Desperately-needed aid flowed into a stretch of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-tsunami-death-toll-rises-to-373-over-1400-injured-186217">Indonesia's tsunami</a>-struck coastline Tuesday, but humanitarian workers warned that clean water and medicine supplies were dwindling as thousands crammed makeshift evacuation centres.

Fears about a public health crisis come as the death toll from Saturday's volcano-triggered disaster topped 400 with thousands more displaced many left homeless after houses were flattened by the killer wave.

"A lot of the children are sick with fevers, headaches and they haven't had enough water," said Rizal Alimin, a doctor working for NGO Aksi Cepat Tanggap, at a local school that was turned into a temporary shelter.

"We have less medicine than usual ... It's not healthy here for evacuees. There isn't enough clean water. They need food and people are sleeping on the floor."

The powerful tsunami struck at night and without warning, sweeping over popular beaches on southern Sumatra and the western edge of Java and inundating tourist hotels and coastal settlements.

The latest death toll stood at 429, with 1,485 people injured and another 154 missing.

Experts have warned that more deadly waves could slam the stricken region now covered by mountains of overturned cars, boats, furniture and other debris.

Many evacuees are too afraid to return home, fearing another tsunami.

"I've been here three days," said Neng Sumarni, 40, who was sleeping with her three children and husband on the school's floor with some three dozen others.

"I'm scared because my home is right near the beach."

Authorities are using sniffer dogs to try to find any survivors and victims' bodies, while they have turned to drones to survey the devastated coastlines.

"We are still searching for victims who might still be buried under the rubble," said Ketut Sukarta, head of the disaster agency in South Lampung on Sumatra.

'Can't reach them'&nbsp;

Abu Salim, with volunteer disaster aid group Tagana, said aid workers were scrambling to stabilise the situation.

"Today we're focusing on helping the evacuees in shelters by setting up public kitchens and distributing logistics and more tents in suitable places," he told AFP on Tuesday.

"(People) still, don't have access to running water ... There are many evacuees who fled to higher ground and we still can't reach them."

Aid was flowing in mainly by road while two government boats were on their way to several islands near the Sumatran coast to help dozens of marooned residents.

In shattered Way Muli village on Sumatra, Udin Ahok was coming to grips with the horrible choice he was forced to make: save his wife or his mother and baby.

When the tsunami slammed into his house, the panicked Ahok fought to reach his sleeping 70-year-old mother and one-year-old son but then he saw his wife about to drown in the swirling waters. He plucked her to safety.

His mother and baby were found dead under mountains of debris.

"I didn't have time to save my mother and son," the weeping 46-year-old told AFP from a shelter in one of the stricken region's hardest-hit areas.

"I regret it so much. I can only hope they've been given a place in God's hands."

Across the Sunda Strait in Java island, Saki stood amid the rubble of what was once Sumber Jaya village and wondered aloud how he would get his life back on track.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I can't rebuild, everything is gone -- my clothes, my money," said the 60-year-old, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

String of disasters&nbsp;

Officials say the evidence suggested that an eruption of the rumbling Anak Krakatoa volcano, which sits in the middle of the Strait, caused a section of the crater to collapse and slide into the ocean, triggering the tsunami.

Anak Krakatoa is an island that emerged around 1928 in the crater left by Krakatoa, whose massive 1883 eruption killed at least 36,000 people.

Unlike those caused by earthquakes, which usually trigger alert systems, volcano-triggered tsunamis give authorities very little time to warn residents of the impending threat.

Indonesia's disaster agency initially said there was no tsunami threat at all, even as the killer wave crashed ashore.

It was later forced to issue a correction and an apology as it pointed to a lack of early warning systems for the high death toll.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Monday: "The lack of a tsunami early warning system caused a lot of victims because people did not have the time to evacuate."

The tsunami was Indonesia's third major natural disaster in six months, following a series of powerful earthquakes on the island of Lombok in July and August and a quake-tsunami in September that killed around 2,200 people in Palu on Sulawesi island, with thousands more missing and presumed dead.

It also came less than a week before the 14th anniversary of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in history that killed some 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including some 168,000 Indonesians.

The vast archipelago nation is one of the most disaster-hit nations on Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.

Desperately-needed aid flowed into a stretch of Indonesia's tsunami-struck coastline Tuesday, but humanitarian workers warned that clean water and medicine supplies were dwindling as thousands crammed makeshift evacuation centres.

Desperately-needed aid flowed into a stretch of Indonesia's tsunami-struck coastline Tuesday, but humanitarian workers warned that clean water and medicine supplies were dwindling as thousands crammed makeshift evacuation centres. Fears about a public health crisis come as the death toll from Saturday's volcano-triggered disaster topped 400 with thousands more displaced many left homeless after houses were flattened by the killer wave. "A lot of the children are sick with fevers, headaches and they haven't had enough water," said Rizal Alimin, a doctor working for NGO Aksi Cepat Tanggap, at a local school that was turned into a temporary shelter. "We have less medicine than usual ... It's not healthy here for evacuees. There isn't enough clean water. They need food and people are sleeping on the floor." The powerful tsunami struck at night and without warning, sweeping over popular beaches on southern Sumatra and the western edge of Java and inundating tourist hotels and coastal settlements. The latest death toll stood at 429, with 1,485 people injured and another 154 missing. Experts have warned that more deadly waves could slam the stricken region now covered by mountains of overturned cars, boats, furniture and other debris. Many evacuees are too afraid to return home, fearing another tsunami. "I've been here three days," said Neng Sumarni, 40, who was sleeping with her three children and husband on the school's floor with some three dozen others. "I'm scared because my home is right near the beach." Authorities are using sniffer dogs to try to find any survivors and victims' bodies, while they have turned to drones to survey the devastated coastlines. "We are still searching for victims who might still be buried under the rubble," said Ketut Sukarta, head of the disaster agency in South Lampung on Sumatra. 'Can't reach them' Abu Salim, with volunteer disaster aid group Tagana, said aid workers were scrambling to stabilise the situation. "Today we're focusing on helping the evacuees in shelters by setting up public kitchens and distributing logistics and more tents in suitable places," he told AFP on Tuesday. "(People) still, don't have access to running water ... There are many evacuees who fled to higher ground and we still can't reach them." Aid was flowing in mainly by road while two government boats were on their way to several islands near the Sumatran coast to help dozens of marooned residents. In shattered Way Muli village on Sumatra, Udin Ahok was coming to grips with the horrible choice he was forced to make: save his wife or his mother and baby. When the tsunami slammed into his house, the panicked Ahok fought to reach his sleeping 70-year-old mother and one-year-old son but then he saw his wife about to drown in the swirling waters. He plucked her to safety. His mother and baby were found dead under mountains of debris. "I didn't have time to save my mother and son," the weeping 46-year-old told AFP from a shelter in one of the stricken region's hardest-hit areas. "I regret it so much. I can only hope they've been given a place in God's hands." Across the Sunda Strait in Java island, Saki stood amid the rubble of what was once Sumber Jaya village and wondered aloud how he would get his life back on track. "I can't rebuild, everything is gone -- my clothes, my money," said the 60-year-old, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. String of disasters Officials say the evidence suggested that an eruption of the rumbling Anak Krakatoa volcano, which sits in the middle of the Strait, caused a section of the crater to collapse and slide into the ocean, triggering the tsunami. Anak Krakatoa is an island that emerged around 1928 in the crater left by Krakatoa, whose massive 1883 eruption killed at least 36,000 people. Unlike those caused by earthquakes, which usually trigger alert systems, volcano-triggered tsunamis give authorities very little time to warn residents of the impending threat. Indonesia's disaster agency initially said there was no tsunami threat at all, even as the killer wave crashed ashore. It was later forced to issue a correction and an apology as it pointed to a lack of early warning systems for the high death toll. Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Monday: "The lack of a tsunami early warning system caused a lot of victims because people did not have the time to evacuate." The tsunami was Indonesia's third major natural disaster in six months, following a series of powerful earthquakes on the island of Lombok in July and August and a quake-tsunami in September that killed around 2,200 people in Palu on Sulawesi island, with thousands more missing and presumed dead. It also came less than a week before the 14th anniversary of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in history that killed some 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including some 168,000 Indonesians. The vast archipelago nation is one of the most disaster-hit nations on Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.

Indonesia tsunami survivors cram shelters as death toll crosses 400

Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on December 24 sentenced to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-court-convicts-ex-pm-nawaz-sharif-in-corruption-case-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison-186144">seven years in prison</a> and fined $25 million on corruption charges that he says were politically motivated.

The anti-corruption court in Islamabad said in its ruling that the three-time prime minister was unable to prove the source of income that had led to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia. Under Pakistani law, this is taken to prove corruption.

Sharif was found to have been unable to demonstrate that his family had acquired the steel mill legitimately, but was acquitted on the second charge, relating to Flagship.

Sharif, 68, had already been sentenced by the same court to 10 years in prison on charges related to the purchase of upscale apartments in London, after the Supreme Court removed him from power.

Nawaz Sharif was born into a Kashmiri family of industrialists in the eastern city of Lahore in 1949. He graduated with a law degree from Punjab University and went to work in the family steel business.

He entered politics in 1976, joining the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) after the Sharif family steel business was nationalised under the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. This was the beginning of a long political rivalry between the families.

In 1981, Sharif joined the Punjab provincial cabinet as finance minister, becoming Punjab's chief minister in 1985. The PML later split and Nawaz formed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

He was elected prime minister for the first time in 1990 but soon fell out with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and was removed three years later after the President dissolved the National Assembly. He was reinstated by Supreme Court which termed the presidential order unconstitutional, but Sharif's party lost the 1993 elections to the Pakistan People's Party of Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfiqar Bhutto.

Sharif again became the prime minister in 1997. During his term, Pakistan successfully tested nuclear weapons in response to India's atomic programme. However, he was overthrown in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf, the country's fourth army takeover since independence in 1947. After the coup, he was convicted of corruption and given a life sentence for hijacking over an incident when he ordered Musharraf's plane not to land in Islamabad.

Sharif remained in exile in Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2007 amid reports of a deal with the military. He was given a presidential pardon the day his family left.

He returned from exile to contest elections in 2008 as part of a political deal that ended Musharraf's military rule but lost to Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated ahead of the polls.

Sharif's party swept back to power in 2013, and he became the prime minister for third time. But the trouble soon began after leaked Panama papers in April, 2016, showed involvement of Sharif's family in offshore companies including two used to buy luxury homes in London. Cricketer-turned-politician sensed an opportunity and threatened to paralyse the capital Islamabad with a "lockdown" of street protests in October that year unless demands for an independent investigation into the Panama revelations are met. Sharif denied any wrongdoing.

In November 2016, Pakistan's Supreme Court agreed to set up a judicial commission to probe corruption allegations against Sharif, stemming from Panama Papers leaks and in July, 2017, he was disqualified from office for not declaring income from a company in United Arab Emirates, which was not in original Panama Papers revelations. The court also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to open a criminal trial into ownership of the London flats along with several other Panama Papers revelations.

In April, 2018, the country's Supreme Court further banned Sharif from political office for life and in July, the NAB court convicted Sharif of corruption and sentenced him in absentia to 10 years in prison. He was arrested on July 13 on returning from London where he was tending to his wife, Kulsoom, who later <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/former-pak-pm-nawaz-sharifs-wife-kulsoom-nawaz-passes-away-in-london-165099">passed away of cancer</a>.

Sharif has a history of conflict with the military even though his political career was initially nurtured by military dictator Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s.

He fell out with powerful generals once he ascended to power a decade later, and relations became fraught after his return as premier in 2013, partly because he challenged the military over foreign policy, which the generals traditionally considered their domain.

Sharif has argued that the military, in cahoots with top judges, has used cases against him and party members to tip the scales in favour of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan ahead of the election.

Five months ago, Sharif's PML-N lost a general election to the party of Khan, who became the new prime minister of Pakistan.

Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on December 24 sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $25 million on corruption charges that he says were politically motivated.

Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif was on December 24 sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $25 million on corruption charges that he says were politically motivated. The anti-corruption court in Islamabad said in its ruling that the three-time prime minister was unable to prove the source of income that had led to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia. Under Pakistani law, this is taken to prove corruption. Sharif was found to have been unable to demonstrate that his family had acquired the steel mill legitimately, but was acquitted on the second charge, relating to Flagship. Sharif, 68, had already been sentenced by the same court to 10 years in prison on charges related to the purchase of upscale apartments in London, after the Supreme Court removed him from power. Nawaz Sharif was born into a Kashmiri family of industrialists in the eastern city of Lahore in 1949. He graduated with a law degree from Punjab University and went to work in the family steel business. He entered politics in 1976, joining the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) after the Sharif family steel business was nationalised under the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. This was the beginning of a long political rivalry between the families. In 1981, Sharif joined the Punjab provincial cabinet as finance minister, becoming Punjab's chief minister in 1985. The PML later split and Nawaz formed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He was elected prime minister for the first time in 1990 but soon fell out with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and was removed three years later after the President dissolved the National Assembly. He was reinstated by Supreme Court which termed the presidential order unconstitutional, but Sharif's party lost the 1993 elections to the Pakistan People's Party of Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfiqar Bhutto. Sharif again became the prime minister in 1997. During his term, Pakistan successfully tested nuclear weapons in response to India's atomic programme. However, he was overthrown in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf, the country's fourth army takeover since independence in 1947. After the coup, he was convicted of corruption and given a life sentence for hijacking over an incident when he ordered Musharraf's plane not to land in Islamabad. Sharif remained in exile in Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2007 amid reports of a deal with the military. He was given a presidential pardon the day his family left. He returned from exile to contest elections in 2008 as part of a political deal that ended Musharraf's military rule but lost to Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated ahead of the polls. Sharif's party swept back to power in 2013, and he became the prime minister for third time. But the trouble soon began after leaked Panama papers in April, 2016, showed involvement of Sharif's family in offshore companies including two used to buy luxury homes in London. Cricketer-turned-politician sensed an opportunity and threatened to paralyse the capital Islamabad with a "lockdown" of street protests in October that year unless demands for an independent investigation into the Panama revelations are met. Sharif denied any wrongdoing. In November 2016, Pakistan's Supreme Court agreed to set up a judicial commission to probe corruption allegations against Sharif, stemming from Panama Papers leaks and in July, 2017, he was disqualified from office for not declaring income from a company in United Arab Emirates, which was not in original Panama Papers revelations. The court also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to open a criminal trial into ownership of the London flats along with several other Panama Papers revelations. In April, 2018, the country's Supreme Court further banned Sharif from political office for life and in July, the NAB court convicted Sharif of corruption and sentenced him in absentia to 10 years in prison. He was arrested on July 13 on returning from London where he was tending to his wife, Kulsoom, who later passed away of cancer. Sharif has a history of conflict with the military even though his political career was initially nurtured by military dictator Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s. He fell out with powerful generals once he ascended to power a decade later, and relations became fraught after his return as premier in 2013, partly because he challenged the military over foreign policy, which the generals traditionally considered their domain. Sharif has argued that the military, in cahoots with top judges, has used cases against him and party members to tip the scales in favour of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan ahead of the election. Five months ago, Sharif's PML-N lost a general election to the party of Khan, who became the new prime minister of Pakistan.

The rise and fall of Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif

Neighbouring nation Pakistan witnessed high-voltage general elections earlier this year which resulted in cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's rise as the South Asian nation's 22nd Prime Minister.&nbsp;

The victory was immensely significant for Khan as he finally achieved his dream of assuming the seat of Pakistan's Wazeer-e-Azam after a political struggle of over two decades.&nbsp;

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), swept the general polls which were conducted on July 25 after which Pakistan's Parliament cleared the way for the 65-year-old Khan to set up a coalition government. Khan's party emerged as the single largest party both in terms of popular vote and seats.

PTI won 116 of the 272 elected seats in the National Assembly.

The party garnered 151 of the 342 seats in the lower chamber of parliament, short of a majority. In the lower house vote, Khan managed to bag 176 votes to defeat Shehbaz Sharif from the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, who won 96 votes.&nbsp;

Khan invited independent candidates and smaller parties to support PTI to form a government. Parties like PML (Q), Balochistan Awami Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Grand Democratic Alliance, Jamhoori Watan Party and as many as 9 independent candidates extended support to PTI.&nbsp;

This year's election was also significant as it was only the second democratic transfer of power since Pakistan’s 1947 independence. It came at a time when relations with on-off ally the United States are fraying over alleged Pakistani support for militants waging war in Afghanistan. Islamabad denies aiding insurgents.

No Pakistani premier has ever completed a five-year term in office, including Sharif, whose most recent stint in power was ended by the Supreme Court last year.

Sharif, who was jailed over corruption accusations several weeks before the election, saw his second stint in power ended by a military coup in 1999.

Khan's grand success in the election ended decades of political dominance by two dynastic powerhouses, the PML-N of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), founded and led by the Bhutto family.

2018 Pakistan general elections were marred by allegations of rigging levelled by Opposition parties. The parties alleged that Khan’s path to power was made easier by the tacit support of the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for nearly half its history. The army and Khan’s PTI denied any collusion.

Khan shot back that he had “struggled 22 years” to become premier. “No military dictator raised me. I got here on my own.”

After assuming office as Pakistan's Prime Minister, Khan, a firebrand nationalist, promised to create millions of jobs and build world-class hospitals and school systems in the mainly-Muslim country of 208 million people.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hits-and-misses-in-review-over-100-days-of-imran-khan-as-pak-pm-185726">Imran Khan has gaping challenges staring him in the face</a>. Putting Pakistan's dwindling economy back on track is one of his biggest challenges -- to get an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to ease currency pressures, else seek support from China and risk deepening Pakistan’s economic dependence on its neighbour.

Smoothening ties with India and the United States is another.&nbsp;

Neighbouring nation Pakistan witnessed high-voltage general elections earlier this year which resulted in cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's rise as the South Asian nation's 22nd Prime Minister.

Neighbouring nation Pakistan witnessed high-voltage general elections earlier this year which resulted in cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's rise as the South Asian nation's 22nd Prime Minister. The victory was immensely significant for Khan as he finally achieved his dream of assuming the seat of Pakistan's Wazeer-e-Azam after a political struggle of over two decades. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), swept the general polls which were conducted on July 25 after which Pakistan's Parliament cleared the way for the 65-year-old Khan to set up a coalition government. Khan's party emerged as the single largest party both in terms of popular vote and seats. PTI won 116 of the 272 elected seats in the National Assembly. The party garnered 151 of the 342 seats in the lower chamber of parliament, short of a majority. In the lower house vote, Khan managed to bag 176 votes to defeat Shehbaz Sharif from the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, who won 96 votes. Khan invited independent candidates and smaller parties to support PTI to form a government. Parties like PML (Q), Balochistan Awami Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Balochistan National Party (Mengal), Grand Democratic Alliance, Jamhoori Watan Party and as many as 9 independent candidates extended support to PTI. This year's election was also significant as it was only the second democratic transfer of power since Pakistan’s 1947 independence. It came at a time when relations with on-off ally the United States are fraying over alleged Pakistani support for militants waging war in Afghanistan. Islamabad denies aiding insurgents. No Pakistani premier has ever completed a five-year term in office, including Sharif, whose most recent stint in power was ended by the Supreme Court last year. Sharif, who was jailed over corruption accusations several weeks before the election, saw his second stint in power ended by a military coup in 1999. Khan's grand success in the election ended decades of political dominance by two dynastic powerhouses, the PML-N of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), founded and led by the Bhutto family. 2018 Pakistan general elections were marred by allegations of rigging levelled by Opposition parties. The parties alleged that Khan’s path to power was made easier by the tacit support of the powerful military, which has ruled Pakistan for nearly half its history. The army and Khan’s PTI denied any collusion. Khan shot back that he had “struggled 22 years” to become premier. “No military dictator raised me. I got here on my own.” After assuming office as Pakistan's Prime Minister, Khan, a firebrand nationalist, promised to create millions of jobs and build world-class hospitals and school systems in the mainly-Muslim country of 208 million people. Imran Khan has gaping challenges staring him in the face. Putting Pakistan's dwindling economy back on track is one of his biggest challenges -- to get an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to ease currency pressures, else seek support from China and risk deepening Pakistan’s economic dependence on its neighbour. Smoothening ties with India and the United States is another.

Pak elections 2018: When Pakistan witnessed its second democratic transfer of power since 1947 

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain. Sixty-six-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the Skripals were poisoned with Novichok, a deadly group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet military in the 1970s and 1980s, which was applied to his home's front door in liquid form. May blamed Russia for the poisoning.

It was the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War II. Allies in Europe and the United States sided with May's view and ordered the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

Russia retaliated by expelling Western diplomats. Moscow denied any involvement and accused the British intelligence agencies of staging the attack to stoke anti-Russian hysteria.

Russian officials questioned why would Russia attack an ageing turncoat who was pardoned and swapped in a Kremlin-approved 2010 spy swap. President Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB spy, said that Skripal would have been dead if he was attacked with a weapons grade agent.

The father-daughter duo was in a critical condition for weeks after the poisoning. Yulia, 33, was in a coma for 20 days.

Two Russian nationals were arrested after a few months in connection with the incident. A European arrest warrant was also issued for Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

Skripal, recruited by British spies while in Spain, ended up in Britain after a Cold War-style spy swap that brought 10 Russian spies captured in the United States back to Moscow in exchange for those accused by Moscow of spying for the West.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain. Sixty-six-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain. Sixty-six-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. British Prime Minister Theresa May said the Skripals were poisoned with Novichok, a deadly group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet military in the 1970s and 1980s, which was applied to his home's front door in liquid form. May blamed Russia for the poisoning. It was the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War II. Allies in Europe and the United States sided with May's view and ordered the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War. Russia retaliated by expelling Western diplomats. Moscow denied any involvement and accused the British intelligence agencies of staging the attack to stoke anti-Russian hysteria. Russian officials questioned why would Russia attack an ageing turncoat who was pardoned and swapped in a Kremlin-approved 2010 spy swap. President Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB spy, said that Skripal would have been dead if he was attacked with a weapons grade agent. The father-daughter duo was in a critical condition for weeks after the poisoning. Yulia, 33, was in a coma for 20 days. Two Russian nationals were arrested after a few months in connection with the incident. A European arrest warrant was also issued for Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. Skripal, recruited by British spies while in Spain, ended up in Britain after a Cold War-style spy swap that brought 10 Russian spies captured in the United States back to Moscow in exchange for those accused by Moscow of spying for the West.

Poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter divided international community

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggi-other-journalists-are-named-time-magazines-person-of-the-year-183310">Jamal Khashoggi</a> paid the price for criticising the Saudi royal family. The Saudi Arabian dissident was living in a self-imposed exile in the United States after fleeing Saudi Arabia last year. He was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A complex man of contradictions, Khashoggi went from being a Saudi royal family insider to an outspoken critic of the ultra-conservative kingdom's government.

In his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/washington-post-publishes-jamal-khashoggis-last-piece-172051">final column for The Washington Post</a>, Khashoggi presciently pleaded for greater freedom of expression in the Middle East.

"The Arab world is facing its own version of an Iron Curtain, imposed not by external actors but through domestic forces vying for power," he wrote.

The Saudi journalist disappeared after entering his country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. His disappearance was initially shrouded in mystery, and triggered an international crisis for both Riyadh and Washington as Turkish officials accused Saudi Arabia of a state-sponsored killing.

Riyadh, after insisting that Khashoggi left its consulate alive, said more than two weeks afterwards that he died in a "brawl" that arose from a dispute with people he met there.

Three weeks on, the Saudi public prosecutor said the murder was "premeditated" according to information supplied by Turkey.

Khashoggi came from a prominent Saudi family with Turkish origins.

His grandfather, Mohammed Khashoggi, was the personal doctor of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdul Aziz al-Saud. His uncle was the notorious arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

A friend of the young Osama bin Laden, a Muslim Brotherhood sympathiser, an aide to the Saudi royal family, a critic of the kingdom's regime and a liberal - such conflicting descriptions were all ascribed to Khashoggi.

After graduating from Indiana State University in 1982, he began working for Saudi newspapers, including the Saudi Gazette and Al-Sharq al-Awsat.

Sent to cover the conflict in Afghanistan, Khashoggi sympathised with the mujahedeen in the 1980s war against the Soviet occupation, which was funded by the Saudis and the CIA.

He was known to have been drawn to the Brotherhood's policies seeking to erase the remnants of Western colonialism from the Arab world.

It was this shared vision that brought him closer to Bin Laden, who went on to found Al-Qaeda, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Born in the Saudi holy city of Medina on October 13, 1958, Khashoggi spent his youth studying Islamic ideology and embraced liberal ideas.

But Saudi authorities came to see Khashoggi as too progressive and he was forced to resign as editor-in-chief of the Saudi daily Al-Watan in 2003 after serving just 54 days.

Over the years, he maintained ambiguous ties with Saudi authorities, having held advisory positions in Riyadh and Washington, including to Prince Turki al-Faisal, who ran Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency for more than 20 years.

In 2007, Khashoggi returned to Al-Watan newspaper, lasting almost three years before being fired for "his editorial style," according to his website.

He became close to Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, and together they launched in Manama a 24-hour news station, Al-Arab.

But staunch Saudi ally Bahrain shut the station down in 2015, less than 24 hours after it broadcast an interview with an opposition official.

Khashoggi fled Saudi Arabia in September 2017, just months after Prince Mohammed was named heir to the throne.

He spoke out against a Saudi-led boycott of Qatar and also criticised Prince Mohammed for stifling debate about his reforms.

Khashoggi made his fateful <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/khashoggi-was-dead-in-twenty-minutes-says-tura-khislakchi-as-he-unfolds-the-incident-to-wion-173771">visit to the Istanbul consulate</a> in order to obtain the papers he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz.

(With inputs from AFP)

Jamal Khashoggi paid the price for criticising the Saudi royal family. The Saudi Arabian dissident was living in a self-imposed exile in the United States after fleeing Saudi Arabia last year.

Jamal Khashoggi paid the price for criticising the Saudi royal family. The Saudi Arabian dissident was living in a self-imposed exile in the United States after fleeing Saudi Arabia last year. He was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. A complex man of contradictions, Khashoggi went from being a Saudi royal family insider to an outspoken critic of the ultra-conservative kingdom's government. In his final column for The Washington Post, Khashoggi presciently pleaded for greater freedom of expression in the Middle East. "The Arab world is facing its own version of an Iron Curtain, imposed not by external actors but through domestic forces vying for power," he wrote. The Saudi journalist disappeared after entering his country's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. His disappearance was initially shrouded in mystery, and triggered an international crisis for both Riyadh and Washington as Turkish officials accused Saudi Arabia of a state-sponsored killing. Riyadh, after insisting that Khashoggi left its consulate alive, said more than two weeks afterwards that he died in a "brawl" that arose from a dispute with people he met there. Three weeks on, the Saudi public prosecutor said the murder was "premeditated" according to information supplied by Turkey. Khashoggi came from a prominent Saudi family with Turkish origins. His grandfather, Mohammed Khashoggi, was the personal doctor of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdul Aziz al-Saud. His uncle was the notorious arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. A friend of the young Osama bin Laden, a Muslim Brotherhood sympathiser, an aide to the Saudi royal family, a critic of the kingdom's regime and a liberal - such conflicting descriptions were all ascribed to Khashoggi. After graduating from Indiana State University in 1982, he began working for Saudi newspapers, including the Saudi Gazette and Al-Sharq al-Awsat. Sent to cover the conflict in Afghanistan, Khashoggi sympathised with the mujahedeen in the 1980s war against the Soviet occupation, which was funded by the Saudis and the CIA. He was known to have been drawn to the Brotherhood's policies seeking to erase the remnants of Western colonialism from the Arab world. It was this shared vision that brought him closer to Bin Laden, who went on to found Al-Qaeda, which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Born in the Saudi holy city of Medina on October 13, 1958, Khashoggi spent his youth studying Islamic ideology and embraced liberal ideas. But Saudi authorities came to see Khashoggi as too progressive and he was forced to resign as editor-in-chief of the Saudi daily Al-Watan in 2003 after serving just 54 days. Over the years, he maintained ambiguous ties with Saudi authorities, having held advisory positions in Riyadh and Washington, including to Prince Turki al-Faisal, who ran Saudi Arabia's intelligence agency for more than 20 years. In 2007, Khashoggi returned to Al-Watan newspaper, lasting almost three years before being fired for "his editorial style," according to his website. He became close to Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, and together they launched in Manama a 24-hour news station, Al-Arab. But staunch Saudi ally Bahrain shut the station down in 2015, less than 24 hours after it broadcast an interview with an opposition official. Khashoggi fled Saudi Arabia in September 2017, just months after Prince Mohammed was named heir to the throne. He spoke out against a Saudi-led boycott of Qatar and also criticised Prince Mohammed for stifling debate about his reforms. Khashoggi made his fateful visit to the Istanbul consulate in order to obtain the papers he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz. (With inputs from AFP)

Jamal Khashoggi's killing: A murder that shook 2018

2018 was a memorable year. It was marked by highs and lows, smiles and tears, life and death.

It was a year of extremes - from the provocative to the persuasive, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

The year redeemed itself when 12 boys of a junior football team in Thailand were rescued alive from the cave after 17 harrowing days.

The 12 members of the team, aged 11 to 17, and their 25-year-old assistant coach entered Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province of Thailand on June 23. The group had planned to explore the cavern complex for about an hour after football practice.

Shortly afterwards, heavy rains partially flooded the cave, trapping the group inside. Their life hanged in the balance as divers from multiple countries came together to draw up an elaborate rescue plan.

Led by 13 "world class" divers, the boys were accompanied by two adults each, with others stationed in junctions along the way.

They wore face masks and were tied to buddy divers who carried their oxygen tanks, guiding them through more than two kilometres of narrow, dark corridors using torches and guide ropes.

Each round trip took around 10 hours on average.

The rescue operation was one of the most difficult ones in recent history. The danger was highlighted by the death of a former Navy SEAL as he helped bring oxygen tanks along the route.

Experts had worried that the harrowing journey could make the boys panic, triggering an underwater accident.

Those concerns led rescuers to approve a mild sedative that calmed the youngsters, according to Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

Prayut said that a "minor tranquiliser" had been used to help keep the kids calm on the terrifying swim to freedom, much of it in water with very low or no visibility.

But, eventually, the rescuers succeeded in bringing all the boys out alive. The boys and their coach lost an average of two kilograms during their ordeal but were generally in good condition after the rescue.

2018 was a memorable year. It was marked by highs and lows, smiles and tears, life and death. It was a year of extremes - from the provocative to the persuasive, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

2018 was a memorable year. It was marked by highs and lows, smiles and tears, life and death. It was a year of extremes - from the provocative to the persuasive, from the sublime to the ridiculous. The year redeemed itself when 12 boys of a junior football team in Thailand were rescued alive from the cave after 17 harrowing days. The 12 members of the team, aged 11 to 17, and their 25-year-old assistant coach entered Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai province of Thailand on June 23. The group had planned to explore the cavern complex for about an hour after football practice. Shortly afterwards, heavy rains partially flooded the cave, trapping the group inside. Their life hanged in the balance as divers from multiple countries came together to draw up an elaborate rescue plan. Led by 13 "world class" divers, the boys were accompanied by two adults each, with others stationed in junctions along the way. They wore face masks and were tied to buddy divers who carried their oxygen tanks, guiding them through more than two kilometres of narrow, dark corridors using torches and guide ropes. Each round trip took around 10 hours on average. The rescue operation was one of the most difficult ones in recent history. The danger was highlighted by the death of a former Navy SEAL as he helped bring oxygen tanks along the route. Experts had worried that the harrowing journey could make the boys panic, triggering an underwater accident. Those concerns led rescuers to approve a mild sedative that calmed the youngsters, according to Thailand's junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha. Prayut said that a "minor tranquiliser" had been used to help keep the kids calm on the terrifying swim to freedom, much of it in water with very low or no visibility. But, eventually, the rescuers succeeded in bringing all the boys out alive. The boys and their coach lost an average of two kilograms during their ordeal but were generally in good condition after the rescue.

Thailand cave rescue: The survival story of 2018

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan became the prime minister of Pakistan after being on the periphery of political power circles for 20-odd years.

The firebrand nationalist promised radical change, saying he would redistribute wealth, hold the country’s political elite accountable, make more people pay taxes, improve the lives of the poor, bring Pakistan out of its debt burden and improve ties with neighbours and strategically reposition his country.

So has Imran Khan delivered on his promises or buckled under pressure from the army and the deep state?

Shortly after coming to power, Imran wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a meeting of the foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly elections.

But a day later, Pakistan terrorists killed an Indian soldier and three policemen, while the Imran Khan government released stamps glorifying terrorist Burhan Wani.

India rejected the offer of talks with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj clearly saying talks and terror cannot go together, and that India needed action before any meeting could take place.

Snubbed by India, Imran lashed out, tweeting, "Disappointed at the arrogant and negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.”

This time too, Imran Khan later retracted clarifying he never meant this for the Indian PM.

But there's been a pattern to his public posturing, denials and doublespeak. In December this year, Pakistan, under its new prime minister, did it again. After the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan, which was attended by Indian ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi controversially said, "Imran Khan delivered a googly and India sent two ministers to Pakistan."

Qureshi's remark came after India refused to attend the next SAARC summit, citing cross-border terrorism. 
While Imran extended a hand of friendship with the opening of the corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India, he insulted India with the presence of pro-Khalistan activist Gopal Singh Chawla at the ceremony - a man believed to be close to terrorist Hafiz Saeed, the 26/11 mastermind.

Not to forget, the ceremony was also attended by Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa who was also seen greeting Chawla warmly on the sidelines of the function.

Soon after coming to power, Imran promised on national television that his government will grant citizenship to the Pakistani-born children of the country’s roughly 2.5 million Afghan refugees.

But after strong push-back by nationalists, the military and his own coalition partners, the prime minister did a U-turn saying there was no decision yet.

The celebrity cricketer began his term by shunning the trappings of state, promising to turn opulence into austerity. It started with trimming the PM's motorcade, to selling buffaloes at his residence.

It was clear that personal austerity was going to feature high on Khan’s agenda.

But there seemed little logic then in his refusal to live in Islamabad - if his daily helicopter rides from a personal hill estate would cost even more.

His government's argument that it cost just about the same as a cab drive drew further flak.

With the economy in shambles, Imran vowed to set it right. He was also seen as vociferously against another IMF bailout - the 12th for Pakistan. Initial brainstorming sessions, however, have done little more than planning loans from friendly nations such as China, Saudi Arabia.

But he has constantly flip-flopped on the IMF deal as well.

While he started his tenure on a stream of promises, deliverables have been limited.

Imran's bravest appointment has also been reversed under pressure from the Islamists.

Two days after Fawad Chaudhry announced the appointment of Atif Mian, an Ahmadi Muslim and Princeton professor named by the IMF as one of the top 25 young economists in the world as an economic advisor, Imran’s party asked Mian to step down.

Then came the much-publicised case of Asia Bibi - a Christian woman accused of blasphemy under the country's stringent laws. She was finally allowed by the courts to be free, but it was done under immense international pressure.

The Imran Khan government first welcomed the decision, promised protection to her, and agreed to send her out of the country. But after widespread protests from hardliners, he buckled under pressure. Asia Bibi would not be allowed the leave the country and the Pakistan government would appeal against the case.

But what has been clear from the beginning is that Imran Khan is the choice of the army.

Even before the elections, there were wide-scale allegations of rigging in the elections that delivered Imran victory and sent his predecessor Nawaz Sharif, a popular politician, to jail.

Imran has been seen cozying up to the Pakistan military on several occasions. However, his popularity with the army doesn't do him any good with the US.

The Trump administration has drastically scaled down on aide and this year confirmed it will cut $300 million in aid to Pakistan over its failure to tackle terror groups.

So, while Imran Khan will have to shape a new trajectory in his relationship with the US, it remains to be seen if he can change the narrative in Pakistan’s ties with India.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan became the prime minister of Pakistan after being on the periphery of political power circles for 20-odd years. The firebrand nationalist promised radical change, saying he would redistribute wealth, hold the country’s political elite accountable, make more people pay taxes, improve the lives of the poor, bring Pakistan out of its debt burden and improve ties with neighbours and strategically reposition his country.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan became the prime minister of Pakistan after being on the periphery of political power circles for 20-odd years. The firebrand nationalist promised radical change, saying he would redistribute wealth, hold the country’s political elite accountable, make more people pay taxes, improve the lives of the poor, bring Pakistan out of its debt burden and improve ties with neighbours and strategically reposition his country. So has Imran Khan delivered on his promises or buckled under pressure from the army and the deep state? Shortly after coming to power, Imran wrote a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting a meeting of the foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly elections. But a day later, Pakistan terrorists killed an Indian soldier and three policemen, while the Imran Khan government released stamps glorifying terrorist Burhan Wani. India rejected the offer of talks with foreign minister Sushma Swaraj clearly saying talks and terror cannot go together, and that India needed action before any meeting could take place. Snubbed by India, Imran lashed out, tweeting, "Disappointed at the arrogant and negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.” This time too, Imran Khan later retracted clarifying he never meant this for the Indian PM. But there's been a pattern to his public posturing, denials and doublespeak. In December this year, Pakistan, under its new prime minister, did it again. After the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan, which was attended by Indian ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi controversially said, "Imran Khan delivered a googly and India sent two ministers to Pakistan." Qureshi's remark came after India refused to attend the next SAARC summit, citing cross-border terrorism. While Imran extended a hand of friendship with the opening of the corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India, he insulted India with the presence of pro-Khalistan activist Gopal Singh Chawla at the ceremony - a man believed to be close to terrorist Hafiz Saeed, the 26/11 mastermind. Not to forget, the ceremony was also attended by Pakistan's army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa who was also seen greeting Chawla warmly on the sidelines of the function. Soon after coming to power, Imran promised on national television that his government will grant citizenship to the Pakistani-born children of the country’s roughly 2.5 million Afghan refugees. But after strong push-back by nationalists, the military and his own coalition partners, the prime minister did a U-turn saying there was no decision yet. The celebrity cricketer began his term by shunning the trappings of state, promising to turn opulence into austerity. It started with trimming the PM's motorcade, to selling buffaloes at his residence. It was clear that personal austerity was going to feature high on Khan’s agenda. But there seemed little logic then in his refusal to live in Islamabad - if his daily helicopter rides from a personal hill estate would cost even more. His government's argument that it cost just about the same as a cab drive drew further flak. With the economy in shambles, Imran vowed to set it right. He was also seen as vociferously against another IMF bailout - the 12th for Pakistan. Initial brainstorming sessions, however, have done little more than planning loans from friendly nations such as China, Saudi Arabia. But he has constantly flip-flopped on the IMF deal as well. While he started his tenure on a stream of promises, deliverables have been limited. Imran's bravest appointment has also been reversed under pressure from the Islamists. Two days after Fawad Chaudhry announced the appointment of Atif Mian, an Ahmadi Muslim and Princeton professor named by the IMF as one of the top 25 young economists in the world as an economic advisor, Imran’s party asked Mian to step down. Then came the much-publicised case of Asia Bibi - a Christian woman accused of blasphemy under the country's stringent laws. She was finally allowed by the courts to be free, but it was done under immense international pressure. The Imran Khan government first welcomed the decision, promised protection to her, and agreed to send her out of the country. But after widespread protests from hardliners, he buckled under pressure. Asia Bibi would not be allowed the leave the country and the Pakistan government would appeal against the case. But what has been clear from the beginning is that Imran Khan is the choice of the army. Even before the elections, there were wide-scale allegations of rigging in the elections that delivered Imran victory and sent his predecessor Nawaz Sharif, a popular politician, to jail. Imran has been seen cozying up to the Pakistan military on several occasions. However, his popularity with the army doesn't do him any good with the US. The Trump administration has drastically scaled down on aide and this year confirmed it will cut $300 million in aid to Pakistan over its failure to tackle terror groups. So, while Imran Khan will have to shape a new trajectory in his relationship with the US, it remains to be seen if he can change the narrative in Pakistan’s ties with India.

Imran Khan, Pakistan army's new pawn

Yearender 2018: Shocking death of Hollywood stars this year

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. 
&nbsp; 
That was Serena’s return to tennis in a nutshell, but her 2018 season was far more than that. 
&nbsp; 
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; 
&nbsp; 
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. 
&nbsp; 
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. 
&nbsp; 
“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. 
&nbsp; 
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.” 
&nbsp; 
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. 
&nbsp; 
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. 
&nbsp; 
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." 
&nbsp; 
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, 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

Kim Jong-Un made history in April this year by becoming the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea in six decades. He met South Korean president Moon Jae-in for the third inter-Korean summit at the Peace House, a three-storeyed building located just across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the South Korean side of Panmunjom truce village.

Smiling and holding hands, Kim and Moon met at the DMZ, one of the most heavily guarded places on earth. Kim invited Moon to step briefly across the demarcation line into North Korea, before the two leaders crossed back into South Korea holding hands.

At the talks on April 27, both sides had a candid and earnest exchange of views on the matters of mutual concern including the issues of improving the North-South relations, ensuring peace on the Korean peninsula and the denuclearisation of the peninsula.

The talks came weeks before Kim met US President Donald Trump for a summit in Singapore.

The DMZ - a legacy of the Cold War - intersects the 38th Parallel, which was the border separating the two countries before the Korean war of 1950.

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty and the North has been engaged in a standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes that it conducts in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

But tensions have eased in recent months, with the North taking part in the Winter Olympics in the South in February and an exchange of threats of war with the United States and other bellicose rhetoric evaporating.

Kim Jong-Un made history in April this year by becoming the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea in six decades. He met South Korean president Moon Jae-in for the third inter-Korean summit at the Peace House, a three-storeyed building located just across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the South Korean side of Panmunjom truce village.

Kim Jong-Un made history in April this year by becoming the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea in six decades. He met South Korean president Moon Jae-in for the third inter-Korean summit at the Peace House, a three-storeyed building located just across the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the South Korean side of Panmunjom truce village. Smiling and holding hands, Kim and Moon met at the DMZ, one of the most heavily guarded places on earth. Kim invited Moon to step briefly across the demarcation line into North Korea, before the two leaders crossed back into South Korea holding hands. At the talks on April 27, both sides had a candid and earnest exchange of views on the matters of mutual concern including the issues of improving the North-South relations, ensuring peace on the Korean peninsula and the denuclearisation of the peninsula. The talks came weeks before Kim met US President Donald Trump for a summit in Singapore. The DMZ - a legacy of the Cold War - intersects the 38th Parallel, which was the border separating the two countries before the Korean war of 1950. Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty and the North has been engaged in a standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes that it conducts in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. But tensions have eased in recent months, with the North taking part in the Winter Olympics in the South in February and an exchange of threats of war with the United States and other bellicose rhetoric evaporating.

Historic inter-Korean summit: When the two Koreas met

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;

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;

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;

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;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/iron-man-spider-man-the-hulk-the-superheroes-that-stan-lee-created-177050">In pictures: From Spider-Man to Black Panther, the many superheroes Stan Lee made</a>

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.&nbsp;

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

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-west-trying-to-hold-back-powerful-russia-185542">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> remains a formidable force in world politics. He started as a low-level KGB spy and rose to the upper echelon of power winning the top office of his country a record four times.

Putin, a black belt in judo, relishes his macho image. His swift military interventions in Ukraine, annexing Crimea in 2014, the bombing of rebels in Syria, and allegations of interference in the US elections have stunned many observers. 
 
At 65, Putin has made no secret of his determination to reassert Russian power against US and Nato allies. 
 
Despite the long rule, Putin's approval ratings have remained high his brand of patriotism dominates Russian media, skews coverage in favour of him and puts opposition leaders in jail, and silences dissenters. 
 
In his first two terms as President, Putin was buoyed by oil and gas profits but that has changed the world is now looking at an uncertain future for the oil market. 
 
His third term was marked by more controversies - allegations of absolutism, religious orthodoxy under the powerful church, protesters marginalised including the most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny who was jailed under corruptions charges. 
 
The Church under Putin has supported a ban on groups spreading gay "propaganda" among teenagers.

The Church is back in focus over the Ukraine war and the breaking away of a faction of the Orthodox Church in favour of Ukraine as the seat of religious conservatives.

International concern about human rights in Russia has grown with the jailing of oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once one of the world's richest billionaires, and of anti-Putin activists from the punk group Pussy Riot. 
 
World leaders are conscious of&nbsp;Putin's rising clout, but&nbsp;US President Donald Trump admires the Russian President for his style. However, he&nbsp;has been wary of the headlines around his ties with Russian businesses and Russian interference in US elections in favour of Trump himself. 
 
US prosecutors accuse a longstanding Putin ally oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin of orchestrating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. 
 
The alleged meddling&nbsp;has prompted the US to impose more sanctions on officials close to Putin, a controversy that has surrounded Trump's presidency.

There are also worries of a growing arms race between the US and Russia after Washington publicly discussed quitting a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia that has been in place since 1987.

Putin has warned Washington it will be forced to respond in kind to restore the military balance if Trump carries through with his threat to quit the INF treaty. 
 
Russia is no longer a strategic partner of the European Union as well. The West accuses Putin of helping the pro-Russian rebels in Eastern Ukraine with heavy weapons and troops. The West also accuses him of meddling in Syria in favour of Bashar al-Assad. 
 
Putin's relations with the UK have soured too&nbsp;over the 2006 radioactive poisoning of anti-Putin campaigner Alexander Litvinenko in London. Agents of the Russian state were accused of murdering him and more recently the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. 
 
Controversially, he has also backed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a man now being accused of ordering the brutal murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.&nbsp; 
 
But Putin is also playing peacemaker. He has been part of talks with the Taliban and the Afghan government to initiate a peace process and to bring the Taliban to the talking table. 
 
Significantly, India, China and Russia are also advancing the cause of liberalisation and promotion of free trade as the&nbsp;three countries held a trilateral meeting recently to take on the US administrations to move towards protectionism and unilateralism. 
 
Putin's rise has been spectacular - from being a spy to four-time President.

Born in 1952 in Leningrad, he studied law and then joined the Russian spy agency, the KGB, after university.

Putin served as a spy in Communist East Germany and in the&nbsp;1990s, became a top aide to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. Later, he entered Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin in 1997, was first made chief of federal security service, and&nbsp;then the&nbsp;prime minister. 
 
Putin’s moment came in 1999 when Yeltsin quit and named him acting President. Since then, he has won four times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a formidable force in world politics. He started as a low-level KGB spy and rose to the upper echelon of power winning the top office of his country a record four times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin remains a formidable force in world politics. He started as a low-level KGB spy and rose to the upper echelon of power winning the top office of his country a record four times. Putin, a black belt in judo, relishes his macho image. His swift military interventions in Ukraine, annexing Crimea in 2014, the bombing of rebels in Syria, and allegations of interference in the US elections have stunned many observers. At 65, Putin has made no secret of his determination to reassert Russian power against US and Nato allies. Despite the long rule, Putin's approval ratings have remained high his brand of patriotism dominates Russian media, skews coverage in favour of him and puts opposition leaders in jail, and silences dissenters. In his first two terms as President, Putin was buoyed by oil and gas profits but that has changed the world is now looking at an uncertain future for the oil market. His third term was marked by more controversies - allegations of absolutism, religious orthodoxy under the powerful church, protesters marginalised including the most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny who was jailed under corruptions charges. The Church under Putin has supported a ban on groups spreading gay "propaganda" among teenagers. The Church is back in focus over the Ukraine war and the breaking away of a faction of the Orthodox Church in favour of Ukraine as the seat of religious conservatives. International concern about human rights in Russia has grown with the jailing of oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once one of the world's richest billionaires, and of anti-Putin activists from the punk group Pussy Riot. World leaders are conscious of Putin's rising clout, but US President Donald Trump admires the Russian President for his style. However, he has been wary of the headlines around his ties with Russian businesses and Russian interference in US elections in favour of Trump himself. US prosecutors accuse a longstanding Putin ally oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin of orchestrating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The alleged meddling has prompted the US to impose more sanctions on officials close to Putin, a controversy that has surrounded Trump's presidency. There are also worries of a growing arms race between the US and Russia after Washington publicly discussed quitting a landmark nuclear arms control pact with Russia that has been in place since 1987. Putin has warned Washington it will be forced to respond in kind to restore the military balance if Trump carries through with his threat to quit the INF treaty. Russia is no longer a strategic partner of the European Union as well. The West accuses Putin of helping the pro-Russian rebels in Eastern Ukraine with heavy weapons and troops. The West also accuses him of meddling in Syria in favour of Bashar al-Assad. Putin's relations with the UK have soured too over the 2006 radioactive poisoning of anti-Putin campaigner Alexander Litvinenko in London. Agents of the Russian state were accused of murdering him and more recently the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Controversially, he has also backed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a man now being accused of ordering the brutal murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Putin is also playing peacemaker. He has been part of talks with the Taliban and the Afghan government to initiate a peace process and to bring the Taliban to the talking table. Significantly, India, China and Russia are also advancing the cause of liberalisation and promotion of free trade as the three countries held a trilateral meeting recently to take on the US administrations to move towards protectionism and unilateralism. Putin's rise has been spectacular - from being a spy to four-time President. Born in 1952 in Leningrad, he studied law and then joined the Russian spy agency, the KGB, after university. Putin served as a spy in Communist East Germany and in the 1990s, became a top aide to Saint Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak. Later, he entered Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin in 1997, was first made chief of federal security service, and then the prime minister. Putin’s moment came in 1999 when Yeltsin quit and named him acting President. Since then, he has won four times.

Vladimir Putin: Four-time President and global influencer

In pics: Biggest one-day loss suffered by companies in 2018

Pakistan's cricket hero Imran Khan stunned the world when he took charge as the Prime Minister of a nation that has a perennial conflict on its borders and an economy that slowly inches toward a crisis.&nbsp;

In August, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief was sworn-in as the country's 'Wazeer-e-Azam'. PTI's sizeable election victory, coupled with Khan's charisma and international recognition, suggested the days of 'Naya Pakistan' were finally here.&nbsp;

Promises galore

Khan promised an economically empowered, democratic, terrorism-free, welfare state as he fumbled his way through his oath-taking ceremony. Shortly after assuming office, Khan, along with his cabinet, rolled out a series of austerity measures, suggesting that his government means no foul-play and only business.&nbsp;

Within a fortnight, the Pak side met with the Indian counterparts <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-pakistan-begin-talks-in-lahore-on-indus-water-treaty-162280">over Indus Waters Treaty</a>. Khan also sent out a message of cooperation and dialogue to India.&nbsp;

'100-day agenda' to 100-day report card

It must be noted that Khan had proposed a '100-day-agenda' much ahead of Pakistan's general elections. On the occasion of crossing the threshold of completing 100 days of governance, PM Khan's speech in November put a spotlight on some of the key achievements of his cabinet -- some of which included bolstering the FIA and setting up a task force for improved government hospitals, Pakistan media reported.

Khan, in his speech, added that Pakistan has already signed deals with over 20 countries, encouraging sharing of information and assets recovery. In under six months, Khan visited UAE, Saudi Arabia twice and had gone on an official trip to China and Malaysia. &nbsp;

He also mentioned that the anti-encroachment drive initiated by his government helped in recovering around Rs 350 billion worth of land. &nbsp;

However, a sizeable portion of his address focussed on what all he plans to achieve for the country in days to come -- promises of providing better education, nourishment to the underprivileged, more privileges to the farmer community and a bolstered economy which currently awaits an IMF bailout.&nbsp;

Hits and misses

Barely six months into governance, Khan-led PTI government scored a mix of hits and misses. While critics continue to point at the need of experience that manifests Khan's cabinet, the PTI government did manage to deliver on some tasks as promised including reducing fuel prices by removing taxes.&nbsp;

Tackling corruption

During the 90s, when Khan first stepped into politics, his goal was to bring 'insaaf' and put an end to corruption.

PTI vowed to force Pakistanis to pay their taxes -- but there is a long way to go, with only around one per cent of the population complying, news agency AFP reported &nbsp;

International relations

Imran Khan has gaping challenges staring him in the face. Putting Pakistan's dwindling economy back on track and smoothening ties with India and the United States are some of the key issues where PM Khan needs to channelise his force.&nbsp;

Khan vowed to rebalance Islamabad's relationship with the US, months after US President Donald Trump suspended security aid over Islamabad's alleged failure to target militancy along its borders.

But the road to better relations with Washington looks a difficult one, especially when it goes through Afghanistan which sits as a sore site between Islamabad and United States.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Khan noted that Islamabad joined <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-lost-70000-lives-in-americas-war-on-terror-imran-khan-28324">Washington's "war on terror</a>" in 2001, and paid a heavy price for the alliance. He stated that it sparked an Islamist backlash and homegrown militant groups who turned their guns on the Pakistani state, costing thousands of lives.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Khan government would still need to find a definitive ground to improve trade with India and address the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;

The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor was certainly a welcome move, so was his remark which came earlier this month wherein he noted that Pakistan wants "something done about the bombers of Mumbai", tacitly acknowledging that the attack of November 2008 originated from Pakistani soil.

Yet the mood in the country is one of unbridled optimism. Khan's young supporters believe he can build a corruption-free, prosperous 'Naya Pakistan.'

Khan's critics, on the other hand, believe his biggest challenge is managing expectations of those who see hope in him, "because he's almost promised them the moon," Raza Ahmad Rumi, the editor of a Pakistani daily was quoted by a Reuters report.&nbsp;

Pakistan's cricket hero Imran Khan stunned the world when he took charge as the Prime Minister of a nation that has a perennial conflict on its borders and an economy that slowly inches toward a crisis.

Pakistan's cricket hero Imran Khan stunned the world when he took charge as the Prime Minister of a nation that has a perennial conflict on its borders and an economy that slowly inches toward a crisis. In August, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief was sworn-in as the country's 'Wazeer-e-Azam'. PTI's sizeable election victory, coupled with Khan's charisma and international recognition, suggested the days of 'Naya Pakistan' were finally here. Promises galore Khan promised an economically empowered, democratic, terrorism-free, welfare state as he fumbled his way through his oath-taking ceremony. Shortly after assuming office, Khan, along with his cabinet, rolled out a series of austerity measures, suggesting that his government means no foul-play and only business. Within a fortnight, the Pak side met with the Indian counterparts over Indus Waters Treaty. Khan also sent out a message of cooperation and dialogue to India. '100-day agenda' to 100-day report card It must be noted that Khan had proposed a '100-day-agenda' much ahead of Pakistan's general elections. On the occasion of crossing the threshold of completing 100 days of governance, PM Khan's speech in November put a spotlight on some of the key achievements of his cabinet -- some of which included bolstering the FIA and setting up a task force for improved government hospitals, Pakistan media reported. Khan, in his speech, added that Pakistan has already signed deals with over 20 countries, encouraging sharing of information and assets recovery. In under six months, Khan visited UAE, Saudi Arabia twice and had gone on an official trip to China and Malaysia. He also mentioned that the anti-encroachment drive initiated by his government helped in recovering around Rs 350 billion worth of land. However, a sizeable portion of his address focussed on what all he plans to achieve for the country in days to come -- promises of providing better education, nourishment to the underprivileged, more privileges to the farmer community and a bolstered economy which currently awaits an IMF bailout. Hits and misses Barely six months into governance, Khan-led PTI government scored a mix of hits and misses. While critics continue to point at the need of experience that manifests Khan's cabinet, the PTI government did manage to deliver on some tasks as promised including reducing fuel prices by removing taxes. Tackling corruption During the 90s, when Khan first stepped into politics, his goal was to bring 'insaaf' and put an end to corruption. PTI vowed to force Pakistanis to pay their taxes -- but there is a long way to go, with only around one per cent of the population complying, news agency AFP reported International relations Imran Khan has gaping challenges staring him in the face. Putting Pakistan's dwindling economy back on track and smoothening ties with India and the United States are some of the key issues where PM Khan needs to channelise his force. Khan vowed to rebalance Islamabad's relationship with the US, months after US President Donald Trump suspended security aid over Islamabad's alleged failure to target militancy along its borders. But the road to better relations with Washington looks a difficult one, especially when it goes through Afghanistan which sits as a sore site between Islamabad and United States. Earlier this month, Khan noted that Islamabad joined Washington's "war on terror" in 2001, and paid a heavy price for the alliance. He stated that it sparked an Islamist backlash and homegrown militant groups who turned their guns on the Pakistani state, costing thousands of lives. Meanwhile, the Khan government would still need to find a definitive ground to improve trade with India and address the Kashmir issue. The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor was certainly a welcome move, so was his remark which came earlier this month wherein he noted that Pakistan wants "something done about the bombers of Mumbai", tacitly acknowledging that the attack of November 2008 originated from Pakistani soil. Yet the mood in the country is one of unbridled optimism. Khan's young supporters believe he can build a corruption-free, prosperous 'Naya Pakistan.' Khan's critics, on the other hand, believe his biggest challenge is managing expectations of those who see hope in him, "because he's almost promised them the moon," Raza Ahmad Rumi, the editor of a Pakistani daily was quoted by a Reuters report.

Hits and misses: In review, over 100 days of Imran Khan as Pak PM 

Year in review: Biggest news events of 2018

A record audience of more than 3.5 billion people watched this year's World Cup in Russia, with the final between France and Croatia attracting 1.12 billion viewers, world soccer's governing body said on Friday.

FIFA said 3.572 billion viewers - more than half of the global population aged four and over - watched some part of the official coverage, which was broadcast live in every territory worldwide from June 14 to July 15.

The global in-home TV audience watching at least one minute of the coverage accounted for almost 3.3 billion viewers, a 2.2 percent increase on the 2014 edition hosted in Brazil, according to FIFA's audit of audience data published on Friday.

A further 309.7 million caught the action on digital platforms, public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants.

France's 4-2 victory in the final, which gave them their second World Cup title following their triumph in 1998, was the most watched game of the competition.

It was followed by England's semi-final defeat to Croatia and the other last-four clash between France and Belgium.

"These figures really do support the claim that Russia 2018 was the best World Cup ever," said FIFA's chief commercial officer, Philippe Le Floc'h.

"The fact that half the world's population watched the FIFA World Cup reflects not just the high quality of our award-winning live coverage, but also that fans everywhere are insatiable for world-class football."

The World Cup coverage reached around 1.6 billion individuals in Asia, with 655.7 million viewers (18.4 percent of the global total) in China, who failed to qualify for the tournament.

The 2022 edition of World Cup will be held in Qatar.

A record audience of more than 3.5 billion people watched this year's World Cup in Russia, with the final between France and Croatia attracting 1.12 billion viewers, world soccer's governing body said on Friday.

A record audience of more than 3.5 billion people watched this year's World Cup in Russia, with the final between France and Croatia attracting 1.12 billion viewers, world soccer's governing body said on Friday. FIFA said 3.572 billion viewers - more than half of the global population aged four and over - watched some part of the official coverage, which was broadcast live in every territory worldwide from June 14 to July 15. The global in-home TV audience watching at least one minute of the coverage accounted for almost 3.3 billion viewers, a 2.2 percent increase on the 2014 edition hosted in Brazil, according to FIFA's audit of audience data published on Friday. A further 309.7 million caught the action on digital platforms, public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants. France's 4-2 victory in the final, which gave them their second World Cup title following their triumph in 1998, was the most watched game of the competition. It was followed by England's semi-final defeat to Croatia and the other last-four clash between France and Belgium. "These figures really do support the claim that Russia 2018 was the best World Cup ever," said FIFA's chief commercial officer, Philippe Le Floc'h. "The fact that half the world's population watched the FIFA World Cup reflects not just the high quality of our award-winning live coverage, but also that fans everywhere are insatiable for world-class football." The World Cup coverage reached around 1.6 billion individuals in Asia, with 655.7 million viewers (18.4 percent of the global total) in China, who failed to qualify for the tournament. The 2022 edition of World Cup will be held in Qatar.

Record audience watched 'best World Cup ever': FIFA

It was an end of an era in Germany after Angela Merkel, the country’s four-time Chancellor, announced in October that she will not stand again for the leadership of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), following a string of poll setbacks.

A vote that followed Merkel’s announcement saw her close ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer emerging as the party’s choice for the new leader. Merkel, 64, had been at the helm of the party for 18 years.

Merkel first became Germany’s chancellor in 2005 and will seek another term in the election set for 2021. She has seen four French presidents and four British prime ministers during her time in office.

The CDU's choice marked a vote for relative political stability in Europe as British Prime Minister Theresa May faces Brexit turmoil and French President Emmanuel Macron's government is rocked by violent street protests.

The biggest political crisis that Merkel has faced during her long career is a 2015 decision to welcome more than one million asylum seekers fleeing crisis zones such as Syria and Iraq. The decision continues to roil German politics and many publications in the country say it hurt the party in national election in September last year.

But despite her diminishing authority, Merkel was named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2017. She has topped the Forbes list for the seventh consecutive year, and for the 12th time in total.

Born in 1954, Merkel studied physics at Karl Marx University (now known as University of Leipzig). She was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986.

Merkel entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, joining the Conservative Alliance which was a part of Christian Democratic Union and German Social Union coalition. She formally joined the CDU in 1990 and won her first election in December that year.

Merkel was elected to lead the CDU in the year 2000, becoming the first woman to lead the party. In the 2002 election for Chancellorship, there was no consensus on Merkel’s name but political turns in Germany led to early elections, in 2005, in which a grand coalition was announced with Merkel at its head. She took oath as Chancellor of Germany for the first time on November 22, 2005, becoming the first woman, the first East German and at aged 51 at that time, the youngest to hold the post in Germany.

It was an end of an era in Germany after Angela Merkel, the country’s four-time Chancellor, announced in October that she will not stand again for the leadership of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), following a string of poll setbacks.

It was an end of an era in Germany after Angela Merkel, the country’s four-time Chancellor, announced in October that she will not stand again for the leadership of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), following a string of poll setbacks. A vote that followed Merkel’s announcement saw her close ally Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer emerging as the party’s choice for the new leader. Merkel, 64, had been at the helm of the party for 18 years. Merkel first became Germany’s chancellor in 2005 and will seek another term in the election set for 2021. She has seen four French presidents and four British prime ministers during her time in office. The CDU's choice marked a vote for relative political stability in Europe as British Prime Minister Theresa May faces Brexit turmoil and French President Emmanuel Macron's government is rocked by violent street protests. The biggest political crisis that Merkel has faced during her long career is a 2015 decision to welcome more than one million asylum seekers fleeing crisis zones such as Syria and Iraq. The decision continues to roil German politics and many publications in the country say it hurt the party in national election in September last year. But despite her diminishing authority, Merkel was named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine in 2017. She has topped the Forbes list for the seventh consecutive year, and for the 12th time in total. Born in 1954, Merkel studied physics at Karl Marx University (now known as University of Leipzig). She was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on quantum chemistry in 1986. Merkel entered politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, joining the Conservative Alliance which was a part of Christian Democratic Union and German Social Union coalition. She formally joined the CDU in 1990 and won her first election in December that year. Merkel was elected to lead the CDU in the year 2000, becoming the first woman to lead the party. In the 2002 election for Chancellorship, there was no consensus on Merkel’s name but political turns in Germany led to early elections, in 2005, in which a grand coalition was announced with Merkel at its head. She took oath as Chancellor of Germany for the first time on November 22, 2005, becoming the first woman, the first East German and at aged 51 at that time, the youngest to hold the post in Germany.

The life and times of German chancellor Angela Merkel

The young prince and heir to Saudi Arabia's throne, Mohammed bin Salman, made the news this year in connection with the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 59-year-old Khashoggi, a Saudi national, was seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 but never returned. Turkey and others implicate the Saudi crown prince.

Khashoggi was a critic of the Saudi royal family an his murder has generated calls for Mohammed bin Salman to be replaced as crown prince.

Born on August 31, 1985, Prince Mohammed graduated in law from Riyadh’s King Saud University. The dark-bearded prince with a receding hairline is the father of two boys and two girls.

MBS, as he is popularly known, was appointed crown prince by his father King Salman in June last year, replacing his cousin who is 26 years his senior. This made the prince, who already oversaw defence and energy policy, the most powerful figure in the country by some stretch after the octogenarian monarch.

The decision represented a social and cultural sea change, with the ruling baton set to be passed to a much younger generation in a country where patriarchal traditions have long made power the province of the old.

In September 2017, a royal decree said women would be allowed to drive. The kingdom has also lifted a public ban on cinemas and has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations - something unseen before.

If Mohammed bin Salman becomes king in his 30s, he would be the youngest monarch of the modern state.

The royal decree was a vote of confidence in a man widely lauded by younger Saudis but regarded warily by many older conservatives. He has embraced the media in a distinct departure from the normally secretive Saudi ruling class, with his bearded features rarely off TV screens or street billboards.

His elevation signaled an affirmation of his policies as the blueprint for the future of the Saudi economy, as well as of his more hawkish and interventionist foreign policy.

The authorities also appear to have clipped the wings of the once-feared religious police - long accused of harassing the public with rigid Islamic mores - who have all but disappeared from big cities.

On the economic front, he announced sweeping changes labeled Vision 2030 aimed at ending the kingdom’s reliance on oil. As well as diversifying the economy, the plans include pushing for women to have a bigger economic role and the partial privatisation of state oil firm Saudi Aramco - reforms that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

The prince’s foreign policy is meanwhile reshaping the kingdom’s role on the regional and global stage.

He is regarded by diplomats and analysts as a prime mover behind the decision to go to war in Yemen and to lead Gulf Arab states in severing links with neighbouring Qatar.

CONFRONTATIONAL, AGGRESSIVE

Both decisions were indicative of a far more confrontational Saudi foreign policy, a break from the consensual style of Gulf Arab policymaking favoured by previous generations of dynastic rulers, as the Sunni Muslim kingdom moved to act aggressively to counter the influence of Shi’ite power Iran.

Yemen represents a proxy war between the two regional powerhouses, with Riyadh supporting the ousted government against Iranian-backed Houthi forces. Qatar has been accused by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies of supporting terrorism and cozying up to Iran, all of which Qatar denies.

The marked policy shift follows what some hawkish Saudi officials regard as a decade of growing Iranian influence across the Middle East, amid concerns that Washington, under former President Barack Obama, turned a blind eye to what Riyadh sees as a pernicious expansion of Iranian activity in Arab nations.

“The rise of MbS (Mohammed bin Salman) will likely mean even more hawkish foreign policy moves from Saudi Arabia and more intensified efforts to confront Iran,” said Helima Croft, Global Head of Commodity Strategy at RBC Capital Markets.

RAPID RISE TO POWER

Prince Mohammed has had a rapid ascent to power: little more than three years ago he was almost unknown in the kingdom, but he quickly came to be regarded as the power behind its throne.

He was propelled into the domestic and international limelight when his father Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud became Saudi Arabia’s seventh king in 2015 and he was named deputy crown prince - behind his cousin whom he has now replaced - and defence minister.

He heads the Council for Economic and Development Affairs which oversees all elements of policy that touch on the economy or social issues like education, health and housing. He also chairs the supreme board of Aramco, making him the first member of the ruling family to directly oversee the state oil company, long regarded as the preserve of commoner technocrats.

And with his elevation as crown prince, he has the kind of wide-ranging power and influence previously unseen in a figure outside the king.

For many Saudis, the kingdom’s new economic and foreign policy directions have become inextricably associated with the prince who has built a strong public profile with media interviews, mainly about his economic ambitions.

Outside Saudi Arabia, that rapid advance and the sudden changes to long-standing policies on regional affairs, energy and its economy have prompted unease, adding an unpredictable edge to a kingdom that allies long regarded as a known quantity.

Inside the country, opinions are divided.

Among many older Saudis, there has been considerable scepticism. They have seen previous economic reform plans come and go with only limited results, and are wary of rapid changes in one of the world’s most conservative societies.

Some fear that Prince Mohammed’s changes will simply serve to cause social ruptures or that however clever his policy changes, deep seated problems in Saudi bureaucracy will prevent any meaningful implementation.

But his Vision 2030 has prompted admiration among many younger Saudis who regard his ascent as evidence that for the first time their generation is taking a central place in running a country.

Prince Mohammed’s establishment of a think-tank, the Misk Foundation, which focused on education, youth, arts and social media issues, appeared to showcase that preoccupation with compatriots of his generation.

“MBS is very popular among Saudi youth and has a window of opportunity to try and reshape the Kingdom through Vision 2030,” said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at the US Baker Institute.

“If he succeeds, he could be on the throne for decades.”

&nbsp;

The young prince and heir to Saudi Arabia's throne, Mohammed bin Salman, made the news this year in connection with the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The young prince and heir to Saudi Arabia's throne, Mohammed bin Salman, made the news this year in connection with the brutal killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 59-year-old Khashoggi, a Saudi national, was seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 but never returned. Turkey and others implicate the Saudi crown prince. Khashoggi was a critic of the Saudi royal family an his murder has generated calls for Mohammed bin Salman to be replaced as crown prince. Born on August 31, 1985, Prince Mohammed graduated in law from Riyadh’s King Saud University. The dark-bearded prince with a receding hairline is the father of two boys and two girls. MBS, as he is popularly known, was appointed crown prince by his father King Salman in June last year, replacing his cousin who is 26 years his senior. This made the prince, who already oversaw defence and energy policy, the most powerful figure in the country by some stretch after the octogenarian monarch. The decision represented a social and cultural sea change, with the ruling baton set to be passed to a much younger generation in a country where patriarchal traditions have long made power the province of the old. In September 2017, a royal decree said women would be allowed to drive. The kingdom has also lifted a public ban on cinemas and has encouraged mixed-gender celebrations - something unseen before. If Mohammed bin Salman becomes king in his 30s, he would be the youngest monarch of the modern state. The royal decree was a vote of confidence in a man widely lauded by younger Saudis but regarded warily by many older conservatives. He has embraced the media in a distinct departure from the normally secretive Saudi ruling class, with his bearded features rarely off TV screens or street billboards. His elevation signaled an affirmation of his policies as the blueprint for the future of the Saudi economy, as well as of his more hawkish and interventionist foreign policy. The authorities also appear to have clipped the wings of the once-feared religious police - long accused of harassing the public with rigid Islamic mores - who have all but disappeared from big cities. On the economic front, he announced sweeping changes labeled Vision 2030 aimed at ending the kingdom’s reliance on oil. As well as diversifying the economy, the plans include pushing for women to have a bigger economic role and the partial privatisation of state oil firm Saudi Aramco - reforms that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The prince’s foreign policy is meanwhile reshaping the kingdom’s role on the regional and global stage. He is regarded by diplomats and analysts as a prime mover behind the decision to go to war in Yemen and to lead Gulf Arab states in severing links with neighbouring Qatar. CONFRONTATIONAL, AGGRESSIVE Both decisions were indicative of a far more confrontational Saudi foreign policy, a break from the consensual style of Gulf Arab policymaking favoured by previous generations of dynastic rulers, as the Sunni Muslim kingdom moved to act aggressively to counter the influence of Shi’ite power Iran. Yemen represents a proxy war between the two regional powerhouses, with Riyadh supporting the ousted government against Iranian-backed Houthi forces. Qatar has been accused by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies of supporting terrorism and cozying up to Iran, all of which Qatar denies. The marked policy shift follows what some hawkish Saudi officials regard as a decade of growing Iranian influence across the Middle East, amid concerns that Washington, under former President Barack Obama, turned a blind eye to what Riyadh sees as a pernicious expansion of Iranian activity in Arab nations. “The rise of MbS (Mohammed bin Salman) will likely mean even more hawkish foreign policy moves from Saudi Arabia and more intensified efforts to confront Iran,” said Helima Croft, Global Head of Commodity Strategy at RBC Capital Markets. RAPID RISE TO POWER Prince Mohammed has had a rapid ascent to power: little more than three years ago he was almost unknown in the kingdom, but he quickly came to be regarded as the power behind its throne. He was propelled into the domestic and international limelight when his father Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud became Saudi Arabia’s seventh king in 2015 and he was named deputy crown prince - behind his cousin whom he has now replaced - and defence minister. He heads the Council for Economic and Development Affairs which oversees all elements of policy that touch on the economy or social issues like education, health and housing. He also chairs the supreme board of Aramco, making him the first member of the ruling family to directly oversee the state oil company, long regarded as the preserve of commoner technocrats. And with his elevation as crown prince, he has the kind of wide-ranging power and influence previously unseen in a figure outside the king. For many Saudis, the kingdom’s new economic and foreign policy directions have become inextricably associated with the prince who has built a strong public profile with media interviews, mainly about his economic ambitions. Outside Saudi Arabia, that rapid advance and the sudden changes to long-standing policies on regional affairs, energy and its economy have prompted unease, adding an unpredictable edge to a kingdom that allies long regarded as a known quantity. Inside the country, opinions are divided. Among many older Saudis, there has been considerable scepticism. They have seen previous economic reform plans come and go with only limited results, and are wary of rapid changes in one of the world’s most conservative societies. Some fear that Prince Mohammed’s changes will simply serve to cause social ruptures or that however clever his policy changes, deep seated problems in Saudi bureaucracy will prevent any meaningful implementation. But his Vision 2030 has prompted admiration among many younger Saudis who regard his ascent as evidence that for the first time their generation is taking a central place in running a country. Prince Mohammed’s establishment of a think-tank, the Misk Foundation, which focused on education, youth, arts and social media issues, appeared to showcase that preoccupation with compatriots of his generation. “MBS is very popular among Saudi youth and has a window of opportunity to try and reshape the Kingdom through Vision 2030,” said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at the US Baker Institute. “If he succeeds, he could be on the throne for decades.”

Mohammed bin Salman, reformist prince who has shaken Saudi Arabia

Kim Jong-un made history this year by becoming the first North Korean leader to cross the DMZ to step into South Korea to meet President Moon Jae-In. The summit between the two countries in April was the first in over a decade.

The meet was aimed at ending their decades-long conflict and easing tensions over the North's nuclear weapons programme.

Moon greeted Kim at the military demarcation line, making Kim the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The 35-year-old leader, later in June, held a historic and high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump in Singapore where he committed to work towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Washington and Pyongyang have subsequently sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved, with the Trump administration consistently referring to the denuclearisation of North Korea specifically.

The process had become deadlocked until Moon's trip to Pyongyang, where Kim agreed to permanently dismantle a missile testing site.

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because the Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a legacy of the Cold War conflict, which pitted the South, the United States and United Nations forces against the communist North, backed by China and Russia.

The emerging US consensus on Kim is similar to what many outside experts have publicly concluded. He is seen as a "rational actor", said US officials - not the "total nut job" that Trump once branded him. He craves international stature but his main aim is "regime survival" and perpetuating his family dynasty, suggesting it will be hard for him to agree to full nuclear disarmament, the officials said.

He is ruthless enough to have had relatives executed but now feels secure enough in power to gamble on Trump, they said. In terms of personality, he is seen more like his charismatic grandfather, Kim Il Sung, than his more camera-shy father.

His dispatch of his sister to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February and a rare appearance by his wife when South Korean envoys visited in March demonstrates an effort to humanise his leadership abroad, they added.

Kim Jong-un made history this year by becoming the first North Korean leader to cross the DMZ to step into South Korea to meet President Moon Jae-In. The summit between the two countries in April was the first in over a decade.

Kim Jong-un made history this year by becoming the first North Korean leader to cross the DMZ to step into South Korea to meet President Moon Jae-In. The summit between the two countries in April was the first in over a decade. The meet was aimed at ending their decades-long conflict and easing tensions over the North's nuclear weapons programme. Moon greeted Kim at the military demarcation line, making Kim the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the 1950-53 Korean War. The 35-year-old leader, later in June, held a historic and high-profile meeting with US President Donald Trump in Singapore where he committed to work towards denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Washington and Pyongyang have subsequently sparred over what that means and how it will be achieved, with the Trump administration consistently referring to the denuclearisation of North Korea specifically. The process had become deadlocked until Moon's trip to Pyongyang, where Kim agreed to permanently dismantle a missile testing site. Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because the Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a legacy of the Cold War conflict, which pitted the South, the United States and United Nations forces against the communist North, backed by China and Russia. The emerging US consensus on Kim is similar to what many outside experts have publicly concluded. He is seen as a "rational actor", said US officials - not the "total nut job" that Trump once branded him. He craves international stature but his main aim is "regime survival" and perpetuating his family dynasty, suggesting it will be hard for him to agree to full nuclear disarmament, the officials said. He is ruthless enough to have had relatives executed but now feels secure enough in power to gamble on Trump, they said. In terms of personality, he is seen more like his charismatic grandfather, Kim Il Sung, than his more camera-shy father. His dispatch of his sister to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February and a rare appearance by his wife when South Korean envoys visited in March demonstrates an effort to humanise his leadership abroad, they added.

Kim Jong-un: The 'rational actor' who made history this year

British racing driver Lewis Hamilton had described the year 2018 as magical after he won his fifth Formula One world title and led his Mercedes team to its fifth consecutive championship.

Hamilton's near-perfect 2018 is built upon his stupendous victory in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where he reeled off the 11th win of a dominant season.&nbsp;

His new mind and strategy make him one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. However, he has deflected all suggestions of being the greatest F1 driver, saying seven-time champion Michael Schumacher remains the man who most deserves that label.

Hamilton has won 51 of the 100 races in the V6 turbo hybrid era becoming the first driver to score more than 400 points in a season with a final tally of 408.&nbsp;

But, despite such records, the Mercedes driver had to face some setbacks, not for his performance on tracks but for the comments he made against India and his own hometown Stevenage.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In November this year, Hamilton raised some serious concerns over Formula One's decision to hold next Grand Prix in Vietnam, a statement which questioned his stand on expanding the sport to other countries.&nbsp;

According to AFP, Hamilton, in an interview to BBC, had said that "he would prefer to see more stops in countries with a genuine racing tradition, rather than expanding to new markets."

In his statement,&nbsp; Hamilton went on to say that India was such a poor place yet F1 had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere.

"I've been to Vietnam before and it is beautiful. I've been to India before to a race which was strange because India was such a poor place yet we had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere. I felt very conflicted when I went to that grand prix. We had a grand prix in Turkey and hardly anyone came. Cool track, cool weekend but poor audience."

The Briton had to face several criticisms on social media for his comment and was forced to clarify it but the damage was already done.&nbsp;

The backlash didn't end there as the next to criticize the F1 driver were the residents of his boyhood hometown Stevenage.

As per Reuters, on December 16, Hamilton on national television at BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, said he grew up in a slum and had been a dream for him and his family "to get out of the slums".

The comment drew condemnation from offended civic authorities and on social media, again forcing the 33-year-old to apologise.&nbsp;

In an Instagram post on December 18, Hamilton admitted that he had made a mistake and said 'he chose the wrong words'.

British racing driver Lewis Hamilton had described the year 2018 as magical after he won his fifth Formula One world title and led his Mercedes team to its fifth consecutive championship.

British racing driver Lewis Hamilton had described the year 2018 as magical after he won his fifth Formula One world title and led his Mercedes team to its fifth consecutive championship. Hamilton's near-perfect 2018 is built upon his stupendous victory in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where he reeled off the 11th win of a dominant season. His new mind and strategy make him one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. However, he has deflected all suggestions of being the greatest F1 driver, saying seven-time champion Michael Schumacher remains the man who most deserves that label. Hamilton has won 51 of the 100 races in the V6 turbo hybrid era becoming the first driver to score more than 400 points in a season with a final tally of 408. But, despite such records, the Mercedes driver had to face some setbacks, not for his performance on tracks but for the comments he made against India and his own hometown Stevenage. In November this year, Hamilton raised some serious concerns over Formula One's decision to hold next Grand Prix in Vietnam, a statement which questioned his stand on expanding the sport to other countries. According to AFP, Hamilton, in an interview to BBC, had said that "he would prefer to see more stops in countries with a genuine racing tradition, rather than expanding to new markets." In his statement, Hamilton went on to say that India was such a poor place yet F1 had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere. "I've been to Vietnam before and it is beautiful. I've been to India before to a race which was strange because India was such a poor place yet we had this massive, beautiful grand prix track made in the middle of nowhere. I felt very conflicted when I went to that grand prix. We had a grand prix in Turkey and hardly anyone came. Cool track, cool weekend but poor audience." The Briton had to face several criticisms on social media for his comment and was forced to clarify it but the damage was already done. The backlash didn't end there as the next to criticize the F1 driver were the residents of his boyhood hometown Stevenage. As per Reuters, on December 16, Hamilton on national television at BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, said he grew up in a slum and had been a dream for him and his family "to get out of the slums". The comment drew condemnation from offended civic authorities and on social media, again forcing the 33-year-old to apologise. In an Instagram post on December 18, Hamilton admitted that he had made a mistake and said 'he chose the wrong words'.

Lewis Hamilton: Great driving, poor choice of words sum up Mercedes driver's year

The abrupt removal of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ready-to-work-with-sirisena-again-wickremesinghes-united-national-party-184455">Ranil Wickremesinghe</a> as Sri Lankan Prime Minister by President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-president-sirisena-fails-to-meet-deadline-to-end-political-crisis-183274">Maithripala Sirisena</a> and Rajapaksa’s appointment stunned the world and caused international concern.

Sri Lanka plunged into crisis on October after Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with former president <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/former-pm-mahinda-rajapaksa-becomes-sri-lankas-main-opposition-leader-185083">Mahinda Rajapaksa</a> without the backing of parliament, leading to protests and downgrades of Sri Lanka’s debt.

The chain of political events in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sri-lanka">island nation</a> has been billed to give shape to arguably the biggest political crisis in the country after the civil war that ended almost a decade ago.

Rajapaksa was previously unsuccessful in mustering a majority to instate his cabinet. President Sirisena prorogated and later dissolved the Parliament, calling for snap polls in January next year. The Sri Lankan Parliament moved two no-confidence motions against Rajapaksa which were rejected by President Sirisena.&nbsp;

A court, earlier this month, suspended Rajapaksa's powers as Prime Minister, ruling that his cabinet would not be functional until its legitimacy is established.

President Sirisena had dismissed the possibility of reinstating Wickremesinghe citing sharp political dissent. Ousted PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, on December 12, emphatically proved his majority in Parliament with as many as 117 of 225 Sri Lankan parliamentarians voting to pass a motion of confidence in his leadership.

The high-voltage political drama in the island nation subsided as the embattled Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on December 15, only a month and a half after taking office.

Amid fears of a government shutdown, Rajapaksa put in his papers and said in a statement that a change of government that "the people expected" has now been put off.

The development came after Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, on December 13, pronounced a crucial verdict calling the sacking of the country's parliament by President Sirisena as illegal.

The seven-judge bench unanimously decided that Sirisena violated the country's Constitution when he dissolved parliament and called for snap polls nearly two years ahead of the schedule.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn into office for the fifth time on December 16 in a remarkable comeback. Shortly after assuming office, he held discussions with President Sirisena about forming a cabinet and restoring stability in the nations.

With Wickremesinghe’s reinstatement the Lankan political crisis, that began in late October, seems to come to an end and is being seen as an embarrassment for president Sirisena who appointed a 30-member cabinet on December 20.

Mangala Samaraweera was reappointed as finance minister as parliament considers a temporary budget aimed at avoiding a government shutdown from January 1. Sri Lankan Parliament will now get ready for a vote on account for a temporary budget that is required by January 1, preparations for the same will begin as soon as the new finance minister and the treasury secretary assume office, news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

The abrupt removal of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Sri Lankan Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena and Rajapaksa’s appointment stunned the world and caused international concern.

The abrupt removal of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Sri Lankan Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena and Rajapaksa’s appointment stunned the world and caused international concern. Sri Lanka plunged into crisis on October after Sirisena replaced Wickremesinghe with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa without the backing of parliament, leading to protests and downgrades of Sri Lanka’s debt. The chain of political events in the island nation has been billed to give shape to arguably the biggest political crisis in the country after the civil war that ended almost a decade ago. Rajapaksa was previously unsuccessful in mustering a majority to instate his cabinet. President Sirisena prorogated and later dissolved the Parliament, calling for snap polls in January next year. The Sri Lankan Parliament moved two no-confidence motions against Rajapaksa which were rejected by President Sirisena. A court, earlier this month, suspended Rajapaksa's powers as Prime Minister, ruling that his cabinet would not be functional until its legitimacy is established. President Sirisena had dismissed the possibility of reinstating Wickremesinghe citing sharp political dissent. Ousted PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, on December 12, emphatically proved his majority in Parliament with as many as 117 of 225 Sri Lankan parliamentarians voting to pass a motion of confidence in his leadership. The high-voltage political drama in the island nation subsided as the embattled Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on December 15, only a month and a half after taking office. Amid fears of a government shutdown, Rajapaksa put in his papers and said in a statement that a change of government that "the people expected" has now been put off. The development came after Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, on December 13, pronounced a crucial verdict calling the sacking of the country's parliament by President Sirisena as illegal. The seven-judge bench unanimously decided that Sirisena violated the country's Constitution when he dissolved parliament and called for snap polls nearly two years ahead of the schedule. Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn into office for the fifth time on December 16 in a remarkable comeback. Shortly after assuming office, he held discussions with President Sirisena about forming a cabinet and restoring stability in the nations. With Wickremesinghe’s reinstatement the Lankan political crisis, that began in late October, seems to come to an end and is being seen as an embarrassment for president Sirisena who appointed a 30-member cabinet on December 20. Mangala Samaraweera was reappointed as finance minister as parliament considers a temporary budget aimed at avoiding a government shutdown from January 1. Sri Lankan Parliament will now get ready for a vote on account for a temporary budget that is required by January 1, preparations for the same will begin as soon as the new finance minister and the treasury secretary assume office, news agency Reuters reported.

Sri Lankan political turmoil: Crisis that caused mighty embarrassment for President Sirisena

In pics: NASA's five successful satellite missions in 2018

In pics: A busy year for ISRO with several rocket launches

In pics: Guests who made 2018 special

Year End Test Story

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.

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.&nbsp;

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.

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

Indian table tennis earned the world's respect in a watershed 2018 when the country won a historic two medals at the Asian Games after Manika Batra's unprecedented showing at the Commonwealth Games.

Sharath Kamal, arguably India's finest player who is still going strong at 36, summed up the year aptly.&nbsp;

"At the start of the year, if anyone would have said we will win one, let alone two medals at the Asian Games, I would have laughed it off. It has been that kind of year. Best ever year for me and best ever for Indian table tennis," the veteran told PTI.&nbsp;

The Sharath-led men's team exceeded its own expectations by winning a bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta after stunning mighty Japan in the quarter-finals.&nbsp;

His younger teammate G Sathiyan delivered under pressure by winning both his singles against higher-ranked opponents.&nbsp;

The dream run did not end there as Sharath and Manika landed a mixed doubles bronze which has given them the belief that they are good enough to win an Olympic medal.&nbsp;

To put the achievement in perspective, it was the first time that India returned home with an Asian Games medal ever since table tennis was introduced in the mega event's program in 1958. The stellar performance forced even the 'invincible' Chinese to take notice.&nbsp;

While the sport took giant strides, a star too was born with Manika pocketing as many as four medals including two historic gold medals in women's team and women's singles.&nbsp;

She beat the then world number four and Olympic medallist, Feng Tianwei of Singapore, twice to step on the top of the podium.

She later added a doubles silver and mixed doubles bronze to her kitty to become the most successful Indian athlete at the Gold Coast Games.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Considering the bar she has set for herself, the world number 52 will have to keep improving to compete with the global best. It was only fitting that she ended the year by becoming the first Indian to win the Breakthrough Star award at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) awards in Incheon.&nbsp;

Sharath and Sathiyan too ended 2018 on a high as they attained their best ever rankings. Sharath is 30th in the latest list and a place below him is Sathiyan.&nbsp;

"Considering the kind of year we have had, we have to keep performing to maintain the momentum we have got. It is all about preparing for the 2020 Olympics now. Our best chance is in mixed doubles and Manika and I have already planned the roadmap leading up to the Tokyo Games," said Sharath.&nbsp;

Next year will see the players featuring in 14 to 16 events as they aim for the Olympic qualification.&nbsp;

Italian coach Massimo Costantini, who guided India to a record showing in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, has joined the ITTF and the players need a new coach at the earliest.&nbsp;

"While the TTFI is looking for the best available coach, we are losing momentum. 2019 is an important year ahead of the Olympics and whoever comes in will need at least three months to understand the Indian system. So, it is imperative that the coach is appointed as soon as possible," Sharath added.&nbsp;

While India can now aim for an Olympic medal, it got really close to winning one at the Youth Olympics in Argentina where the young Archana Kamath went down fighting in the bronze medal play-off.&nbsp;

Otherwise, it would have been another historic moment in a truly historic year.&nbsp;

Indian table tennis earned the world's respect in a watershed 2018 when the country won a historic two medals at the Asian Games after Manika Batra's unprecedented showing at the Commonwealth Games.

Indian table tennis earned the world's respect in a watershed 2018 when the country won a historic two medals at the Asian Games after Manika Batra's unprecedented showing at the Commonwealth Games. Sharath Kamal, arguably India's finest player who is still going strong at 36, summed up the year aptly. "At the start of the year, if anyone would have said we will win one, let alone two medals at the Asian Games, I would have laughed it off. It has been that kind of year. Best ever year for me and best ever for Indian table tennis," the veteran told PTI. The Sharath-led men's team exceeded its own expectations by winning a bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta after stunning mighty Japan in the quarter-finals. His younger teammate G Sathiyan delivered under pressure by winning both his singles against higher-ranked opponents. The dream run did not end there as Sharath and Manika landed a mixed doubles bronze which has given them the belief that they are good enough to win an Olympic medal. To put the achievement in perspective, it was the first time that India returned home with an Asian Games medal ever since table tennis was introduced in the mega event's program in 1958. The stellar performance forced even the 'invincible' Chinese to take notice. While the sport took giant strides, a star too was born with Manika pocketing as many as four medals including two historic gold medals in women's team and women's singles. She beat the then world number four and Olympic medallist, Feng Tianwei of Singapore, twice to step on the top of the podium. She later added a doubles silver and mixed doubles bronze to her kitty to become the most successful Indian athlete at the Gold Coast Games. Considering the bar she has set for herself, the world number 52 will have to keep improving to compete with the global best. It was only fitting that she ended the year by becoming the first Indian to win the Breakthrough Star award at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) awards in Incheon. Sharath and Sathiyan too ended 2018 on a high as they attained their best ever rankings. Sharath is 30th in the latest list and a place below him is Sathiyan. "Considering the kind of year we have had, we have to keep performing to maintain the momentum we have got. It is all about preparing for the 2020 Olympics now. Our best chance is in mixed doubles and Manika and I have already planned the roadmap leading up to the Tokyo Games," said Sharath. Next year will see the players featuring in 14 to 16 events as they aim for the Olympic qualification. Italian coach Massimo Costantini, who guided India to a record showing in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, has joined the ITTF and the players need a new coach at the earliest. "While the TTFI is looking for the best available coach, we are losing momentum. 2019 is an important year ahead of the Olympics and whoever comes in will need at least three months to understand the Indian system. So, it is imperative that the coach is appointed as soon as possible," Sharath added. While India can now aim for an Olympic medal, it got really close to winning one at the Youth Olympics in Argentina where the young Archana Kamath went down fighting in the bronze medal play-off. Otherwise, it would have been another historic moment in a truly historic year.

Landmark 2018 fuels Olympic medal hopes for Indian table tennis

The year 2018 will be looked back in future for some of the remarkable judgements that not only shaped the contemporary period but will also influence the life of the generations to come.

Here are the major judgements passed by the judiciary in 2018.

Section 377-&nbsp; 'Sexual orientation is natural, people have no control over it'.

In a major victory to the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community, the Supreme Court on September 6 struck down the colonial era's Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised gay sex.

Ruling in the favor of the 'third recognised gender' the Supreme court said that sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it.&nbsp;

The ruling that permitted consensual adult gay sex also said that the law must be interpreted as per the requirement of changing times.

After the judgement, engaging in gay sex in private is no more an offense. The court said that consensual sex between adults in a private space, which is not harmful to women or children cannot be denied as it is a matter of individual choice. The judges which called for the right to equality of the LGBT community also added that society's thinking, social morality cannot violate the rights of even one single individual.

Indu Malhotra who was one of the members in the bench said that society owes an apology to the LGBTQ community. While delivering its verdict the apex court laid emphasis on the fact that though sex, as per the order of nature, was seen as intercourse between man and woman for the purpose of procreation, the fact that it had already recognised a third gender needs to be kept in mind.

&nbsp;

Aadhaar- 'Legislation empowers unprivileged and marginalised section of the society'

On September 26, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act.

The court approved the linking of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) to the Unique Aadhar number while striking down its linkage with bank accounts and mobile number, pension or school admissions.&nbsp;The apex court's judgement came on the grounds that it "struck a fair balance between the right of privacy of the individual with&nbsp;right&nbsp;to life of the same individual as a beneficiary".

The judges said that the operational structure of the Aadhaar project ensures that the architecture of the Aadhaar does not create surveillance. The judgement further said that the legislation has helped in removing leakages and the benefits were now reaching the downtrodden.

The judges said that the legislation empowers unprivileged and marginalised section of the society as it gives them a unique identity and helps them to avail the benefits of welfare schemes.

The bench of judges also asked the government to not to allot Aadhaar to illegal immigrants.

&nbsp;

Adultery- 'Wife is not a property of husband'

On September 28, the Supreme Court struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code which made adultery a punishable&nbsp;offense. Terming the section as unconstitutional the apex court said it deprives women of their sexual autonomy and dignity. The court also held that the "wife was not a property of husband" and that the "husband is neither the master of his wife nor does he have legal sovereignty over her".

It added that the colonial-era provision violated Article 14 (right to equality), Article 15(1) (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty).

The judgement however clarified that adultery would continue to be a ground for divorce.

Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code stated that "whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man such intercourse not amounting to the offense of rape, is guilty of the offense of adultery and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine or with both. In such case, the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor."

&nbsp;

Ayodhya-&nbsp;&nbsp;'The court has its own priorities'

In a hearing on Ayodhya, the Supreme Court on September 27 rejected the petition of referring the land title case to a larger bench. The petitions were filed challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict that divided the site in Ayodhya into three parts for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Central Wakf Board of UP.&nbsp;The petitions were also filed for reconsidering the court's 1994 verdict in which it observed that a "mosque is not an essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam and namaz by Muslims can be offered anywhere, even in open".

The hearing in the case has now been adjourned to January after the CJI on&nbsp; October 29 rejected the early hearing in the case by saying that '' the court has its own priorities".

&nbsp;

Sabarimala Temple in Kerala-&nbsp; 'Dualism that persists in religion..in matters of devotion has to be abandoned'

In a historic judgement on September 28, the Supreme Court removed the restrictions imposed on women's entry in Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. In its judgement the apex court said, " the attribute of devotion to divinity cannot be subjected to the rigidity and stereotypes of gender... the dualism that persists in religion by glorifying and venerating women as goddesses on one hand and by imposing rigorous sanctions on the other hand, in matters of devotion has to be abandoned".

The judgement was passed by 4-1 ruling. Justice Indu Malhotra who disagreed with the lifting of ban on women's entry to the temple said, " the religious practice of restricting the entry of women between the ages of 10 to 50 years is in pursuance of an 'essential religious practice' and 'notions of rationality cannot be invoked in matters of religion by courts'. She further claimed that 'allowing PILs in religious matters would open floodgates to interlopers to question religious beliefs and practices.....the courts should intervene only if there are pernicious, oppressive or social evil like sati".

&nbsp;

Live streaming of court proceedings- 'Will bring in more transparency in the judiciary's work'

The Supreme Court in September ordered the live streaming of court proceedings claiming that it will bring in more transparency in the judiciary's work. The court further asked to "implement the project" and employ the technology required to provide virtual access to live court proceedings. The court also asked that the live telecast of the proceedings should not interfere with the administration of the justice or the dignity and majesty of the court.

&nbsp;

Passive Euthanasia- 'Individuals have right to die with dignity under strict guidelines'

In March 2018 the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia saying that individuals have the right to die with dignity under strict guidelines. The court in its judgement allowed a person to file a "living will" for the withdrawal of life support in case he/she falls in coma. The draft for "living will" can only be filed when the person is in "normal state of health and mind".

&nbsp;

Anti-Sikh riots- 'Mass killing will continue to shock the collective conscience of society for a long time to come'

In a historic verdict on the anti-Sikh riots that took place three decades ago and killed over 2700 Sikhs, the High Court on December 17 reversed the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar by the trial court and sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges ranging from murder to criminal conspiracy.

Calling the 1984 riots as "crime against humanity" the court said the riots were carried out by people who had "political patronage and were aided by an indifferent law enforcement agency". The judgement added that the mass killing will "continue to shock the collective conscience of society for a long time to come".

The court also noted that the accused in the case were brought to justice because of the courage and perseverance of three eyewitnesses.

Questioning the investigation by the police, the court said that the police turned a blind eye to the mob rioting. It further said that the state machinery came to a complete standstill in those two or three days when the rioting mobs took to the streets and indulged in acts of violence.

The year 2018 will be looked back in future for some of the remarkable judgements that not only shaped the contemporary period but will also influence the life of the generations to come.

The year 2018 will be looked back in future for some of the remarkable judgements that not only shaped the contemporary period but will also influence the life of the generations to come. Here are the major judgements passed by the judiciary in 2018. Section 377- 'Sexual orientation is natural, people have no control over it'. In a major victory to the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community, the Supreme Court on September 6 struck down the colonial era's Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalised gay sex. Ruling in the favor of the 'third recognised gender' the Supreme court said that sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it. The ruling that permitted consensual adult gay sex also said that the law must be interpreted as per the requirement of changing times. After the judgement, engaging in gay sex in private is no more an offense. The court said that consensual sex between adults in a private space, which is not harmful to women or children cannot be denied as it is a matter of individual choice. The judges which called for the right to equality of the LGBT community also added that society's thinking, social morality cannot violate the rights of even one single individual. Indu Malhotra who was one of the members in the bench said that society owes an apology to the LGBTQ community. While delivering its verdict the apex court laid emphasis on the fact that though sex, as per the order of nature, was seen as intercourse between man and woman for the purpose of procreation, the fact that it had already recognised a third gender needs to be kept in mind. Aadhaar- 'Legislation empowers unprivileged and marginalised section of the society' On September 26, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act. The court approved the linking of the Permanent Account Number (PAN) to the Unique Aadhar number while striking down its linkage with bank accounts and mobile number, pension or school admissions. The apex court's judgement came on the grounds that it "struck a fair balance between the right of privacy of the individual with right to life of the same individual as a beneficiary". The judges said that the operational structure of the Aadhaar project ensures that the architecture of the Aadhaar does not create surveillance. The judgement further said that the legislation has helped in removing leakages and the benefits were now reaching the downtrodden. The judges said that the legislation empowers unprivileged and marginalised section of the society as it gives them a unique identity and helps them to avail the benefits of welfare schemes. The bench of judges also asked the government to not to allot Aadhaar to illegal immigrants. Adultery- 'Wife is not a property of husband' On September 28, the Supreme Court struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code which made adultery a punishable offense. Terming the section as unconstitutional the apex court said it deprives women of their sexual autonomy and dignity. The court also held that the "wife was not a property of husband" and that the "husband is neither the master of his wife nor does he have legal sovereignty over her". It added that the colonial-era provision violated Article 14 (right to equality), Article 15(1) (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) and 21 (protection of life and personal liberty). The judgement however clarified that adultery would continue to be a ground for divorce. Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code stated that "whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he knows or has reason to believe to be the wife of another man, without the consent or connivance of that man such intercourse not amounting to the offense of rape, is guilty of the offense of adultery and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine or with both. In such case, the wife shall not be punishable as an abettor." Ayodhya- 'The court has its own priorities' In a hearing on Ayodhya, the Supreme Court on September 27 rejected the petition of referring the land title case to a larger bench. The petitions were filed challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict that divided the site in Ayodhya into three parts for Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Central Wakf Board of UP. The petitions were also filed for reconsidering the court's 1994 verdict in which it observed that a "mosque is not an essential part of the practice of the religion of Islam and namaz by Muslims can be offered anywhere, even in open". The hearing in the case has now been adjourned to January after the CJI on October 29 rejected the early hearing in the case by saying that '' the court has its own priorities". Sabarimala Temple in Kerala- 'Dualism that persists in religion..in matters of devotion has to be abandoned' In a historic judgement on September 28, the Supreme Court removed the restrictions imposed on women's entry in Sabarimala Temple in Kerala. In its judgement the apex court said, " the attribute of devotion to divinity cannot be subjected to the rigidity and stereotypes of gender... the dualism that persists in religion by glorifying and venerating women as goddesses on one hand and by imposing rigorous sanctions on the other hand, in matters of devotion has to be abandoned". The judgement was passed by 4-1 ruling. Justice Indu Malhotra who disagreed with the lifting of ban on women's entry to the temple said, " the religious practice of restricting the entry of women between the ages of 10 to 50 years is in pursuance of an 'essential religious practice' and 'notions of rationality cannot be invoked in matters of religion by courts'. She further claimed that 'allowing PILs in religious matters would open floodgates to interlopers to question religious beliefs and practices.....the courts should intervene only if there are pernicious, oppressive or social evil like sati". Live streaming of court proceedings- 'Will bring in more transparency in the judiciary's work' The Supreme Court in September ordered the live streaming of court proceedings claiming that it will bring in more transparency in the judiciary's work. The court further asked to "implement the project" and employ the technology required to provide virtual access to live court proceedings. The court also asked that the live telecast of the proceedings should not interfere with the administration of the justice or the dignity and majesty of the court. Passive Euthanasia- 'Individuals have right to die with dignity under strict guidelines' In March 2018 the Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia saying that individuals have the right to die with dignity under strict guidelines. The court in its judgement allowed a person to file a "living will" for the withdrawal of life support in case he/she falls in coma. The draft for "living will" can only be filed when the person is in "normal state of health and mind". Anti-Sikh riots- 'Mass killing will continue to shock the collective conscience of society for a long time to come' In a historic verdict on the anti-Sikh riots that took place three decades ago and killed over 2700 Sikhs, the High Court on December 17 reversed the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar by the trial court and sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges ranging from murder to criminal conspiracy. Calling the 1984 riots as "crime against humanity" the court said the riots were carried out by people who had "political patronage and were aided by an indifferent law enforcement agency". The judgement added that the mass killing will "continue to shock the collective conscience of society for a long time to come". The court also noted that the accused in the case were brought to justice because of the courage and perseverance of three eyewitnesses. Questioning the investigation by the police, the court said that the police turned a blind eye to the mob rioting. It further said that the state machinery came to a complete standstill in those two or three days when the rioting mobs took to the streets and indulged in acts of violence.

Major judgements of 2018 by Supreme, High Court

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