2018

Quiz

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Can You Remember What Happened In The World In 2018?

End Of Year Quiz: Did This Event Take Place In 2018 Or Not?

_Black Panther_ [had its worldwide premiere in January.](https://www.buzzfeed.com/benhenry/roll-on-february)

It did happen this year!

[While an official ceremony marking the new embassy opening](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/matthewchampion/us-embassy-jerusalem) was held in May this year, President Donald Trump formally signalled the switch in recognition in December 2017.

This did not happen this year.

The US recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

[Ninety days after the general election in March](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertonardelli/italys-election-result-was-a-hot-mess-even-for-italy), a coalition government between the League and Five Star Movement was formed.

A governing coalition of populist and hard-right parties was formed in Italy.

While Zimbabwe [did hold its first elections without Mugabe on the ballot in almost four decades this July,](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tamerragriffin/zimbabwe-election-fadzayi-mahere) Mugabe was forced from office in 2017.

This did not happen this year!

After four decades in power, Robert Mugabe was deposed as president of Zimbabwe.

[LOL](https://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/all-the-things-that-happen-brexit).

This hasn't happened!

Trump sent this tweet on Jan. 3 — five months later he and [Kim Jong-un met at a surreal summit in Singapore.](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/24-hours-on-set-with-donald-trump-and-kim-jong-un)

This did happen this year!

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!"

Sorry to do this, but while Putin _was_ reelected in March, [it was for his fourth term](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/salvadorhernandez/republicans-criticize-trump-congratulated-putin-election). He was elected as president for the third time in 2012.

This did not happen!

Vladimir Putin was elected for a third term as Russian president.

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.

This has never happened!

Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, won the soccer World Cup.

[The death of Sudan at the venerable age of 45 in March](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/matthewchampion/last-northern-white-rhino-dies-sudan) left his daughter and granddaughter as the only remaining northern white rhinos alive.

This did happen this year.

The last male northern white rhino died, making the species functionally extinct.

Following an unrecognized referendum, [Catalonia declared independence in October 2017](https://www.buzzfeed.com/rosebuchanan/the-catalan-parliament-just-declared-independence-from-spain) (it's still part of Spain).

Catalonia unilaterally declared independence from Spain.

[Ocasio-Cortez beat Joe Crowley](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-moment-won-primary-election-victory), one of the most powerful Democrats in the House of Representatives, in June.

This did happen!

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in New York's 14th congressional district.

[They got married in May.](https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/official-harry-meghan-photos)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married.

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.](https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurasilver/women-in-saudi-arabia-are-finally-able-to-drive)

It happened this year.

Saudi Arabia issued its first driving licenses to women.

In September India's highest court [struck down a colonial-era law that made gay sex illegal.](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nishitajha/india-section-377-gay-sex)

It did happen!

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

It didn't happen this year!

President Trump, against advice, looked directly at the sun during a total solar eclipse.

Iraq's prime minister [declared Mosul liberated in July 2017.](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/borzoudaragahi/this-is-what-its-like-inside-liberated-mosul)

This didn't happen this year.

Mosul was liberated from ISIS by the Iraqi army.

Members of the Wild Boars soccer team, aged 11 to 17, entered the Tham Luang cave in June, [and were rescued in July.](https://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/thailand-cave-soccer-football-team-rescue-boys)

Twelve junior soccer players and their coach were rescued after spending 18 days in a flooded cave in Thailand.

Trump [pushed past Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/trump-shove-debate) in May 2017.

This didn't happen this year!

President Trump was filmed pushing his way past other world leaders to the front of the queue at a NATO summit.

[Babchenko was "murdered"](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/maryanngeorgantopoulos/russian-journalist-dead-alivearkady-babchenko) 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.

This happened this year.

Arkady Babchenko, a prominent Russian journalist, faked his own death in Ukraine.

The sarcophagus was opened in July. [It didn't unleash any curses](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/juliareinstein/sarcophagus-opened-egypt-alexandria), but people did say they wanted to drink the red goo inside.

Can You Remember What Happened In The World In 2018?

FINCEN FILES

THE INVESTIGATION THAT CHANGED THE BANKING INDUSTRY

Can You Remember What Happened In The World In 2018?

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FINCEN FILES

THE INVESTIGATION THAT CHANGED THE BANKING INDUSTRY