1. Star Wars movie in theaters

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the seventh edition in the Star Wars film series. The movie premiered on Dec. 14, while the opening day was Dec. 18 in American movie theaters. It broke the previous record for Thursday night sales, earning  over $57 million. Watch the movie trailer here.

2. Iraqi Airstrike may be mistake

An American airstrike on Iraq lead to a number of Iraqi soldier deaths on Dec. 18. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for the passing of the soldiers. Click here to read more.

3. San Bernardino victims meet president

Family members of victims of the San Bernardino attacks and emergency responders met President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on Dec. 18. The Obamas talked with the families prior to leaving for their two-week family vacation in Hawaii. Read more here.

4. Schools shut down in Virginia

Schools closed in Augusta County, Virginia after a teacher gave students a controversial homework assignment on the Islam religion. The assignment resulted in a series of hateful emails, phone calls and social media posts. Click here to read more about the issue.  

5. United Nations (UN) approves peace plan

The UN approved a peace plan for Syria on Dec. 18. The plan supports international efforts in seeking a political solution in Syria. The new plan is a step forward in ending the Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011 and has taken millions of lives. Read more from CNN here.