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A Look Back at 2023

Here’s a review of some of the year’s top news stories.

Messi in America 

Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via AP Images

In June, sports fans got shocking news. The biggest soccer star on the planet had decided to play for a U.S. team. It wasn’t long before Lionel Messi’s new team, Inter Miami CF, was the biggest attraction in Major League Soccer. 

Messi had spent 19 seasons playing for some of the top teams in Europe. He also led his home country, Argentina, to a 2022 World Cup victory. This year, he was named the world’s best player for the eighth time.

Power Up!

Illumination Entertainment/Nintendo/Universal Pictures/Album/Alamy Stock Photo

This past spring, the world’s most famous sibling plumbers brought the Mushroom Kingdom to the big screen. The Super Mario Bros. Movie hit theaters on April 5. The film earned more than $1.3 billion worldwide. It became the highest-earning movie based on a video game.

But it wasn’t the biggest movie of 2023. To figure out what film won that honor, think pink! Barbie was the year’s top moneymaker, earning more than $1.4 billion worldwide. 

Touchdown! 

Pallava Bagla/Getty Images

An illustration of the Indian spacecraft on the moon

In August, India became only the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon. An uncrewed spacecraft from its Chandrayaan-3 mission was the first ever to land near the lunar south pole. 

Other countries, including the U.S., are also planning missions to the moon’s south pole. The craters in the area are filled with frozen water that might be used by astronauts on future missions.

Out of the Ashes

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Maui residents look through the remains of their home after it was destroyed by wildfires in August.

On August 8, tragedy struck the Hawaiian island of Maui. Deadly wildfires engulfed much of the town of Lahaina. Dry conditions and strong winds fueled the flames. The fire spread quickly and swept across the town. Some people ran into the ocean to avoid the heat and flames.

The wildfires were the deadliest in the U.S. since 1918. Sadly, at least 99 people were killed. And more than 2,000 buildings, mostly homes and businesses, were destroyed. 

Four months later, the cleanup continues. Thousands of residents are still living in hotels. Rebuilding Lahaina is expected to cost about $5.5 billion.

Taylor-Made Success

Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management 

In July, a small earthquake rocked a stadium in Seattle, Washington. The shaking didn’t come from underground. It was caused by the singing, dancing, and cheering at a Taylor Swift concert! Thanks to “Swifties,” the pop star’s sold-out Eras Tour is set to break the record for the biggest moneymaking concert tour of all time. 

The Eras Tour movie came out this fall. Fans who couldn’t get tickets to see Swift in person—or who wanted to see the concert again—flocked to theaters. 

Swift’s massive year also included three No. 1 albums. She is the first musician to become a billionaire from only her songs and performing.

1. Why are countries interested in exploring the moon’s south pole?

2. Based on the article, why was this summer’s wildfire on Maui able to spread so easily?

3. What are two record-setting accomplishments described in the article?

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