Major Events of March 2018: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from March 2018 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of March 2018: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Mar 2018 Senate Intelligence Committee Text Message Leak Controversy: A Senate Intelligence Committee report alleged that a Republican House Intelligence Committee member leaked text messages between Senator Mark Warner and a Russian-connected attorney regarding an attempt to contact Christopher Steele, author of the Trump-Russia dossier. The leak report was later denied by Committee Chairman Richard Burr.
- 02 Mar 2018 2018 Ouagadougou Terrorist Attacks: A coordinated terrorist attack targeted the French Embassy and Military Headquarters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, leaving 28 people dead and over 50 injured. This attack underscores the ongoing security challenges in the Sahel region.
- 03 Mar 2018 Roger Bannister, Legendary Athlete, Dies: Roger Bannister, the pioneering English neurologist and athlete who became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, passed away at the age of 88, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in sports history.
- 04 Mar 2018 Skripal Novichok Poisoning Incident: Former MI6 spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England, causing a significant international diplomatic crisis that led to mass expulsions of diplomats from multiple countries. The incident heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, sparking global condemnation of the suspected state-sponsored assassination attempt.
- 05 Mar 2018 Sergei Skripal Poisoning Incident: Former MI6 spy Sergei Skripal, who was granted UK refugee status in 2010 after a spy exchange with Russia, was hospitalized after exposure to an unidentified substance in Wiltshire, UK, sparking an international diplomatic crisis.
- 06 Mar 2018 North Korea Opens to US Denuclearization Talks: South Korea announced that North Korea expressed willingness to engage in diplomatic discussions with the United States regarding the potential denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, signaling a potential breakthrough in international relations.
- 07 Mar 2018 Florida Passes Gun Safety Legislation: In response to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Florida's House of Representatives passed a significant gun safety bill. The legislation raises the minimum firearm purchase age from 18 to 21, bans bump stocks, and establishes a program to arm select teachers, marking a notable policy response to gun violence.
- 08 Mar 2018 North Korea-United States Summit Developments: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reported 'potentially positive signs' from North Korea. President Donald Trump accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss denuclearization by May.
- 09 Mar 2018 China Removes Presidential Term Limits: China's National People's Congress approved the removal of presidential term limits, effectively allowing Xi Jinping to remain president indefinitely, marking a significant shift in Chinese political governance.
- 10 Mar 2018 Post-Stoneman Douglas Gun Control Developments: In the aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, significant gun control measures were initiated. The NRA sued Florida over a proposed law to raise the minimum gun purchase age, while the U.S. Department of Justice moved to ban bump stocks, a modification enabling faster firing.
- 11 Mar 2018 China Removes Presidential Term Limits: China's National People's Congress approved the removal of presidential term limits, effectively allowing President Xi Jinping to potentially remain in power indefinitely, marking a significant shift in Chinese political governance.
- 12 Mar 2018 Trump's School Safety Proposal: U.S. President Donald Trump proposed arming some teachers and school staff as a potential solution to prevent school shootings, while declining to raise the minimum age for firearm purchases. The controversial proposal sparked intense national debate about gun control and school safety.
- 13 Mar 2018 Trump Administration Cabinet Shake-up: President Donald Trump dismissed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo as his replacement, with Gina Haspel selected to succeed Pompeo at the CIA.
- 14 Mar 2018 UK Expels Russian Diplomats After Skripal Poisoning: The United Kingdom expelled 23 Russian diplomats and cut diplomatic ties in response to the Novichok nerve agent attack on Yulia and Sergei Skripal. Prime Minister Theresa May characterized the incident as an "unlawful use of force" by Russia.
- 15 Mar 2018 Florida International University Pedestrian Bridge Collapse: A pedestrian bridge under construction at Florida International University in Miami collapsed, resulting in at least six fatalities and eight flattened cars. Nine people were rescued and taken to Kendall Regional Medical Center, with two requiring immediate surgery and others sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
- 16 Mar 2018 Murder of Nikolai Glushkov in UK: A coroner confirmed that Nikolai Glushkov, a Russian businessman living in exile in the United Kingdom, was murdered. The killing occurred eight days after the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal, raising significant geopolitical tensions between Russia and the United Kingdom.
- 17 Mar 2018 Cambridge Analytica Data Breach Investigation: Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey launched a significant investigation into Cambridge Analytica's alleged unauthorized harvesting of Facebook user profiles, which were potentially used in Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, raising critical questions about data privacy and electoral manipulation.
- 18 Mar 2018 Three people are killed by a fire at Manila Pavilion Hotel, Philippines.
- 19 Mar 2018 Last Male Northern White Rhino Dies: Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino, died in Kenya at the age of 45, marking a critical moment for the subspecies and global conservation efforts.
- 20 Mar 2018 North Korea Diplomatic Meeting: Delegations from North Korea, South Korea, and the United States met in Helsinki, Finland, potentially signaling a diplomatic breakthrough in the ongoing tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear program.
- 21 Mar 2018 African Continental Free Trade Area Established: Leaders from 44 African Union countries signed a landmark agreement in Kigali, Rwanda, to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area, potentially transforming economic cooperation across the continent.
- 22 Mar 2018 US Imposes Significant Tariffs on Chinese Imports: President Donald Trump imposes $60 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese imports, significantly escalating trade tensions and potentially impacting global economic dynamics.
- 23 Mar 2018 US-China Trade Tensions Escalate: President Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on approximately $60 billion of Chinese goods, causing significant market volatility. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped over 700 points, and China responded with retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
- 24 Mar 2018 March for Our Lives Protest: Students across the United States organized a massive nationwide protest demanding stricter gun control legislation in response to the tragic Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, marking a pivotal moment in youth-led activism against gun violence.
- 25 Mar 2018 Kim Jong Un's Surprise Visit to Beijing: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un began a surprise diplomatic trip to Beijing by train to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling potential geopolitical discussions.
- 26 Mar 2018 2018 Kemerovo Fire Tragedy: Witnesses and Russia's Investigative Committee reported that the Winter Cherry complex's exits were obstructed and no alarms were functioning during this devastating disaster.
- 27 Mar 2018 Kim Jong-un's First International Visit: North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking his first travel outside North Korea since assuming office in 2011.
- 28 Mar 2018 North Korea's Denuclearization Pledge: During a surprise diplomatic visit to Beijing, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and pledged to pursue denuclearization, signaling potential progress in international negotiations.
- 29 Mar 2018 Saudi Arabia 9/11 Lawsuit Developments: In a significant legal proceeding, United States District Judge George B. Daniels rejected the Saudi Arabian government's request to dismiss lawsuits alleging their involvement in planning the September 11 terrorist attacks.
- 30 Mar 2018 Gaza Land Day Protests: The Israeli Army killed 17 Palestinians and wounded approximately 1,400 during the Land Day protests in Gaza, marking a significant and violent confrontation at the Israeli-Gazan border.
- 31 Mar 2018 Syrian Civil War: Eastern Ghouta Offensive: The Syrian Army declared significant territorial gains in the Eastern Ghouta region, expelling rebel fighters from key villages around Damascus, with Douma remaining under an ultimatum.