World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, as they welcomed the 46th President of the United States with praise and took parting shots at his predecessor Donald Trump.
Over 12,700 participants from 91 countries are expected during the one-week contest, which features a variety of athletes - young and old, male and female, straight and gay.
As 2018 draws to a close and the white noise of 24-hour news cycles and Twitter storms fade into the background, it is already clear that history will remember only a handful of those people, each of whom has taught us something about ourselves and the rapidly changing world in which we live.
His statement comes two days after Pakistan's Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry admitted his country's role in the Pulwama attack during a debate in their National Assembly (Parliament).
In an address at a leading think-tank in Paris, Shringla mentioned two recent terrorist incidents in France, one of which he said had its origins in Pakistan, noting that the civilised world needs to act with firmness to address the threat of terrorism.
Following are comments, quotes and reactions from the French coach, players.
'Some refused to kiss each other on the cheek, as is customary in France while, others couldn't care less.'
UEFA issued a strong statement jointly with English, Spanish and Italian leagues and football federations, saying they were ready to use "all measures" to confront any breakaway and saying any participating clubs would be banned from domestic leagues, such as the Premier League.
'Acting, by definition, is a portrayal of a character other than oneself.' 'If every role is to be played only by someone answering to that precise description, most professional actors -- of all ethnicities and genders -- would be out of a job,' observes Indira Kannan.
As Modi prepares for his first meeting with United States President Donald Trump, we can't help but wonder will the PM go in for a hug or will 'The Donald' opt for one his 'famous' handshakes?
Italy, Germany and France issued a collective statement dismissing US President Donald Trump's suggestion of revising the global pact, hours after the latter decided to 'get out' from the Paris climate accord.
UN peacekeeping missions are facing allegations of sexual abuse in African countries. In 2017, Guterres had launched a campaign to prevent and end sexual exploitation by UN personnel.
RM took stock of progress in production of the fighter jets whose delivery to India will begin in September next year.
Here's a glimpse of all that happened around the world last month, in 14 images.
Asian shares ended higher following a relief rally in global equities after centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron won the first round of the French presidential election.
As President Biden moves ahead with a new 'strategic concept' for China and Russia, the going is bound to get rough for the US and its G7 partners, notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
Millions of French soccer fans were delirious with joy on Sunday as France beat Croatia 4-2 to win soccer's World Cup in a pulsating final in Moscow that sparked ecstatic scenes from Paris to Marseille and beyond.
Modi will arrive in France on Thursday evening and straightaway head for talks with Macron, who will also host a working dinner for the visiting leader.
Shivshankar Menon said the government's amendment to the Citizenship Act was a "self-inflicted goal".
The WEF meeting is crucial because of its theme encompassing globalisation at the time of rising nationalism and trade war, and the fourth industrial revolution due to rapid strides being made in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Official sources said the two leaders will meet for around four to six hours for the 'agendaless' talks
The Gate has now come to represent German unity and freedom since the end of the Cold War and divided country.
Paris for a third straight weekend witnessed violent protests leading to the arrests of more than 400 people and injuring 133. In the past few days, masked rioters have torched cars, buildings and even a police headquarter, looted shops and clashed with police. On the other hand, security forces have fired stun grenades, tear gas shells and water cannon at protesters. The protest, now called as the 'Yellow Vest Protest', comes 18 months into French President Emmanuel Macron's presidency. It has been named so because the participants are wearing fluorescent safety jackets that are kept in all cars in France. The protesters, "gilets jaunes" (yellow vests), reportedly have no real structure or leadership.
The meeting with Xi is being held amid the ongoing trade war between the United States and China.
The memorial is the first-of-its-kind built by India in France after the country's Independence. The announcement to construct the memorial was made by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her last visit to Paris in June 2018.
French sources say Hollande was motivated to speak out after an Indian media report revealed that the Reliance Group had part-funded a film venture by his domestic partner, French actress Julie Gayet.
Modi regretted that the international response to terrorism was weak and said more cooperation was needed to fight the menace.
The bear hug in which the Prime Minister loves to smother Western VIPs might strike as theatrical, boastful and, above all, unhygienic, in these stricken times, says Sunanda K Datta-Ray.
Johnson spent the Monday night in the ICU at a London hospital in a move Downing Street said was a "precaution" should the British prime minister require ventilation to aid his recovery from COVID-19.
The fashion police fell in love with the yellow Emilio Pucci gown the US First Lady wore for Modi's White House visit. But then the former Slovenian model rarely gets it wrong.
Europeans believe that what is under attack is their way of life, their secular faith, the long-fought right to keep religion out of the public sphere, observes Virendra Kapoor.
When Croatia take on France at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium later on Sunday, the team hopes to settle an old score with the French dating back to the 1998 World Cup.
BJP leaders also took a dig at the former Congress president after the apex court asked him to be careful in future while closing a plea for contempt case against him for wrongly attributing certain comments on the Rafale deal to it.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
If the US President is the master of awkward handshakes, the Indian Prime Minister has cornered the market on awkward hugs. Which one will it be when the two meet?
On BSE, 1,469 shares fell and 1,200 shares rose. A total of 190 shares were unchanged.
Nifty PSU bank index dropped nearly 2%
An agreement to expedite the Jaitapur nuclear plant was expected to be signed.
Indian talent may soon be allowed to work in France without a degree from a French institute.
This is for the first time in recent history that the leaders of the two largest democracies would be addressing a joint rally anywhere in the world.