2025 in pictures: Shaking up the world order

By the end of 2025, the world felt newly unsettled. Donald Trump's return to the White House reshaped the context for nearly every major story, sending tremors through conflict zones and alliances alike. Added to that was the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, inspiring both optimism and anxiety about where humanity was headed next. It was as if the global chessboard were being reset, with the post-World War II order giving way to something new. President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he delivers his inaugural address at his inauguration as the 47th president in the Rotunda at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20.