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Sales of new US homes slumped more than expected in January, government data showed Wednesday, with cold weather and stubborn cost-of-living pressures weighing on buyers as Donald Trump returned to office.

After last year's Oscars gala wowed viewers with a glitzy, star-studded "I'm Just Ken" karaoke, the producers of Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony knew exactly where to turn for this year's showstopping musical moment.

Hamas will forgo its usual handover ceremony when it returns the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Wednesday night, with Israel expected to free more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, the militant group said.

Former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, his Ghanaian ex-teammate at Chelsea, on Wednesday defended their former coach Jose Mourinho, who has been accused of racist remarks by Turkish club Galatasaray.

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday provisionally recognised the recently created World Boxing as the body to oversee the sport at future Games.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he hopes to visit Washington this week to meet Donald Trump and discuss future US support for Ukraine and a minerals deal that had inflamed tensions between the leaders over recent weeks.

The EU on Wednesday proposed paring back its environmental rules to give businesses breathing room faced with US and Chinese competition -- while still vowing to decarbonise Europe's economy.

France's top court on Wednesday ordered a retrial of a Chilean accused of killing his Japanese ex-girlfriend in the eastern city of Besancon in 2016, ruling that investigators had withheld evidence from his defence team.

The then wife of the French former surgeon on trial for allegedly assaulting or raping 299 patients was aware of his actions but "did nothing", the doctor's brother told the court Wednesday.

Afghans painted in red, green and black cheered from the sidelines of the Champions Trophy cricket in Lahore and from in front of their televisions in Kabul on Wednesday, brushing aside calls for England to boycott the match.

The day before she was ordained the Bishop of Oslo in the presence of Norway's king, Sunniva Gylver stretched out barefoot in front of the altar, leading a service that combined liturgy and yoga exercises.

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says modern footballers find it tough to deal with criticism and that his generation had "much thicker skin".

Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck a Champions Trophy record of 177 to lift Afghanistan from an early wobble to 325-7 against England in a group match in Lahore on Wednesday.

Indonesia has struck a deal with Apple for the tech giant to invest in the country, its industry minister and the company said Wednesday, in a move that could end a ban on iPhone 16 sales in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

US President Donald Trump, furious over a disparaging new tell-all book about him, threatened Wednesday to sue authors and media outlets that use anonymous sources.

The erosion of multilateralism threatens global growth and stability, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned Wednesday at a G20 finance meeting in South Africa marked by the absence of the US treasury secretary.

Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik was found guilty Wednesday in a landmark trial for defying rulings made by an international envoy charged with overseeing the country's peace accords.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at a cemetery in southern Israel on Wednesday to bid a final farewell to Shiri Bibas and her two sons, who were killed in Gaza captivity and had become symbols in Israel of the hostages' ordeal.

Ukraine said Wednesday that Russian strikes on a front-line town in the east of the country killed at least five people and wounded eight more just hours after a fatal drone attack near Kyiv.

British energy giant BP launched a major pivot back to its more profitable oil and gas business Wednesday, shelving its once industry-leading targets on reducing carbon emissions and slashing clean energy investment.

The EU on Wednesday unveiled a push to "simplify" its environmental rules to give businesses breathing room faced with competition from the United States and China -- while still vowing to decarbonise Europe's economy.

Asian and European stock markets rallied Wednesday, helped by renewed positivity over the tech sector, analysts said.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot will not be on the touchline for Wednesday's home match against Newcastle after he was handed a two-match ban and given a hefty fine for his behaviour in the Merseyside derby.

Pakistan's hurting players will be motivated by pride in their dead rubber against Bangladesh on Thursday, head coach Aaqib Javed said, after the hosts were dumped out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage.

Hamas will hand over the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday in what it said would be an exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, capping the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal.

BP plans to increase production of its more profitable oil and gas business and slash investment in cleaner energy, the British energy giant announced Wednesday to the dismay of environmentalists.

German reinsurance giant Munich Re said Wednesday that last month's huge wildfires in Los Angeles had been the costliest "in the history of the insurance industry".

Australian spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was cleared on Wednesday by cricket's governing body after undergoing testing to determine whether his bowling action was legal.

British pop sensation and "brat summer" icon Charli XCX Wednesday won the Brit award for best songwriter of the year, putting her in pole position to scoop up the most honours in a weekend ceremony.

Chileans were able to return to a sense of normalcy on Wednesday after a curfew expired and authorities said power was restored to most homes following the country's worst blackout in well over a decade.

AB InBev, the world's leading brewer whose portfolio includes Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, said revenue hit a record level in 2024 although beer volumes slid.

A radio host in Australia who made "unacceptable" and "disgusting" comments about the national women's football team was taken off air on Wednesday, local media reported.