2018 in review: A year that filled people with hope

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01:12

For better or for worse, 2018 is running out of time and in just a few days, a new year will herald a fresh start and a chance to make things right. But before this year becomes history, we are turning back the clock to revisit the biggest events and most notable moments that grabbed the headlines – and our attention – in the past 360-odd days. "2018 in Review" is a four-episode series about this year's news that are set to shape 2019.

It has been a volatile year, but hope always arises from ups and downs. Numerous lives have been saved with sheer willpower, diverse conventional rules have been fundamentally broken, and the human kind has made some dramatic advances in the field of science and technology. As 2018 approaches its end, let's review the inspiring and historic events throughout the year.

Thai cave rescue: From despair to delight

12 boys exploring with their football coach were trapped deep inside a cave for over a week in Thailand on June 23. Thousands across the world were involved in the time-sensitive rescue operation. Faced with various threats and worldwide attention, the boys were eventually pulled out of the dark. This story of human endurance and collective efforts interprets the word "miracle."

'I feel free like a bird'

Saudi Arabia overturned the world's only ban on female drivers on June 24. The lifting of the decades-old ban frees women from their dependence on male drivers. It is estimated that some three million women could actively begin driving in the kingdom by 2020. The historic reform is expected to usher in a new era of social mobility.

First private moon trip by SpaceX

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the first private passenger of SpaceX to take a moon voyage in 2023. The spaceflight company's CEO Elon Musk announced the news on September 17. Maezawa will also invite six to eight artists from around the world to join him on the trip. The mission would be the first lunar journey by humans since 1972.

Besides the achievements in aerospace, the world has also experienced dramatic development in diverse aspects. The year of 2018 has been filled with turning points and breakthrough. Though adversity always exists when moving forward, hope never fades.