2025 was no stranger to human experiences of turmoil, despair, salvation and hope. And through these months, just like every year, photographers have told stories through their photographs that left a lasting impression. This list is a curation of pictures from different genres, showcasing different themes, and in no particular order like always, is also celebrating the work of photographers in capturing key moments of time. Here’s to hoping 2026 is filled with more fruition for all even in the face of growing threats.
Air India AI 171 Crash
On the 12th of June, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane codename AI 171 carrying 242 souls on board crashed immediately after takeoff in Ahmedabad on a medical college building, leaving only one survivor. An additional 19 people died on the ground—mostly students of the college—and 67 more were left seriously injured.
The news devastated the nation, and this photograph shows India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the crash site taking stock of the situation, underscoring the gravity of the disaster. The image captures both the scale of destruction and the intense official scrutiny as investigators work to understand what went wrong.
Pahalgam Attack
A photograph from the Pahalgam attack captures the gut-wrenching moment as a newly-wed woman sits on the ground beside her deceased husband, an expression marked by shock, emptiness, disbelief and grief. The image reflects the human cost of the violence, away from headlines and official statements. Adding to the horror—the scene is set against a stark, open and beautiful landscape, underscoring the vulnerability of those caught in it. Sourced through Press Trust of India, we were unable to identify the photographer, but the image seems to be shot on a phone. India responded in kind by targeting and neutralising terrorist depots with Operation Sindoor, an ode to the Vermillion erased and spilled, and the post operation briefing righteously led by women officers.
Gen Z-led Revolutions in Nepal and Bangladesh, Governments Overthrown
South Asia has recently been reshaped by a wave of youth-led uprisings, first in Bangladesh in 2024 and then in Nepal in September 2025. This image illustrates the height of the Bangladesh revolution on August 5, 2024, where a sea of jubilant protesters swarmed the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka, waving flags and climbing the parliament’s walls to celebrate the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. This momentum echoed through the region, inspiring Nepal’s Gen Z to launch their own “anti-corruption movement” in 2025 following a controversial social media ban. Mirroring the scenes in Dhaka, thousands of Nepali students and young professionals marched on the Federal Parliament in Kathmandu, eventually forcing the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and the appointment of Sushila Karki as the country’s first female Prime Minister. Together, these movements mark a historic era where the region’s youth have successfully dismantled long-standing political establishments to demand digital freedom and governmental accountability.
Donald Trump’s Presidential Portrait
What about a United States Presidential portrait makes it powerful enough to make it to the list? Well, in this case, everything. The mood, the tone, and overall, what geopolitical implications could the new President of the United States bring to the world. Shot by Chief White House Photographer Daniel Torok, the usually well-lit background is plunged into a darkened state, with the president’s face being lit from underneath adding might to his grim expression, foreshadowing an uncompromising regime.
Modi-Putin-Xi Meet
In a striking display of diplomatic choreography at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted as a central bridge between two of the world’s most powerful figures. As the leaders gathered for the official group photograph, Modi—known for his tactile and personal style of diplomacy—reached out to grasp President Vladimir Putin’s hand with a warm, firm gesture. With a practiced ease that cut through the rigid atmosphere of international protocol, he guided the Russian leader toward President Xi Jinping for a high-profile greeting. This orchestrated moment of connection, punctuated by Modi’s characteristic smile, served as a potent visual metaphor for India’s unique position in the global order: a confident Vishwa Mitra (friend to the world) capable of navigating the complex friction between Moscow and Beijing while ensuring all parties remain at the table.
Indian Astronaut Back in Space
In a historic leap that ended a 41-year hiatus, Indian Air Force test pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the face of India’s triumphant return to human spaceflight during the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) in mid-2025. Serving as the mission pilot, Shukla launched from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, making history as the first Indian to ever board the International Space Station (ISS). While orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, he conducted critical microgravity experiments ranging from cancer research to life-support studies on cyanobacteria that bridge the gap between India’s legendary past and its future. This mission serves as a vital operational rehearsal for ISRO’s indigenous Gaganyaan programme, signalling to the world that India is no longer just a satellite launcher, but a premier space faring nation ready to establish its own permanent presence among the stars.
Ethiopian Volcano Erupts, Causing Flight Disruptions Around The World
In November 2025, the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region, believed to be long-dormant, erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending a massive plume of ash approximately 14 kilometres (45,000 feet) into the atmosphere. The eruption triggered widespread disruption to international aviation as high-altitude winds carried the abrasive ash cloud across the Red Sea, the Arabian Peninsula, and eventually into the airspace of Pakistan and Northern India. Major carriers, including Air India, Akasa Air, and IndiGo, were forced to cancel or reroute dozens of flights to avoid engine damage, with particular impact on routes between India and the Middle East. While the ash remained in the upper troposphere and did not significantly affect ground-level air quality, the event served as a stark reminder of how a remote geological event can paralyse global transport corridors within hours. This eruption was not an isolated event in a year of intense geological activity; Mount Etna in Italy also dominated headlines with a series of spectacular eruptions throughout 2025.
Indian Women Winning Cricket World Cup
In a historic “1983 moment” for the women’s game, the Indian women’s cricket team clinched their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title on November 2, 2025, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a high-octane final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Under the seasoned leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, the “Women in Blue” posted a formidable 298/7, powered by a brilliant 87 from Shafali Verma and a steady 58 from Deepti Sharma. Despite a heroic century by captain Laura Wolvaardt, India’s bowling attack proved relentless; Deepti Sharma capped off a legendary tournament with a 5-wicket haul, securing her title as the ‘Player of the Tournament’. The victory not only shattered the “final hurdle” jinx after heartbreaks in 2005 and 2017, but also ignited a nationwide celebration, marking India’s arrival as a dominant, world-beating force in women’s international cricket. This wasn’t just a win for the cricket team, but for women all over India.
Zohran Mamdani Wins NYC Mayoral Election
In a historic shift for New York City politics, Zohran Kwame Mamdani secured a landmark victory in the New York City mayoral election, becoming the first South Asian and socialist leader to helm the city. Born in Uganda and son of acclaimed Indian filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani’s grassroots, working-class agenda won over the hearts of NYC residents, giving him the democratic nominee over Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo. His victory speech was followed by the Hindi song “Dhoom machale”, as he greeted the crowd alongside his wife, creating a viral moment. Before his inauguration, he also met POTUS Trump which was described as “surprisingly friendly” where they spoke about working together and making NYC better.
Historic: Japan Elects First Female PM
In a landmark shift for one of the world’s most traditional democracies, Sanae Takaichi made history on October 21, 2025, by becoming Japan’s first female Prime Minister. A self-proclaimed admirer of Margaret Thatcher and a protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, the 64-year-old “Iron Lady” of Japan secured the premiership after winning a fierce Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race and forging a crucial coalition with the Japan Innovation Party. While her election shattered a decades-old glass ceiling in a nation often ranked low for gender equality, Takaichi’s platform is rooted in “Abenomics” and staunchly conservative values—including a hawkish stance on national security and a commitment to maintaining male-only imperial succession. Her ascent marks a new, more assertive era for Tokyo as she navigates a fragile majority and a complex geopolitical landscape involving China and the United States.
RIP Pope Francis
The Catholic world underwent a profound transition in 2025 following the passing of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. After a twelve-year papacy defined by his “culture of encounter” and advocacy for the marginalised, his funeral on April 26 drew millions of pilgrims to Rome, marking the end of a transformative era for the Church. On May 8, 2025, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary made history as the first-ever Pope from the United States. Since his election, Pope Leo XIV has signalled a commitment to continuing the synodal reforms of his predecessor while placing a renewed emphasis on Catholic social teaching and navigating the ethical challenges of the burgeoning artificial intelligence revolution.
Monumental: Private Company Moon Landing
In a historic milestone for commercial space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully touched down on the Moon on March 2, 2025, at 08:34 UTC. Landing in the Mare Crisium basin near the volcanic feature Mons Latreille, Blue Ghost became the first private spacecraft to achieve a 100% successful soft landing and upright operation on the lunar surface. Part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, the lander delivered ten scientific instruments that conducted groundbreaking research during its 14-day mission. Highlights included tracking GPS signals on the Moon for the first time, robotically drilling into the regolith, and capturing a stunning “diamond ring” photo of a solar eclipse from the lunar perspective on March 14. The mission concluded on March 16, 2025, as the lunar sunset drained the lander’s solar batteries, leaving behind a wealth of data—approximately 119 GB—that will pave the way for future Artemis human missions.