Hard news 2018

Here are some of the major hard news stories from 2018:

Politics

  1. US Government Shutdown: A 35-day government shutdown occurred in January 2018, the longest in US history, due to a dispute over funding for a border wall.
  2. Trump-Kim Summit: US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a historic summit in Singapore in June, where they signed a joint statement agreeing to work towards denuclearization.
  3. Midterm Elections: The 2018 US midterm elections saw Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans maintained control of the Senate.

International

  1. Khashoggi Murder: Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October, sparking international outrage and diplomatic tensions.
  2. Syria Chemical Attack: A suspected chemical attack in Douma, Syria, in April led to a US, UK, and French military response, targeting Syrian government targets.
  3. North Korea Nuclear Tests: North Korea conducted several nuclear tests in 2018, including a hydrogen bomb test in September, despite international pressure to halt its nuclear program.

Economy

  1. Global Trade Tensions: The US imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from several countries, leading to retaliatory measures and a global trade war.
  2. Cryptocurrency Crash: The value of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum plummeted in 2018, with some losing up to 90% of their value.
  3. Amazon HQ2: Amazon announced plans to build a second headquarters in Long Island City, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, in November, sparking controversy over tax incentives and gentrification.

Natural Disasters

  1. California Wildfires: Devastating wildfires swept through California in November, killing at least 85 people and destroying thousands of homes.
  2. Hurricane Florence: A powerful hurricane made landfall in North Carolina in September, causing widespread flooding and damage.
  3. Indonesian Earthquake and Tsunami: A massive earthquake and tsunami struck Indonesia in September, killing over 2,000 people and displacing thousands more.

Health

  1. Ebola Outbreak: A new outbreak of Ebola occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo in August, killing over 200 people.
  2. Measles Outbreak: A measles outbreak in the US, particularly in New York City, led to over 700 reported cases and several deaths.
  3. Antibiotic Resistance: The World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a growing threat from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which could lead to untreatable infections.

These are just a few of the many significant news stories from 2018.