INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
It was a year which saw two royal reasons to celebrate, with the birth of Prince William and Kate's third child and, of course, Prince Harry
and Meghan's wedding.But 2018 was the year that brought us the Salisbury novichok attack and the tragic helicopter crash at Leicester City
Football Club.The world also witnessed the dramatic rescue of a group of young footballers and their coach from flooded caves in
Thailand.Storm Eleanor blows in - 2 JanuaryThe storm brought massive disruption to the UK and Ireland, with some winds reaching 100mph.Tens
of thousands of homes and businesses lost power in the west of Ireland as it swept in from the Atlantic.Donald Trump cancels UK visit - 12
JanuaryDonald Trump cancelled his trip to London to open the new US embassy because he considered the building's relocation a "bad deal".The
US President tweeted: "Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the
best located and finest embassy in London for 'peanuts,' only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars
Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO."Carillion goes into liquidation - 15 JanuaryThe construction giant, which employed 20,000 workers, went into
liquidation due to massive financial problems, including a £1.5bn debt.The company worked on big private sector projects such as Battersea
Power Station.Parkland school shooting - 14 FebruarySeventeen staff and students were killed by a gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine's Day.Former student Nikolas Cruz was charged in connection with the attack.Beast from the East -
FebruaryThe Met Office warned of a "potential risk to life" as heavy snow and low temperatures hit the UK.Freezing weather swept in from
Russia, causing huge disruption to businesses, travel and schools.Salisbury novichok attack - 4 MarchFormer Russian double agent Sergei
Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury with the nerve agent novichok.They, along with a police officer, were treated in
The UK government said Russia was responsible for the attack.More than 100 Russian diplomats were expelled from more than 20 countries later
in the month.Stephen Hawking dies - 14 MarchThe professor, whose life's work shaped modern cosmology and helped ordinary people to better
understand the universe, died at the age of 76 on this day
He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 1963.Paying tribute to Professor Hawking, British astronaut Tim Peake said he "inspired
generations to look beyond our own blue planet and expand our understanding of the universe".Putin re-elected - 18 MarchVladimir Putin was
elected for a fourth term as Russian president
In a widely expected win, Mr Putin secured more than 76.66% of the vote and a turnout of 67.47%, the Central Election Commission said.The
result came amid allegations of election violations, including ballot-box stuffing and forced voting.Facebook data breach - 19
MarchAllegations emerged of a data breach at Facebook with the misuse of personal data by Cambridge Analytica.Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg
refused to answer questions about the subject.Syrian military bases bombed - 14 AprilBritain, America and France ordered the bombing of
Syrian military bases in response to an alleged chemical attack on civilians by the Assad regime.The bombing specifically targeted the
Syrian regime's chemical weapons infrastructure.Dale Winton dies - 18 AprilThe Supermarket Sweep star, who was 62, was found dead in his
north London home just weeks after he had moved in.He died of natural causes, his agent said
Winton was probably most famous for presenting the daytime TV gameshow Supermarket Sweep from 1993 to 2000.He also hosted Touch The Truck,
Hole In The Wall and the National Lottery game show In It To Win It.Avicii dies - 20 AprilMusic producer and DJ Avicii was found dead in
Oman at the age of 28.His family said he "could not go on any longer" and had been struggling with his thoughts.The Swedish star, whose real
name was Tim Bergling, scored two UK number one singles and had collaborated with artists including Madonna and Coldplay.Hundreds of
children separated from parents at US border - 20 AprilMore than 700 children were taken from adults claiming to be their parents -
including more than 100 children under age four - data by The New York Times revealed.Because the children were not charged with a crime, US
rules stated that they could not be detained with their parents.Politicians and religious groups were among those criticising the policy,
describing it as inhumane.William and Kate have third child - 23 AprilThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge introduced Prince Louis to the world
after Kate gave birth at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, where she also gave birth to Prince George and Princess
Charlotte.Prince Louis is fifth in line to the throne after his older siblings, his father William, and his grandfather Charles.Trump
withdraws from the Iranian nuclear agreement - 8 MayDonald Trump pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal to the dismay of European allies
and Barack Obama, the former president who spearheaded the 2015 agreement.During a recent White House announcement, Mr Trump once again
criticised the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), calling it "disastrous" and "one-sided".Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle - 19
MayPrince Harry told Meghan Markle "you look amazing" as millions of royal fans around the world watched their fairy-tale wedding at Windsor
Castle.The happy couple smiled and held hands at the altar in the historic surrounds of St George's Chapel, before exchanging vows in front
of a star-studded congregation.GDPR comes into effect in the EU - 25 MayNew laws on privacy and use of data aimed at providing better
protection for consumers came in to force on this day.The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) means many groups who send you
emails need to confirm that you consent to them using your personal details.Women in Saudi Arabia are allowed to drive - 4 JuneSaudi Arabia
started issuing driving licences to women for the first time in decades
It lifted its ban on female drivers on 24 June, a move King Salman announced by royal decree in September.The law was one of a number
restricting women's movement in the strict Islamic state.Third runway at Heathrow gets government approval - 5 JuneThe government, later
backed by MPs, approved plans for a £14bn plan to expand Heathrow with a third runway.Then foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who famously
vowed to lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent expansion of the airport, was visiting Afghanistan and so skipped the vote by MPs.2018
FIFA World Cup - 14 JuneThe World Cup began in Russia and went on until 15 July, when France beat Croatia 4-2 in the final.England made it
to the semi-finals but finished fourth after losing the third place play-off 2-0 to Belgium
Still, it was their best World Cup result in almost 30 years, equalling their fourth place in Italia 90.Donald Trump visits the UK - JulyThe
president had tea with the Queen and described her as a "tremendous woman" during his visit to the UK in 2018.But his trip caused widespread
protests, with a nappy-clad, orange Trump Baby blimp launched in London in his honour.Boys and football coach rescued from flooded cave in
Thailand - 10 JulyTwelve boys aged between 11 and 16, as well as their football coach, were rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand after
more than two weeks of being trapped.They had entered the six-mile Tham Luang cave complex in Chiang Rai province after football practice,
but became trapped when a heavy storm flooded a stream at the entrance to the cave.Terror attack outside Parliament - 14 AugustA man was
arrested on suspicion of terror offences after three people were injured when a car crashed into security barriers outside Parliament.The
silver Ford Fiesta hit cyclists and pedestrians at 7.37am before crashing into the security barriers.Genoa bridge collapse - 14 AugustA
large section of a 1.2km motorway viaduct, which was built with reinforced concrete, collapsed - sending more than 30 cars and three trucks
plummeting 50m (164ft) below.The middle of the 51-year-old bridge collapsed during a violent storm, killing 43 people, including three
children.Jamal Khashoggi murdered - 2 OctoberJournalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.Saudi Arabia
offered a number of different explanations for what happened in the weeks after his, but eventually settled on blaming a rendition squad
that killed him in a rogue operation.In December 2019, the country's public prosecutor said five people have been sentenced to death over
the killing.Man tries to steal Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral - 26 OctoberA man was arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a Magna
Carta from Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire Police said.The 45-year-old was accused of trying to smash a glass box that contains the Medieval
document dating back to 1215.Leicester City owner dies - 27 OctoberThe owner of Leicester City Football Club, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was
among five people killed when his helicopter crashed outside the club's King Power stadium.He died when the aircraft fell from the sky after
taking off from inside the ground following a 1-1 draw against West Ham.California wildfires - NovemberDozens of people were killed and
thousands of homes destroyed in the deadliest wildfires in California's history, which raged throughout November.Celebrities including Miley
Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Gerard Butler were among those affected.End of First World War anniversary - 11 NovemberThe 100th anniversary of the
end of the First World Warwas marked by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph.On that day in 1918, world leaders signed the Armistice
ending the war and its four years of bloody conflict.John Worboys deemed not suitable for release - 18 NovemberThe Parole Board ruled that
convicted sex offender John Worboys - dubbed the Black Cab Rapist - must remain in jail.Worboys had been approved for release earlier in the
year but a court case brought by his victims overturned the ruling.Academic sentenced - 21 NovemberBritish academic Matthew Hedges was
sentenced to life imprisonment after being accused by the United Arab Emirates of spying for the government.Less than a week later, he was
pardoned with immediate effect.Theresa May strikes Brexit deal with EU - 22 November Former prime minister Theresa May carried out the
Brexit negotiations with the European Union, adhering to the Chequers Agreement, which resulted in the Brexit withdrawal agreement.She
hailed her new Brexit deal as "right for the whole of the UK", insisting a deal "is within our grasp".It was later rejected by parliament
three times and Ms May resigned
She would be succeeded by Boris Johnson in 2019.Manchester United sack Jose Mourinho - 18 DecemberSky sources said he was dismissed at the
club's Carrington training ground by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.The club said he had left with immediate effect, adding they "would
like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future".Manchester United had made their
worst start to a league season since 1990-91 and sit sixth in the Premier League.Gatwick Airport drone disruption - DecemberThousands of
passengers suffered travel chaos after Gatwick Airport closed due to drones being flown nearby.At the time, the three-day disruption
affected more than 140,000 passengers across a total of 1,000 flights.A report by Sussex Police said it received 129 separate sightings of
drones, beginning on 19 December 2018, with the investigation into the incident costing £790,000 and needing resources from seven police
