2018

2018 was a common year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar, containing 365 days.^[1] The year was defined by major global events, including the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea,^[2] Russia's hosting of the FIFA World Cup, the Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami that caused widespread devastation in Indonesia,^[3] the United States midterm elections resulting in Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives,^[4] and escalating U.S.-China trade disputes that imposed tariffs and disrupted global markets.^[5] Advancements in space exploration, such as milestones in orbital launches and interstellar probes, also highlighted technological progress amid these geopolitical tensions.^[6]

Events

January

On January 13, Hawaii experienced a false alert for an incoming ballistic missile, sent via the state's emergency system due to human error during a shift change, prompting widespread panic among residents who sought shelter for approximately 38 minutes until an all-clear was issued. Investigations revealed the alert was accidentally triggered when an employee selected the wrong option from a drop-down menu, highlighting vulnerabilities in emergency communication protocols. Protests in Iran, initially erupting in late December 2017 over economic hardships such as high inflation and unemployment, persisted into early January with demonstrations in multiple cities criticizing government corruption and mismanagement.^[7] Authorities reported arresting thousands of participants, while human rights monitors documented at least 20 protester deaths by mid-January amid clashes with security forces.^[8] Congressional negotiations over U.S. federal funding intensified in early January ahead of the expiration of temporary spending bills and amid partisan disagreements over immigration policy and disaster aid, setting the stage for operational disruptions later in the month.^[9] A rare astronomical event known as the Super Blue Blood Moon occurred on January 31, featuring a total lunar eclipse (blood moon) coinciding with a supermoon and the second full moon of the month (blue moon), visible across much of the Western Hemisphere before dawn.^[10] The alignment drew global interest, with the moon appearing larger and reddish due to Earth's atmospheric refraction during the eclipse's totality phase lasting over an hour.^[11]

February

The XXIII Olympic Winter Games were held from February 9 to 25 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, marking the first time the country hosted the Winter Olympics.^[12] North Korea participated for the first time since 2006, sending 22 athletes and a high-level delegation that included Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, fostering a rare display of inter-Korean unity such as a joint march under the Korean Unification Flag during the opening ceremony and a combined women's ice hockey team.^[13] This engagement contributed to diplomatic overtures, including resumed North-South talks on reducing peninsula tensions and paving the way for U.S.-North Korea dialogue later in the year.^[14] On February 14, South African President Jacob Zuma resigned amid mounting pressure from his African National Congress party, following widespread protests against corruption allegations and the threat of a no-confidence vote.^[15] Cyril Ramaphosa succeeded him as president, signaling a shift toward addressing governance issues that had eroded public trust.^[16] That same day, a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left 17 people dead when a former student opened fire, intensifying national debates on gun control and school safety measures.^[17] Surviving students mobilized through groups like Never Again MSD, advocating for stricter regulations and influencing subsequent state-level reforms such as enhanced background checks and red-flag laws.^[18]

March

On March 4, former Russian military officer and double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury, England, leading to international accusations against Russia for the assassination attempt.^[19] The UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats in response, prompting reciprocal actions and heightened tensions over alleged state-sponsored chemical weapon use.^[19] Winter Storm Riley struck the northeastern United States from March 1 to 3, bringing bombogenesis with heavy snowfall up to 18 inches in some areas, gale-force winds, and coastal flooding that affected millions and caused widespread power outages.^[20] The United States imposed 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports effective March 23, following a presidential proclamation on March 8, aiming to protect domestic industries but sparking retaliatory measures from trading partners including China, Canada, and the European Union.^[21] These actions intensified global trade disputes, contributing to broader economic frictions.^[22] On March 17, revelations emerged about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where the political consulting firm improperly accessed data from up to 87 million Facebook users through a third-party app, using it to influence elections including the 2016 U.S. presidential race via targeted messaging.^[23] Whistleblower Christopher Wylie disclosed the data harvesting, prompting investigations into privacy violations and Facebook's oversight failures.^[23]

April

On April 14, 2018, the United States, United Kingdom, and France launched coordinated missile strikes targeting three Syrian government facilities linked to chemical weapons production and storage, in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack in Douma earlier that month.^[24][25] The operation involved over 100 missiles striking sites near Damascus and Homs, aimed at degrading Syria's ability to conduct future chemical attacks without broader military escalation.^[26] Syrian and Russian forces reported intercepting many projectiles, but the strikes marked a rare joint Western military action against the Assad regime.^[24] From April 16 to 20, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting convened in London, bringing together leaders from 53 member nations to address pressing global challenges.^[27] Discussions focused on Brexit's implications for trade and migration within the Commonwealth, climate change resilience for small island states, and commitments to democratic governance and human rights.^[28] The summit concluded with the London Declaration, emphasizing sustainable development and youth empowerment, amid heightened attention to the organization's post-colonial relevance.^[27]

May

On May 8, United States President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, citing its failure to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions and regional activities.^[29] The move, which ignored appeals from European allies, led to the reimposition of U.S. sanctions on Iran.^[30] The U.S. opened its embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, relocating it from Tel Aviv in fulfillment of a congressional mandate and Trump's December 2017 recognition of the city as Israel's capital.^[31] The ceremony coincided with deadly protests along the Gaza border, where Israeli forces killed dozens of Palestinian demonstrators according to Gaza health officials.^[32] Prince Harry, sixth in line to the British throne, married American actress Meghan Markle on May 19 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.^[33] The event drew global attention, blending royal tradition with modern elements, including Markle's given-away status as a divorcée and biracial heritage.^[34] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a second inter-Korean summit on May 26 in the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom, focusing on easing military tensions and planning further dialogues.^[35] The leaders agreed to high-level talks on June 1 and military discussions to reduce hostilities, building on their April meeting.^[36] Tensions from the April international missile strikes on Syrian regime targets persisted into May without major escalations.

June

The G7 Summit took place on June 8–9 in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada, where tensions arose over trade policies, with U.S. President Donald Trump clashing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders on issues like tariffs and multilateral commitments.^[37] Trump advocated for renegotiating trade deals and criticized allies for unfair practices, leading to his refusal to sign the communique on sustainable development and climate, while a viral photo captured Merkel standing over a seated Trump amid discussions.^[38] The summit highlighted deepening divisions within the group, exacerbated by Trump's emphasis on bilateral over multilateral approaches.^[39] On June 12, Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore for the first U.S.-North Korea summit, focusing on denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.^[40] The leaders issued a joint statement committing to complete denuclearization, recovery of war remains, and efforts to establish new U.S.-North Korea relations, though specifics on implementation remained vague.^[40] The historic handshake and private talks marked a diplomatic thaw following prior escalations.^[41] In the U.S., the zero-tolerance immigration policy, implemented earlier in the year, led to widespread family separations at the southern border, with over 2,000 children separated from parents by June amid prosecutions for illegal entry.^[42] The approach drew international condemnation for its humanitarian impact, prompting protests and legal challenges over conditions in detention facilities.^[43] Critics highlighted prolonged separations and inadequate tracking systems for reunifications.^[44]

July

The 2018 FIFA World Cup, hosted across 11 cities in Russia from June 14 to July 15, reached its climax with the final match on July 15 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, where France defeated Croatia 4–2 to secure their second world title. Goals from Mario Mandžukić (own goal), Ivan Perišić (own goal), Paul Pogba, and Kylian Mbappé propelled France to victory against a resilient Croatian side that had advanced through extra time in multiple knockout rounds. The tournament drew global attention amid Russia's hosting, marking the first World Cup held in Eastern Europe.^[45] The NATO Summit in Brussels from July 11 to 12 underscored transatlantic tensions, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump's public criticisms of allies for falling short on defense spending commitments, pressing for immediate increases toward the alliance's 2% of GDP guideline. Trump highlighted perceived shortfalls, claiming billions in owed contributions, though NATO officials noted ongoing progress with recent billions added since prior meetings. The gathering reaffirmed collective defense pledges but revealed divisions, as European leaders defended their trajectories amid U.S. demands for faster action.^[46][47] On July 25, U.S. President Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced a framework to de-escalate trade frictions, committing to negotiate zero tariffs, barriers, and subsidies on non-automotive industrial goods while addressing U.S. tariffs imposed earlier on EU steel and aluminum imports. This agreement aimed to avert broader retaliation, with both sides pledging to boost energy and soybean purchases alongside zero-tariff aspirations for autos if talks advanced. The truce followed months of tariff threats, signaling a temporary pause in the escalating dispute.^[48][49]

August

On August 14, the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy, collapsed during a rainstorm, causing dozens of vehicles to plunge about 45 meters and resulting in 43 deaths, marking one of the country's worst infrastructure disasters.^[50] Investigations later revealed longstanding risks due to structural deterioration.^[51] California experienced intensified wildfire activity through August, with major blazes like the Carr Fire continuing to burn across northern regions, contributing to the state's most destructive fire season on record.^[52] These fires, fueled by dry conditions, produced towering smoke plumes visible from space and exacerbated air quality issues statewide.^[53] On August 20, Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg initiated the first "school strike for climate" outside the Swedish parliament in Stockholm, protesting government inaction on climate change and sparking a global youth-led movement.^[54] Her solo action, holding a sign reading "Skolstrejk för klimatet" (School Strike for Climate), quickly inspired similar strikes worldwide under Fridays for Future.^[55] In U.S. political developments, on August 21, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted on eight counts of financial crimes including tax and bank fraud in federal court.^[56] Concurrently, Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight charges, including campaign finance violations tied to payments during the 2016 election.^[57] These outcomes represented significant legal setbacks linked to the Russia investigation.^[58]

September

Hurricane Florence, a powerful Category 1 hurricane upon landfall, struck the U.S. East Coast near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on September 14, after stalling and causing prolonged heavy rainfall that led to catastrophic flooding across the Carolinas from September 9 to 18.^[59] The storm resulted in widespread inundation, with an estimated 74,563 structures flooded in North Carolina alone and over 5,000 rescues conducted amid swollen rivers and breached dams.^[60] It claimed at least 50 lives primarily due to flooding and generated significant environmental concerns, including spills from industrial sites in eastern North Carolina.^[61] The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee commenced confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court on September 4, examining his judicial record and qualifications amid partisan debates.^[62] Allegations of sexual misconduct from the 1980s surfaced later in the month, prompting additional testimony and delaying the process, though Kavanaugh denied the claims and described them as a coordinated effort to block his appointment.^[63] Apple unveiled the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 during a September 12 event, highlighting improvements in display technology, processors, and health features like fall detection on the Watch.^[64] The devices became available for purchase starting September 21, marking the company's annual fall product refresh with emphasis on premium builds and ecosystem integration.^[64]

October

On October 2, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for marriage documents and was murdered by a team of Saudi agents, an incident that drew international condemnation and strained U.S.-Saudi relations.^[65] Turkish authorities reported audio evidence of his killing and dismemberment inside the consulate.^[66] The U.S. stock market underwent a sharp correction from October 3 to 11, with the S&P 500 declining 7.2% amid rising interest rates, tech sector weakness, and trade tensions.^[67] The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq also fell significantly, erasing trillions in market value by month's end.^[68] On October 7, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, deploying the Argentine SAOCOM 1A satellite and marking the first landing of a Falcon 9 booster at that site.^[69] From October 22 to 24, pipe bombs were mailed to prominent critics of President Donald Trump, including former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and CNN offices, prompting evacuations and a nationwide investigation.^[70] Cesar Sayoc, a Florida man and Trump supporter, was arrested on October 26 as the perpetrator after fingerprints and van evidence linked him to the devices.^[71]

November

On November 6, the United States held midterm elections, in which Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives by flipping 41 seats from Republicans, while Republicans expanded their majority in the Senate.^[4][72] Voter turnout reached approximately 50%, the highest for a midterm election in over a century.^[4] The Camp Fire ignited on November 8 in Butte County, California, rapidly destroying the town of Paradise and becoming the deadliest wildfire in the state's recorded history with 85 fatalities.^[73][52] The blaze burned over 153,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures before being contained on November 25.^[73][52] NASA's InSight spacecraft successfully landed on Mars on November 26 in Elysium Planitia, marking the first mission dedicated to probing the planet's interior structure using seismology and heat flow instruments.^[74] Meanwhile, the New Horizons probe continued its approach toward the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth (Ultima Thule) for a historic flyby, with mission teams preparing for the farthest exploration of a solar system body to date.^[75]

December

On December 1, Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, was arrested in Vancouver, Canada, at the request of U.S. authorities on charges related to fraud and violating sanctions against Iran, heightening U.S.-China geopolitical tensions.^[76] The G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, concluded on December 1 following discussions among world leaders on global economic issues, including infrastructure and sustainable development.^[77] The U.S. federal government partially shut down on December 22 after Congress failed to pass funding legislation, primarily due to disputes over President Trump's demand for $5 billion in border wall funding.^[78]

Births and deaths

Births

• February 1 – Stormi Webster, daughter of businesswoman Kylie Jenner and rapper Travis Scott.^[79]
• May 17 – Miles Theodore Stephens, son of model Chrissy Teigen and musician John Legend.^[80] Other notable celebrity offspring included Prince Louis of Cambridge (April 23, third child of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge), Chicago West (January 15, daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West via surrogate), and True Thompson (April 12, daughter of Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson), whose births garnered significant media attention due to their parents' fame.^[81]

Deaths

• March 14: British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking died at the age of 76 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease), a condition he had battled for over 50 years; he was renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to black hole physics, including Hawking radiation and the black hole area theorem, which profoundly influenced cosmology and popular understanding of the universe.^[82][83]
• August 16: Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," passed away at 76 due to advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer; her powerful voice and hits like "Respect" earned her 18 Grammy Awards and cemented her as a pivotal figure in R&B and civil rights through music.^[84][85]
• August 25: U.S. Senator John McCain succumbed to glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, at age 81; celebrated as a Vietnam War hero and maverick politician, his legacy includes bipartisan efforts on campaign finance reform and foreign policy leadership.^[86]
• September 6: Actor Burt Reynolds died at 82 from cardiac arrest; a Hollywood icon of the 1970s and 1980s, he starred in blockbuster films like Deliverance and Smokey and the Bandit, embodying rugged charisma that defined action-comedy genres.^[87]
• November 12: Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee died at 95 from cardiac arrest with respiratory and heart failure; co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers, his narrative innovations revolutionized comic books and inspired the Marvel Cinematic Universe.^[88]