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2020 has been the toughest year for Marvel and DC fans. A year that was supposed to be a jam-packed season in the Superhero Universe, turned upside down and hollow due to the real-life calamity called the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 has been the toughest year for Marvel and DC fans. A year that was supposed to be a jam-packed season in the Superhero Universe, turned upside down and hollow due to the real-life calamity called the COVID-19 pandemic. When real life turned into an apocalyptic movie, it was inevitable that the reel-world had to wait. As Hollywood studios are slowly treading deep waters by resuming shoot of big-budget films in a post-COVID world, the wheels are slowly catching the pace for the stalled movies as well. The MCU found itself in a dull phase where no movie from the mega-studios made its way to the viewers. This has been the longest pause in the cinematic ‘verse since 'The Incredible Hulk' (2008) was followed two years later by 'Iron Man 2'. Another major setback for the studios was the sudden demise of ‘Black Panther’ Chadwick Boseman. While the studio and the fans grieved all around the world, it also put the plans for 'Black Panther 2' on hold. DC, on the other hand, found itself in murky waters after Zack Snyder started his own ‘Snyderverse’ and the new Batman film went through an epidemic of its own. The Marvel Cinematic Universe roadmap feels a little less clear than it did after the rousing success of 'Endgame' last year when the world seemed a lot simpler. Considering the fact that the MCU functions in Phases and even the slightest delay can cause major changes in the timelines of all the subsequent films. By now, we were supposed to have seen the Black Widow prequel film, Amazonian warrior ‘Wonder Woman’ was supposed to take us to 1984 and the fanbase would’ve been getting hyped for ‘Eternals’. Now, “Black Widow” has been moved to summer 2021 and ‘Eternals’ to fall 2021. We don’t fully know how the COVID-19 pandemic will impact films still in development. As of now, here’s what the future looks like for MCU and DC Universe currently: Wonder Woman 1984 (December 25, 2020) There are still many mysteries surrounding the plot of ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, but Patty Jenkins has noted that the year simultaneously featured both the best and worst of humanity on the global scale. Gal Gadot will be back in her classic armour for the adventure as Wonder Woman, while (surprisingly) Chris Pine will also be back as the formerly-dead Steve Trevor. Kristin Wiig will be playing one of the central villains of the film, the classic Wonder Woman antagonist Cheetah (though she starts the story as Diana's nerdy gal pal Barbara Ann Minerva), and Pedro Pascal is playing Maxwell Lord – a scrupulous businessman who is selling people their dreams... for a horrible price. Black Widow (May 2021) Directed by Cate Shortland, Black Widow will see Scarlett Johansson returning as Natasha Romanoff; Stranger Things’ David Harbour as Alexi; Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova (a “sister figure to Natasha” who takes up the Black Widow mantle in the comics, hint, hint); O-T Fagbenle as Mason, and Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff AKA Iron Maiden in the comics. The Taskmaster will also be in the Black Widow movie, but we don't know who's behind the mask just yet. The story, according to director Cate Shortland, will have the audience understanding Black Widow’s past and “she gets to put all the pieces of herself back together.” Shang-Chi: And the Legend of the Ten Rings (July 2021) Releasing on July 9, 2021, the first Asian-led superhero movie will feature Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu. Tony Leung will be playing the real Mandarin and leader of the Ten Rings. Awkwafina will also appear in Shang-Chi in an as-yet-unnamed role. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marvel Studios (@marvelstudios) × The Suicide Squad (August 2021) Although David Ayer's Suicide Squad was not exactly critically-acclaimed, the film was definitely still successful enough at the box office to warrant a sequel. And what's more, the DC Extended Universe has dipped into the Marvel Studios talent pool to help get the film made. After being fired from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 by Disney, it was revealed that Warner Bros. pursued James Gunn to write the script for Suicide Squad 2, and after a long period of speculation he signed on to direct it as well. The film will be titled The Suicide Squad, and it’s been said that it won’t really be a direct follow-up to Ayer’s movie, but instead will take the premise in a different direction while still featuring some of the same characters. Margot Robbie, Jai Courtney, Viola Davis, and Joel Kinnaman are all set to return as Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Amanda Waller, and Rick Flag, respectively, and the rest of the cast includes David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, John Cena as Peacemaker, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, Flula Borg as Javelin, Nathan Fillion as T.D.K., Peter Capaldi as The Thinker, Pete Davidson as Blackguard. Eternals (November 2021) Eternals will now be the third Phase 4 movie and is releasing on November 5, 2021. It's also had a name change: Eternals instead of The Eternals. The Eternals cast includes Richard Madden as Ikaris, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Kumail Nanjiani will be playing Kingo, Salma Hayek (Ajak, the “leader of the Eternals,” according to Feige), Brian Tyree Henry (Phastos, a “genius,” says the actor), Don Lee as the hulking Gilgamesh, while Lia McHugh and The Walking Dead’s Lauren Ridloff rounds out the currently confirmed cast, playing Sprite and Makkari respectively. Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington will also appear as the Black Knight. Feige himself has given a small peek into what to expect from the Eternals story, having told ComicBook.com: “It will be a story that will introduce you to this incredibly eclectic group of immortals, they're the focus of the story." He said of the setting: "It takes place in our universe – it takes place in the MCU.” Spiderman 3, (December 2021) The untitled Spider-Man 3 has been confirmed for December 17, 2021 after a delay and will be part of Marvel Phase 4. The masked hero of the neighbourhood went through its own identity crisis this year. First, Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man agreement broke down. The result? Spider-Man was out of the MCU. Then Tom Holland spoke out about it, saying: "It's been a crazy week... I love you 3000." Sony Pictures chairman Tony Vinciquerra even firmly stated "the door is closed" on a Spider-Man return. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tom Holland (@tomholland2013) × Later, Spider-Man returned to the MCU in late September, alongside news of a Spider-Man threequel (something Tom Holland had previously called, "something very special") and that the character would appear in a "future Marvel Studios" project. Holland's Peter Parker will also feature in Sony movies moving forward. Thor: Love and Thunder (February 2022) Thor: Love and Thunder – initially the last movie of Marvel Phase 4 before a release date reshuffle – is coming on February 11, 2022, and will see Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) as the new Thor (now officially called Mighty Thor). Chris Hemsworth will be back at the God of Thunder, while Tessa Thompson is playing Valkyrie for the third time in the MCU. Taika Waititi is also returning to direct and write Love and Thunder. The villain of the piece is reportedly none other than ex-Batman actor Christian Bale. The Batman (March 2022) Batman is a project that has certainly had more than its fair share of ups and downs. At one point this was to be a DC Extended Universe film directed by Ben Affleck and was going to feature the titular hero going up against Joe Manganiello as Deathstroke. But that’s not at all the form in which the movie now exists. Instead, director Matt Reeves is now at the helm, and the franchise has decided to go in a totally new direction with the Caped Crusader, specifically by hiring Robert Pattinson to play the new big-screen version of Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman for what can be described as an Elseworld story. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (March 2022) All has changed in the Sanctum Sanctorum for the Doctor Strange sequel, which is now slated for March 25, 2022. The sequel was initially meant to come before Thor: Love and Thunder but was moved to after in a release date reshuffle. Director Scott Derrickson, who helmed the original Doctor Strange, has departed Multiverse of Madness, citing “creative differences.” No replacement has yet been officially announced, though Sam Raimi told a conference call at which GamesRadar+ was present that he will be involved in the project. Many films are already in the pipelines including ‘Black Panther 2’, ‘Captain Marvel 2’ in the MCU and ‘Aquaman 2’, ‘The Flash’ in the DC Universe. This year, the superheroes, well-equipped to fight the Nazis, aliens, secret world and magical beings, found themselves lost in the pandemic. It’ll be nice to see how the heroes bring back hope in a world that has become more gloomy and dark. The makers will be at their wit’s end to include some fraction of the dramatic reality being experienced by all, the fans are all in to see that. The schedule till 2022 looks exciting, provided, no other virus attacks the world.

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Chadwick Boseman to Sean Connery: Hollywood stars we’ve lost in 2020

<p>The rise of the web has not only given us some great web series but also given rise to new filmmakers who have used the platform to showcase their short films. Films that may not have got a theatrical release, films that do not fall into the bracket of a feature film but still narrate powerful, poignant and endearing stories.<br />
<br />
In 2019, some very powerful stories were narrated on the web- both through series as well as short films. Its the last day of the year, and we bring to you the 7 most compelling short films of 2019. If you are planning to stay home and ring in the new year, bookmark these films and binge watch to the last few hours of 2019.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Siblings</strong><br />
<br />
Directed by Sheetal Menon and written by Bejoy Nambiar, 'Siblings' is a poignant story of a family grappling with finances and personal crisis even as one of the members lies in a comatose state. A story of two sisters and their daily struggles to run a house while taking care of their terminally ill father was a poignant tale about caregivers with powerful performances by Menon and Shivani Tanksale.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BJSZ8U1FRfg" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>Suno&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Experiment in the bedroom goes horribly wrong for a couple living a posh dwelling in a bit city. The wife lands up at work with bruises and is advised by prying neighbour to join a help group even though the husband keeps insisting that it was an accident and nothing more than that. Written by Aseem Kaul and directed Shubham Yogi, 'Suno' came in a year when there was a lot of debate over 'Kabir Singh' and the overall definition of love. A poignant film on concent and marital rape, 'Suno' had strong perfromances by its two actors- Amrita Puri and Sumeet Vyas.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nNekk07Qt2g" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>Sheher Ya Tum&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
A lyrical ode to Mumbai, its bustling life and young love, 'Sheher Ya Tum' makes you yearn your college life, remember your first love and fall in love with Mumbai city. Directed and written by Karan Asnani, the short film stood out for its charming lead- Yahya Bootwala.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hiFIkCF6SGU" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>The Perfect Match&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
In modern-day world how much do people believe in astrology and horoscope? Turns out, a lot! A quirky little film of a couple arguing over mismatched horoscopes, the film makes for a fun watch especially for its lead cast - Ashwani Kumar and Kalyani Pandit. The film has been directed by Neha Pawar.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cMb4CuyEuFs" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>Maun&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
Indian society has a tendency to keep mum about sexual crimes especially if the victim and the offender are known to the family. An eerie tale of a couple struggling to come to terms with the fact that their young daughter has been molested by a man they trust blindly, the film sends out an important message- that it is not okay to keep shut of such cases.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MFiO7udzjNE" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>Laddoo&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
'Laddoo' came out in a year that saw India protesting against the new Citizen Ammendment Act- a law that many feel divides India on the basis of religion. Directed by Sameer Sadhwani &amp; Kishor Sadhwani with script &amp; story by Pankaj Chaturvedi may have a child as its protagonist but gives out a powerful message about faith and religion and that despite its diverse cultures, India is one.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mjP6xroP5A0" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>Detour</strong><br />
<br />
Two strangers form an uncanny friendship while sharing a &nbsp;late-night&nbsp;cab ride in Mumbai and bond over music and films and other interests and forget work stress for a few hours. A simple, heartwarming tale directed by Sumi Mathai, the ten minute short features Vikrant Massey and Sayani Gupta.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wPz4C3aF70" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><strong>Notable mentions:</strong>&nbsp;'Bouma', 'Rogan Josh', 'Tu'</p>


The rise of the web has not only given us some great web series but also given rise to new filmmakers who have used the platform to showcase their short films. Films that may not have got a theatrical release, films that do not fall into the bracket of a feature film but still narrate powerful, poignant and endearing stories.

The rise of the web has not only given us some great web series but also given rise to new filmmakers who have used the platform to showcase their short films. Films that may not have got a theatrical release, films that do not fall into the bracket of a feature film but still narrate powerful, poignant and endearing stories. In 2019, some very powerful stories were narrated on the web- both through series as well as short films. Its the last day of the year, and we bring to you the 7 most compelling short films of 2019. If you are planning to stay home and ring in the new year, bookmark these films and binge watch to the last few hours of 2019. Siblings Directed by Sheetal Menon and written by Bejoy Nambiar, 'Siblings' is a poignant story of a family grappling with finances and personal crisis even as one of the members lies in a comatose state. A story of two sisters and their daily struggles to run a house while taking care of their terminally ill father was a poignant tale about caregivers with powerful performances by Menon and Shivani Tanksale. Suno Experiment in the bedroom goes horribly wrong for a couple living a posh dwelling in a bit city. The wife lands up at work with bruises and is advised by prying neighbour to join a help group even though the husband keeps insisting that it was an accident and nothing more than that. Written by Aseem Kaul and directed Shubham Yogi, 'Suno' came in a year when there was a lot of debate over 'Kabir Singh' and the overall definition of love. A poignant film on concent and marital rape, 'Suno' had strong perfromances by its two actors- Amrita Puri and Sumeet Vyas. Sheher Ya Tum A lyrical ode to Mumbai, its bustling life and young love, 'Sheher Ya Tum' makes you yearn your college life, remember your first love and fall in love with Mumbai city. Directed and written by Karan Asnani, the short film stood out for its charming lead- Yahya Bootwala. The Perfect Match In modern-day world how much do people believe in astrology and horoscope? Turns out, a lot! A quirky little film of a couple arguing over mismatched horoscopes, the film makes for a fun watch especially for its lead cast - Ashwani Kumar and Kalyani Pandit. The film has been directed by Neha Pawar. Maun Indian society has a tendency to keep mum about sexual crimes especially if the victim and the offender are known to the family. An eerie tale of a couple struggling to come to terms with the fact that their young daughter has been molested by a man they trust blindly, the film sends out an important message- that it is not okay to keep shut of such cases. Laddoo 'Laddoo' came out in a year that saw India protesting against the new Citizen Ammendment Act- a law that many feel divides India on the basis of religion. Directed by Sameer Sadhwani & Kishor Sadhwani with script & story by Pankaj Chaturvedi may have a child as its protagonist but gives out a powerful message about faith and religion and that despite its diverse cultures, India is one. Detour Two strangers form an uncanny friendship while sharing a late-night cab ride in Mumbai and bond over music and films and other interests and forget work stress for a few hours. A simple, heartwarming tale directed by Sumi Mathai, the ten minute short features Vikrant Massey and Sayani Gupta. Notable mentions: 'Bouma', 'Rogan Josh', 'Tu'

Yearender 2019: 7 Indian short films to binge watch this New Year's eve

Yearender 2019: The big Bollywood debuts of this year

‘Dabangg 3’ to ‘Panipat’: Movies that courted controversies this year

<p>In 2018, India's PV Sindhu scripted history when she became the first Indian to clinch the BWF World Tour Finals, but the year also had some downfalls for the badminton star.</p>

<p>Despite her hard work and dedication, the gold medal drought persisted until she finally laid her hands on the yellow metal by defeating 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara in Guangzhou, China.</p>

<p>This was her career's 14th title but year's first. Prior to this in 2018, she won silver at the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Thailand Open and India Open.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the All England Open Championships also, Sindhu made it to the top four, before losing to Akane Yamaguchi in the semi-final with the score 21-19, 19-21, 18-21. This was her best performance in this tournament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides winning silver in the singles event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Sindhu grabbed a gold in the mixed team event.&nbsp; She also won her second consecutive silver medal and her total fourth at the 2018 World Championships.</p>

<p>The Olympic silver medallist made the nation proud after winning a silver in Asian Games and went on to become became the first Indian to finish second on the podium.</p>

<p>Former shuttler and incumbent chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand played a huge part in shaping up Sindhu's dynamic career. He has set his eyes on ending the 18-year-old wait for an Indian to become an All England Champion next year.</p>

<p>As quoted by PTI, "For us, the 2020 would be a big one, and then 2022, so basically the Commonwealth, Asian Games and the Olympics are the big event but having said that the All England will be the target next year."</p>

<p>"It has been quite a while since we have won the All England Championship. It will be almost 20 years since Prakash sir won and then I won the Championship so I hope this time it doesn't take so long," he concluded.</p>

<p>Gopichand was the last Indian to win All England Championship in 2001. He achieved the coveted feat after 21 years of Prakash Padukone's 1980 title.</p>

<p>Now, the nation expects such a historic performance from Sindhu as well.&nbsp;</p>


In 2018, India's PV Sindhu scripted history when she became the first Indian to clinch the BWF World Tour Finals, but the year also had some downfalls for the badminton star.

In 2018, India's PV Sindhu scripted history when she became the first Indian to clinch the BWF World Tour Finals, but the year also had some downfalls for the badminton star. Despite her hard work and dedication, the gold medal drought persisted until she finally laid her hands on the yellow metal by defeating 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara in Guangzhou, China. This was her career's 14th title but year's first. Prior to this in 2018, she won silver at the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Thailand Open and India Open. At the All England Open Championships also, Sindhu made it to the top four, before losing to Akane Yamaguchi in the semi-final with the score 21-19, 19-21, 18-21. This was her best performance in this tournament. Besides winning silver in the singles event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Sindhu grabbed a gold in the mixed team event. She also won her second consecutive silver medal and her total fourth at the 2018 World Championships. The Olympic silver medallist made the nation proud after winning a silver in Asian Games and went on to become became the first Indian to finish second on the podium. Former shuttler and incumbent chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand played a huge part in shaping up Sindhu's dynamic career. He has set his eyes on ending the 18-year-old wait for an Indian to become an All England Champion next year. As quoted by PTI, "For us, the 2020 would be a big one, and then 2022, so basically the Commonwealth, Asian Games and the Olympics are the big event but having said that the All England will be the target next year." "It has been quite a while since we have won the All England Championship. It will be almost 20 years since Prakash sir won and then I won the Championship so I hope this time it doesn't take so long," he concluded. Gopichand was the last Indian to win All England Championship in 2001. He achieved the coveted feat after 21 years of Prakash Padukone's 1980 title. Now, the nation expects such a historic performance from Sindhu as well.

PV Sindhu's 2018 'ends well' with historic gold

<p>2018 FIFA World Cup was a celebration of the world’s most popular sport -football- delivering a daily dose of thrilling goals, saves, comebacks, triumphs and heartbreaks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fans across the world dropped everything to cheer for their country with huge displays of passion and emotion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At last, France were crowned the new champions after beating Croatia 4-2 in Moscow, bringing the month-long soccer spectacle to a close.</p>

<p>During the tournament, the world was treated to 169 total goals that more than lived up to the hype. Many World Cup records were broken in Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 45 knockout stage goals, 12 own goals and 10 game-winners scored after the 90th minute were each all-time highs.</p>

<p>Penalty kicks were awarded more frequently than ever before, with 29 given and 22 converted and the increase was undoubtedly spurred by the addition of video assistant referee technology.</p>

<p>The World Cup was full of great games to watch, but a few in specific will be talked about for years to come. Spain and Portugal’s 3-3 draw on the second day of the tournament was an amazing battle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>France’s nail-biting 4-3 win over Argentina in the Round of 16 kick-started the momentum for their title run.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kylian Mbappe announced himself on the global stage with a wonderful brace, and Benjamin Pavard scored one of the most beautiful goals in World Cup history when the French were trailing in the second half.</p>

<p>Toni Kroos’ miraculous game-winner against Sweden looked like it had rescued the Germans from an embarrassing early elimination.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sweden, meanwhile, went on to exceed expectations by reaching the quarterfinals, where they lost to England.</p>

<p>Four matches were decided by penalty shootouts, including Russia’s stunning victory over Spain in the Round of 16. The hosts nearly continued on to the semifinals after Mario Fernandes levelled the score in the 115th minute of their quarterfinal tie against Croatia, but the Russians' luck ran out after Fernandes missed his spot-kick in the shootout.</p>

<p>The Croats themselves were the tournament’s biggest surprise as no one predicted they would reach the final, but they did so with consistently solid performances and the excellent play of Luka Modric, who won the Golden Ball - awarded to the tournament’s most outstanding player.</p>

<p>The world will now wait more than four years for the next men’s World Cup, which will take place in the winter of 2022 in Qatar.&nbsp;</p>


2018 FIFA World Cup was a celebration of the world’s most popular sport -football- delivering a daily dose of thrilling goals, saves, comebacks, triumphs and heartbreaks.

2018 FIFA World Cup was a celebration of the world’s most popular sport -football- delivering a daily dose of thrilling goals, saves, comebacks, triumphs and heartbreaks. Fans across the world dropped everything to cheer for their country with huge displays of passion and emotion. At last, France were crowned the new champions after beating Croatia 4-2 in Moscow, bringing the month-long soccer spectacle to a close. During the tournament, the world was treated to 169 total goals that more than lived up to the hype. Many World Cup records were broken in Russia. The 45 knockout stage goals, 12 own goals and 10 game-winners scored after the 90th minute were each all-time highs. Penalty kicks were awarded more frequently than ever before, with 29 given and 22 converted and the increase was undoubtedly spurred by the addition of video assistant referee technology. The World Cup was full of great games to watch, but a few in specific will be talked about for years to come. Spain and Portugal’s 3-3 draw on the second day of the tournament was an amazing battle. France’s nail-biting 4-3 win over Argentina in the Round of 16 kick-started the momentum for their title run. Kylian Mbappe announced himself on the global stage with a wonderful brace, and Benjamin Pavard scored one of the most beautiful goals in World Cup history when the French were trailing in the second half. Toni Kroos’ miraculous game-winner against Sweden looked like it had rescued the Germans from an embarrassing early elimination. Sweden, meanwhile, went on to exceed expectations by reaching the quarterfinals, where they lost to England. Four matches were decided by penalty shootouts, including Russia’s stunning victory over Spain in the Round of 16. The hosts nearly continued on to the semifinals after Mario Fernandes levelled the score in the 115th minute of their quarterfinal tie against Croatia, but the Russians' luck ran out after Fernandes missed his spot-kick in the shootout. The Croats themselves were the tournament’s biggest surprise as no one predicted they would reach the final, but they did so with consistently solid performances and the excellent play of Luka Modric, who won the Golden Ball - awarded to the tournament’s most outstanding player. The world will now wait more than four years for the next men’s World Cup, which will take place in the winter of 2022 in Qatar.

2018 FIFA World Cup: Celebration of world’s most popular sport 'football'

<p>Over a year ago, in August 2017, Myanmar witnessed a conflict that sparked international concern. Western Myanmar’s Rakhine state saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing their homes following an army crackdown.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in the early hours of August 25, 2017, Myanmar troops swept through villages. United Nations agencies estimate as many as around 700,000 Rohingya to have since fled the land so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rohingyas who crossed the border reported killings, rapes and arson carried out by security forces, in what the UN's top human rights official said seemed to be a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing."</p>

<p>State Counsellor, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's government have denied allegations of atrocities made by the refugees, saying that security forces lawfully suppressed Muslim militants in Rakhine.</p>

<p>The ARSA had reiterated to “continue our struggle for our right to exist”. The group had "come to exist only to defend, salvage and protect Rohingya people."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Myanmar’s government, on the other hand, blames ARSA for the deaths of non-Muslim villagers as well as security personnel in last year's crackdown. The group denies targeting civilians.</p>

<p>International pressure continues to mount on Myanmar over the issue. Suu Kyi has faced the brunt to an extent that she was stripped off Amnesty International's most prestigious human rights prize earlier this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Suu Kyi has been accused of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority.</p>

<p>The Bangladesh government has also urged the global community to increase pressure on Myanmar to ensure the Rohingya repatriation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by UN investigators in August found that Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingyas with “genocidal intent,” and said the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted under international law.</p>

<p>That report called for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions as well as for the suspects to be tried by an ad hoc tribunal or referred to the ICC. However, diplomats say veto-wielding powers China and Russia are likely to protect Myanmar from UN action.</p>

<p>The latest report by Reuters suggests that while Myanmar's government promises Rohingya repatriation, the return looks increasingly unlikely going by the recent developments in the Rakhine state. The areas once inhabited by Muslim-majority inhabitants were subsequently destroyed and are now being rebuilt and occupied mainly by Buddhists, some from other parts of Rakhine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The government is both building some of the new homes and helping to facilitate the Buddhist resettlement push, according to local officials and new settlers. The campaign is being spearheaded by Buddhist nationalists who want to establish a Buddhist majority in the area, news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<p>With the passing of another year, the fate of Rohingya repatriation only seems to be stuck in limbo with a bleak ray of hope at the distant horizon.&nbsp;</p>


ARSA attacked 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in the early hours of August 25, 2017, Myanmar troops swept through villages

Over a year ago, in August 2017, Myanmar witnessed a conflict that sparked international concern. Western Myanmar’s Rakhine state saw hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing their homes following an army crackdown. The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked 30 Myanmar police posts and a military base in the early hours of August 25, 2017, Myanmar troops swept through villages. United Nations agencies estimate as many as around 700,000 Rohingya to have since fled the land so far. Rohingyas who crossed the border reported killings, rapes and arson carried out by security forces, in what the UN's top human rights official said seemed to be a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing." State Counsellor, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar's government have denied allegations of atrocities made by the refugees, saying that security forces lawfully suppressed Muslim militants in Rakhine. The ARSA had reiterated to “continue our struggle for our right to exist”. The group had "come to exist only to defend, salvage and protect Rohingya people." Myanmar’s government, on the other hand, blames ARSA for the deaths of non-Muslim villagers as well as security personnel in last year's crackdown. The group denies targeting civilians. International pressure continues to mount on Myanmar over the issue. Suu Kyi has faced the brunt to an extent that she was stripped off Amnesty International's most prestigious human rights prize earlier this year. Suu Kyi has been accused of perpetuating human rights abuses by not speaking out about the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The Bangladesh government has also urged the global community to increase pressure on Myanmar to ensure the Rohingya repatriation. A report by UN investigators in August found that Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingyas with “genocidal intent,” and said the commander-in-chief and five generals should be prosecuted under international law. That report called for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions as well as for the suspects to be tried by an ad hoc tribunal or referred to the ICC. However, diplomats say veto-wielding powers China and Russia are likely to protect Myanmar from UN action. The latest report by Reuters suggests that while Myanmar's government promises Rohingya repatriation, the return looks increasingly unlikely going by the recent developments in the Rakhine state. The areas once inhabited by Muslim-majority inhabitants were subsequently destroyed and are now being rebuilt and occupied mainly by Buddhists, some from other parts of Rakhine. The government is both building some of the new homes and helping to facilitate the Buddhist resettlement push, according to local officials and new settlers. The campaign is being spearheaded by Buddhist nationalists who want to establish a Buddhist majority in the area, news agency Reuters reported. With the passing of another year, the fate of Rohingya repatriation only seems to be stuck in limbo with a bleak ray of hope at the distant horizon.

Tale of Rohingya repatriation stuck in limbo: One of the biggest humanitarian crises of South Asia

From Mikaela Shiffrin's dominance to Naomi Osaka's breakthrough, here are 11 great moments from women's sport in 2018

Controversies from the entertainment world that shook 2018

<p>Argentine government worker Fabián Pennella lost his job on August 17, just as his country plunged deeper into economic crisis. On the same day, President Mauricio Macri acknowledged in a news conference that more Argentines were living in poverty.</p>

<p>In Argentina, 2018 has become the year of the "new poor."</p>

<p>Interest rates are at world highs, inflation is close to 50 per cent and the peso has lost nearly 50 per cent of its value against the dollar. Consumers have also faced wallet-emptying double-digit increases to electricity and gas bills and public transport fares, part of Macri's austerity program to balance the budget.</p>

<p>A drought crippling vital agricultural production, investor worries about Macri's ability to plug yawning fiscal and trade deficits, and higher US&nbsp;interest rates that sucked money from emerging markets combined to deliver a series of blows to Latin America's third-biggest economy in 2018.</p>

<p>In Buenos Aires, shops with final sale signs or steel security shutters drawn down are a common sight. Some Argentines have resorted to barter clubs to exchange food and clothes. Anecdotally, there is evidence more people are participating in the gig economy, renting out rooms on Airbnb or driving for Uber for extra income.</p>

<p>Pennella, 36, is one of those seeking a job with Uber.</p>

<p>Four months ago, he was an executive assistant at a state energy company where he had worked for ten years. He rented a suburban house, had a health plan for his family, and took regular holidays.</p>

<p>When he lost his job, his wife lost her income, too. She had sold home-made food at his office. No longer able to afford rent, Pennella, his wife and two young children have moved into an apartment on the ground floor of his parent's house.</p>

<p>The family's only income comes from odd jobs, like painting, that Pennella finds while he waits for Uber to approve his application.</p>

<p>Macri, a wealthy former mayor of Buenos Aires, won the presidential election in 2015 on his "Let's change" platform, an attractive message for voters exhausted by the corruption scandals and the country's frequent economic and political crises.</p>

<p>On taking office, Macri made good on his promises to eliminate capital controls, cut export taxes and float the peso, moves that pleased foreign investors. He also pledged to bring inflation down to single digits.</p>

<p>That hasn't happened. Economists now forecast the country will end 2018 with inflation touching 50 per cent.</p>

<p>One of the first storms to strike the economy with tornado-like force occurred in April, when yields on the US&nbsp;benchmark 10-year Treasury notes reached their highest in four years, battering emerging markets. Argentina was one of those, hit the hardest.</p>

<p>Over a period of three days, Argentina's central bank sold more than $2 billion in foreign reserves in a vain effort to stop a sharp devaluation of the peso.</p>

<p>As the peso continued to fall, the central bank increased interest rates in May to 40 per cent and Macri began emergency talks with the International Monetary Fund. In June, the IMF announced a $50 billion lifeline for Argentina.</p>

<p>Throughout the crisis, Macri has been highly visible on television, explaining to Argentines the steps his government is taking. Nevertheless, his approval ratings have tumbled.</p>

<p>Emiliano Di Ilio, a 38-year-old pharmacy owner, voted for Macri in the hope he could bring economic stability.</p>

<p>Macri has acknowledged that his austerity program is painful but also necessary to develop the economy.</p>

<p>Even as Argentines struggled to adjust to their new reality in the early months of 2018, another storm was brewing.</p>

<p>A devaluation in the Turkish lira on Aug. 10 reignited concerns over the vulnerability of emerging markets. The peso was in the line of fire. Within three days it had crashed to an all-time low against the dollar.</p>

<p>It was a fresh blow for Argentines already battling to make ends meet amid rampant inflation, fueled in part by subsidy cuts that led to a 70 per cent increase in gas prices, a 24 per cent hike in electricity bills and a 116 per cent jump in public transport fares over the year.</p>

<p>While the economic crisis is not on the same scale as the 2001-2002 meltdown, its impact is clearly visible along Florida Street, one of the capital's main shopping arteries. Some 20 per cent of its nearly 1,300 stores are unoccupied, according to a December report by the real estate firm Adrián Mercado.</p>

<p>The weak sales come against a background of rising unemployment, which climbed to 9 per cent in the third quarter, up from 8.3 per cent in the same period in 2017, according to official data.</p>

<p>Government data is expected to show poverty grew to 33 per cent by the end of the year from 27 per cent in the first half of 2018, said researcher Agustín Salvia at the Catholic University of Argentina. (A person earning less than $213 per month is considered to be living in poverty in Argentina.)</p>

<p>Argentina recently changed the way it measures poverty, so it is difficult to show a historical comparison. The 33 per cent figure would be the highest since 2016 and some researchers think it would be the highest in at least a decade.</p>

<p>Macri went on national television on Sept. 3 to announce emergency measures to halt a collapse in the peso and restore investor confidence.</p>

<p>The central bank had already raised interest rates to 60 per cent. Now Macri's government announced a tax on exports, a halving of government ministries and other measures to cut spending. The following month Argentina secured $7 billion in additional funding from the IMF.</p>

<p>Those measures, along with a tighter monetary policy and an austere budget passed by Congress in October, have helped stabilise the peso. Economists expect the recession to bottom out in the first quarter of 2019.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


In Argentina, 2018 has become the year of the 'new poor.'

Argentine government worker Fabián Pennella lost his job on August 17, just as his country plunged deeper into economic crisis. On the same day, President Mauricio Macri acknowledged in a news conference that more Argentines were living in poverty. In Argentina, 2018 has become the year of the "new poor." Interest rates are at world highs, inflation is close to 50 per cent and the peso has lost nearly 50 per cent of its value against the dollar. Consumers have also faced wallet-emptying double-digit increases to electricity and gas bills and public transport fares, part of Macri's austerity program to balance the budget. A drought crippling vital agricultural production, investor worries about Macri's ability to plug yawning fiscal and trade deficits, and higher US interest rates that sucked money from emerging markets combined to deliver a series of blows to Latin America's third-biggest economy in 2018. In Buenos Aires, shops with final sale signs or steel security shutters drawn down are a common sight. Some Argentines have resorted to barter clubs to exchange food and clothes. Anecdotally, there is evidence more people are participating in the gig economy, renting out rooms on Airbnb or driving for Uber for extra income. Pennella, 36, is one of those seeking a job with Uber. Four months ago, he was an executive assistant at a state energy company where he had worked for ten years. He rented a suburban house, had a health plan for his family, and took regular holidays. When he lost his job, his wife lost her income, too. She had sold home-made food at his office. No longer able to afford rent, Pennella, his wife and two young children have moved into an apartment on the ground floor of his parent's house. The family's only income comes from odd jobs, like painting, that Pennella finds while he waits for Uber to approve his application. Macri, a wealthy former mayor of Buenos Aires, won the presidential election in 2015 on his "Let's change" platform, an attractive message for voters exhausted by the corruption scandals and the country's frequent economic and political crises. On taking office, Macri made good on his promises to eliminate capital controls, cut export taxes and float the peso, moves that pleased foreign investors. He also pledged to bring inflation down to single digits. That hasn't happened. Economists now forecast the country will end 2018 with inflation touching 50 per cent. One of the first storms to strike the economy with tornado-like force occurred in April, when yields on the US benchmark 10-year Treasury notes reached their highest in four years, battering emerging markets. Argentina was one of those, hit the hardest. Over a period of three days, Argentina's central bank sold more than $2 billion in foreign reserves in a vain effort to stop a sharp devaluation of the peso. As the peso continued to fall, the central bank increased interest rates in May to 40 per cent and Macri began emergency talks with the International Monetary Fund. In June, the IMF announced a $50 billion lifeline for Argentina. Throughout the crisis, Macri has been highly visible on television, explaining to Argentines the steps his government is taking. Nevertheless, his approval ratings have tumbled. Emiliano Di Ilio, a 38-year-old pharmacy owner, voted for Macri in the hope he could bring economic stability. Macri has acknowledged that his austerity program is painful but also necessary to develop the economy. Even as Argentines struggled to adjust to their new reality in the early months of 2018, another storm was brewing. A devaluation in the Turkish lira on Aug. 10 reignited concerns over the vulnerability of emerging markets. The peso was in the line of fire. Within three days it had crashed to an all-time low against the dollar. It was a fresh blow for Argentines already battling to make ends meet amid rampant inflation, fueled in part by subsidy cuts that led to a 70 per cent increase in gas prices, a 24 per cent hike in electricity bills and a 116 per cent jump in public transport fares over the year. While the economic crisis is not on the same scale as the 2001-2002 meltdown, its impact is clearly visible along Florida Street, one of the capital's main shopping arteries. Some 20 per cent of its nearly 1,300 stores are unoccupied, according to a December report by the real estate firm Adrián Mercado. The weak sales come against a background of rising unemployment, which climbed to 9 per cent in the third quarter, up from 8.3 per cent in the same period in 2017, according to official data. Government data is expected to show poverty grew to 33 per cent by the end of the year from 27 per cent in the first half of 2018, said researcher Agustín Salvia at the Catholic University of Argentina. (A person earning less than $213 per month is considered to be living in poverty in Argentina.) Argentina recently changed the way it measures poverty, so it is difficult to show a historical comparison. The 33 per cent figure would be the highest since 2016 and some researchers think it would be the highest in at least a decade. Macri went on national television on Sept. 3 to announce emergency measures to halt a collapse in the peso and restore investor confidence. The central bank had already raised interest rates to 60 per cent. Now Macri's government announced a tax on exports, a halving of government ministries and other measures to cut spending. The following month Argentina secured $7 billion in additional funding from the IMF. Those measures, along with a tighter monetary policy and an austere budget passed by Congress in October, have helped stabilise the peso. Economists expect the recession to bottom out in the first quarter of 2019.

How a year of 'endless storms' battered Argentina's economy

This list might or might not surprise you but former adult star-turned-actress Sunny Leone is this year’s most searched celebrity on Google. She replaced every other entertainment star or politician.

This list might or might not surprise you but former adult star-turned-actress Sunny Leone is this year’s most searched celebrity on Google. She replaced every other entertainment star or politician. View this post on Instagram Hope all your Christmas wishes came true !!! 😜😍 A post shared by Sunny Leone (@sunnyleone) on Dec 25, 2018 at 9:21am PST × Following her closely, come Salman Khan and Indian PM Narendra Modi. View this post on Instagram This is how I am preparing for Bigg Boss season 12 #BB12 A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Sep 14, 2018 at 6:16am PDT × For those who want details, Salman was searched with respect to his films or songs but the actress’ searches were all about who looked hot and sexy, according to a recent analysis of this year’s Google trends by an Indian daily. Among the actresses, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma made it to the list. View this post on Instagram much to celebrate...🖤 A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Dec 20, 2018 at 10:02am PST × View this post on Instagram 🦋 A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif) on Dec 4, 2018 at 8:45am PST × According to the report, Bhojpuri films were searched a lot more than Bollywood films. Another surprise entrant to the list was Priya Prakash Varrier, who got famous for a video that went viral. In the video, she was seen winking at her co-star. The clip was from her debut film. View this post on Instagram 🎈PC: @albert_will.i.am A post shared by priya prakash varrier (@priya.p.varrier) on Dec 27, 2018 at 2:25am PST ×

The most searched Indian celebrities of 2018

<p>This week, Google released its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/technology/this-was-the-most-googled-how-to-query-of-2018-in-india-186609">annual global and country-specific list for 2018</a>, a list of top trends of the online world. In India, this year's list was dominated by mostly sports topic as the five out 10 topics were related to that only. in comparison to last year's which mostly had&nbsp;the&nbsp;usual showbiz and cricket.</p>

<p>Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018 in overall category:</p>

<p><strong>FIFA World Cup 2018</strong></p>

<p>The 21st edition of FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event on earth was played from June 14 to July 15 in multiple cities of Russia. It was keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. France won the World Cup and clinched the most coveted - the hand and ball - trophy after defeating Croatia. FIFA tops the google search list due to its popularity and crazy fan following.</p>

<p><strong>Live Score</strong></p>

<p>With a rapid increase in digitalisation, the medium of entertainment and consuming information is also being digitised. Ranked at the second number, "Live score" proved people now prefer to watch sports, entertainment shows, news on their mobile phone or any other digital device.</p>

<p><strong>IPL 2018</strong></p>

<p>The 11th edition of Indian Premier League 2018, began on April 7 and concluded on May 27. It featured a total of eight teams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year's season saw a return of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai and Ajinkya Rahane led Rajasthan team after serving two years of suspension for the involvement of their respective owners in the 2013 IPL betting case.</p>

<p>Chennai team grabbed their third title after they won by 8 wickets against Hyderabad team.</p>

<p><strong>Karnataka election </strong><strong>resu</strong><strong>lts</strong></p>

<p>The 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election was a hard-fought battle for 222 constituencies in the state. The election saw a voter turnout of 72.13 per cent, the highest in Karnataka since 1952 assembly polls. The counting of votes took place on 15 May 2018.</p>

<p>The election led to a hung assembly, with the BJP emerging as the largest party, with 104 seats, but failing to win a majority.</p>

<p><strong>Baal Veer</strong></p>

<p>Baal Veer is a children's Indian fantasy television series that broadcasted on SAB TV. The series successfully ran from 8 October 2012 to 4 November 2016 and aired 1111 episodes. A Tamil dubbed version of the show airs on Chutti TV.</p>

<p>The show is off air now but the repeat telecast airs on Sony Pal.</p>

<p>The most search topics in the overall category the list also included, reality show Big Boss, recently released Robot 2.0, Asia Cup 2018, animated sitcom Motu Patlu and Asian Games 2018.</p>

<p>Google's global 'Year in Search' list for 2018 included FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.</p>


Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018 in the overall category.

This week, Google released its annual global and country-specific list for 2018, a list of top trends of the online world. In India, this year's list was dominated by mostly sports topic as the five out 10 topics were related to that only. in comparison to last year's which mostly had the usual showbiz and cricket. Here are the top-trending Google searches of 2018 in overall category: FIFA World Cup 2018 The 21st edition of FIFA World Cup, the biggest sporting event on earth was played from June 14 to July 15 in multiple cities of Russia. It was keenly followed by thousands of fans around the world. France won the World Cup and clinched the most coveted - the hand and ball - trophy after defeating Croatia. FIFA tops the google search list due to its popularity and crazy fan following. Live Score With a rapid increase in digitalisation, the medium of entertainment and consuming information is also being digitised. Ranked at the second number, "Live score" proved people now prefer to watch sports, entertainment shows, news on their mobile phone or any other digital device. IPL 2018 The 11th edition of Indian Premier League 2018, began on April 7 and concluded on May 27. It featured a total of eight teams. This year's season saw a return of the Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai and Ajinkya Rahane led Rajasthan team after serving two years of suspension for the involvement of their respective owners in the 2013 IPL betting case. Chennai team grabbed their third title after they won by 8 wickets against Hyderabad team. Karnataka election results The 2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election was a hard-fought battle for 222 constituencies in the state. The election saw a voter turnout of 72.13 per cent, the highest in Karnataka since 1952 assembly polls. The counting of votes took place on 15 May 2018. The election led to a hung assembly, with the BJP emerging as the largest party, with 104 seats, but failing to win a majority. Baal Veer Baal Veer is a children's Indian fantasy television series that broadcasted on SAB TV. The series successfully ran from 8 October 2012 to 4 November 2016 and aired 1111 episodes. A Tamil dubbed version of the show airs on Chutti TV. The show is off air now but the repeat telecast airs on Sony Pal. The most search topics in the overall category the list also included, reality show Big Boss, recently released Robot 2.0, Asia Cup 2018, animated sitcom Motu Patlu and Asian Games 2018. Google's global 'Year in Search' list for 2018 included FIFA World Cup, natural disasters, a royal wedding and many more.

Google search in year: These are India's most trending topics of 2018

<p>With record-breaking performances across the world, the year 2018 was nothing short of spectacular when it comes to international sporting events. Indian sportspersons, in particular, were second to none in many categories with many breaking existing world records and scripting history.</p>

<p>Indian boxing star Mary Kom was one such name who deserves a special mention as we summarise the year. The 35-year-old became the most successful female boxer in World Championships history after clinching her sixth gold medal in November.</p>

<p>She defeated Ukraine's Hanna Okhota 5-0 in the final of the 48kg category contest in front of an electric home crowd. The results read 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 in favour of 'Magnificent Mary'.</p>

<p>Her sixth gold&nbsp;took&nbsp;her past Ireland's Katie Taylor, and&nbsp;at par&nbsp;with the men's record held by Cuban legend Felix Savon. Mary Kom, mother-of-three, managed to deliver what no other woman boxer has done or known before.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The feisty Manipuri was awarded Arjuna Award for boxing in 2003, Padma Shri in 2006, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2009,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Padma Bhushan in 2013 by the Indian government for her contribution to the sport.</p>

<p>Kom, who was the subject of a Bollywood film in 2014, won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games and without breaking a sweat, she expressed her hunger for clinching gold in the upcoming Summer Olympics.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Just after winning the historic World Championships title, Mary talked about her qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she said, "I feel I will be able to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics."</p>

<p>Lately, there is uncertainty about boxing's inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo and boxing is fighting for its Olympic future due to&nbsp;a clash&nbsp;between International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).</p>

<p>Even if the sports gets a green light, Kom is also aware that qualification will be difficult as she mentioned, "I know it will be a bit difficult for me to win a gold in Tokyo as I will have to fight in 51kg."</p>

<p>"Because of their reach, the taller boxers (who will be in 51kg) will have advantage. But I am still dreaming about winning the gold in 2020 Olympics," she added.</p>

<p>Despite that, Mary Kom is eying the shiny bright yellow metal in the Summer Games, 2020. She is also an animal rights activist and a&nbsp;Member of the Rajya Sabha, the&nbsp;Upper&nbsp;House of Indian Parliament in 2016.</p>


With record-breaking performances across the world, the year 2018 was nothing short of spectacular when it comes to international sporting events. Indian sportspersons, in particular, were second to none in many categories with many breaking existing world records and scripting history.

With record-breaking performances across the world, the year 2018 was nothing short of spectacular when it comes to international sporting events. Indian sportspersons, in particular, were second to none in many categories with many breaking existing world records and scripting history. Indian boxing star Mary Kom was one such name who deserves a special mention as we summarise the year. The 35-year-old became the most successful female boxer in World Championships history after clinching her sixth gold medal in November. She defeated Ukraine's Hanna Okhota 5-0 in the final of the 48kg category contest in front of an electric home crowd. The results read 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 in favour of 'Magnificent Mary'. Her sixth gold took her past Ireland's Katie Taylor, and at par with the men's record held by Cuban legend Felix Savon. Mary Kom, mother-of-three, managed to deliver what no other woman boxer has done or known before. The feisty Manipuri was awarded Arjuna Award for boxing in 2003, Padma Shri in 2006, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2009, and Padma Bhushan in 2013 by the Indian government for her contribution to the sport. Kom, who was the subject of a Bollywood film in 2014, won bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games and without breaking a sweat, she expressed her hunger for clinching gold in the upcoming Summer Olympics. Just after winning the historic World Championships title, Mary talked about her qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she said, "I feel I will be able to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympics." Lately, there is uncertainty about boxing's inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo and boxing is fighting for its Olympic future due to a clash between International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC). Even if the sports gets a green light, Kom is also aware that qualification will be difficult as she mentioned, "I know it will be a bit difficult for me to win a gold in Tokyo as I will have to fight in 51kg." "Because of their reach, the taller boxers (who will be in 51kg) will have advantage. But I am still dreaming about winning the gold in 2020 Olympics," she added. Despite that, Mary Kom is eying the shiny bright yellow metal in the Summer Games, 2020. She is also an animal rights activist and a Member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Indian Parliament in 2016.

After historic performance in 2018, Mary Kom eyes Olympic gold medal

<p>No one would have predicted Vicky Kaushal's stardom back in 2015 when he had made his debut in Neeraj Ghaywan's critically acclaimed film 'Masaan'. A poignant film on love and loss, the film was a favourite in almost every international film festival but was not really a commercial success back home. It was critically lauded for sure, but one would have never thought that its male lead- a tall, unconventional looking, the lanky boy would become the nation's favourite actor, three years down the line.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The man, who started with art-house cinema, made a transition to more commercial space this year with two big-budget films- 'Sanju' and 'Manmarziyaan'- but also balanced it out with two digital, small-budget films- 'Love Per Square Foot' and 'Lust Stories'. Each of the films had him playing strikingly different characters but Kaushal aced in almost all of them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ranbir Kapoor may have won the maximum accolades for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-sanju-review-ranbir-kapoor-and-vicky-kaushal-shine-in-hiranis-version-of-dutts-story-147872">Rajkumar Hirani's flawed biopic 'Sanju',</a> but if there's one person who stood out amid a crowd of very well-known faces, it was Kaushal whose performance as the socially awkward Kamlesh or Kamli struck a chord with one and all.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Kaushal's role was not the main lead. Hirani's 'Sanju' was primarily a father-son story but Kaushal's sheer talent and his on-screen camaraderie with Ranbir made the film also a story of two friends. &nbsp;Kamli's as a character could have easily been forgotten as just one of the supporting acts in the film. But Kaushal managed to shine and make people sit up and notice his character of a friendly Gujarati businessman in the US who befriended Sanju as he and his family were grappling with the sudden demise of Nargis Dutt. &nbsp;Kaushal's performance left such an impact that it got people curious about the actual person on whom the character was based.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o63l7-7FS5E" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>'Sanju' was not the first time this year that Kaushal impressed critics and fans alike with his performance. His last release before 'Sanju' was in Karan Johar's &nbsp;story on Netflix' production 'Lust Stories.' A film primarily about women and their sexual desires, Kaushal's buffoonery struck a chord with one and all. Kaushal played an ignorant husband whose pleasure in bed comes literally in five thrusts much to his wife's (Kiara Advani) dismay. &nbsp;Kaushal's role was an unconventional one. A role that perhaps a lot of actors would be apprehensive to play as it did not glorify his machismo, instead poked fun at his inadequacies in bed. Yet Kaushal's performance stood out despite some the strong portrayals by the women.<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-lust-stories-review-the-film-is-lot-more-than-the-four-letter-word-and-thank-god-for-that-144329"> Read the review of 'Lust Stories here.&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>Of the five films that the actor was seen in this year, in three, Kaushal did not play the central character- yet managed to leave a lasting impression in each of these films. Each of the characters was strikingly different but Kaushal was convincing in all these parts. Be it as the supportive husband whose world comes crashing as he finds out <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-raazi-review-alia-bhatt-vicky-kaushals-film-serves-as-a-textbook-example-on-how-to-make-espionage-films-sans-jingoism--136082">his wife is a spy in 'Raazi'</a>, or the ambitious guy craving to own a space of his own in the ever-growing &nbsp;city of Mumbai in 'Love Per Square Foot' or even as the commitment-phobic, undecided Vicky in Anurag Kashyap's 'Manmarziyaan', Kaushal made each of the characters his own.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="raazi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b8e94e8-7d1a-40f2-8278-f7d5047ccf97" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/raazi.jpg" /></p>

<p>Vicky of 'Manmarziyaan' was a complex character. A man-child who just understood one word- Rumi, the girl he loved. He lacked ambition, he lacked any kind of vision, did not have a plan and yet was somehow extremely endearing. It was also diametrically opposite to Kaushal's character Iqbal in 'Raazi' where he played the responsible, righteous husband to Sehmat.<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/manmarziyaan-review-taapsee-pannu-vicky-kaushal-and-abhishek-bachchans-film-is-all-heart-165538?src=fb&amp;fbclid=IwAR2tbQwLSQ8sf92SVfSvRPH_9KCqho2eMsC-T3F4NX12_Rv5WOpDE_YrXBQ"> Read the review of 'Manmarziyaan' here.&nbsp;</a></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wFStAQnsvJ8" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Kaushal first appeared in a small role in 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana' but it was his performance as the lovelorn Deepak in 'Masaan' that made people sit up and take notice of him. Your heart went out for him as he cried his heart out after cremating his girlfriend. His second film, 'Zubaan', had him playing a conflicted person who finds solace in music. And while the 'Masaan' and 'Zubaan' presented a softer side of the actor, Anurag Kashyap's 'Raman Raghav 2.0' had Kaushal playing a strikingly different role as the antagonist. His character was dark, evil and someone you would easily like to hate. And the actor aced it making Raghav one of the darkest characters that Bollywood has seen in recent times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Bollywood, it is easy to get typecast soon. So credit must be given to Vicky Kaushal for steering away from the herd and choosing characters that matter irrespective of the screentime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He may be a few films old, but Vicky Kaushal, in a very short span of time has become one of the most dependable names in Bollywood. He takes risks, he experiments and manages to surprise the viewer with his talent one film at a time.&nbsp;</p>


No one would have predicted Vicky Kaushal's stardom back in 2015 when he had made his debut in Neeraj Ghaywan's critically acclaimed film 'Masaan'. A poignant film on love and loss, the film was a favourite in almost every international film festival but was not really a commercial success back home.

No one would have predicted Vicky Kaushal's stardom back in 2015 when he had made his debut in Neeraj Ghaywan's critically acclaimed film 'Masaan'. A poignant film on love and loss, the film was a favourite in almost every international film festival but was not really a commercial success back home. It was critically lauded for sure, but one would have never thought that its male lead- a tall, unconventional looking, the lanky boy would become the nation's favourite actor, three years down the line. The man, who started with art-house cinema, made a transition to more commercial space this year with two big-budget films- 'Sanju' and 'Manmarziyaan'- but also balanced it out with two digital, small-budget films- 'Love Per Square Foot' and 'Lust Stories'. Each of the films had him playing strikingly different characters but Kaushal aced in almost all of them. Ranbir Kapoor may have won the maximum accolades for Rajkumar Hirani's flawed biopic 'Sanju', but if there's one person who stood out amid a crowd of very well-known faces, it was Kaushal whose performance as the socially awkward Kamlesh or Kamli struck a chord with one and all. Kaushal's role was not the main lead. Hirani's 'Sanju' was primarily a father-son story but Kaushal's sheer talent and his on-screen camaraderie with Ranbir made the film also a story of two friends. Kamli's as a character could have easily been forgotten as just one of the supporting acts in the film. But Kaushal managed to shine and make people sit up and notice his character of a friendly Gujarati businessman in the US who befriended Sanju as he and his family were grappling with the sudden demise of Nargis Dutt. Kaushal's performance left such an impact that it got people curious about the actual person on whom the character was based. 'Sanju' was not the first time this year that Kaushal impressed critics and fans alike with his performance. His last release before 'Sanju' was in Karan Johar's story on Netflix' production 'Lust Stories.' A film primarily about women and their sexual desires, Kaushal's buffoonery struck a chord with one and all. Kaushal played an ignorant husband whose pleasure in bed comes literally in five thrusts much to his wife's (Kiara Advani) dismay. Kaushal's role was an unconventional one. A role that perhaps a lot of actors would be apprehensive to play as it did not glorify his machismo, instead poked fun at his inadequacies in bed. Yet Kaushal's performance stood out despite some the strong portrayals by the women. Read the review of 'Lust Stories here. Of the five films that the actor was seen in this year, in three, Kaushal did not play the central character- yet managed to leave a lasting impression in each of these films. Each of the characters was strikingly different but Kaushal was convincing in all these parts. Be it as the supportive husband whose world comes crashing as he finds out his wife is a spy in 'Raazi', or the ambitious guy craving to own a space of his own in the ever-growing city of Mumbai in 'Love Per Square Foot' or even as the commitment-phobic, undecided Vicky in Anurag Kashyap's 'Manmarziyaan', Kaushal made each of the characters his own. Vicky of 'Manmarziyaan' was a complex character. A man-child who just understood one word- Rumi, the girl he loved. He lacked ambition, he lacked any kind of vision, did not have a plan and yet was somehow extremely endearing. It was also diametrically opposite to Kaushal's character Iqbal in 'Raazi' where he played the responsible, righteous husband to Sehmat. Read the review of 'Manmarziyaan' here. Kaushal first appeared in a small role in 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana' but it was his performance as the lovelorn Deepak in 'Masaan' that made people sit up and take notice of him. Your heart went out for him as he cried his heart out after cremating his girlfriend. His second film, 'Zubaan', had him playing a conflicted person who finds solace in music. And while the 'Masaan' and 'Zubaan' presented a softer side of the actor, Anurag Kashyap's 'Raman Raghav 2.0' had Kaushal playing a strikingly different role as the antagonist. His character was dark, evil and someone you would easily like to hate. And the actor aced it making Raghav one of the darkest characters that Bollywood has seen in recent times. In Bollywood, it is easy to get typecast soon. So credit must be given to Vicky Kaushal for steering away from the herd and choosing characters that matter irrespective of the screentime. He may be a few films old, but Vicky Kaushal, in a very short span of time has become one of the most dependable names in Bollywood. He takes risks, he experiments and manages to surprise the viewer with his talent one film at a time.

'Raazi' to 'Manmarziyaan': How Vicky Kaushal became the country's favourite actor in 2018

<p>Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to the court after a 14-month maternity leave, but at times it appeared like she'd never missed a day.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
If Serena looks back on her 2018 season, she just might find it to be the most meaningful as she returned to the court this past March a wife, a mother and an American tennis star.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
She donned a Marvel-worthy cat suit at the French Open and reached the final at the Wimbledon, but it was the impact she made off the court and during a final that set her apart.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The former world No1 had already revealed in an interview that she was bedridden for six weeks after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia last year following an emergency caesarean section.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
“First my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism. I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from travelling to my lungs,” Serena had revealed.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Aiming to return to No 1 spot, Williams took to the court at Roland Garros wearing her 'Black Panther' cat suit which she insisted also performed a key health role for a woman who had suffered life-threatening blood clots when giving birth last year.<br />
<br />
However, weeks after the tournament ended, French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli created a uproar saying the cat suit would be banned as “one must respect the game and the place.”<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Things turned sour with many supporting the former No 1 while some agreeing for a proper dress code for the professional tournament like French Open.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
However, the major controversy that tainted Serena's image during the US Open final against Naomi Osaka in September when chair umpire Carlos Ramos handed Williams a rare coaching penalty in the second set.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Williams was given a game penalty for her outburst, which followed racquet smashing and another code violation as Osaka won 6-2 6-4 in New York. She believed the penalty could be interpreted as her being called a cheater and frustrated with that she raised her voice, "I'd rather lose than cheat."<br />
&nbsp;<br />
The crowd largely reacted in defence of Williams but in the days after the match, many people who had once praised her began to question her behaviour.</p>


Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to the court after a 14-month maternity leave, but at times it appeared like she'd never missed a day. That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that.

Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to the court after a 14-month maternity leave, but at times it appeared like she'd never missed a day. That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that. If Serena looks back on her 2018 season, she just might find it to be the most meaningful as she returned to the court this past March a wife, a mother and an American tennis star. She donned a Marvel-worthy cat suit at the French Open and reached the final at the Wimbledon, but it was the impact she made off the court and during a final that set her apart. The former world No1 had already revealed in an interview that she was bedridden for six weeks after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia last year following an emergency caesarean section. “First my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism. I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from travelling to my lungs,” Serena had revealed. Aiming to return to No 1 spot, Williams took to the court at Roland Garros wearing her 'Black Panther' cat suit which she insisted also performed a key health role for a woman who had suffered life-threatening blood clots when giving birth last year. However, weeks after the tournament ended, French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli created a uproar saying the cat suit would be banned as “one must respect the game and the place.” Things turned sour with many supporting the former No 1 while some agreeing for a proper dress code for the professional tournament like French Open. However, the major controversy that tainted Serena's image during the US Open final against Naomi Osaka in September when chair umpire Carlos Ramos handed Williams a rare coaching penalty in the second set. Williams was given a game penalty for her outburst, which followed racquet smashing and another code violation as Osaka won 6-2 6-4 in New York. She believed the penalty could be interpreted as her being called a cheater and frustrated with that she raised her voice, "I'd rather lose than cheat." The crowd largely reacted in defence of Williams but in the days after the match, many people who had once praised her began to question her behaviour.

Serena Williams’ 2018: 3 major appearances, 2 Grand Slam finals and an infamous controversy

<p>We saw a lot of loss of life this year but one that will stay for generations to come is that of Marvel comic book legend, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/stan-lee-creator-of-spider-man-and-other-marvel-superheroes-dead-at-95-176950">Stan Lee</a>. Died at the age of 95, the creative genius left the world on November 12, 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The man behind Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Panther and a number of other Marvel Comics superheroes that became mythic figures in pop culture, made his story a success story starting from almost nothing. He turned a company that was declared bankrupt in 1996 to one that gained global recognition generating billions of dollars a year, with hard work and dedication.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lee was born as Stanley Martin Lieber in New York on December 28, 1922, the son of Jewish immigrants from Romania. At age 17, he became an errand boy at Timely Comics, the company that eventually became Marvel. He started with writing duties and promotions. He penned Western stories and romances, as well as superhero tales, and often wrote standing on the porch of the Long Island, New York, home he shared with his wife, actress Joan Lee, whom he married in 1947.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a writer and editor, Lee was key to the ascension of Marvel into a comic book titan in the 1960s when, in collaboration with artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he created superheroes who would enthral generations of young readers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/iron-man-spider-man-the-hulk-the-superheroes-that-stan-lee-created-177050"><em>In pictures: From Spider-Man to Black Panther, the many superheroes Stan Lee made</em></a></p>

<p>In a statement, at the time of his death, daughter J C Lee said: "He felt an obligation to his fans to keep creating. He loved his life and he loved what he did for a living. His family loved him and his fans loved him. He was irreplaceable."</p>

<p>Fans from all around the world including Hollywood’s A-listers who starred in films in the superhero roles he envisioned, took to their social media profiles, to pay tribute to the one and only, Stan Lee.</p>

<p>Apart from creating these characters, he also made cameo appearances in most Marvel films -- pulling a girl away from falling debris in 2002's ‘Spider-Man’ and serving as an emcee at a strip club in 2016's ‘Deadpool.’ In the 2018 box-office hit ‘Black Panther,’ which featured Lee's leading black superhero, he was a casino patron.</p>

<p>In 2008, Lee was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest government award for creative artists. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.&nbsp;</p>


We saw a lot of loss of life this year but one that will stay for generations to come is that of Marvel comic book legend, Stan Lee. Died at the age of 95, the creative genius left the world on November 12, 2018.

We saw a lot of loss of life this year but one that will stay for generations to come is that of Marvel comic book legend, Stan Lee. Died at the age of 95, the creative genius left the world on November 12, 2018. The man behind Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Panther and a number of other Marvel Comics superheroes that became mythic figures in pop culture, made his story a success story starting from almost nothing. He turned a company that was declared bankrupt in 1996 to one that gained global recognition generating billions of dollars a year, with hard work and dedication. Lee was born as Stanley Martin Lieber in New York on December 28, 1922, the son of Jewish immigrants from Romania. At age 17, he became an errand boy at Timely Comics, the company that eventually became Marvel. He started with writing duties and promotions. He penned Western stories and romances, as well as superhero tales, and often wrote standing on the porch of the Long Island, New York, home he shared with his wife, actress Joan Lee, whom he married in 1947. As a writer and editor, Lee was key to the ascension of Marvel into a comic book titan in the 1960s when, in collaboration with artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he created superheroes who would enthral generations of young readers. In pictures: From Spider-Man to Black Panther, the many superheroes Stan Lee made In a statement, at the time of his death, daughter J C Lee said: "He felt an obligation to his fans to keep creating. He loved his life and he loved what he did for a living. His family loved him and his fans loved him. He was irreplaceable." Fans from all around the world including Hollywood’s A-listers who starred in films in the superhero roles he envisioned, took to their social media profiles, to pay tribute to the one and only, Stan Lee. Apart from creating these characters, he also made cameo appearances in most Marvel films -- pulling a girl away from falling debris in 2002's ‘Spider-Man’ and serving as an emcee at a strip club in 2016's ‘Deadpool.’ In the 2018 box-office hit ‘Black Panther,’ which featured Lee's leading black superhero, he was a casino patron. In 2008, Lee was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest government award for creative artists. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Stan Lee: The irreplaceable loss of Marvel comic book legend

<p>One of the major upheavals in South Asia this year was the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rally-to-mark-one-year-since-arrest-of-myanmar-reuters-journalists-183375"> jailing of two Reuters journalists</a>, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The journalists were detained in Myanmar since December 12, 2017. At the time of their arrests, they had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in Rakhine state. The reporters were sentenced to seven years in jail under the Official Secrets Act in September 2018.</p>

<p>As per reports, the journalists were arrested in Yangon, Myanmar after being invited to meet the police at a restaurant. The reporters were held incommunicado at a secret interrogation camp for the next two weeks.</p>

<p>The reporters, who pleaded not guilty, said they were handed papers by police shortly before they were detained, and a police witness testified that they had been set up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The pre-trial hearings in the case began on January 10, 2018. The same day, the military said that its soldiers murdered 10 captured Muslims, whose bodies were previously discovered by security forces in a mass grave in Rakhine, during insurgent attacks.</p>

<p>The next major development came in February when news agency Reuters published the investigation that the two reporters had been working on. The publication described Myanmar’s security forces and local Rakhine Buddhists’ involvement in the killing of the 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys buried in the mass grave at Inn Din.</p>

<p>The government said it would take action against the members of its security forces involved in the killings, ruling out any relation to the Reuters report.<br />
In March, leading human rights lawyer Amal Clooney joined the legal team representing the two journalists. She stated that the two reporters are being wrongly prosecuted for reporting news.</p>

<p>“Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are being prosecuted simply because they reported the news,” Clooney said in a statement.</p>

<p>On July 9, the reporters were charged for breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Both journalists pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, telling Yangon district judge Ye Lwin they “followed journalistic ethics,” news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<p>In less than a fortnight, on July 16, one of the reporters gave the first detailed of what exactly happened the night when both the reporters were arrested. Wa Lone stated that Police Lance Corporal Naing Lin had called him at least twice on December 12, demanding a meeting at which the officer abruptly handed both reporters some papers. Lone added that they were arrested by plainclothes officers almost immediately after Naing Lin gave him the papers, which he did not have time to look at.</p>

<p>Lone also told that they were deprived of sleep for around three days, adding that the interrogation focused on their reporting of the Inn Din killings, rather than on the documents they are accused of obtaining.</p>

<p>The case has raised questions among a number of political leaders in the United States and Europe, human rights advocates and the United Nations about Myanmar’s progress towards democracy.</p>

<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August called for the immediate release of two Reuters reporters.</p>

<p>In a report issued on August 27, UN investigators said Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with “genocidal intent” and for the first time explicitly called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges over their campaign.</p>

<p>The military in Myanmar denied past accusations that it had committed genocide against the Rohingya and says its actions were part of a fight against terrorism.<br />
Early in September, a Myanmar judge found the reporters guilty and sentenced them to seven years in jail.</p>

<p>The court determined that “confidential documents” found on the two would have been useful “to enemies of the state and terrorist organisations”. Documents in their possession and on their phones were “not public information.”</p>

<p>The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said the verdict “sends a message to all journalists in Myanmar that they cannot operate fearlessly, but must rather make a choice to either self-censor or risk prosecution.”</p>

<p>Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia had called for the journalists’ acquittal.</p>

<p>On December 12, hundreds of activists and journalists marked the anniversary of the arrest of the two journalists and called for their release at a rally in the country’s largest city Yangon. Students, journalists and writers sporting t-shirts that read “Journalism is not a crime” and “Free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo” lit candles and held a minute’s silence for the two reporters, news agency Reuters reported.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, lawyers for the two Reuters reporters have lodged an appeal against their conviction and sentence. An appeal hearing is scheduled for December 24.</p>


One of the major upheavals in South Asia this year was the jailing of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The journalists were detained in Myanmar since December 12, 2017.

One of the major upheavals in South Asia this year was the jailing of two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The journalists were detained in Myanmar since December 12, 2017. At the time of their arrests, they had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in Rakhine state. The reporters were sentenced to seven years in jail under the Official Secrets Act in September 2018. As per reports, the journalists were arrested in Yangon, Myanmar after being invited to meet the police at a restaurant. The reporters were held incommunicado at a secret interrogation camp for the next two weeks. The reporters, who pleaded not guilty, said they were handed papers by police shortly before they were detained, and a police witness testified that they had been set up. The pre-trial hearings in the case began on January 10, 2018. The same day, the military said that its soldiers murdered 10 captured Muslims, whose bodies were previously discovered by security forces in a mass grave in Rakhine, during insurgent attacks. The next major development came in February when news agency Reuters published the investigation that the two reporters had been working on. The publication described Myanmar’s security forces and local Rakhine Buddhists’ involvement in the killing of the 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys buried in the mass grave at Inn Din. The government said it would take action against the members of its security forces involved in the killings, ruling out any relation to the Reuters report. In March, leading human rights lawyer Amal Clooney joined the legal team representing the two journalists. She stated that the two reporters are being wrongly prosecuted for reporting news. “Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo are being prosecuted simply because they reported the news,” Clooney said in a statement. On July 9, the reporters were charged for breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. Both journalists pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, telling Yangon district judge Ye Lwin they “followed journalistic ethics,” news agency Reuters reported. In less than a fortnight, on July 16, one of the reporters gave the first detailed of what exactly happened the night when both the reporters were arrested. Wa Lone stated that Police Lance Corporal Naing Lin had called him at least twice on December 12, demanding a meeting at which the officer abruptly handed both reporters some papers. Lone added that they were arrested by plainclothes officers almost immediately after Naing Lin gave him the papers, which he did not have time to look at. Lone also told that they were deprived of sleep for around three days, adding that the interrogation focused on their reporting of the Inn Din killings, rather than on the documents they are accused of obtaining. The case has raised questions among a number of political leaders in the United States and Europe, human rights advocates and the United Nations about Myanmar’s progress towards democracy. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August called for the immediate release of two Reuters reporters. In a report issued on August 27, UN investigators said Myanmar’s military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with “genocidal intent” and for the first time explicitly called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges over their campaign. The military in Myanmar denied past accusations that it had committed genocide against the Rohingya and says its actions were part of a fight against terrorism. Early in September, a Myanmar judge found the reporters guilty and sentenced them to seven years in jail. The court determined that “confidential documents” found on the two would have been useful “to enemies of the state and terrorist organisations”. Documents in their possession and on their phones were “not public information.” The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said the verdict “sends a message to all journalists in Myanmar that they cannot operate fearlessly, but must rather make a choice to either self-censor or risk prosecution.” Press freedom advocates, the United Nations, the European Union and countries including the United States, Canada and Australia had called for the journalists’ acquittal. On December 12, hundreds of activists and journalists marked the anniversary of the arrest of the two journalists and called for their release at a rally in the country’s largest city Yangon. Students, journalists and writers sporting t-shirts that read “Journalism is not a crime” and “Free Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo” lit candles and held a minute’s silence for the two reporters, news agency Reuters reported. Meanwhile, lawyers for the two Reuters reporters have lodged an appeal against their conviction and sentence. An appeal hearing is scheduled for December 24.

Reuters reporters imprisonment: When Myanmar’s progress towards democracy was put to question

Scores of celebrities got married, announced their engagements or had children in 2018, but there was also a share of heartbreak and splits. By far the biggest wedding of the year involved a coming-together of the worlds of showbiz and royalty as Britain's Prince Harry and former US actress Meghan Markle got married.

Scores of celebrities got married, announced their engagements or had children in 2018, but there was also a share of heartbreak and splits. By far the biggest wedding of the year involved a coming-together of the worlds of showbiz and royalty as Britain's Prince Harry and former US actress Meghan Markle got married. The pair wed in May in a dazzling ceremony that blended ancient English ritual with African American culture, infusing the 1,000-year-old British monarchy with a blast of modernity. One person who didn't want to comment on their much-anticipated nuptials was actress Emma Thompson. In a clip that soon went viral, she told a Reuters journalist who asked her about the wedding to 'just stop it' and said she was 'not going to talk about the royal wedding'. In October came the much-anticipated announcement that Meghan was pregnant with the couple's first child due in the spring of 2019. There were more royal nuptials in October too, when Princess Eugenie tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank and took a horse-drawn carriage tour round Windsor after the service. Eugenie, 28, daughter of the queen's third child, Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, tied the knot with Brooksbank, 32, in a traditional ceremony at Windsor Castle's 15th Century St George's Chapel. It was the same setting as the lavish wedding in May of Prince Harry and Meghan. In other royal news, Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate welcomed a son Louis Arthur Charles in April. The prince, who is fifth in line to the British throne, weighted 8 lbs 7oz at birth. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share a new photograph of their family. The photograph, taken by Matt Porteous, shows The Duke and Duchess with their three children at Anmer Hall, and features on Their Royal Highnesses’ Christmas card this year. pic.twitter.com/6XqCMlhLi8 — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 14, 2018 × British actress Keira Knightley, who has a young daughter, made headlines in October after she penned an essay for the book 'Feminists Don't Wear Pink (And Other Lies)' talking about childbirth. Some outlets accused her of criticising Prince William's wife Kate's polished looks coming out of hospital soon after labour. "The comments that I made are purely about...are completely about the culture that silences women's truths and forces us all to hide. And I absolutely did not shame anybody in any way. In fact quite the opposite," Knightley told Reuters on the red carpet for her new film "Colette". It was not such happy news for two members of Hollywood royalty, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt -- the pair have sought to move forward with their long and sometimes bitter divorce this year. Jolie's attorney filed papers in Los Angeles Superior Court saying the actress wanted a judgement "returning the parties to single status during the calendar year 2018." Pitt and Jolie were married for two years and enjoyed a 10-year romance that had made the pair one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples. They have six children for whom she is seeking primary custody. Actress Michelle Williams quietly married in July, telling Vanity Fair magazine she never gave up on love after the death of her partner Heath Ledger 10 years ago. Williams, 38, the fiercely private Oscar-nominated star of 'Brokeback Mountain,' told the magazine that she married American indie musician Phil Elverum at a private ceremony in the rural Adirondacks region of upstate New York. Pop singer Justin Bieber married model Hailey Baldwin in a hush-hush civil ceremony in September. The couple dated in 2016 but had broken up. In June, they appeared together publicly, leading to speculation from fans that they had rekindled their romance. In a social media post in November, Bieber confirmed the pair were married, saying 'my wife is awesome' on his Instagram account. View this post on Instagram My little bean A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Nov 13, 2018 at 6:11am PST × 'Saturday Night Live' star Pete Davidson confirmed in June that he and pop star Ariana Grande were engaged after dating for less than two months. But by October People Magazine and other U.S. media outlets reported the couple had called off their engagement. In early November Grande released a new surprise single titled 'Thank U, Next' in which she sings about her past relationships. View this post on Instagram link in bio 🖤 A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on Nov 3, 2018 at 8:01pm PDT × British actor Hugh Grant, 58, married Swedish television producer Anna Eberstein, 39, with whom he has three children, at a low-key civil ceremony in London in May. Speaking about the union, after decades of deriding the idea of marriage, he said he tied the knot for a good reason. "Immigration people would say, alright, all the Grants through here, and I'd go through with my children. And all the others through there. She'd go through with the nannies. It wasn't right," the 'Love Actually,' star said. Celebrity couple Zayn Malik and supermodel Gigi Hadid announced they had split up in March after two years of dating, with both posting statements of mutual love and respect. Malik, a former member of British boy band One Direction, and Hadid, a model for Victoria's Secret, Fendi and Tommy Hilfiger, gave no reason for the split. They have reportedly since rekindled their romance, sharing happy snaps on social media. View this post on Instagram flyin home to my happy place ❤️ A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Oct 21, 2018 at 4:59pm PDT × In February, former 'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux said that they were separating after less than three years of marriage. Aniston, 49, and 'The Leftovers' actor Theroux, 47, married in August 2015. "We have decided to announce our separation," the couple said in a joint statement. "This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year." Another separation was announced in November with the media reporting that Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro and his wife of more than 20 years had separated. In celebrity baby news, Kim Kardashian's new daughter with rapper husband Kanye West, named Chicago, was born in January to a surrogate -- the third child for the celebrity couple. Meanwhile, rapper Cardi B gave birth to her first child, a baby girl, in July. View this post on Instagram My heart ❤️ A post shared by CARDIVENOM (@iamcardib) on Dec 5, 2018 at 3:17pm PST × The parents (the father is rapper husband Offset) named the child Kulture Kiari Cephus, Cardi B said in an Instagram post that featured a nude pregnancy photo of the 25-year-old 'Be Careful' singer surrounded by flowers. They broke up by the end of the year. And there was more happy news for actress Gwyneth Paltrow - who married producer Brad Falchuck. View this post on Instagram Took me a minute to get it together, but at long last, for those who have requested, a little look inside the best day of our lives. Link in bio for more. #thefaltrows A post shared by Gwyneth Paltrow (@gwynethpaltrow) on Nov 2, 2018 at 7:23am PDT × Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra also announced their engagement in August and tied the knot in December this year at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India. View this post on Instagram And forever starts now... ❤️ @nickjonas A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) on Dec 4, 2018 at 4:35am PST × View this post on Instagram And forever starts now... ❤️ @nickjonas A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) on Dec 4, 2018 at 4:36am PST ×

Yearender 2018: Marriage, divorce and pregnancies in a year of celeb weddings and splits

<p>Fitness is elusive, there is no denying that fact. As the year rushes toward its end, most us would be shrugging at a long list of failed resolutions.</p>

<p>If you are one of those who promised to attain a whole new level of fitness this year but didn&#39;t even manage to get started with that morning walk, then step this way, please.</p>

<p>We spoke to some of the leading names in the world of fitness to bring to you a round up of the top fitness trends for 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Equipment-based training</strong></p>

<p>&quot;We are becoming busier by the day, nobody has the time to go to the gym, therefore the concept of self-training is something that will become increasingly popular. All you would require is one-mat space and some basic equipment. The idea is to be able to continue with your fitness routine anywhere, anytime,&quot; shared celebrity trainer Vinod Channa.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdU0zArAUnE/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Alex (@alex_fituk)</a> on <time datetime="2017-12-30T11:52:50+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 30, 2017 at 3:52am PST</time></p>
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<p>Vinod is a well known Bollywood celebrity trainer and has worked extensively with actors like John Abraham and Ayushmann Khurrana. He is the man behind Anant Ambani&#39;s staggering weight loss.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the past few years focused greatly on bodyweight training, experts now bring to light the perennial issue of fitness plateaus.</p>

<p>&quot;There is only so much you can do with your body. Your body, as well your fitness regime, demands new challenges. This is when you would need to include portable equipment to your fitness routine,&quot; noted Channa.</p>

<p>By equipment we don&#39;t necessarily mean those good old dumbells, barbells and rods -- the concept of new-age fitness is all about being able to break into a yoga posture whenever and wherever required, therefore, fancy fitness tools like medicine balls, TRX bands, resistance bands that can easily fit into your travel bag.</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdU64p7jl2_/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Julianaaa (@julianagriff)</a> on <time datetime="2017-12-30T12:46:02+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 30, 2017 at 4:46am PST</time></p>
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<p><strong>Fitness will be more fun&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>&quot;More and more people are turning away from the conventional forms of exercising to the ones that are fun to practice and mix various forms together. In my opinion, fitness routines that are more engaging will become increasingly popular this year,&quot; NIKE Elevated trainer and celebrity fitness expert Shwetambari Shetty shared with WION.</p>

<p>Masala Bhangra, Zumba, Desi Jam Cardio, Mixed Martial Art (MMA) among others will gain momentum in 2018.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdKd3fAg7Av/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Vandana Panjabi (@vandananp)</a> on <time datetime="2017-12-26T11:20:47+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 26, 2017 at 3:20am PST</time></p>
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<p><strong>Yoga will be redefined</strong></p>

<p>Unarguably, yoga has garnered massive attention among fitness enthusiasts.</p>

<p>The ancient technique is now being picked up by fitness experts and enthusiasts from all across the globe to arrive at interesting and newer forms of exercises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Marrying yoga postures with dance moves or other fitness routines have now paved way for some newer fitness routines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The coming year will see modified versions of the conventional yogic practice like never before.</p>

<p>Move over Ashtanga, Hatha and Power yoga onto more dynamic and fun-filled regimes like Acro Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Buti Yoga.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BcafSYmn-q5/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Hannah GypsyOn (@gypsyon__)</a> on <time datetime="2017-12-07T20:08:56+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 7, 2017 at 12:08pm PST</time></p>
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<p><strong>Functional training and distant cousins</strong></p>

<p>A functional training class will require you to train so as to mimic any strenuous, real-life event like rowing a boat, climbing a hill, chopping a log of wood among others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;All types of exercises involve functionality of the body. Core strength and flexibility is important -- if these two areas are not strong, you will not be able to reap benefits from the training regime. High-intensity interval training has been around for quite some time now, it will become more popular in the years to come. Calisthenics and Animal Flow is also luring more and more fitness enthusiasts,&quot; shared Gaurav Sharma, Manager, Anytime Fitness studio, Jangpura, Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Running</strong></p>

<p>Probably the most inexpensive and easiest of all exercises, running has gained huge momentum over the years and is only growing more popular by the day.</p>

<p>More and more running events and marathons are now being conducted with low&nbsp;registration fee, no-age bar and shorter distances.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Running has a long list of benefits, not only does it help in losing weight and gaining stamina, but also fortifies muscles, boosts core strength, strengthens bones, beats stress, uplifts mood and amplifies lung capacity.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdBHfahg3Mq/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Running &amp; Trail Running (@runbrands)</a> on <time datetime="2017-12-22T20:11:22+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Dec 22, 2017 at 12:11pm PST</time></p>
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<p>&quot;You cannot ignore the significance of cardio and running is one of the best ways to work up your heart. You cannot make your body work in isolation, a balance between cardio and resistance training is must to enhance your fitness and keep fit,&quot; concluded Gaurav.</p>

<p>All in all, the coming year promises newer, more exciting forms of exercises. Let this year be all about a fitter, healthier you.</p>

<p>For those who shrink from the idea of going to the gym and lifting weights, there is a sea of exciting fitness programmes that are exciting and fun to undertake.</p>

<p>Fitness needs dedication and consistency, you need to be at it and not give up.</p>

<p>Find out what kind of activity interests you the most and take up the challenge; once you&#39;ve found what gets your adrenaline rushing, fitness becomes fun.&nbsp;</p>


We spoke to some of the leading names in the world of fitness to bring you a round up of top fitness trends for 2018.?

Fitness is elusive, there is no denying that fact. As the year rushes toward its end, most us would be shrugging at a long list of failed resolutions. If you are one of those who promised to attain a whole new level of fitness this year but didn't even manage to get started with that morning walk, then step this way, please. We spoke to some of the leading names in the world of fitness to bring to you a round up of the top fitness trends for 2018. Equipment-based training "We are becoming busier by the day, nobody has the time to go to the gym, therefore the concept of self-training is something that will become increasingly popular. All you would require is one-mat space and some basic equipment. The idea is to be able to continue with your fitness routine anywhere, anytime," shared celebrity trainer Vinod Channa. A post shared by Alex (@alex_fituk) on Dec 30, 2017 at 3:52am PST × Vinod is a well known Bollywood celebrity trainer and has worked extensively with actors like John Abraham and Ayushmann Khurrana. He is the man behind Anant Ambani's staggering weight loss. While the past few years focused greatly on bodyweight training, experts now bring to light the perennial issue of fitness plateaus. "There is only so much you can do with your body. Your body, as well your fitness regime, demands new challenges. This is when you would need to include portable equipment to your fitness routine," noted Channa. By equipment we don't necessarily mean those good old dumbells, barbells and rods -- the concept of new-age fitness is all about being able to break into a yoga posture whenever and wherever required, therefore, fancy fitness tools like medicine balls, TRX bands, resistance bands that can easily fit into your travel bag. A post shared by Julianaaa (@julianagriff) on Dec 30, 2017 at 4:46am PST × Fitness will be more fun "More and more people are turning away from the conventional forms of exercising to the ones that are fun to practice and mix various forms together. In my opinion, fitness routines that are more engaging will become increasingly popular this year," NIKE Elevated trainer and celebrity fitness expert Shwetambari Shetty shared with WION. Masala Bhangra, Zumba, Desi Jam Cardio, Mixed Martial Art (MMA) among others will gain momentum in 2018. A post shared by Vandana Panjabi (@vandananp) on Dec 26, 2017 at 3:20am PST × Yoga will be redefined Unarguably, yoga has garnered massive attention among fitness enthusiasts. The ancient technique is now being picked up by fitness experts and enthusiasts from all across the globe to arrive at interesting and newer forms of exercises. Marrying yoga postures with dance moves or other fitness routines have now paved way for some newer fitness routines. The coming year will see modified versions of the conventional yogic practice like never before. Move over Ashtanga, Hatha and Power yoga onto more dynamic and fun-filled regimes like Acro Yoga, Aerial Yoga and Buti Yoga. A post shared by Hannah GypsyOn (@gypsyon__) on Dec 7, 2017 at 12:08pm PST × Functional training and distant cousins A functional training class will require you to train so as to mimic any strenuous, real-life event like rowing a boat, climbing a hill, chopping a log of wood among others. "All types of exercises involve functionality of the body. Core strength and flexibility is important -- if these two areas are not strong, you will not be able to reap benefits from the training regime. High-intensity interval training has been around for quite some time now, it will become more popular in the years to come. Calisthenics and Animal Flow is also luring more and more fitness enthusiasts," shared Gaurav Sharma, Manager, Anytime Fitness studio, Jangpura, Delhi. Running Probably the most inexpensive and easiest of all exercises, running has gained huge momentum over the years and is only growing more popular by the day. More and more running events and marathons are now being conducted with low registration fee, no-age bar and shorter distances. Running has a long list of benefits, not only does it help in losing weight and gaining stamina, but also fortifies muscles, boosts core strength, strengthens bones, beats stress, uplifts mood and amplifies lung capacity. A post shared by Running & Trail Running (@runbrands) on Dec 22, 2017 at 12:11pm PST × "You cannot ignore the significance of cardio and running is one of the best ways to work up your heart. You cannot make your body work in isolation, a balance between cardio and resistance training is must to enhance your fitness and keep fit," concluded Gaurav. All in all, the coming year promises newer, more exciting forms of exercises. Let this year be all about a fitter, healthier you. For those who shrink from the idea of going to the gym and lifting weights, there is a sea of exciting fitness programmes that are exciting and fun to undertake. Fitness needs dedication and consistency, you need to be at it and not give up. Find out what kind of activity interests you the most and take up the challenge; once you've found what gets your adrenaline rushing, fitness becomes fun.

Yearender 2017: Couch potato? Watch out for for the hottest fitness trends of 2018

<p>The year 2017 has a significant share of world events which has redefined the cultural and political boundaries of the world. From&nbsp; Robert Mugabe&#39;s fall from grace to the rise of Catalan independence movement, many events in 2017 made headlines.</p>

<p>Below are the top ten news events that shaped the world in 2017:</p>

<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-inside-story-of-mugabes-downfall-25195">Robert Mugabe&#39;s ouster</a>:</strong> Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for thirty seven years and planned to rule for longer, even if that meant running the economy aground and becoming increasingly ruthless. The trigger was Mugabe favouring his wife, Grace Mugabe, to &quot;usurp constitutional power&quot; shoving aside his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mugabe clung onto the presidency even after tanks rolled into the streets of country&#39;s capital Harare in November. Rather than going out quietly, the man known as &quot;the Crocodile&quot; - because of his ruthlessness - struck back by refusing to vacate his seat despite coming under tremendous pressure from his own party the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the members of the public who rallied behind for years. He quickly lost the support of his party, and after some hesitation, finally resigned. Zimbabweans rejoiced at the news of his ouster, and Mnangagwa promised to hold new elections next year. But if Mnangagwa&#39;s moves are anything to go by, he looks more like his former boss.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, was forced of power in November. Mugabe is seen here with his wife Grace. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/harvey-weinstein-resigns-from-weinstein-company-board-22580">Harvey Weinstein&#39;s fall from grace</a>:</strong> In early October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that dozens of women had accused Harvey Weinstein, a prominent Hollywood film producer and executive, of engaging in sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape. More than 80 women in the film industry subsequently accused Weinstein of such acts. Weinstein denied &quot;any non-consensual sex&quot;. Shortly after the first allegations, Weinstein was dismissed by his company, The Weinstein Company, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other professional associations. Criminal investigations into complaints from at least six women are ongoing in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. The scandal triggered many similar allegations against powerful men around the world and led to the ousting of many of them from their positions. It also led a great number of women to share their own experiences of sexual assault, harassment, or rape on social media under the hashtag #MeToo. The scandal&#39;s impact came to be called the &quot;Weinstein effect&quot;.</p>

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<p>File photo of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-group-urges-bangladesh-to-pressure-myanmar-on-return-to-ancestral-land-12444">The Rohingya crisis</a>:</strong> The Rohingya may be the most persecuted minority group in the world. They have lived in Myanmar for centuries. The latest and ugliest surge of violence began in August when Rohingya began fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh telling stories of mass killings, systematic rape, and torture. At last count, more than 4,00,000 have fled Myanmar and thousands more have been displaced internally. The Myanmar military denies committing atrocities, insisting that it is combating attacks on police posts and army bases by Rohingya insurgents. But it&#39;s clear, as the US government has charged, that the Myanmar government is engaged in ethnic cleansing. Aung San Suu Kyi, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and Myanmar&#39;s most prominent political face, has done little publicly to end the violence.</p>

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<p>Rohingya refugees stand in a queue at a refugee camp in Bangladesh (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-kings-son-named-new-crown-prince-17086">Saudi Arabia&#39;s modernisation</a>:</strong> Back in June, Saudi Arabia&#39;s King Salman made thirty-two-year-old prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud his heir, after deposing the previous crown prince, the king&#39;s nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef. Prince Saud immediately got to work. His vehicle for remaking the country is Vision 2030, a two-year-old initiative that seeks to modernise Saudi Arabia&#39;s economy and society. The idea is to prepare the country for a post-oil future and to loosen its conservative social structure. The former goal has Saudi Arabia proposing to take its state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, public, while the latter has it allowing women to drive. Prince Saud moved quickly to consolidate power. In November, he had 11 of his cousins arrested on corruption charges (Their jail cell was a Ritz-Carlton). Some experts think that MBS - as the prince is colloquially known - is Saudi Arabia&#39;s best chance for a moderate and prosperous future. Others worry that he is reckless. A lot depends on which side is right.</p>

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<p>File photo of Saudi Arabia&#39;s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rouhani-sweeps-to-second-terms-as-iran-chooses-engagement-with-world-15832">Hassan Rouhani&#39;s election win</a>:</strong> Riding a large turnout from Iran&#39;s urban middle classes, Rouhani won re-election in a landslide, giving him the mandate to continue his quest to expand personal freedoms and open Iran&#39;s ailing economy to global investors. Out of 41 million votes cast, Rouhani won 23 million (or 57 per cent), soundly defeating his chief opponent, Ebrahim Raisi, who received 15.7 million (38.5 per cent). Turnout was heavy, with more than 70 per cent of Iran&#39;s 56 million voters casting ballots. After his victory, he said after invoking the name of God, &quot;With more than 41 million of your votes, you have pulled out the history of our country away from inertia and doubt.&quot; Rouhani, long known as a cautious and mild-mannered establishment insider, reinvented himself as a bold champion of reform during the election campaign, which culminated in his victory. In his first televised speech after the result, Rouhani appeared to openly defy conservative judges by praising the spiritual leader of the reform camp, former President Mohammad Khatami. A court has banned quoting or naming Khatami on air.</p>

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<p>Hassan Rouhani won this year&#39;s Iran re-election in a landslide (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/macron-party-wins-massive-majority-in-french-parliament-16985">Emmanuel Macron winning France&#39;s election</a>:</strong> Macron, the pro-European centrist, resoundingly won France&#39;s landmark presidential election, heading off a fierce challenge from the far-right in a pivotal vote for the future of the divided country and Europe. The victory was an extraordinary rise for the 39-year-old former investment banker, who became country&#39;s youngest-ever leader. The result resonated worldwide, particularly in Brussels and Berlin, where leaders heaved a sigh of relief that Le Pen&#39;s anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme has been defeated. After Britain&#39;s vote last year to leave the EU and Donald Trump&#39;s victory in the US, the French election was widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise. Outgoing President Francois Hollande, who plucked Macron from obscurity to name him minister in 2014, said voting &quot;is always an important, significant act, heavy with consequences&quot; as he cast his vote.</p>

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<p>File photo of France President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong>Catalan independence movement:</strong> Although deemed illegal by the Spanish government and Constitutional Court, the referendum was held on October 1, 2017. In a vote where the anti-independence parties called for non-participation, results showed a 90 per cent vote in favour of independence, with a turnout of 43 per cent. Based on this result, on October 27, 2017, Catalonia&#39;s Parliament approved a resolution creating an independent Republic unilaterally, by a vote considered illegal by Spain&#39;s Parliament. On October 10, 2017, in the aftermath of the referendum, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, declared the independence of Catalonia but left it suspended. On October 21, Spain&#39;s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that he planned to remove Puigdemont and the rest of the Catalonian administration from office, with the central government in Madrid directly ruling over Catalonia until a new President is elected. On October 27, 2017, the Catalan Parliament voted in a secret ballot to approve a resolution declaring independence from Spain by a vote of 70-10 in the absence of the constitutionalist deputies, who refused to participate in a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain. On December 21, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/catalan-elections-analysts-predict-government-formation-wont-be-easy-for-puigdemont-27432">snap polls were held</a> in Catalonia and the pro-independence parties won the majority, though the Catalan Republic is still unrecognised by the international community.</p>

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<p>A woman casts her ballot in Catalonia&#39;s regional elections on December 21. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-suspected-nuclear-test-triggers-sharp-reactions-6122">North Korea defies the world</a>:</strong> Successive US presidents have insisted that they would prevent North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons. They backed that up by offering carrots, imposing sanctions, and threatening military action. But North Korea hasn&#39;t listened. In early September, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test. Three months later, it tested a ballistic missile that looks capable of hitting any US city. President Trump says he will stop North Korea in its tracks, vowing that North Korea &quot;will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen,&quot; tweeting that &quot;military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded,&quot; and calling North Korean leader Kim Jung-un &quot;Little Rocket Man&quot;.</p>

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<p>People in Seoul watch the news about North Korea&#39;s launch of ICBM. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/xi-joins-mao-in-communist-constitution-tightening-grip-on-china-22842">Xi Jinping&#39;s &quot;extraordinary elevation&quot;</a>:</strong> Xi&#39;s biggest success came in October at the nineteenth Chinese Communist Party Congress. It was a coronation. Xi was named to his second five-year term as party general secretary. He was also named a &quot;core leader,&quot; a title denied to his immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao. The Congress also wrote &quot;Xi Jinping Thought&quot; into the party&#39;s constitution, an honour previously bestowed only on Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Best of all for Xi, the congress ended without naming anyone as his successor. When Trump called Xi &quot;king of China&quot; during his November &quot;state visit-plus,&quot; he wasn&#39;t far off the mark. Xi is China&#39;s most powerful leader since Mao, and he&#39;s likely to be around for a while.</p>

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<p>File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-proclaims-start-of-new-era-under-grey-skies-11520">Donald Trump&#39;s inauguration</a>: </strong>Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to do things differently and to do different things in foreign policy. He has been good to his word since getting to the White House. He has canceled US participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, refused to certify that Iran is in compliance with its nuclear obligations, recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ramped up the use of drones, and relegated democracy and human rights to the sidelines of US foreign policy. To be sure, Trump hasn&#39;t enacted all of his campaign promises. He beefed up rather than withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, and he hasn&#39;t declared China a currency manipulator or kicked NAFTA to the curb. But his tough campaign trade talk may soon be US policy. Trump is poised to take punitive actions against Chinese trade practices, his demands for a revamped NAFTA look to be unacceptable to Canada and Mexico, and he&#39;s waging a low-level war against the World Trade Organisation.</p>

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<p>File photo of US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)</p>
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<p><strong>Other stories of note in 2017:</strong> In January, Antonio Guterres became the ninth secretary general of the United Nations. In February, Israel announced plans for its first new settlement in the West Bank in more than twenty years. Violent protests wracked Venezuela in April, a critical point in the country&#39;s constitutional crisis. The G-20 met in Hamburg in July and failed to agree on climate action. In November, thousands attended a far-right nationalist rally in Warsaw. The Australian Parliament voted in December to legalise same-sex marriage, making Australia the twenty-fifth country to do so.</p>


The year 2017 has a significant share of world events which has redefined the cultural and political boundaries of the world.

The year 2017 has a significant share of world events which has redefined the cultural and political boundaries of the world. From Robert Mugabe's fall from grace to the rise of Catalan independence movement, many events in 2017 made headlines. Below are the top ten news events that shaped the world in 2017: Robert Mugabe's ouster: Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for thirty seven years and planned to rule for longer, even if that meant running the economy aground and becoming increasingly ruthless. The trigger was Mugabe favouring his wife, Grace Mugabe, to "usurp constitutional power" shoving aside his vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mugabe clung onto the presidency even after tanks rolled into the streets of country's capital Harare in November. Rather than going out quietly, the man known as "the Crocodile" - because of his ruthlessness - struck back by refusing to vacate his seat despite coming under tremendous pressure from his own party the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the members of the public who rallied behind for years. He quickly lost the support of his party, and after some hesitation, finally resigned. Zimbabweans rejoiced at the news of his ouster, and Mnangagwa promised to hold new elections next year. But if Mnangagwa's moves are anything to go by, he looks more like his former boss. Robert Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for 37 years, was forced of power in November. Mugabe is seen here with his wife Grace. (Reuters) × Harvey Weinstein's fall from grace: In early October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that dozens of women had accused Harvey Weinstein, a prominent Hollywood film producer and executive, of engaging in sexual harassment, sexual assault, or rape. More than 80 women in the film industry subsequently accused Weinstein of such acts. Weinstein denied "any non-consensual sex". Shortly after the first allegations, Weinstein was dismissed by his company, The Weinstein Company, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and other professional associations. Criminal investigations into complaints from at least six women are ongoing in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. The scandal triggered many similar allegations against powerful men around the world and led to the ousting of many of them from their positions. It also led a great number of women to share their own experiences of sexual assault, harassment, or rape on social media under the hashtag #MeToo. The scandal's impact came to be called the "Weinstein effect". File photo of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. (Reuters) × The Rohingya crisis: The Rohingya may be the most persecuted minority group in the world. They have lived in Myanmar for centuries. The latest and ugliest surge of violence began in August when Rohingya began fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh telling stories of mass killings, systematic rape, and torture. At last count, more than 4,00,000 have fled Myanmar and thousands more have been displaced internally. The Myanmar military denies committing atrocities, insisting that it is combating attacks on police posts and army bases by Rohingya insurgents. But it's clear, as the US government has charged, that the Myanmar government is engaged in ethnic cleansing. Aung San Suu Kyi, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and Myanmar's most prominent political face, has done little publicly to end the violence. Rohingya refugees stand in a queue at a refugee camp in Bangladesh (Reuters) × Saudi Arabia's modernisation: Back in June, Saudi Arabia's King Salman made thirty-two-year-old prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud his heir, after deposing the previous crown prince, the king's nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef. Prince Saud immediately got to work. His vehicle for remaking the country is Vision 2030, a two-year-old initiative that seeks to modernise Saudi Arabia's economy and society. The idea is to prepare the country for a post-oil future and to loosen its conservative social structure. The former goal has Saudi Arabia proposing to take its state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, public, while the latter has it allowing women to drive. Prince Saud moved quickly to consolidate power. In November, he had 11 of his cousins arrested on corruption charges (Their jail cell was a Ritz-Carlton). Some experts think that MBS - as the prince is colloquially known - is Saudi Arabia's best chance for a moderate and prosperous future. Others worry that he is reckless. A lot depends on which side is right. File photo of Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud. (Reuters) × Hassan Rouhani's election win: Riding a large turnout from Iran's urban middle classes, Rouhani won re-election in a landslide, giving him the mandate to continue his quest to expand personal freedoms and open Iran's ailing economy to global investors. Out of 41 million votes cast, Rouhani won 23 million (or 57 per cent), soundly defeating his chief opponent, Ebrahim Raisi, who received 15.7 million (38.5 per cent). Turnout was heavy, with more than 70 per cent of Iran's 56 million voters casting ballots. After his victory, he said after invoking the name of God, "With more than 41 million of your votes, you have pulled out the history of our country away from inertia and doubt." Rouhani, long known as a cautious and mild-mannered establishment insider, reinvented himself as a bold champion of reform during the election campaign, which culminated in his victory. In his first televised speech after the result, Rouhani appeared to openly defy conservative judges by praising the spiritual leader of the reform camp, former President Mohammad Khatami. A court has banned quoting or naming Khatami on air. Hassan Rouhani won this year's Iran re-election in a landslide (Reuters) × Emmanuel Macron winning France's election: Macron, the pro-European centrist, resoundingly won France's landmark presidential election, heading off a fierce challenge from the far-right in a pivotal vote for the future of the divided country and Europe. The victory was an extraordinary rise for the 39-year-old former investment banker, who became country's youngest-ever leader. The result resonated worldwide, particularly in Brussels and Berlin, where leaders heaved a sigh of relief that Le Pen's anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme has been defeated. After Britain's vote last year to leave the EU and Donald Trump's victory in the US, the French election was widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise. Outgoing President Francois Hollande, who plucked Macron from obscurity to name him minister in 2014, said voting "is always an important, significant act, heavy with consequences" as he cast his vote. File photo of France President Emmanuel Macron (Reuters) × Catalan independence movement: Although deemed illegal by the Spanish government and Constitutional Court, the referendum was held on October 1, 2017. In a vote where the anti-independence parties called for non-participation, results showed a 90 per cent vote in favour of independence, with a turnout of 43 per cent. Based on this result, on October 27, 2017, Catalonia's Parliament approved a resolution creating an independent Republic unilaterally, by a vote considered illegal by Spain's Parliament. On October 10, 2017, in the aftermath of the referendum, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, declared the independence of Catalonia but left it suspended. On October 21, Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced that he planned to remove Puigdemont and the rest of the Catalonian administration from office, with the central government in Madrid directly ruling over Catalonia until a new President is elected. On October 27, 2017, the Catalan Parliament voted in a secret ballot to approve a resolution declaring independence from Spain by a vote of 70-10 in the absence of the constitutionalist deputies, who refused to participate in a vote considered illegal for violating the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Spain. On December 21, snap polls were held in Catalonia and the pro-independence parties won the majority, though the Catalan Republic is still unrecognised by the international community. A woman casts her ballot in Catalonia's regional elections on December 21. (Reuters) × North Korea defies the world: Successive US presidents have insisted that they would prevent North Korea from acquiring nuclear weapons. They backed that up by offering carrots, imposing sanctions, and threatening military action. But North Korea hasn't listened. In early September, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test. Three months later, it tested a ballistic missile that looks capable of hitting any US city. President Trump says he will stop North Korea in its tracks, vowing that North Korea "will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," tweeting that "military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded," and calling North Korean leader Kim Jung-un "Little Rocket Man". People in Seoul watch the news about North Korea's launch of ICBM. (Reuters) × Xi Jinping's "extraordinary elevation": Xi's biggest success came in October at the nineteenth Chinese Communist Party Congress. It was a coronation. Xi was named to his second five-year term as party general secretary. He was also named a "core leader," a title denied to his immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao. The Congress also wrote "Xi Jinping Thought" into the party's constitution, an honour previously bestowed only on Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Best of all for Xi, the congress ended without naming anyone as his successor. When Trump called Xi "king of China" during his November "state visit-plus," he wasn't far off the mark. Xi is China's most powerful leader since Mao, and he's likely to be around for a while. File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Reuters) × Donald Trump's inauguration: Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to do things differently and to do different things in foreign policy. He has been good to his word since getting to the White House. He has canceled US participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, refused to certify that Iran is in compliance with its nuclear obligations, recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ramped up the use of drones, and relegated democracy and human rights to the sidelines of US foreign policy. To be sure, Trump hasn't enacted all of his campaign promises. He beefed up rather than withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, and he hasn't declared China a currency manipulator or kicked NAFTA to the curb. But his tough campaign trade talk may soon be US policy. Trump is poised to take punitive actions against Chinese trade practices, his demands for a revamped NAFTA look to be unacceptable to Canada and Mexico, and he's waging a low-level war against the World Trade Organisation. File photo of US President Donald Trump. (Reuters) × Other stories of note in 2017: In January, Antonio Guterres became the ninth secretary general of the United Nations. In February, Israel announced plans for its first new settlement in the West Bank in more than twenty years. Violent protests wracked Venezuela in April, a critical point in the country's constitutional crisis. The G-20 met in Hamburg in July and failed to agree on climate action. In November, thousands attended a far-right nationalist rally in Warsaw. The Australian Parliament voted in December to legalise same-sex marriage, making Australia the twenty-fifth country to do so.

Ten news events that shaped the world in 2017

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