2018 Preview
JANUARY
Donald Trump marks the first anniversary of his inauguration as President of the United States Bulgaria assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union, as new EU rules aimed at increasing transparency in financial markets come into force World leaders gather in Davos in the Swiss Alps for the annual World Economic Forum
FEBRUARY
PyeongChang hosts the Winter Olympic Games amid tension over the impact of the IOC’s ban on Russia’s participation China marks the Year of the Dog. Famous dog people include Lenin and Mother Teresa Cuba begins a new era as Raúl Castro, 86-yearold younger brother of Fidel, steps down
MARCH
The publication 200 years ago of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein gave the world an intriguing monster and added to the philosophical debate on creation Italy’s general election will be fought under a new system that favours broad alliances Russia’s president Vladimir Putin could win a second six-year term. He has been in power as either president or prime minister since 1999
APRIL
Britain’s Royal Air Force, the world’s oldest independent air force, celebrates its centenary Dr Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered on the 50th anniversary of his assassination World Health Day 2018 falls on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization
MAY
NASA launches its InSight lander to Mars, where it will study the planet’s deep interior Britain’s Prince Harry marries American actress Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle Workers around the world commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Karl Marx
JUNE
Canada hosts the G7 summit in Quebec The Berlin Airlift was launched 70 years ago The FIFA World Cup brings global football stars to Russian cities
JULY
The iconic Volkswagen Beetle, born out of a desire by Nazi Germany’s leader Adolf Hitler to produce a cheap “people’s car”, was launched 80 years ago Mexicans elect a new president and parliament Argentina becomes the first South American country to chair the G20 group of major economies
AUGUST
The World Meeting of Families brings Pope Francis and Catholics from around the world to Ireland’s capital Dublin A partial solar eclipse, the last of three in 2018, will be visible from many populous areas from northern Europe to Asia Two Indonesian cities, Jakarta and Palembang, host the 2018 Asian Games
SEPTEMBER
North Korea’s 70th anniversary invites a new show of defiance to the international community from leader Kim Jong Un Europe’s golfers hope to avenge their defeat in 2016 by beating the U.S. in the biennial Ryder Cup, to be held in France It is 10 years since Lehman Brothers filed for bankrupcy, setting off a global financial crisis
OCTOBER
The annual meeting of the World Bank and IMF takes place in Bali, Indonesia Voters in Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, choose a new president BepiColombo, a European-Japanese mission to Mercury, is set to launch
NOVEMBER
The U.S. midterm elections will be seen as a referendum on Donald Trump’s controversial presidency Commemorations will mark the centenary of the armistice that ended the First World War Papua New Guinea hosts the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation summit
DECEMBER
Congo is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections Trains start running on London’s Crossrail, Europe’s most ambitious engineering project Mary Poppins Returns, the sequel to the classic 1964 film, opens, starring Emily Blunt as the magical nanny (-Julie Mullins)