U.S. home sales dropped to the lowest level in nearly two years in March as house prices raced to a record high, and could decline further with mortgage rates hitting 5%.

LUANDA (Reuters) -Diamond miner De Beers has signed two mineral investment contracts with the Angolan government, the Anglo American subsidiary said on Wednesday, in a return to the southern African country it left in 2012.

World Bank President David Malpass on Wednesday said he expects a "strong effort" by major economies to reduce their dependence on Russia for energy supplies and China for supply chains, although cross-border trade and investment flows would continue.

U.S. home sales fell more than expected in March as house prices hit a record high despite some improvement in supply, and could decline further amid surging mortgage rates.

Russian lawmakers on Wednesday passed an amendment to the tax code that they said would make it easier for foreign companies to open accounts with Russian banks and pay for Russian gas and other goods in roubles.

The U.S. has accelerated the permitting of wind and solar projects on federal lands under President Joe Biden, but his administration needs more staff and less administrative red tape to keep up with the clean energy industry's demand for land, according to a report submitted to Congress on Tuesday.