and a two-year hiatus to start a family kept her from the US Open in between her titles, giving her the impressive win streak that looked to be in jeopardy at the start.

Kvitova broke Clijsters twice for a 3-0 lead after 11 minutes, inspring memories of her US Open upset of top seed Dinara Safina last year before the 30-year-old Belgian roared to victory.

?I felt myself progressing throughout the match, so that?s a good feeling,?Clijsters said. ?I feel like I?m close. It?s only a matter of a few little details in my game that I want to improve.

?A match like this probably gives me more satisfaction because I beat a good player without even playing my best tennis.?

Williams battled the wind in a night match but breezed through as well.

?It?s pretty windy down here so it?s important to stay focused on every shot,? she said.

Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion who has slid to 40th in the rankings, needed only 66 minutes to advance and equal her top US Open showing from 2007.

?I really feel I?m playing a lot better, sort of things are starting to come back, come together out on the court as well, so I?m really thrilled about that,? Ivanovic said.

?It has been tough. But I?m really happy I managed to stay strong in those times and just push through it, work hard and actually believe I can do it.?

Schiavone made a stunning between-the-legs running from the net shot in the 10th game of the second set on the way to holding at love, broke Bondarenko in the next game and held at love to complete an 88-minute triumph.

?It is nothing programmed. Ii is just instinct. It is art,? Schiavone said.

?Is something that?s coming from inside and you have just to take in a good timing otherwise the ball fly.?

Schiavone will next play Russian 20th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who ousted Argentina?s Gisela Dulko 6-1, 6-2. Stosur next plays Russian 12th seed Elena Dementieva, who downed Slovakian 24th seed Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-2.

?I?m playing well, I?m hitting the ball well and I think I have got a good chance,? Stosur said.

The 26-year-old from Brisbane won both prior meetings with Errani, including a second-round match last week at New Haven in the last US Open tuneup, where Errani had four match points in a third-set tie-breaker.

?She?s tough. She fights you on every point,? Stosur said. ?I didn?t want to go down the same path I did last week.? ? AFP