The United States will not "sit idly" on Iran if it does not work quickly to return to a nuclear accord in talks resuming next week, the U.S. special envoy said.

"If they start getting too close, too close for comfort, then of course we will not be prepared to sit idly," U.S. negotiator Rob Malley told National Public Radio.

At a Kabul market, coal is arriving by the ton as the winter cold sets in.

Even as prices rise, Afghans have few options but to burn it for heat, creating some of the world's most dangerous air.

German business confidence has dropped for the fifth consecutive month amid persistent supply-chain bottlenecks and a resurgence of coronavirus infections in Europe's biggest economy, a closely watched survey showed Wednesday.

The Ifo institute said its monthly confidence index dropped to 96.5 points in November from 97.7 last month. Companies' assessment of both their current situation and their outlook for the next six months worsened. It was the lowest figure since February.

France and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was given a one-year suspended jail sentence and a fine of 75,000 euros ($84,000) Wednesday in a sex-tape case that rocked French soccer and put the talented striker's international career on hold for more than five years.

Benzema was found guilty of being involved in an attempt in 2015 to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena. In addition to the fine, Benzema was ordered to pay Valbuena 80,000 euros ($89,700) in damages.

Energized by a change of manager and another opportunistic finish by Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League with a game to spare on Tuesday.

Another newly appointed coach sill has work to do, though, to get Barcelona into the last 16.

A list of nominees in the top categories at the 64th annual Grammy Awards, was announced by The Recording Academy.

— Album of the year: "We Are," Jon Batiste; "Love For Sale," Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga; "Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)," Justin Bieber; "Planet Her (Deluxe Edition)," Doja Cat; "Happier Than Ever," Billie Eilish; "Back of My Mind," H.E.R.; "MONTERO," Lil Nas X; "Sour," Olivia Rodrigo; "Evermore," Taylor Swift; "Donda," Kanye West.

Helen Mirren is oddly absent from the Harry Potter film franchise that proved close to a full-employment act for Britain's acting greats. But she's found her own path into its magical world.

Dame Helen, as the Oscar, Emmy and Tony-winning actor is properly addressed, makes her debut as a quiz host with "Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses." The weekly, four-part series begins 8 p.m. EST Sunday on TBS and Cartoon Network.

Joanne Shenandoah, the celebrated Native American singer-songwriter who performed before world leaders and on high-profile stages, has died. She was 63.

The Native American Music Awards & Association posted on its website that Shenandoah, described as "Native America's musical matriarch," died Monday night in Scottsdale, Arizona, after complications of abdominal bleeding.

After talking the climate talk at U.N. negotiations in Scotland, the Biden administration now tests whether a divided United States can walk the climate walk: push a massive investment for a new era of clean energy through the narrowest of margins in the Senate.

The House passed a roughly $2 trillion social policy and climate bill Friday, including $555 billion for cleaner energy, although the legislation is almost certain to be changed by the Senate. What ultimately emerges in the climate part of the bill will have a lasting impact on America and all its neighbors on Earth, and help determine whether the United States does its promised share to keep climate damage at a level not disastrously worse than it is now.

Global shares were mixed Wednesday as worries about inflation set off expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve might move faster than anticipated to raise interest rates.

France's CAC 40 edged up 0.4% to 7,074.05 in early trading, while Germany's DAX rose 0.1% to 15,955.14. Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.5% to 7,303.68. The future for the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% lower to 35,744.00. The S&P 500 future fell 0.1% to 4,685.00.