2018 has been quite a disastrous year for most of us, hence the main reason why the kanji for "disaster" was hand-picked by the Japanese but it's not just the floods, the quakes, and the fires that made this year disastrous, it's the fickle politics, obituaries, and some crazy moments that drove this world even madder than it is last year, but despite all the negativity occurred throughout the year, there has been some positive moments that made 2018 a great year for some.
So, with the year comes to a close, let's slow things down and jot down some of the top 40 things I learned throughout the year 2018 not just in news but also in cars, television, video games, sports, everything based on my interests, if you know what I mean?
40) Boracay closure - In late April, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shut down the Philippines' popular tourist destination, Boracay, for six months because of the "cesspool" comments the strongman leader said a few months ago, prompting holiday makers look somewhere else to spend their summer vacation.
39) US Embassy in Jerusalem - Fulfilling one of US President Donald Trump's campaign promises during the 2016 elections, and despite the bloodshed in Gaza, the controversial move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has been done and it's opened in mid-May 2018, fuelling concerns that the United States are tipping the Middle East into more worrisome effect. The embassy move tarnished the United States as the mediator between Israel and the Palestine State and there will be major consequences following the move.
38) General Data Protection - The new EU data protection regulation went in effect late May 2018, giving people from the European Union more control over how data is reached. Companies worldwide are getting express consent to collect personal info or face hefty fines. Following the implementation, The New York Times were one of the sites blocked in most European countries while Google and Facebook are accused for breaching GDPR laws following the infamous Cambridge Analytica incident.
37) Trade Wars - Once started as US President Trump implementing tariffs on imported steel and aluminum quickly escalated into an all-out trade war between the United States and China, two rival economic superpowers, which rocked world markets.
36) Goodbye, WUG! - Announced last summer, the Wake Up, Girls are saying farewell as the official website announced that they will disband by March 2019 after their final live performance. The Wake Up, Girls starred in two anime series, a film, and a WUG zoo spinoff.
35) The worst final race weekends of Danica Patrick's career - Female racing driver Danica Patrick bids farewell to motor racing following his breakout career in both IndyCar and NASCAR but her last race weekends in her career wasn't really the sendoff she wished for. One, her final Daytona 500 race ended in a crash. Two, her final Indy 500 race ended in a crash as well.
34) The reborn American Idol - After years of hiatus, American Idol has returned in its new home, ABC, and in the rebirth of the hit reality singing competition, aspirants are energized to take on the competition but in the end, Maddie Poppe is named the winner of the American Idol 2018 finale. She's the first grand winner since American Idol went back on air.
33) Chief Justice Sereno ousted - Voting 8-6, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has ruled to oust Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as head of the judiciary since mid-May 2018. The Court has granted the quo warranto petition filed against the ousted Chief Justice.
32) Hyundai's new fuel-cell crossover - Hyundai made a fuel-cell crossover that claims to be one of the most important breakthrough in the history of the rapidly-growing South Korean carmaker. It's called the Nexo and it's powered by an electric motor that churns out 154PS of power and 395Nm of torque, which is more than the old Tucson FCEV it replaces, capable of reaching a top speed of up to 179kph, similar as a Japanese car can go. Second, the Nexo's got three fuel tanks, capable of carrying 6.33kg/156.6L of total capacity, resulting to a driving range of 609km.
31) US Gymnastics doctor sentenced - In late January, former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to life imprisonment for abusing young female gymnasts who were entrusted to his care. The women who brought Nassar to justice became one of the driving forces of the ongoing #MeToo and #TimesUp movement and because they brought so much impact to the lives of female athletes, they even got a special award at the ESPYs.
...to be continued in part two.
No comments:
Post a Comment