This roundup summarises the most important news stories around the world in the last month (April 2025).

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In the United States (US), president Donald Trump announced his most expansive tariffs, with at least a 10 per cent blanket tariff on all imports. About 60 countries had faced even higher “reciprocal tariffs,” as part of the overall bid to return production and manufacturing to the US, but Mr. Trump later temporarily lowered the tariffs and focused his administration’s attention on China.

Separately, Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, died at 88.

Human tragedy

In the Dominican Republic, the collapse of a roof in a nightclub killed over 220 people. A terror attack in the Indian-controlled region of Kashmir killed at least 26 tourists. India then closed its main border crossing with Pakistan and revoked a key water treaty. And in Myanmar, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 3,000 people, in a country still gripped by a years-long civil and the military leadership strictly limiting foreign assistance. Neighbouring countries in South East Asia were also affected, though to a much smaller extent.

Political and judicial developments

In Europe, first in Bulgaria, the government survived a vote of no confidence, which had been launched over its foreign policy. In France, far-right politician Marine Le Pen was found guilty of misusing European Union funds. The verdict bars her from running for public office for five years, which would include the country’s 2027 presidential race.

In Germany, the country’s two major centrist parties announced an agreement to form a new coalition government. And Hungary pulled out of the International Criminal Court, after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the country despite facing an arrest warrant.

Elsewhere, in other countries:

• Australia: Prime minister Anthony Albanese called for a general election in May.
• New Zealand: Parliament overwhelmingly rejected a bill which would have reinterpreted the country’s founding agreement vis-à-vis the indigenous Māori.
• South Korea: Its constitutional court unanimously upheld the impeachment of its president, thereby removing him permanently from office. Later, the court overturned the parliamentary impeachment of the justice minister.
• Sudan: The paramilitary group opposing the country’s military in a two-year civil war announced that it has formed a rival government.