Donald Trump’s return to power, the ceasefire in Gaza and massive investment in artificial intelligence: here are the 10 events that define 2025
– Trump’s return –
A protectionist offensive. Mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Dismantling entire sections of the US federal government.
Since returning to the White House for a second term in January, Republican President Donald Trump has targeted opponents, deployed the National Guard to Democrat-voting cities, attacked the media and fought against diversity and inclusion programs.
He has also launched extensive diplomatic efforts, which have had mixed results.
And surveys show that Americans are dissatisfied on economic issues – particularly the cost of living.
The crushing defeat in local elections has left his party in a vulnerable position ahead of next autumn’s snap elections.
Read this also What is Warrior Dividend, the $1776 payment plan announced by Donald Trump?
– ceasefire in Gaza –
US pressure led to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, two years after an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants on Israeli soil triggered a devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire allowed the return of the last surviving hostages and the bodies of all but one of the dead to Israel in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
According to the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs, it also increased the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, although still not enough to meet the needs of the region.
Israel is awaiting the return of the last hostage’s body before starting talks on the second phase of a ceasefire, a step that would lead to the demilitarization of Gaza under a US-backed plan backed by the UN.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hoped to move to the second phase “very soon”, but violence continued in the area, with both sides accusing the other of violating the ceasefire.
And the threat of regional conflict remains as Israeli attacks continue on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.
Israel, with the help of the United States, also launched attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities during the 12-day war in June.
In September, Israel targeted Hamas officials in Qatar in an unprecedented attack.
– Failed Ukraine talks –
Trump’s arrival in the White House energized efforts to end the war in Ukraine triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Trump’s sympathies have repeatedly shifted between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, with Kiev fearing he could be forced to compromise on Moscow’s terms.
In February, Trump rebuked Zelensky in the Oval Office, accusing him of risking World War III and disrespecting the American people.
As direct Russia-Ukraine talks failed to yield any results, Trump hosted a summit with Putin in Alaska in August that ended prematurely, with Washington accusing Moscow of not being serious about ending the war.
Trump later hit the first major package of sanctions on Russia.
However, there has been a flurry of international diplomacy to reach a ceasefire based on a draft US plan released in November, an early version of which was seen by Ukraine and its European allies as largely favorable to Russia.
– Global trade war –
Trump imposed waves of tariffs on imports and entire industries deemed strategic such as steel, aluminum and copper, sparking a trade dispute that has roiled the global economy.
As targeted countries considered or implemented retaliatory measures, difficult negotiations led to agreements between the EU and China.
But bilateral talks with Canada were suspended after a Canadian province funded an advertisement criticizing the tariffs.
Under pressure to lower the cost of living for Americans, Trump decided in mid-November to cancel tariffs on some food products such as imported coffee and beef.
– 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.
White smoke billowed over the Sistine Chapel less than 24 hours after the conclave announced the election of the 267th head of the Catholic Church.
The Chicago-born priest, who spent nearly 20 years as a missionary in Peru and eventually gained citizenship, took the name Leo XIV.
He has followed in the footsteps of his Argentine predecessor by focusing on the poor, migrants and the environment.
He has also provided reassurance to conservative circles – at least in the short term – by refusing to ordain women as deacons and recognize gay marriage.
– Gen Z rebellion –
Mass movements led by people under 30 arose across Asia, Africa and Latin America to fight against poor living standards, social media censorship and elite corruption.
They have had mixed success – for example, in Morocco, the government promised social reforms, but more than 2,000 protesters now face prosecution.
In other countries, after violent repression, the protests turned into a broader challenge to power.
But Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Madagascar’s President Andrey Rajoelina were removed from office.
Youth prominently participated in post-election protests in Tanzania, which were brutally suppressed.
The pirate flag from the manga “One Piece” – a skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat – is often displayed by protesters and has spread on social media to symbolize the fight against oppression across continents.
– AI Boom –
Technology giants and investors have spent ever-increasing sums to finance the rapid growth of AI.
According to US consulting firm Gartner, AI-related spending is expected to reach about $1.5 trillion in 2025 and $2 trillion the next year.
Market enthusiasm briefly pushed the valuation of chip giant Nvidia to more than $5 trillion.
But the market fears a speculative bubble around the technology.
And there are broader concerns.
AI is accused of promoting misinformation, copyright lawsuits are rising rapidly, and many companies have cited its adoption as an explanation for mass layoffs.
OpenAI is facing a lawsuit from the parents of a California teen who killed himself, alleging that its chatbot ChatGPT gave him advice on how to carry out his plan.
The company said it has strengthened its parental controls, while California has enacted legislation to regulate chatbots.
– A spectacular Louvre robbery –
On October 19, thieves dressed in workers’ vests used furniture ladders to break into the Louvre Museum in Paris.
They fled on scooters with 88 million euros ($102 million) worth of crown jewels, although along the way they dropped a diamond-encrusted tiara.
Four people suspected of involvement in the raid were charged and sent to prison, but the stolen treasures were not recovered.
– Venezuela angry with America’s attack –
Washington has officially deployed a significant military presence off the coast of Latin America since August to combat drug trafficking to the United States.
Nearly 100 people have been killed since September in US attacks on boats that Washington claims, without providing evidence, were carrying drugs.
The US Justice Department says the attacks were “lawful” and rejects allegations from a senior UN official that they were “extrajudicial”.
The campaign has drawn angry reactions in Latin America, particularly Venezuela, which sees the attacks as a pretext to topple President Nicolas Maduro and seize the country’s oil reserves.
On December 10, US forces seized a Venezuelan oil tanker by attacking the ship from a helicopter.
Washington has since announced a “complete blockade” against “sanctioned tankers” heading to or from Venezuela.
US authorities have accused Maduro of leading a gang and are offering a $50 million reward for his capture.
– Record breaking weather –
While deadly flooding occurred in Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, powerful storms struck the Caribbean and the Philippines.
According to scientists, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more deadly and more destructive due to climate change caused by human activities.
Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the Caribbean region, devastated much of Jamaica and caused flooding in Haiti and Cuba.
In Southeast Asia, the Philippines was hit by typhoons Ragasa, Kalamegi and Phung-Vong within two months, while Vietnam was devastated by typhoons, floods and landslides.
Tropical storms and monsoon rains ravaged Southeast and South Asia late in the year, destroying vast swathes of Indonesia’s northwestern island of Sumatra and displacing thousands of people in Sri Lanka.
Temperatures rose and wildfires intensified in Europe, burning record amounts of land during the summer.
The worst wildfire in 50 years hits the French Mediterranean coast.
In the United States, a fire caused by lightning caused the North Rim of the famous Grand Canyon to be closed for the remainder of the tourist season in mid-July.
