Top news of 2018
Here are some of the top news stories of 2018:
Politics
- Midterm Elections: The 2018 midterm elections in the United States saw a significant shift in power, with Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives and Republicans maintaining control of the Senate.
- Trump-Kim Summit: In June, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a historic summit in Singapore, marking the first time a sitting US president had met with a North Korean leader.
- Mueller Investigation: The investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, continued to dominate headlines throughout the year.
International
- Khashoggi Murder: In October, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, sparking international outrage and diplomatic fallout.
- Venezuela Crisis: The political and economic crisis in Venezuela continued to worsen, with President Nicolás Maduro facing opposition from the international community and his own people.
- China-US Trade War: The trade war between the United States and China escalated, with both sides imposing tariffs on each other's goods and services.
Business
- Facebook Data Breach: In March, Facebook announced that the personal data of up to 87 million users had been harvested by Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, without their consent.
- Amazon HQ2: In November, Amazon announced that it would split its second headquarters between Long Island City, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, sparking controversy over the company's tax incentives and impact on local communities.
- Cryptocurrency Market Crash: The value of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum plummeted in 2018, with many investors losing significant amounts of money.
Entertainment
- Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame: The Marvel Cinematic Universe continued to dominate the box office, with the release of two highly anticipated superhero films.
- Game of Thrones Season 8**: The final season of the hit HBO series premiered in April, sparking widespread debate and controversy over its conclusion.
- Cardi B and Nicki Minaj Feud: The two rappers engaged in a highly publicized feud, with both sides trading insults and diss tracks.
Science and Technology
- NASA's Parker Solar Probe: In August, NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe, a spacecraft designed to study the sun's corona and explore the solar system.
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant: The two virtual assistants continued to gain popularity, with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant becoming increasingly integrated into various devices and services.
- Elon Musk's Neuralink: In March, Elon Musk announced the launch of Neuralink, a neurotechnology company aimed at developing implantable brain–machine interfaces.
Sports
- World Cup: The 2018 FIFA World Cup was held in Russia, with France winning the tournament for the second time in history.
- NBA Playoffs: The Golden State Warriors won their third NBA championship in four years, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
- US Open: The 2018 US Open tennis tournament was marked by controversy, with Serena Williams facing criticism over her treatment by umpires and the media.
These are just a few of the many significant news stories of 2018. It was a year marked by significant global events, technological advancements, and cultural shifts.