In 2025 a number of countries—such as the United States, Canada, and Germany—installed new national leaders, and some transitions were contentious. Several African countries experienced coups, and Gen Z-led protests resulted in the ouster of Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli. Armed conflicts heightened global instability. The Russia-Ukraine War entered its fourth year, and the United States conducted military strikes against Iran and Venezuelan vessels. On the other hand, a ceasefire deal was reached in the Israel-Hamas War, bringing an uneasy pause to some two years of fighting.
A number of firsts also made headlines in 2025. Japan and Namibia inaugurated their first women heads of government—Sanae Takaichi and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, respectively. On the space front, the first successful soft landing of a commercial lunar lander took place when Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost touched down near Mare Crisium on the Moon. In religion, history was made as Sarah Mullally was the first woman to be appointed archbishop of Canterbury, and Leo XIV became the first American pope. And in the ocean, a colossal squid became a video star as the first of its species to be captured on film in its natural habitat.
In pop culture news, Taylor Swift became engaged to Travis Kelce, Anora was the big winner at the Oscars, and Beyoncé finally won the Grammy Award for best album of the year, for Cowboy Carter. The year also saw the deaths of numerous prominent figures, including Pope Francis, Robert Redford, and Jane Goodall.
