It’s 2025, and the news isn’t slowing down. Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories happening around the world in 2025 and why they matter.

Donald Trump’s Second Term: This year, Donald Trump assumed office on January 20, initiating his second term as President of the United States. He has done many things since taking up this position, such as driving domestic economic and foreign policy into new directions and even attempting to influence education and culture during his time in office. Trump came into office with a plan and as soon as he had the authority, he started to act quickly and powerfully in his role.

Russian-Ukraine War: Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian War in 2022, many things have changed, especially the flow of power. This is easily shown by the fact that 2024 was the deadliest year for Russian forces. Moving into 2025, there has been more talk about all kinds of deals or peace-making policies. One that stands out is the US-Ukraine resources deal. This deal gives the United States access to some of Ukraine’s resources. This deal covers many topics, mainly addressing how the United States will approach the Russian-Ukrainian War as it moves forward. Specifically, the deal hopes to push the United States to be harsher against Putin while allowing the United States access to Ukraine’s oil and gas as well as their mineral wealth.

California Wildfires: The California Wildfires have been a hot topic in 2025 as they rage across the state in a blaze of destruction. These fires have left many of the state’s iconic sites ruined as they burned more than 40,00 acres of land, heavily affecting California’s agricultural industry of agriculture. The fires have created many challenges for the citizens, as almost 200,000 people were put under evacuation orders. The fires were fully contained by the end of January, though the effects of these dry blazes will be felt for a long time.

US Trade Deficit: The US trade deficit is hitting a record high this year as the economy attempts to adapt to new tariffs imposed by the government. The record number reached $140.5 billion in March of 2025 as Trump’s new tariffs started to take effect. The deficit has doubled since its state last year, the rapid increase being led by consumer goods. Alongside this, the tariffs are increasing operating costs for businesses that are heavily dependent on a global supply chain, increasing prices for consumers.

Death of Pope Francis: Pope Francis, the 265th successor to Saint Peter, died April 21,2025 at the age of 88 years at Saint Martha House, Vatican City. The Pope suffered from a stroke that led to heart failure on Easter Monday, prompting the traditional 15-day mourning period for the conclave. The conclave will begin voting for a new pope on May 7th, as cardinals from all over the world have gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Kashmir Attack: A deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir has caused further conflict within the region. The attack left 26 people dead, causing the Indian defence ministry to attempt to hold those at fault accountable. In retaliation, the defence ministry launched a series of strikes on Pakistan, even though Pakistan denied any involvement in the attack. They believe the attacks were unprovoked and plan to retaliate against India in their own way. The conflict is an ongoing one and there is no end in sight yet as the two countries continue to make claims against each other.