US pop star Taylor Swift was crowned the biggest-selling global artist of 2025, industry body IFPI announced Wednesday, the fourth consecutive year and sixth time she has claimed its annual prize.
Italian Antonio Tiberi took the overall lead of the UAE Tour from Remco Evenepoel after winning the third stage on Wednesday.
A Paris prosecutor Wednesday called on potential victims of US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to come forward, as magistrates investigate possible offences committed in France or involving French victims or perpetrators.
- India tune up for Super Eights with hard-fought win over the Dutch
- Griffin warns Wales to beware Bath team-mate Russell in Scotland clash
Boulevard
Rescuers were conducting an "all-hands" search Wednesday for nine backcountry skiers who went missing after an avalanche in the mountains of California, where a huge storm has dumped several feet of snow.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Denmark's King Frederik X arrived in Greenland on Wednesday for a three-day visit in a show of support for the autonomous Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Shivam Dube hit a counter-attacking 66 to lift holders India to 193-6 after a batting stutter against the Netherlands in their final group match at the T20 World Cup on Wednesday.
February 18, 2026
Japan's Sanae Takaichi was formally reappointed as prime minister on Wednesday, 10 days after her historic landslide election victory.
February 18, 2026
A Polish bishop went on trial Wednesday for allegedly covering up paedophilia by priests in his diocese in a landmark case for the deeply Catholic country.
February 18, 2026
Sports
US star Mikaela Shiffrin, the most successful World Cup skier in history, cemented her Olympic legacy on Wednesday when she won the women's slalom, her third title in her fourth Winter Games.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Denmark's King Frederik X arrived in Greenland on Wednesday for a three-day visit in a show of support for the autonomous Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump, an AFP journalist reported.
Global stock markets rose Wednesday as traders assessed company earnings and economic data, while oil prices ticked higher following US-Iran talks.
Social media platforms including Facebook and TikTok were no longer available in Gabon on Wednesday, AFP journalists and a watchdog said, after regulators suspended them over security concerns amid an anti-government labour strike.
Ukrainian officials will boycott the Paralympic Winter Games, Kyiv said Wednesday, after the International Paralympic Committee allowed Russian athletes to compete under their national flag.
February 18, 2026
Culture
One of Gustave Courbet's most controversial nudes, "The Origin of the World" will be the centrepiece of a major retrospective of the 19th-century French artist that opens in Vienna on Thursday.
February 18, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Vaccine manufacturer Moderna said Wednesday the US Food and Drug Administration walked back its previous position and agreed to review the company's new mRNA-based flu shot.
Swiss resources giant Glencore is still open to a transformative merger with another mining group, its CEO said Wednesday, two weeks after dropping a plan to combine with British-Australian miner Rio Tinto.
US ski star Mikaela Shiffrin ended her Olympic medal drought in style with gold in the slalom on Wednesday as snowboarder Su Yiming won China's first title of the Milan-Cortina Games.
"Stop. Danger of death. Work in progress."
February 18, 2026
- 'Utterly absurd': Kosovo ex-president denies war crimes as trial closes
- Turkey to give cash for soap TV series that boost national image
- Man missing in floods as France hit by record 35 days of rain
- Our goal? Win World Cup, says Shadab as Pakistan into Super Eights
- Birthday boy Su wins China's first gold of Milan-Cortina Olympics
- India opener Abhishek out for third straight duck at T20 World Cup
- Biles consoles Malinin after 'heartbreaking' Olympic collapse
- US star Shiffrin wins Olympic slalom gold