2018 news highlights

Here are some of the major news highlights from 2018:

Politics and Government

• The United States government shut down for 35 days in December and January due to a dispute over funding for a border wall.
• The Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, leading to retaliatory measures from other countries.
• The European Union and the United Kingdom began negotiating the terms of the UK's departure from the EU, known as Brexit.
• The Saudi Arabian government was criticized for its role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, leading to international sanctions and diplomatic fallout.

International Relations

• The United States and North Korea held a historic summit in Singapore, where President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a joint statement agreeing to work towards denuclearization.
• The United States and China engaged in a trade war, with both sides imposing tariffs on each other's goods.
• The European Union and Russia imposed sanctions on each other over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK.
• The United States and Russia had a series of diplomatic incidents, including the expulsion of diplomats and the closure of diplomatic compounds.

Economy and Business

• The global economy experienced a period of rapid growth, with the International Monetary Fund predicting a 3.9% growth rate for 2018.
• The US stock market experienced a significant correction, with the S&P 500 index falling by over 10% in the fourth quarter.
• The Federal Reserve raised interest rates four times in 2018, leading to concerns about the impact on the economy.
• The cryptocurrency market experienced a significant decline, with the value of Bitcoin falling by over 70% in 2018.

Science and Technology

• NASA's InSight lander successfully landed on Mars, marking the first time a spacecraft had landed on the planet since 2012.
• The European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft successfully landed a probe on a comet, marking the first time a spacecraft had landed on a comet.
• The first human-edited genome was successfully edited, using a technique called CRISPR.
• The world's largest artificial intelligence conference, NeurIPS, was held in Montreal, Canada.

Entertainment and Culture

• The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) released several highly successful films, including "Black Panther," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: Endgame."
• The Netflix original series "Stranger Things" became a cultural phenomenon, with its third season debuting to widespread critical acclaim.
• The music industry saw the release of several highly successful albums, including "Scorpion" by Drake and "Sweetener" by Ariana Grande.
• The world said goodbye to several notable celebrities, including Aretha Franklin, Stan Lee, and Anthony Bourdain.

Sports

• The Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII (52) by defeating the New England Patriots 41-33.
• The Boston Red Sox won the World Series, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
• The Golden State Warriors won their third NBA championship in four years, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
• The US Women's National Soccer Team won the FIFA Women's World Cup, defeating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.

Disasters and Natural Events

• A series of wildfires swept through California, burning thousands of acres and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people.
• Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina, causing widespread flooding and damage.
• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Indonesia, causing widespread damage and killing over 2,000 people.
• A series of volcanic eruptions occurred around the world, including the eruption of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii and the eruption of Mount Agung in Indonesia.

These are just a few of the many news highlights from 2018. It was a year marked by significant global events, technological advancements, and cultural shifts.