Donald Trump's return to power, a ceasefire in Gaza and massive investments in artificial intelligence: Here are 10 events that defined 2025.
1. Trump returns
A protectionist offensive. Mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Dismantling entire sections of the US federal government.
Since his return to the White House for a second term in January, Republican President Donald Trump has targeted adversaries, deployed the National Guard in Democrat-voting cities, attacked the media and fought against diversity and inclusion programmes. And polls suggest Americans are increasingly disgruntled on economic issues — particularly the cost of living.
Stinging defeats in local elections have put his party in a delicate position for midterm elections due next autumn.
2. A ceasefire in Gaza
US pressure led to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, two years after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil triggered a devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
The truce allowed for the return to Israel of the last surviving hostages and all but one of the bodies of the deceased, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
It also enabled an increased flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, although still nowhere near enough to meet the territory's needs, according to the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs.
Israel, with the help of the United States, also launched raids against Iran's nuclear facilities during a 12-day war in June.
3. Unsuccessful Ukraine talks
Trump's arrival in the White House energised efforts to end the war in Ukraine, sparked by Russia's 2022 attack.
Trump's sympathies have flipped repeatedly between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, with Kyiv fearing it could be forced into a deal on Moscow's terms.
In February, Trump berated Zelensky in the Oval Office, accusing him of risking World War III and disrespecting the American people.
As direct Russia-Ukraine talks led nowhere, Trump in August hosted Putin for a high-stakes summit in Alaska that ended early, leaving Washington accusing Moscow of not being serious about ending the war.
4. Global trade war
Trump imposed waves of tariffs on imports and entire industries deemed strategic — such as steel, aluminium and copper — sparking a trade dispute that shook the global economy.
As targeted countries considered or implemented retaliatory measures, tough negotiations led to many deals, including with the European Union and China.
But bilateral talks with Canada were suspended after a Canadian province funded an ad criticising the tariffs.
5. A new pope
Robert Francis Prevost became the first American pope on May 8 following the death of his predecessor Francis, whom he had long advised.
The Chicago-born clergyman, who spent nearly 20 years as a missionary in Peru and eventually obtained citizenship, took the name Leo XIV.
6. Gen Z uprisings
Mass movements spearheaded by the under-30s arose across Asia, Africa and Latin America to fight against poor living standards, social media censorship and elite corruption.
They enjoyed mixed success — in Morocco, for example, the government promised social reforms, but more than 2,000 protesters now face prosecution.
But Nepal's Maoist Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina were forced from office.
Young people featured prominently in post-election protests in Tanzania, which were brutally suppressed.
7. AI boom
Technology giants and investors have spent ever-increasing sums to finance the rapid growth of AI.
AI-related spending is expected to reach roughly $1.5 trillion in 2025 and $2 trillion next year, according to US advisory firm Gartner.
The market's enthusiasm briefly drove chip giant Nvidia's valuation beyond $5 trillion.
But the markets fear a speculative bubble around the technology. AI stands accused of fuelling misinformation, copyright lawsuits are mushrooming and many companies have cited its adoption as an explanation for mass layoffs.
OpenAI faces a lawsuit from the parents of a California teenager who killed himself, alleging its chatbot ChatGPT offered advice on how to carry out his plan.
8. Louvre heist
On October 19, thieves dressed in workers' vests used a furniture ladder to get into the Louvre Museum in Paris. They fled on scooters with crown jewels valued at $102 million, though they dropped a diamond-encrusted crown on the way. Four men suspected of being part of the raid were charged and jailed, but the stolen treasures have not been recovered.
9. US strikes anger Venezuela
Washington has deployed a significant military presence off the coast of Latin America since August, officially to combat drug trafficking bound for the United States.
Around 100 people have been killed since September in US strikes on boats that Washington claims, without providing evidence, were ferrying drugs.
The campaign has drawn angry reactions in Latin America, especially Venezuela, which views the attacks as a pretext to topple President Nicolas Maduro and seize the country's oil reserves.
Washington has since announced a "total blockade" against "sanctioned tankers" travelling to or from Venezuela.
US authorities accuse Maduro of heading a cartel and are offering a $50-million reward for his capture.
10. Record-breaking weather
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more deadly and more destructive due to climate change fuelled by human activity, according to scientists.
Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful ever to hit the Caribbean, devastated entire regions of Jamaica; and flooded Haiti and Cuba.
In Southeast Asia, the Philippines was struck by Typhoons Ragasa, Kalmaegi and Fung-wong within the space of two months, while Vietnam was devastated by storms, floods and landslides.
Tropical storms and monsoon rains destroyed vast tracts of Indonesia's northwest island of Sumatra and displacing thousands of people in Sri Lanka. — AFP
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