10 events that defined 2025

Donald Trump's return to power, a ceasefire in Gaza and massive investments in artificial intelligence: Here are 10 events that defined 2025. 2025 was a year marked by record-breaking weather, Donald Trump's return to the White House and a fragile Gaza ceasefire Donald Trump holds up an executive order he signed during his January inauguration Much of Gaza has been destroyed following two years of war Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Donald Trump announced a sweeping round of tariffs shortly into his second term Pope Leo XIV succeed Francis as leader of the Catholic Church Protests were held in October in Rabat, Morocco, calling for social reforms Gen-Z group led by Miraj Dhungana protest outside the PM's official residence in Kathmandu, Nepal AI-related spending expected to reach roughly $1.5 trillion in 2025 The thieves broke into the Louvre using a crane The US military has carried out a number of strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coasts of Latin American Rainfall exceeded 1,900mm in some parts of Vietnam Children wade through floodwaters in the aftermath of Typhoon Bualoi 1) Trump returns A protectionist offensive. Mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Dismantling entire sections of the 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, worked to intimidate the media and fought against diversity and inclusion programmes. He has also launched extensive diplomatic efforts, with mixed results. 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 mid-term elections due next autumn. 2) A ceasefire in Gaza US pressure led to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, two years into a devastating war in Gaza where famine had been declared and where the death toll would reach 70,000 by the year's end. The truce allowed for the return to Israel of the last surviving hostages and most of the bodies of the deceased, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Displaced residents of Gaza City returned to their homes only to find rubble. The ceasefire also enabled an increased flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, although still nowhere near enough to meet the territory's needs, according to the UN and humanitarian NGOs. But negotiating the next steps in Donald Trump's peace plan - particularly the disarmament of Hamas - is proving delicate. Israel has carried out several deadly airstrikes in Gaza in recent weeks, which it claims were in retaliation for Hamas attacks. Regional tensions also persist, with continuing Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon. Israel, with the help of the US, also launched raids against Iran's nuclear facilities during a 12-day war in June. In September, Israel targeted Hamas officials in an unprecedented attack in Qatar. 3) Talks on ending Ukraine war Donald Trump's arrival in the...

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