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Wheat prices in both the United States and Europe retreated on Friday but held just below two-year highs as markets reacted to the sudden imposition of a ban on grain exports from drought-hit Russia.

Wheat prices surged to a two-year high while shares in European brewers and food producers fell on Friday as markets reacted to the sudden imposition of a ban on grain exports from drought-hit Russia.

Saudi Arabia and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion are making progress in talks over access to the device's encrypted network, a source close to the negotiations said, and the kingdom had yet to carry out threats to cut its Messenger service early Friday morning.

Canada said it is talking to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to resolve a fight over BlackBerry security that could jeopardize the growth of Research in Motion Ltd, the country's most important tech exporter.

LOS ANGELES - No BlackBerry service!

The United States said it was disappointed that the United Arab Emirates planned to cut off key BlackBerry services, noting that the Gulf nation was setting a dangerous precedent in limiting freedom of information.

The outdoor smoking ban at Hobart's malls has been received quite well, said the Hobart City Council.

A flu vaccination ban for kids has been lifted for two flu vaccines, Vaxigrip and Influvac, following a series of adverse reactions from the influenza immunization earlier this year.

French lawmakers began closed-door deliberation on President Nicolas Sarkozy's disputed pensions reform on Tuesday with the government saying it would accept only minor amendments.

Halliburton Co reported an 83 percent jump in second-quarter profit on Monday, on strong U.S. onshore drilling, but a ban on deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to hurt full year results.

Halliburton Co reported an 83 percent jump in second-quarter profit on Monday, on strong U.S. onshore drilling, but a ban on deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to hurt full year results.

With open interest in cardamom futures surging, rumors of a ban on the contract also started circulating until Forward Markets Commission clarified that there would be no ban on cardamom futures.

BP said it had installed a cap meant to halt the flow of oil from its ruptured Gulf of Mexico well on Monday and the Obama administration issued a new moratorium on deepwater oil drilling.

The Obama administration issued a new moratorium on deepwater oil drilling on Monday, a move the industry said was unnecessary and would place tens of thousands of jobs at risk.

The U.S. Interior Department on Monday formally issued its new offshore oil drilling moratorium, saying it would end by November 30 or sooner and it would no longer be based on water depths.

The U.S. Interior Department on Monday formally issued its new drilling moratorium, saying it would end by November 30 or sooner and it would no longer be based on water depths.

The Obama administration prepared a new moratorium on deepwater oil drilling on Monday, seeking to make the industry safer while protecting thousands of jobs during the worst spill in U.S. history.

BP Plc is in talks with U.S. energy company Apache Corp and others to sell assets worth up to $10 billion as it grapples with the cost of the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

Gold demand in the global market is set to go up following the State Bank of Vietnam's decision to allow companies to import gold again. Since Vietnam does not import gold regularly, foreign partners have not prepared gold for delivery. So, the Vietnam importers are expected to buy gold from the global bullion markets which will make some price movements.

A U.S. appeals court said on Thursday it would rule by early next week on whether to stay a lower court decision to lift a six-month ban on deepwater oil drilling imposed by the Obama administration.

The Obama administration said on Thursday it will immediately issue a revised ban on deepwater drilling if an appeals court does not allow it to reinstate the six-month moratorium it imposed in the wake of the BP oil spill.