A Review of Global Events in 2025
The year 2025 was marked by a series of significant international events, including continued military conflicts in several regions, major political developments, and widespread civic demonstrations. Photojournalists from international news agencies documented these occurrences, capturing images from conflict zones, political gatherings, and scenes of civil unrest across the globe.
Conflicts and Humanitarian Situations
Military conflicts and their consequences were reported in multiple countries. In Ukraine, a Russian missile strike on an apartment building was documented in Poltava in February. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continued in Gaza, where photographers captured images of Palestinians returning to the northern part of the strip during a ceasefire in January, as well as scenes of daily life amid destroyed buildings and reports of malnutrition.
In Sudan, individuals displaced by attacks attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were photographed in North Darfur in April. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, people were seen fleeing advances by M-23 rebels in January. Tensions were also reported along the India-Pakistan border, with images showing a home in Indian-administered Kashmir damaged by what was described as Pakistani artillery shelling in May. Later in the year, a funeral was held in Afghanistan’s Paktika province for individuals killed in Pakistani cross-border air attacks in October.
The Middle East saw several escalations. In June, emergency responders were mobilized in Tel Aviv following missile strikes from Iran. The following month, a funeral procession was held in Tehran for Iranian military commanders and scientists killed in Israeli strikes. In September, Israel conducted missile strikes in Doha, Qatar, reportedly targeting senior Hamas leaders. A funeral procession for former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was also held in Beirut during the year.
Political Developments and Civil Unrest
Political events drew international attention throughout 2025. In the United States, President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in February. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Beijing. North Korea also held a large military parade in Pyongyang in October to mark the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
In December, the U.S. House Oversight Committee and the Department of Justice released photos related to investigations into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The images included Epstein with public figures such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Michael Jackson.
Several countries experienced significant protests and civil unrest. In Greece, demonstrators confronted police outside parliament during a gathering to mark the second anniversary of a major railway incident. In Nepal, protests against government corruption and a ban on social media led to clashes with security forces that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. In Madagascar, demonstrations occurred over electricity and water shortages, while in Kenya, police used teargas during a public viewing for the late opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi.
Natural Disasters and Social Events
Natural events and environmental issues were also documented. A wildfire was photographed in Los Angeles County, California, in January. In Indonesia, a flash flood affected a village in North Sumatra in December, and in Bangladesh, a resident was photographed on an island in the Brahmaputra River after his home was lost to erosion.
Other documented events from 2025 included the confinement of inmates at the Terrorism Confinement Centre mega-prison in El Salvador, the funeral Mass of Pope Francis at the Vatican, and a mass wedding ceremony held by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in South Africa.
