Action-packed almanac for 2018: From state elections in India to the FIFA World Cup in Russia

Over the next 12 months, a variety of events will unfold — from crucial state elections in India to the FIFA World Cup in Russia, from the launch of NASA's next Mars mission to the Asia Cup.

February
Assembly polls in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura. The BJP, which is in power in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland (where it is a junior partner), will look to dislodge Manik Sarkar of the CPM, who has been chief minister of Tripura since 1998, and the Congress in Meghalaya.

Fidel Castro's brother Raul, Cuba's president since 2008, will stand down after his second term ends; Cuba will have its first election since Fidel's death in November 2016

FEBRUARY 9-25
Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The budget for the event is and there will be 206 participating nations and territories. The mascot is Soohorang, a white tiger.

MARCH 18
Vladimir Putin will seek a second consecutive term. He was also president between 2000 and 2008.

APRIL 4
50th anniversary of assassination of Martin Luther King Jr

APRIL 4-15
11th Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where 70 nations and territories will compete.

APRIL-MAY
Assembly election in Karnataka, where the BJP under the leadership of BS Yeddyurappa will take on the Congress, which runs the government with Siddaramaiah as chief minister.

MAY 5
Start of a 30-day window for the launch of NASA's next Mars mission, InSight, which will study the interior of the planet. A two-year delay in the launch could add $150 million to the project cost of $675 million.

MAY
FINAL SEASON OF VEEP
HBO's critically acclaimed political satire Veep, which has won several awards (the lead actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus has won an Emmy for each of the six seasons), will return for its seventh and final season.

June 14-July 15
FIFA World Cup, Russia

JULY
Presidential election in Egypt; President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi dethroned Mohammed Morsi in a coup in July 2013. and almost a year later, won a controversial election.

JULY 15

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General election in Pakistan; the Supreme Court in July disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a corruption case. He was succeeded by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Their party, the Pakistan Muslim league (N), will be up against Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's Pakistan Peoples Party and Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, among others.

SEPTEMBER
Asia Cup
The cricket championship is scheduled to be held in India, but it could be moved out as India is reluctant about host Pakistan.

OCTOBER
Deadline set by European Commission negotiator to finalise Britain's exit from the European Union.

OCTOBER 25-NOVEMBER 3
Gymnastics World Championship, Doha.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. The BJP will be battling strong anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where it has been in power since December 2003