This week we tell about some of the biggest news stories of twothousand four. We start in Asia, with what is being described as oneof the worst natural disasters ever.

Last Sunday, huge waves moved across the Indian Ocean and floodedcoastal areas across southern and southeast Asia to East Africa. Thewaves were caused by one of the most powerful earthquakes everyrecorded, measuring nine on the Richter Scale.

The countries hardest hit wereIndonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. More than one hundredthousand people are reported dead. Millions of people have been lefthomeless.

Two thousand four was also filled with news about the war in Iraqand daily reports of violence in the country. Militants increasedtheir attacks against American soldiers, Iraqi police officers andcivilians working with the United States. American-led forcesbattled militants in the cities of Fallujah and Najaf. In May, newsorganizations around the world reported about the mistreatment ofIraqis by American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison.

More than one thousand American soldiers have been killed in Iraqsince the war began almost two years ago. And the number of Iraqiskilled is reportedly many times higher.

Terrorism was a top story in other parts of the world. In March,suspected Islamic militants exploded bombs on crowded passengertrains in Madrid, Spain. About two hundred people were killed. Dayslater, Spanish voters defeated the country's conservativegovernment, which had supported the American-led war in Iraq.

In September, armed Chechen militants seized more than onethousand children, parents and teachers in a school in Beslan,Russia. The seizure ended in gunfire and explosions after days ofnegotiations. More than three hundred people were killed, most ofthem children.

The African nation of Sudan was inthe news because of a major humanitarian crisis in the Darfur area.Reports said government-supported Arab militants killed more thanseventy thousand people in a two-year campaign of violence againstblack tribal farmers. More than one million people have beendisplaced from their homes.

Two thousand four was also a year of historic politicalelections. In Afghanistan, voters elected Hamid Karzai in thecountry's first presidential election. Voters in the United Statesre-elected George W. Bush after a hard fought presidential campaignagainst the Democratic party candidate, John Kerry.

And a political crisis eased in Ukraine after the Supreme Courtcancelled the election victory of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.The court decided there had been widespread cheating and ordered anew presidential election. Opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenkowon that election on Sunday and has promised democratic changes inUkraine.

In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk.This is Steve Ember.