The Biggest News Stories Of 2025

Source: Antonio Masiello / Getty

Updated May 8, 2025, 2:00 p.m.

For the first time in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, an American has been elected pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago native and longtime missionary in Peru, was chosen as the 267th pontiff on Thursday, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.

The announcement came after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, followed by the ringing of St. Peter’s Basilica’s bells—historic signals that the conclave had reached a decision. Prevost secured at least 89 votes from the 133 voting cardinals.

The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted into cheers, waving flags and chanting “Viva il papa!” Nuns wept and priests made the sign of the cross as Prevost stepped onto the balcony of the basilica wearing the traditional red papal cape, one Pope Francis had declined when elected in 2013. “Peace be with you,” Prevost said in his first address, calling for peace and fearless dialogue.

Prevost, 69, has served since 2023 as head of the Vatican’s powerful office overseeing the appointment of bishops. Though there has long been hesitation about electing a U.S. pope due to the country’s global political influence, Prevost’s deep ties to Peru—where he also holds citizenship, helped ease concerns.

Pope Francis, who elevated Prevost to his Vatican role, is believed to have seen him as a possible successor. Many observers noted Prevost’s prominence entering the conclave.

The conclave began Wednesday with centuries-old rituals. Cardinals swore oaths in Latin before the chapel doors were sealed. After one inconclusive round of voting that night produced black smoke, speculation mounted. But by Thursday afternoon, the decisive white smoke appeared.

Each cardinal votes by writing a name on a ballot inscribed with “I elect as supreme pontiff,” placing it in an urn. Ballots are counted by scrutineers, bound, and burned with chemicals to create black or white smoke.

Prevost’s election marks a new chapter for the Church—one with historic roots in America and missionary service in Latin America.

From politics to weather, keep scrolling for some of the major news stories we have witnessed in 2025.

The Biggest News Stories Of 2025 was originally published on rone92q.staging.go.ione.nyc

1. President Trump announces new drug pricing plan

2. Trump makes trade deal with China

3. Cardinal Robert Prevost of U.S. announced as new pope, takes name Leo XIV

4. Don’t have a Real ID? Here’s what you need to prepare for before flying

5. Millions of Americans brace for federal student loan collections to resume

6. DHS to pay immigrants in US illegally $1K to self deport

7. Skype is shutting down after launching in 2003

8. Trump’s First 100 Days: A Climate and Governance Crisis

9. Elon Musk to step back from work in Trump administration

10. Trump considers ‘baby bonus’ to boost birth rate

11. Pope Francis dies at age 88

12. Active Shooter Reported on FSU Campus in Tallahassee; Suspect in Custody, Multiple People Hospitalized

13. Active Shooter Reported on FSU Campus in Tallahassee; Suspect in Custody, Multiple People Hospitalized

14. Blue Origin’s first all-female flight launches with Gayle King

15. Six Killed in Hudson River Helicopter Crash Near Jersey City

16. Trump Raises China Tariffs to 125%, Announces 90-Day Pause for Other Nations

17. “Hands off!” rallies across U.S. protest Trump administration policies

18. Stock market losses intensify after China matches Trump tariffs

19. Watch: Cory Booker breaks record for longest Senate floor speech with 24-hour Trump protest

20. White House confirms recent firings of 50 U.S. attorneys and deputies

21. Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president

22. More than 1,000 dead in severe earthquake

23. FBI creates task force to investigate Tesla threats

24. DOJ defends deportations to El Salvador, Elon Musk meets with Pentagon officials

25. Could DoorDash’s Klarna payment plan move signal recession fears?

26. Boston Celtics Sold for North American Sports Record $6.1B

27. Trump considers four bids to buy TikTok as deadline for deal looms

28. Johns Hopkins University says it’s laying off 2,200 due to USAID funding cuts

29. Senate passes short-term funding bill, averting a government shutdown

30. USDA cuts funding for school, food bank programs

31. Social Security Administration plans to take back overpayments to Americans

32. Trump administration to roll back Biden-era environmental protections

33. Department of Education slashing nearly 50% of workforce

34. Inflation rises by 2.8% in February

35. 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to U.S. take effect

36. 5 years since WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic

37. Southwest Airlines To Start Charging For Checked Bags

38. DC removes Black Lives Matter plaza

39. X Down, Elon Musk says its a massive cyberattack

40. South Carolina man executed via firing squad, first in 15 years

41. Experts warn of lasting immune effects as measles outbreak spreads

42. Trump expected to issue executive order to eliminate Education Department

43. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada take effect

44. Trump signs executive order making English the official language of the US

45. Inflation rises by 2.8% in February

46. 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to U.S. take effect

47. 5 years since WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic

48. Southwest Airlines To Start Charging For Checked Bags

49. DC removes Black Lives Matter plaza

50. X Down, Elon Musk says its a massive cyberattack

51. South Carolina man executed via firing squad, first in 15 years

52. Experts warn of lasting immune effects as measles outbreak spreads

53. Trump expected to issue executive order to eliminate Education Department

54. Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada take effect

55. Pope Francis remains in critical condition with early kidney failure, Vatican says

56. Trump declares Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

57. Delta offers $30,000 to passengers who survived Toronto plane crash

58. Two people dead after mid-air plane crash at southern Arizona airport

59. Trump administration gives schools a deadline to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money

60. Delta plane crash landed and flipped at Toronto airport caught on camera

61. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) is makes a push to gain access to an IRS system

62. 15,000 IRS workers facing potential layoffs in the middle of tax season

63. Two killed in small plane crash in Atlanta

64. Army bans transgender people from enlisting, halts gender transition procedures

65. Tony Buzbee drops civil lawsuit alleging rape against Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

66. Andrew Lester enters guilty plea to lesser charge in shooting of Ralph Yarl

67. TikTok Is Back on U.S. App Stores—For Now

68. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as HHS secretary in 52-48 vote

69. Navy investigating fighter jet crash off San Diego

70. Private Jet Collides At Arizona Airport

71. ‘Gulf Of America’ Arrives on Google Maps

72. The Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl

73. Judge blocks DOGE from accessing Treasury data after lawsuit against Trump administration

74. Trump appoints controversial NOAA head

75. Judge temporarily blocks 2,200 USAID workers from being put on leave

76. Trump says he’s revoking Biden’s security clearance

77. Shoppers report paying fees to receive their international packages

78. Small plane crashes in Alaska, all 10 dead

79. President Trump signs executive order banning transgender athletes in sports

80. Rep. Al Green is filing new impeachment articles against Trump

81. USPS now says it will accept international mail from China and Hong Kong

82. President Trump considering dismantling Department of Education

83. Trump imposes Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China; Canada retaliates

84. Plane crashes in Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood

85. American Airlines flight collides with helicopter in Washington, D.C.

86. White House rescinds federal aid freeze

87. Federal judge blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants

88. White House orders freeze on all federal financial assistance

89. Target Scales Back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts

90. Judge blocks Donald Trump’s plan to end US birthright citizenship

91. Trump administration directs all federal DEI staff be put on leave

92. Trump pardons Capitol rioter and signs a series of executive actions

93. Biden pardons family members minutes before Trump sworn in

94. Donald Trump Is Sworn in as 47th U.S. President

95. Biden issues preemptive pardons for Milley, Fauci and Jan. 6 committee members

96. TikTok begins restoring after Trump comments less than 24 hours after going dark in U.S.

97. TikTok goes dark as U.S. ban takes effect

98. Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban

99. President Joe Biden’s farewell address to the nation warns of an oligarchy

100. Israel & Hamas agree to ceasefire deal

101. Texas man charged with stalking Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark

102. Supreme Court hears arguments on TikTok ban

103. Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Donald Trump to unconditional discharge in hush money cas

104. Former President Jimmy Carter honored in Washington, D.C.

105. Fast-moving Pacific Palisades fire grows to more than 2,900 acres

106. Trump says he plans to change Gulf of Mexico’s name to “Gulf of America”

107. First bird flu-related human death reported in Louisiana

108. Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau announces resignation

109. Apple to pay $95M to settle lawsuit accusing Siri of eavesdropping

110. Georgia judges takes his own life in courtroom

111. 10 hurt in shooting in Queens, NY

112. 10 dead, dozens injured in New Orleans truck ‘terrorist attack’