January opened with Donald Trump sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, returning to office after a four-year gap. His early months were dominated by new tariff announcements and a renewed push on immigration enforcement, including what his administration called ‘reciprocal trade measures’ and expanded deportation actions.
Elsewhere, leadership changed through different routes.Japan named Sanae Takaichi as its first female prime minister in October. Namibia inaugurated Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as its first woman president in March.
In Canada, Justin Trudeau resigned amid internal party pressure, and Mark Carney was sworn in as prime minister in March.
In the Vatican, the death of Pope Francis in April led to the election of Pope Leo XIV in May – the first American to hold the role.
Protests that tipped governments
Youth-driven protest movements reshaped politics across multiple regions.
In Nepal, demonstrations erupted after the government banned major social platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and X. Protesters entered Parliament and the presidential residence. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned soon after.In South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol faced impeachment following a failed attempt to impose martial law. Candlelight protests returned to Seoul’s streets. The process ended his presidency.
In parts of Africa, protests over constitutional changes and term limits turned violent, particularly in Togo and Sudan, where displacement reached record levels.
Raids, laws, and institutional fights
In India, the inclusion of caste data in the national census and the implementation of the amended Waqf Act triggered protests and court challenges.
Police raids linked to online content and alleged extremism also drew attention – including bookstore seizures in Jammu and Kashmir and investigations tied to ‘digital arrest’ scam networks.
Conflicts and diplomatic flashpoints
A ceasefire was agreed in Gaza in October after two years of Israel’s war on the besieged strip killed nearly 65,000 Palestinians, a vast majority of them women and children. The ceasefire hangs by thread while Israel continues to target civilians, according to multiple reports.
In South Asia, a militant attack in Pahalgam led India to launch missile strikes (Operation Sindoor) on targets in Pakistan. It was followed by a brief military standoff before a ceasefire on May 10.
In Europe, Germany held snap elections after its ruling coalition collapsed. Friedrich Merz became chancellor in May.
And in October, Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin in Budapest – a meeting that unsettled Ukraine and raised questions about future Western alignment.
