The year 2025 is drawing to a close, and it has been a turbulent year in terms of news. So I’m going to review the 12 most significant events.
The city of Los Angeles began January with a wave of devastating wildfires. The fire, which took about three weeks to extinguish, affected residents of Altadena and Pacific Palisades and killed more than 30 people. In total, more than 15,000 hectares were destroyed. And more than $30 billion in property losses were incurred.
This natural disaster, in turn, entered the US political arena. With President Donald Trump calling California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, incompetent for his handling of the situation. Newsom, in turn, criticized Trump for spreading “disinformation” instead of focusing on providing aid.
Tariff Day
One of Trump’s most controversial measures this year was the approval on April 2nd of tariffs on more than 180 countries in what he called “Liberation Day.” This decision kicked off a global trade war that has marked the world economy and international relations throughout 2025. The image of the Republican president holding up charts listing the various tariffs imposed has become one of the most memorable photographs of the year.
Trump justifies these protectionist measures by citing the enormous US trade deficit with other countries. Although he has also used tariffs for other purposes. He applied them to Mexico for allegedly not sufficiently controlling the flow of drugs and migrants to the US. Also to China for sending fentanyl to its territory. After months of intense negotiations, the new tariffs went into effect at different levels depending on the agreements reached beforehand. Their impact on the global economy is still being assessed.
The Death of the Holy Father
The death of Francis, the Pope of the poor, who with a courageous political message and Socialism attempted to change the Church. With the election, 17 days later of Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. But also Peruvian was one of the year’s most significant events.
Despite his 38 days in the hospital, during which he suffered three crises that raised concerns for his life, Francis’s death on April 21st came as a relative surprise. He had reappeared the day before to greet the faithful in St. Peter’s Square in what seemed to be a recovery. But which ultimately turned into the farewell of the man who led the Church for 12 years.
NATO Summit in The Hague
The Hague became the center of Atlantic politics in 2025. When NATO leaders met on June 25th at a summit aimed at increasing defense spending to five percent of GDP over the next decade. The prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine led the allies to review their defense capabilities in the face of the Moscow threat.
Spain was the only country that rejected this increase. Spain maintained its position of limiting spending to 2.1 percent of GDP. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended this stance during the Summit. In contrast to the disagreement of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump. Who in the months following the summit has accused the country of “not playing as a team” and has threatened trade retaliation and even possible expulsion from the Alliance.
The US-Russia Summit in Alaska
The US-Russia summit held in Alaska on August 15th, 2025. It brought together the leaders of the United States, Donald Trump, and Russia, Vladimir Putin. It was the first time Putin had been invited to a Western country since the invasion of Ukraine. Since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him for war crimes.
The meeting, which ended earlier than expected, aimed to get the Russian leader to agree to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. Something that ultimately did not happen. Even so, Putin managed to return to the international stage after a period of isolation. Especially from Western countries which was interpreted as a diplomatic triumph for Russia. Which made no concessions to move toward an end to the war.
Generation Z Protests in Nepal
Outrage over the lavish lifestyles of the elite’s children ignited the revolution in Nepal. Where young people took to the streets on September 8th and managed to oust the country’s president in just 24 hours.
2025 has indeed been the year of Generation Z. Moreover in which has moved to the forefront of the political scene with a series of protests that have spread across the globe. From Nepal to Ecuador and including Morocco, the Philippines, and Paraguay.
The First Attack on a Suspected Drug Boat in the Caribbean
September 2nd marked a turning point in the already tense relationship between the US and Venezuela. The Trump administration carried out its first attack on a suspected drug boat in international waters in the Caribbean Sea. Since then, Operation Southern Spear has sunk some twenty boats in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. Attributed to criminal organizations without presenting evidence, and has resulted in the deaths of at least 87 people.
Futhermore this offensive has had a domestic political cost for the Republican leader. After it was revealed that in the first of these attacks, a second bombing was carried out against the same boat. Killing two survivors—an action that Congress plans to investigate for possible war crimes.
Google’s Fine
On September 5th, Google was fined approximately $3.46 billion by the European Commission for abuses in the online advertising market. By favoring its own services in this sector to the detriment of its rivals.
It was the highest penalty ever imposed by the European Commission for monopolistic abuses. Second only to the more than €4 billion fine also levied against the platform for violating EU competition rules through Android. Trump called the measure “very unfair” and warned that his administration would not tolerate it. While Google presented “significant changes” in November to address potential conflicts of interest. Such as greater interoperability of its advertising tools, and emphasized its intention to appeal.
Declaration of Israeli Genocide in Gaza
On September 16th, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded what many organizations and associations had been denouncing since Israel began its offensive against Gaza two years earlier. The Jewish state has committed genocide against the Palestinians in the Strip.
Also this declaration came at a critical moment for Gazans. With tens of thousands dead after months of daily bombings and a blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid imposed by Israeli authorities. In fact, the food shortage in Gaza was so severe that the UN had declared a famine in the Palestinian enclave during the summer.
Months later, the future of the Palestinians in Gaza remains uncertain. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on October 11th. Pending a second phase once the Islamist group completes the release of Israeli hostages. However, the daily death toll continues to rise, while torrential rains devastate a region already reduced to rubble.
It also remains to be seen whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be held accountable for his offensive against Gaza. As he is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Australia bans social media for those under 16
Australia has become the first country to ban social media for those under 16 years. The law, which came into effect on December 10th, was prompted by families affected by the harmful effects of certain platforms, including cases that led to suicides.
The legislation, hailed as historic by Australian authorities. It requires Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, and Kick to demonstrate that they have taken “reasonable measures” to identify and deactivate the profiles of users below the permitted age. Following its approval, countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, and Spain have considered stricter controls on minors’ access to social media.
The victory of far-right candidate Kast in Chile
Far-right candidate José Antonio Kast decisively won the second round of the presidential elections in Chile on Sunday. Becoming the first defender of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship (1973-1989) to come to power after the return of democracy to the Andean nation.
Kast’s new Chile, along with Javier Milei’s Argentina, will form the far-right pole in the Southern Cone. In line with other governments such as those of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, Daniel Noboa in Ecuador, and Santiago Peña in Paraguay. This shift in Chile follows that of Bolivia, where Rodrigo Paz’s victory ended nearly two decades of rule by the Movement for Socialism (MAS). And the potential shift in Honduras, where the vote recount remains unresolved 15 days after the elections.
The UN calls for an end to the US blockade against Cuba
In Latin America, Cuba has also been a global news focus as the archipelago suffers a blockade condemned by the majority of UN member states. The General Assembly, for the thirty-third time and by an overwhelming majority. A called for an end to this US economic policy against Havana. A unilateral imposition that Cuba has denounced since 1992.
This year’s resolution received 165 votes in favor, 7 against (Argentina, the United States, Hungary, Israel, North Macedonia, Paraguay, and Ukraine), and 12 abstentions (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Moldova, Romania, and Poland).
Finally this represents a shift from recent years. In which the Caribbean nation received unanimous support from the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and all member states of the European Union. Last year, the resolution received 187 votes in favor. Only two votes against (the United States and Israel), and one abstention (Moldova).
The embargo against Cuba began in 1960 and has been tightened at different points in history. Extending to third countries starting in 1992, the year the General Assembly issued its first request to the United States to end it.
- The 12 events that shook the world in 2025 - 17 de December de 2025
- Friendship is a soul that inhabits two bodies - 8 de December de 2025
- To capture the most beautiful even when we talk about pain - 30 de November de 2025