21st-Century Geopolitics
In January 2026, U.S. military forces captured this Venezuelan President and his wife on charges of narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking.
Nicolás Maduro
Entering its fourth continuous year in 2026, this European conflict saw high-level strategic talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Russia-Ukraine War
Following the death of Pope Francis at age 88, this former American bishop was elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first U.S. pontiff in history.
Robert Prevost
Fueled by extreme winds in January 2025, the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires tore through the hills of this major American city.
Los Angeles
In 2025, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander successfully achieved the first soft landing of a commercial spacecraft on this celestial body.
Moon
Escalating tensions in November 2025 led to a severe diplomatic crisis between China and this neighboring island nation.
Japan
In June 2025, Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign targeting nuclear and military facilities in Iran, an engagement known by this name.
Twelve-Day War (or Operation Rising Mayan)
In 2025, Sanae Takaichi made political history by becoming the very first female Prime Minister of this Asian nation.
Japan
In October 2025, this catastrophic storm made landfall as a Category 5, becoming the costliest hurricane in Jamaican history.
Hurricane Melissa
Thieves shocked the art world by using a mechanical basket lift to raid the Apollo Gallery and steal Napoleonic jewels from this historic European museum.
Louvre (in Paris)
After a government social media ban ignited mass anti-corruption protests, Gen-Z demonstrators successfully ousted K.P. Sharma Oli, the Prime Minister of this Himalayan nation.
Nepal
An uneasy, U.S.-brokered ceasefire was reached in late 2025 to temporarily halt over two years of catastrophic fighting in this Middle Eastern territory.
Gaza Strip (or the Israel-Hamas War)
Shaking up global commerce, the United States triggered major economic ripples by imposing massive reciprocal trade tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and other allies.
Donald Trump
A massive magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck this Southeast Asian nation in April 2025, causing over 5,400 fatalities.
Myanmar (Burma)
The global entertainment landscape shifted dynamically when Skydance Media finalized its massive corporate takeover of this legacy Hollywood studio.
Paramount Global
This 11th member officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in late 2025.
Timor-Leste
A sudden and violent border conflict broke out in late 2025 between Thailand and this neighboring Southeast Asian kingdom.
Cambodia
History was made in the UK when this religious figure was formally appointed as the first-ever female Archbishop of Canterbury.
Sarah Mullally
Extreme weather patterns caused insured losses from natural catastrophes to cross this specific dollar milestone for the sixth consecutive year.
$100 billion
Ocean researchers made marine biology history by capturing the first-ever live video footage of this elusive deep-sea creature in its natural habitat.
colossal squid
In January 2026, severe economic distress prompted the deadliest domestic crackdown since 1979 in this Middle Eastern capital, costing thousands of lives.
Iran (or Tehran)
Millions of displaced refugees fled the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur due to an ongoing, brutal civil war in this African nation.
Sudan
Following a highly controversial attempt to declare martial law, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was arrested and removed from office.
impeachment (or dismissal/removal from office
In November 2025, the Tai Po inferno rapidly engulfed seven 31-story residential towers, marking the deadliest fire in decades for this territory.
Hong Kong
This iconic American late-night comedy institution celebrated its historic 50th anniversary on television with a massive star-studded gala.
Saturday Night Live (SNL)