 2018 was a jam-packed year! This year was full of ups and downs, not just in Asheville, but around the world. Here are a few of the good things that happened around the world last year:
1. North Korea and South Korea decided to end the Korean War. The war has been happening for a prolonged 65 years. Leaders, Kim Jong-un (North Korea) and Moon Jae-in (South Korea), shook hands on April 24, 2018, ending the war permanently. 2. Meghan Markle became the second woman of color to join the Royal British family. This is a big breakthrough for Britain. The newest duchess to the royal family is African-American which has only been done once before. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married May 19, 2018, and are expecting a baby sometime in the Spring of 2019. 3. SpaceX broke records of the largest satellite rise-sharing mission and the most crowded sing mission in U.S. history by sending 64 satellites into space. Company owner, Elon Musk, launched the satellites in California on December 3, 2018. This marked the company’s 19th launch last year! 4. Texas elected the first openly LGBTQ+ African-American woman to judge. Shannon Baldwin was very shocked and proud to find out that she had been elected as the judge for Texas November 6, 2018. Joining Shannon are 16 other women who were elected for very important roles as well, such as winning seats in the Senate and other judge positions. One of the women joining Shannon, LaShawn Williams, said, “This election is still sinking in, I am speechless and overjoyed by all of your kind words and powerful actions to help us make a court system which ensures that everyone will be heard.” 5. Ireland repealed its abortion ban. Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, has just informed the people of Ireland that they are passing a bill on abortion December 13, 2018. Lots of women around the country are excited to know that they now have choices for their lifestyle and their future ahead. The bill will finally become in law sometime in early January 2019. 6. For the first time ever, women in Iran were allowed to attend men’s sporting events. Before this came in to place, women would be arrested and fined if found at a men's sporting event. During this certain sporting event women were allowed to go to, Iran won the World Cup for the first time in 20 years. 7. A Brazillian woman gave birth to a baby after getting a uterus transplant from a dead donor. The woman, her identity remains unknown, had a very uncommon disease called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, where a woman's uterus and vagina do not fully develop. She was 32 when she received surgery in 2016 for her transplant. The woman is now the proud mother of a 1-year-old baby girl, born December 15, 2017. 8. Scientists have found a way to lower cancer risks. ORGANIC! The study was published October 22, 2018, by a team of scientists in France. Julia Baudry, the leader of the study, calculated cancer risks to discover that the answer was eating organic. 9. 157 new animal and plant species have been discovered in Southeast Asia. The World Wildlife Fund was thrilled to find new species of animals and plants in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Some of these creatures and plants were even found in rough terrains like high mountains and dangerous forests. 10. A record number of openly gay athletes competed in the Olympics. Eric Radford, a freestyle Canadian Olympic skater said, “So proud to be wearing these medals and showing the world what we can do!”. This has set a huge milestone for 2018 and the years to come. Story By Iris Schreiner Comments are closed.
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