Japan to ease curbs on U.S. beef, report says (Tulsa World) IN TALKS Wakabayashi: Tokyo’s restriction on cattle age may be modified. Japan will consider easing restrictions on U.S. beef imports -- an apparent compromise after months of pressure from Washington, the Kyodo News agency reported Friday in Tokyo. [News Source]

Congress Sends Peru Free-trade Pact To President (Scoop.co.nz) Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has hailed the passage by Congress of a U.S.-Peru free-trade agreement. The U.S. Senate December 4 voted 77 to 18 in favor of the free-trade agreement with Peru, clearing the pact for final action by the president. [News Source]

Livestock Highlights: Brazil Beef, Cattle Markets, Japan (CattleNetwork.com) WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given approval for three shipments of U.S. beef to be sold to Russia, representing the first U.S. exports to that nation in years, according to information provided by USDA officials and confirmed by Acting USDA Secretary Chuck Conner. [News Source]

Work on $42M center at CSU vet school starts (The Fort Collins Coloradoan) Colorado State University officials on Friday officially launched construction of a $42 million Diagnostic Medicine Center at CSU's renowned Veterinary Medical Center, a project they say will help improve the health of humans and animals. [News Source]

Japan to ease curbs on U.S. beef, report says (Tulsa World) IN TALKS Wakabayashi: Tokyo’s restriction on cattle age may be modified. Japan will consider easing restrictions on U.S. beef imports -- an apparent compromise after months of pressure from Washington, the Kyodo News agency reported Friday in Tokyo. [News Source]

Auction yards fight Canadian border cattle rule (Rapid City Journal) Five South Dakota auction yards recently hosted fundraisers that generated more than $50,000 to support a legal battle to stop older Canadian cattle from coming into the United States. [News Source]

Around the world (Houston Chronicle) Costa Rica and China announced Friday they have agreed to jointly explore for oil and natural gas in the Central American country. It wasn't clear if the exploration would be on land or offshore. [News Source]

Woman picked to head Aggies (San Antonio Express-News) Sole finalist for school's presidency would be its first Hispanic chief. [News Source]