On January 19th, 2025, the Israel-Hamas ceasefire went into effect in Gaza, marking a long-awaited hiatus in the violent 15-month fighting between Israel and Hamas. Immediately, the deal initiated the release of 3 Israeli captives and 95 Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian families headed to Rafah and Jabalia, areas of Southern and Northern Gaza, where they previously could not enter because of the fighting.
On February 18th, 2025, the Trump administration and Russian officials met in the Saudi capital, agreeing to hold ongoing meetings on the path to ending the war in Ukraine, although Ukraine was absent and was to remain so. Other European countries expressed their commitment to supporting Ukraine’s security, acknowledging the importance of continued U.S. and European cooperation to cease the Russo-Ukrainian war. While Ukraine has remained firm that it will reject deals made without its consent, the Trump administration continued siding with Moscow, submitting to Russia’s demands to keep Ukraine excluded from the NATO alliance.
On March 15th, 2025, the Trump administration deported a group of Venezuelan men to the CECOT megaprison, claiming they were criminals, although these allegations proved to be inaccurate later on. Several human rights groups report that deportees experienced harsh mistreatment by Salvadorian guards at the megaprison. In December, a federal judge revealed that the deportees would be given hearings to challenge the Trump administration’s allegations concerning their gang membership.
On April 21st, 2025, on Easter Monday, the world mourned the tragic death of Pope Francis, who had recently been diagnosed with double pneumonia and other respiratory issues. His supporters agreed that his life was marked by an unwavering commitment to spreading love, kindness, fidelity, courage, and compassion. Pope Francis peacefully departed with a lasting legacy as the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in centuries.
On May 6th, 2025, Friedrich Merz became Germany’s Chancellor, barely earning the minimum votes needed for a majority during the second round of voting. His initial defeat in the first round of voting signaled possible weaknesses in his leadership and disagreements within his coalition, which includes the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD). Merz’s biggest opposition bloc on the far-right, Alternative for Germany (AfD), has gained further popularity among the public despite being labeled an extremist group, complicating Merz’s upcoming political agendas.
On June 14th, 2025, millions of U.S. residents flooded the streets in a “No Kings” demonstration to protest against President Trump’s “authoritarian” regime. Protests in June fueled more demonstrations in major cities in October, where citizens reconvened for another series of “No Kings” protests, but this time specifically to criticize America’s historic government shutdown and the immigration raids. While these demonstrations elicited opposing reactions from the political parties, they were a testament to the power of democratic protests in shaping society and politics.
On July 4th, 2025, 27 victims at Camp Mystic were killed by a deadly inland flood in Texas Hill Country. The tragedy sparked heavy criticism of the local authority for their poor communication and inadequate preventive measures, citing that Camp Mystic was located in a region known as the ‘Flash Flood Alley.’ Camp Mystic announced that it will relocate near Cypress Lake and install two-way radios in every cabin to minimize the risk of future tragedies.
On August 11th, 2025, President Trump announced that 800 National Guard troops would be deployed in Washington, D.C., to curb crime and address an alleged public safety emergency. Since then, the President has sent troops to major cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, continuing to justify his decision with promises of improved law enforcement through stricter police departments and everyday citizen oversight. Some sources report that the National Guard may extend its presence in the capital until the end of 2026, though the details remain unconfirmed.
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old CEO of Turning Point USA (the largest conservative student organization), was assassinated during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Social media platforms turned into unchecked, heated spaces for debate, fueled by frustrated individuals from both parties who lamented Americans’ tendency to resort to political violence instead of civil discourse. Kirk’s death was a reflection of the United States’ current state of political polarization and a warning for the impending clashes the country may face in the midterm elections.
On October 19th, 2025, robbers, unseen by security cameras, executed a heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and stole over $100 million worth of jewels. This shocking incident sparked intense scrutiny of the Louvre’s flawed security system, as the guards only detected the robbers’ entry 8 minutes after the heist began. Subsequently, Ms.Des Cars, the director of the museum, faced increasing pressures to resign from her position for her poor administration and lack of attention to arguably the most critical aspect of France’s representative cultural symbol–a functioning, robust security system.
On November 12th, 2025, Congress and President Trump officially declared the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. During the 43-day shutdown, millions of federal employees were without income, underprivileged families suffered food shortages, and thousands of passengers experienced delayed or cancelled flights. While the 328-page compromise bill promised funding for SNAP and proper recoupment of employees’ income, it failed to guarantee extended health insurance subsidies, an outcome most Democratic legislators wished for.
On December 14th, 2025, Sydney, Australia, suffered a horrific shooting incident at Bondi Beach, where two gunmen fired at a Jewish community that was celebrating Hanukkah. Before the shooter could fire again, Mr.Al-Ahmed, an immigrant shop-owner, who became the “modern global hero,” tackled one of the gunmen and effectively disarmed him. In an interview, Mr.Al-Ahmed expressed that as soon as he heard gunshots, he felt as if God had brought him to Bondi Beach for a mission: to rescue the innocent Jews. He believed it was his duty, as a human and fellow Australian citizen, to defend “innocent people, whatever their religion.” In the following days, Mr. Ahmed would be publicly praised by Rabbi Ulman, the director of Chabad of Bondi, who organized the event on the beach and invited Mr. Ahmed to join him at the Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn, NY.
Works Cited
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https://www.facebook.com/peoplemag. 2025. “Pope Francis Dies at 88 Right after Easter, Following Health Crisis and Monthlong Hospitalization.” People.com. 2025. https://people.com/human-interest/pope-francis-dead/.
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Knoll, Corina. 2025. “What We Know about the Latest ‘No Kings’ Protests amid Government Shutdown.” The New York Times, October 17, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/us/no-kings-protest.html.
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Ségolène Le Stradic. 2025. “Louvre Heist Was Filmed Live, but the Guards Weren’t Watching.” The New York Times, December 10, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/world/europe/louvre-heist-camera-delay.html.
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