The 10 events that shaped 2025: From Trump to Gaza and the climate crisis
The year 2025 was marked by the return of Donald Trump to power, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to a year-end review by Agence France-Presse (AFP), ten major events defined international affairs over the past year.
Trump’s Return to the White House
Facing mounting pressure from rising living costs, U.S. President Donald Trump was forced to lift tariffs on basic food products such as coffee and beef, amid growing public discontent over inflation.
A New Pope: Leo XIV
On 8 May, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope, taking the name Leo XIV, succeeding the late Pope Francis. The first American pontiff pledged continuity in social action in favor of the poor and migrants, while maintaining conservative positions on issues of gender and family.
Generation Z Uprisings
Across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, young people under the age of 30 mobilized against corruption and social inequality. In Peru and Morocco, protests targeted the political establishment, while in Nepal and Madagascar they led to political upheavals.
The pirate flag from the manga One Piece emerged as an online symbol of resistance, particularly as demonstrations in several countries were violently suppressed.
Massive Investments in Artificial Intelligence
The global artificial intelligence market surged in 2025, with investments exceeding $1.5 trillion, according to Gartner. Skyrocketing valuations of companies such as Nvidia raised concerns about a potential market bubble.
At the same time, incidents of disinformation and mass layoffs increased, while California adopted new legislation regulating chatbots following a tragic incident that shocked the country.
Spectacular Heist at the Louvre
On 19 October, a group of criminals broke into the Louvre Museum, stealing crown jewels worth €88 million in just eight minutes. The case exposed serious security gaps at the iconic museum. Four suspects have been arrested, though the stolen items have yet to be recovered.
U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean and the Pacific
Since August, the United States has carried out military operations in the region, citing efforts to combat drug trafficking. The strikes resulted in dozens of deaths and have been widely criticized for their legality under international law.
Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. imposed a full blockade on oil tankers and announced a $50 million reward for his capture.
Record-Breaking Extreme Weather Events
The year was also marked by unprecedented natural disasters. Cyclone Melissa devastated parts of the Caribbean, while successive typhoons struck Southeast Asia, causing hundreds of deaths.
Europe and the United States faced widespread wildfires, with the northern section of the Grand Canyon remaining closed for the rest of the tourist season after a major fire broke out in July.
Together, these developments underscored a year of political instability, technological upheaval, and escalating climate-related crises that reshaped the global landscape in 2025.
