Can You Remember What Happened In The World In 2018?

Time flies when everything is awful.

By Matthew Champion

Matthew Champion BuzzFeed News Reporter

Last updated on December 21, 2018, at 8:38 a.m. ET

Posted on December 21, 2018, at 7:10 a.m. ET

Black Panther was released.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It did happen this year!

Black Panther had its worldwide premiere in January.

Via YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty
The US recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did not happen this year.

While an official ceremony marking the new embassy opening was held in May this year, President Donald Trump formally signalled the switch in recognition in December 2017.

Via Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A governing coalition of populist and hard-right parties was formed in Italy.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It did happen this year!

Ninety days after the general election in March, a coalition government between the League and Five Star Movement was formed.

Via ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
After four decades in power, Robert Mugabe was deposed as president of Zimbabwe.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did not happen this year!

While Zimbabwe did hold its first elections without Mugabe on the ballot in almost four decades this July, Mugabe was forced from office in 2017.

Via Jekesai Njikizana / AFP / Getty Images
The UK left the European Union.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This hasn't happened!

LOL.

Via Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
Donald Trump threatened North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Twitter, writing "I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did happen this year!

Trump sent this tweet on Jan. 3 — five months later he and Kim Jong-un met at a surreal summit in Singapore.

Via SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Vladimir Putin was elected for a third term as Russian president.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did not happen!

Sorry to do this, but while Putin was reelected in March, it was for his fourth term. He was elected as president for the third time in 2012.

Via Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, won the soccer World Cup.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This has never happened!

Messi's Argentina was eliminated in the last 16 of the World Cup in Russia. Messi — regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time — will be 35 by the time of the next World Cup.

Via Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
The last male northern white rhino died, making the species functionally extinct.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did happen this year.

The death of Sudan at the venerable age of 45 in March left his daughter and granddaughter as the only remaining northern white rhinos alive.

Via AP
Catalonia unilaterally declared independence from Spain.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did not happen this year!

Following an unrecognized referendum, Catalonia declared independence in October 2017 (it's still part of Spain).

Via Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in New York's 14th congressional district.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did happen!

Ocasio-Cortez beat Joe Crowley, one of the most powerful Democrats in the House of Representatives, in June.

Via Rick Loomis/Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This did happen this year!

They got married in May.

Via REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
Saudi Arabia issued its first driving licenses to women.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It happened this year.

The first licenses were issued in June. But the news was overshadowed by the detention of activists who had led the campaign to let women drive.

Via FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images
India decriminalized gay sex.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It did happen!

In September India's highest court struck down a colonial-era law that made gay sex illegal.

Via REUTERS/Abhishek N. Chinnappa
President Trump, against advice, looked directly at the sun during a total solar eclipse.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It didn't happen this year!

The so-called "Great American Eclipse" took place in August 2017.

Via NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
Mosul was liberated from ISIS by the Iraqi army.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This didn't happen this year.

Iraq's prime minister declared Mosul liberated in July 2017.

Via FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images
Twelve junior soccer players and their coach were rescued after spending 18 days in a flooded cave in Thailand.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It did happen this year!

Members of the Wild Boars soccer team, aged 11 to 17, entered the Tham Luang cave in June, and were rescued in July.

Via Linh Pham/Getty Images
President Trump was filmed pushing his way past other world leaders to the front of the queue at a NATO summit.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This didn't happen this year!

Trump pushed past Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic in May 2017.
Arkady Babchenko, a prominent Russian journalist, faked his own death in Ukraine.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

This happened this year.

Babchenko was "murdered" in May, only to appear before shocked journalists at a press conference days later. He said he staged his death with the help of Ukrainian security services to help catch a would-be assailant.

Via Valentyn Ogirenko / Reuters
A mysterious 2,000-year-old sarcophagus was opened in Egypt.

Yes

No

Correct!

Wrong!

It did happen this year!

The sarcophagus was opened in July. It didn't unleash any curses, but people did say they wanted to drink the red goo inside.

Via Ministry of Antiquities

Matthew Champion is a deputy world news editor for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.

Contact Matthew Champion at matthew.champion@buzzfeed.com.

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