Scroll again by means of the final yr, and the identical phrases come up time and again.
The highest-trending phrases of 2025, from synthetic intelligence to Zohran Mamdani, formed headlines throughout politics, battle, expertise and local weather.
Because the yr involves a detailed, AJ Labs has compiled an A to Z listing of names, locations and points that generated sustained curiosity all through 2025, based on a free evaluation of our personal most-viewed story tags and people who appeared in Google’s most searched.
Taken collectively, these phrases are a patchwork of points which can be additionally more likely to spill into 2026, from ongoing conflicts to a altering technosocial panorama not seen for the reason that daybreak of the web.
That is 2025 from A to Z, by the phrases that made the yr.
Synthetic Intelligence
AI adoption is quickly rising, and a number of the largest conversations this yr have been on the way it will shake up the office and reimagine economies.
In October, the Reuters Institute carried out a survey in six nations and located that the proportion of respondents who mentioned they used a generative AI system corresponding to ChatGPT jumped from 40 % to 61 % this yr. As governments attempt to regulate the fast-growing expertise, fears of job losses and echoes of a dotcom-style bust have additionally resounded with huge AI gamers corresponding to Nvidia, Google, Meta and OpenAI making monumental round offers this yr.
In response to UBS projections, world annual AI spending is predicted to swell to $375bn by the top of the yr earlier than topping $3 trillion yearly by 2030 – this contains spending on AI infrastructure, in addition to energy and assets for electrical energy demand.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin surged to new heights in 2025, pushed by institutional inflows and the maturation of crypto ETFs within the US.
President Trump positioned himself because the “crypto president,” and propelled household crypto ventures and the broader sector into the mainstream. He overturned the US Securities and Change Fee’s crackdown on crypto firms, rewarding these pro-crypto executives and companies who donated hundreds of thousands within the 2024 election cycle to assist candidates aligned with their agenda.
On October 6, Bitcoin reached an all-time excessive of $126,080, marking a defining second for the digital asset, earlier than reminding traders how rapidly momentum can reverse because it finishes the yr at $88,400.
Charlie Kirk
Conservative activist and media determine Charlie Kirk turned a central and controversial determine in 2025 following his assassination, which despatched shockwaves by means of US politics and globally.
Because the founding father of Turning Level USA, Kirk had spent years on the centre of campus tradition wars, the place he constructed a big following by means of provocative speeches on college campuses and thru his shut alignment with Donald Trump and the MAGA motion.
On September 10, he was shot lifeless close to the place he was engaged in a debate at Utah Valley College. His assassination triggered reactions throughout the political spectrum, and intensified debates round political violence and extremism within the US.
Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump warrants a standalone article for the dimensions, pace and unprecedented nature of adjustments he unleashed throughout his second time period, and for the large internet of points tied to his management.
In 2025 alone, he signed 225 govt orders, surpassing the quantity he signed throughout his whole first time period.
Returning to workplace on January 20, he started his time period by pardoning these concerned within the 2021 Capitol Hill riots. Quickly after, he introduced sweeping world tariffs – however usually centered on China, adopted by the “One Massive Stunning Invoice”, which triggered deep federal spending cuts and stripped funding from main US programmes, together with USAID. His administration tightened immigration enforcement and rolled again environmental and variety insurance policies.
Internationally, he questioned longstanding alliances, scaled again assist for Ukraine and escalated strain on Iran, together with US strikes on its nuclear amenities. Domestically, his insurance policies polarised Individuals and politicians alike, particularly when it got here to healthcare and defence spending, which led to the longest authorities shutdown proper earlier than Thanksgiving.
And that’s simply a few of what he did this yr.
Elections
Following an unprecedented election cycle in 2024, polls had been somewhat extra muted this yr, however nonetheless noteworthy, with some 69 elections going down globally, involving a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of eligible voters worldwide.
Nationwide elections occurred in nations corresponding to Germany, Canada and Japan, alongside dozens of parliamentary, presidential and native contests throughout Africa, Asia and Europe. In Japan, Sanae Takaichi turned the primary girl to carry the publish of prime minister.
Far proper
Far-right politics took centre stage, particularly on social media, the place such narratives had been outstanding in shaping public opinion.
In Europe, far-right events recorded a few of their strongest outcomes on file, together with changing into the second-largest power in Germany’s federal election, the place the AfD received 20.8 precent of the vote.
Elsewhere, rallies within the UK, corresponding to “Unite the Kingdom”, led by right-wing activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, generally known as Tommy Robinson, triggered an enormous turnout of protesters and counter-protesters in August. Elon Musk’s function within the rally – the place he appeared in entrance of protesters by way of a stay hyperlink – highlighted the affect social media networks now play in selling specific narratives and the highly effective figures steering the wheel.
Gaza
Israel’s genocidal conflict on Gaza handed two years, with Israeli forces persevering with their air and floor assaults, displacing the inhabitants repeatedly. A selected turning level was when the IPC declared famine in Gaza in August, following Israel’s continued blockade of assist and the purposeful hunger of the inhabitants.
In 2025 alone, Israel killed no less than 25,000 Palestinians and injured 62,000 others.
In October, a ceasefire was brokered between Hamas and Israel. Nevertheless, Israeli assaults have continued.
Houthis
The Iran‑aligned Houthis in Yemen had been central within the wider Center East disaster, drawing world consideration for each navy actions and diplomatic developments.
The group’s assaults on business delivery and navy targets within the Pink Sea and in opposition to Israel continued to disrupt a key world commerce route, prompting Israeli and US air strikes on Houthi positions and infrastructure all year long.
In response to ACLED, there have been greater than 48 strikes on Yemen in 2025 from Israel, together with strikes on Hodeidah port.
Iran
On June 13, Israel launched a barrage of strikes, hitting dozens of nuclear, navy, and infrastructure websites throughout Iran, together with the nation’s predominant nuclear facility in Natanz.
In the course of the 12-day battle, Israel additionally attacked residential neighbourhoods, killing a number of nuclear scientists and navy commanders. Iran retaliated with a whole bunch of ballistic missiles in opposition to Israeli cities.
On June 22, the scenario escalated when the US joined the assaults, bombing three nuclear amenities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The assaults drew widespread worldwide concern, prompting emergency UN Safety Council conferences and sparking sharp retaliation from Iran, together with ballistic missile launches towards US bases within the area and threats to world delivery by means of the Strait of Hormuz.
Jeffrey Epstein
In 2025, the Jeffrey Epstein saga continued to make headlines as new paperwork, emails and pictures had been launched underneath the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency Act, with the New York Instances claiming greater than 130,000 papers have been launched thus far.
Pictures of Epstein’s personal island, name logs and electronic mail exchanges with excessive‑profile figures had been revealed by the Home Oversight Committee, drawing world consideration and sparking heated political debate.
Among the many most talked‑about revelations in late 2025 had been emails during which Epstein allegedly referenced Donald Trump and claimed a sufferer had frolicked at his home, resulting in fierce partisan disputes over context and accuracy. The White Home known as the disclosures a smear, whereas critics argued they raised uncomfortable questions on elite networks.
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar was one of many most-talked-about artists in music, pushed by the continued impact of his tune Not Like Us, which turned his longest-charting rap tune ever, spending greater than 50 weeks on the Billboard Scorching 100.
The tune additionally topped charts after Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl halftime efficiency, which was watched by greater than 133.5 million viewers.
Louvre
In October, the Louvre Museum in Paris was shaken by some of the audacious artwork robberies in latest reminiscence, when thieves made off with priceless French crown jewels price an estimated $102m.
Utilizing a truck‑mounted carry to achieve a second‑flooring window, the gang broke in throughout broad daylight, minimize show circumstances with energy instruments and escaped on scooters in a brazen raid that took lower than eight minutes whereas the museum was open to guests.
French authorities launched a nationwide manhunt, however the bulk of the stolen jewels stays lacking. The heist uncovered important safety gaps on the world’s most‑visited museum, prompting emergency upgrades.
Migration
This yr, migration debates continued to grip authorities chambers worldwide, with polarising coverage adjustments adopted in numerous nations.
In Europe and North America, asylum guidelines and border controls had been tightened – a deal between France and the UK for a “one in, one out” plan on small boat crossings got here into impact underneath the Labour authorities.
Throughout the pond, the US noticed some of the aggressive immigration enforcement insurance policies, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escalating operations within the nation. Greater than 68,000 folks had been detained by ICE, and a whole bunch of 1000’s are reported to have been deported.
Nuclear
Because it stands, in 2025, there are 12,241 nuclear warheads energetic worldwide, with a number of nations growing or modernising their stockpiles as a substitute of lowering them, as they’ve for the previous twenty years.
Most importantly, the yr was marked by direct US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear amenities, with Pentagon officers saying it delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by about one to 2 years.
On the vitality entrance, 2025 noticed a mixture of enlargement and contraction in nuclear energy. The US and UK signed a landmark partnership to speed up superior and small modular reactors, promising 1000’s of jobs. Whereas in Germany, nuclear phase-out continued, with the closing of ageing crops, regardless of different European nations trying in the direction of nuclear energy for inexperienced vitality.
Occupied West Financial institution
In parallel to Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza, it launched the most important navy assault in a long time on the West Financial institution, expanded unlawful Israeli settlements, and carried out common house demolitions.
The UN’s OCHA documented 1,680 assaults by Israeli settlers in additional than 270 communities throughout the West Financial institution thus far in 2025 – a median of 5 incidents per day.
The olive harvest has additionally continued to be marked by widespread settler violence, with 178 assaults documented in October and November in 88 communities.
Pope
In April, the Catholic Church underwent a historic management transition with the demise of Pope Francis and the election of a brand new pontiff.
The 2025 conclave was notable for being the most important within the Church’s historical past, with 133 cardinal electors gathering within the Sistine Chapel to vote on the following pope, surpassing earlier limits on electors and reflecting the worldwide variety of the School of Cardinals.
After a number of rounds of secret ballots, the cardinals chosen Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who took the identify Pope Leo XIV, marking the primary time a pope has been elected from the US.
Qatar
In 2025, Qatar was not solely a key diplomatic participant, but in addition a flashpoint within the area’s wider conflicts.
In September, Israel carried out an unprecedented air strike on Doha, focusing on Hamas leaders who had been assembly to debate a US‑backed ceasefire deal, killing a Qatari safety official and others, and triggering widespread condemnation of the assault as a violation of Qatari sovereignty and worldwide legislation.
The strike prompted emergency conferences of Gulf and Islamic our bodies in solidarity with Doha, because it turned the sixth nation that Israel attacked this yr.
RSF
Sudan’s Speedy Assist Forces (RSF) had been a central driver of the nation’s devastating civil conflict, increasing their territorial management and deepening what the United Nations described as one of many world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The paramilitary group consolidated its grip over giant components of western Sudan, together with areas round el-Fasher in North Darfur, the place UN officers and rights teams reported mass killings that left tens of 1000’s of civilians lifeless and widespread destruction of displacement camps.
In response to ACLED, no less than 4,200 civilians had been killed by the RSF. They had been accused of systematic abuses, together with ethnically focused violence, sexual assault, looting and assaults on hospitals and assist convoys.
Syria
December 8 marked one yr for the reason that al-Assad dynasty, which lasted greater than half a century, was faraway from energy by a insurgent offensive.
The 14-year-long conflict led to one of many world’s largest migration crises, with some 6.8 million Syrians, a few third of the inhabitants, fleeing the nation on the conflict’s peak in 2021.
Greater than 782,000 Syrians documented by the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM) have returned to Syria from different nations over the previous yr.
Tariffs
On April 1, Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on the US’s buying and selling companions, rattling world commerce and growing tensions in worldwide relations.
The levies additionally led to quite a lot of firms saying they’d shift provide chains. It’s estimated that the US-imposed tariffs generated greater than $124.5bn in income between January and September 2025. Nevertheless, the Tax Basis estimates that Trump tariffs quantity to a median tax improve of $1,100 per US family in 2025.
Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine entered its fourth yr in 2025 and was outlined by intensified preventing, stalled diplomacy and a shift in US coverage that reshaped the battle’s trajectory.
On the battlefield, Russian forces managed roughly 19 % (118,000 sq. kilometres or 45,550sq miles) of Ukrainian territory, having made incremental however pricey positive factors over the course of the yr on the japanese entrance.
The battle noticed a marked escalation in superior warfare, together with expanded use of long-range missiles and, considerably, using drones on each side.
Venezuela
One other overseas coverage marketing campaign underneath the Trump administration that drew world consideration was the scenario in Venezuela, the place Trump’s mandate in opposition to “narcoterrorists” reworked the Caribbean into a brand new battlefield.
Since August, Washington deployed 1000’s of troops, warships and plane throughout the area, reopened navy bases in Puerto Rico and carried out drills, in what analysts describe as the most important US presence in Latin America in a long time.
In September, the US started a sequence of strikes on Venezuelan boats it claimed had been trafficking medication to the US, with the entire demise toll on account of these assaults tallying greater than 100 lifeless.
Climate
The yr 2025 kicked off with the devastating Palisades Fireplace in Los Angeles, which destroyed 1000’s of properties and buildings. In response to Gallagher Reinsurance Brokers, whole world insured loss for the primary 9 months of 2025 for pure catastrophes and climate-related occasions was estimated at $105bn, making it the sixth consecutive yr with losses of greater than $100bn.
Different excessive climate occasions, corresponding to heavy rains and flooding, additionally battered giant components of Asia in late 2025: Northern Vietnam skilled historic flood ranges after extended tropical rainfall, whereas India and Pakistan handled monsoon‑associated floods that had been among the many deadliest of the yr. Storm Ragasa and different Pacific storms introduced intense winds and floods to the Philippines, Taiwan and southern China.
In October, Hurricane Melissa turned the strongest storm to hit Jamaica, making landfall as a Class 5, inflicting widespread harm.
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping pushed for strategic autonomy and regional dominance in 2025.
At house, he oversaw China’s 14th 5-Yr Plan, with state media citing regular development and laying the groundwork for 2026. He additionally chaired the twenty fifth Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, internet hosting greater than 20 heads of state and positioning China as a central power in International South and Eurasian safety.
Relations with the US had been dominated by renewed and aggressive commerce and expertise tensions, following Trump’s tariff mandate, which noticed each side escalate right into a tit-for-tat of levies, which, at one level, entered triple digits, however a mid-year truce noticed strain ease on world markets.
Yoon Suk Yeol
In December 2024, South Korea was thrust right into a political disaster after then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial legislation, citing rising unrest and an alleged risk to nationwide safety.
It resulted within the deployment of troops, detention of opposition lawmakers and the curbing of press freedom. A yr on, prosecutors indicted Yoon Suk Yeol for rebellion on December 15, accusing him of in search of to impress navy aggression from North Korea to assist consolidate his energy.
Earlier this month, particular prosecutor Cho Eun-seok advised a briefing that his group had indicted Yoon, 5 former cupboard members, and 18 others on rebellion expenses, following a six-month probe into his declaration of martial legislation final yr.
Zohran Mamdani
After Trump, probably the most talked about US politician in 2025 would possibly simply be Zohran Mamdani, who turned New York Metropolis’s first Muslim, South Asian and African-born mayor by successful 50.8 % of the vote.
Campaigning on hire freezes, common childcare, public transit and inexperienced infrastructure and galvanising multiracial working-class coalitions throughout town, he received the primaries in June.
Nevertheless, his marketing campaign skilled intense scrutiny and backlash on-line, with Equality Labs monitoring greater than 17 million social media posts about him in 2025 containing Islamophobic, xenophobic and polarising content material.
Mamdani is scheduled to be sworn in on January 1, 2026.
