Trending:Bangladesh unrestUkraine-Russia warChristmas 2025Epstein FilesDhurandhar box officeFrom PM Modi, Trump to Takaichi and Huang: The people who defined 2025FP News Desk • December 25, 2025, 20:18:51 ISTWhatsapp Facebook TwitterAs 2025 winds down, it’s becoming clear the year wasn’t just about dramatic headlines, but about the people who quietly, and sometimes loudly, changed the global script. From a political comeback in Washington and a historic rise in Tokyo to the stumbles of edtech giants and the arrival of “agentic AI,” these figures sat right at the centre of the world’s shifting balanceAdvertisementSubscribe Join Us+ Follow us On GoogleChoose Firstpost on GoogleAs the curtain falls on 2025, the year will be remembered not just for its volatile headlines, but for the people who reshaped the global order. From the return of a political juggernaut in Washington to the rise of a historic leader in Tokyo, and from the collapse of edtech giants to the dawn of “Agentic AI,” these eight figures stood at the centre of the world’s gravity. The disruptor’s return: Donald TrumpNo person dominated the global news cycle quite like Donald J. Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHis inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, for a second term, on January 20, sent immediate shockwaves through international diplomacy. Trump’s “Golden Age” began with a flurry of executive orders aimed at dismantling federal bureaucracy through the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). More from World PM Modi as global strategist: From White House visit to Johannesburg vision, India charts new path From Labubus to Trump’s groovy dances, the most LOL moments of 2025His 2025 was defined by “common sense” populism and a radical reassertion of American sovereignty, forcing every world leader to recalibrate their relationship with a more isolationist, tariff-heavy United States. The visionary of ‘Viksit Bharat’: Narendra ModiWhile the West grappled with political upheaval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent 2025 cementing India’s status as a rising superpower. Marking 11 years in power, Modi’s government shifted its focus to “Saturation”—the ambitious goal of ensuring every citizen has access to basic digital and physical infrastructure. Under his leadership, India’s GDP growth hovered near 7%, and his successful diplomatic tightrope walk between the US and Russia solidified India as the “Vishwa Mitra” (Global Friend) in a fractured world. Quick ReadsView AllJordan strikes arms & drug trafficking networks in Syria‘Tents in Gaza’: Pope Leo laments plight of Palestinians, raging wars in first Christmas sermonBreaking the glass ceiling: Sanae TakaichiIn late 2025, Japan made history by electing Sanae Takaichi as its first female Prime Minister. A hawk on national security and a pioneer in “crisis management investment,” Takaichi moved quickly to modernise Japan’s defence posture and secure its semiconductor supply chains. Her rise reflected on a shift in East Asian politics, as she prioritised economic security and nuclear fusion energy, proving that 2025 was the year Japan stepped into a more proactive leadership role. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe engine of the AI age: Jensen HuangWhile politicians redrew borders, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, redrew the limits of human capability. In 2025, Huang became the face of the “Agentic AI” revolution.
