Year-ender 2025: Ten Powerful Photos That Shook the World

It is time to look back at the ten instances whose powerful pictures shook the world and created the deepest global headlines this year.

Women in Blue Shine Bright as World Champions

The Indian Women's Team achieved their long-awaited "1983 moment" on November 2nd, clinching their first-ever Women's World Cup title. This historic victory not only brought an end to the team's long-standing quest for global glory but is also being widely celebrated as the start of a brand new, successful era for Indian women's cricket.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

In April 2025, a horrifying terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, resulted in widespread loss of life. This disturbing image from the aftermath (showing a grieving woman next to the body of her husband) was widely shared, highlighting the immediate and devastating trauma of the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in years.

Op Sindoor: India's Response To Pahalgam Terror Attack

In a proud display of Nari Shakti, Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh lead the press briefings for Operation Sindoor. These joint appearances, detailing the destruction of terror bases across the border, highlighted a unique moment for Indian forces and signalled the elevated role of women in the country's defence strategy.

Air India 171 Crash

Tragedy struck on June 12th when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London's Gatwick from Ahmedabad, crashed only 32 seconds into its flight. Of the 12 crew members and 230 passengers on board, there was a single survivor. The crash caused further casualties on the ground when the plane hit a medical college hostel block, killing 19 people and severely injuring 67 others.

IAF pilot Shubhanshu Shukla's Space Odyssey

Shubham Shukla

IAF test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla made history as the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 4. Shukla's journey continues the legacy begun by Rakesh Sharma, who flew into space back in 1984.

Blue Ghost Lunar Lander on the Moon

A photo or artistic rendering of the Intuitive Machines' Blue Ghost Mission 1 lander (part of NASA's CLPS program) successfully landed on the lunar surface.

High-Stakes Clash in Washington

In a tense White House meeting on March 1, American President Donald Trump confronted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over U.S. aid for the ongoing war with Russia (which started in February 2022). Trump reportedly accused the Ukrainian leader of insufficient gratitude for the military and political support provided by the US.

Election of Pope Leo XIV

The iconic image of white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, or the new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, giving his first blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

Hong Kong Building Holocaust

The horrifying image of a Hong Kong high-rise engulfed in flames stunned the world in November 2025. The fire, which ultimately claimed over a hundred lives and displaced thousands of residents from the eight-block complex, was partly blamed on substandard, non-fire-resistant netting and flammable foam used during large-scale renovations, which caused the blaze to spread rapidly.

Gaza Surviving Widespread Hunger and Conflict

The ongoing Israel-Palestine issue, a decades-old conflict, triggered the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. This year, continuous fighting and aid restrictions have led to severe hunger in Gaza.