World food prices rise, stay close to crisis levels: UN

By Catherine Hornby
ROME (Reuters) - World food prices rose in September and are seen remaining close to levels reached during the 2008 food crisis, the United Nations' food agency said on Thursday, while cutting its forecast for global cereal output.
The worst drought in more than 50 years in the United States sent corn and soybean prices to record highs over the summer, and, coupled with drought in Russia and other Black Sea exporting countries, raised fears of a renewed crisis.
Grains prices have retreated in recent weeks due to rapid harvest progress and concerns about weak demand in a slowing global economy.

Read More................... 

Syrian Conflict Impossible To Resolve?

Syrian conflict 'nearly impossible to resolve'

 

Lakhdar Brahimi said he was coming into the job of special representative on Syria with no illusions. Photograph: Reuters

Diplomatic attempts to end the Syrian conflict are "nearly impossible" and not enough is being done to end the fighting, the new United Nations and Arab League mediator, Lakhdar Brahimi, has said.
"I know how difficult it is – how nearly impossible. I can't say impossible – nearly impossible," Brahimi told the BBC.
The Algerian diplomat said he was "scared of the weight of responsibility" on his shoulders and was aware that not enough was being done to end the violence through diplomacy.
"People are already saying: 'People are dying and what are you doing?' And we are not doing much. That in itself is a terrible weight," he said.

 Read More......................