The year that starts today will be full of events, anniversaries and major issues: from Expo Osaka to the midterm elections in the Philippines. In May, Francis and Bartholomew might make an ecumenical visit to Nicaea to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. The contribution of cooperatives to development and the melting of glaciers are topics of International Years organised by the United Nations.

The United Nations has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives to highlight this form of economic organisation’s contribution to development.

With climate change, at the proposal of Tajikistan, 2025 will be the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, with a special day set aside, 21 March, as World Day of Glaciers, starting this year.

In 2025, Malaysia will take over the presidency of ASEAN – the political, economic and cultural organisation that brings together ten Southeast Asian countries.

In 2025, South Africa will hold the rotating presidency of the G20.

The 2025 BRICS summit will be held in Brazil, at a date yet to be determined.

ELECTIONS

2 March and 28 March: parliamentary elections in Tajikistan

12 May: midterm elections for the Congress of the Philippines and the first election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

Before July: general election of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet of Japan

October 2025: parliamentary elections in Iraq

23 November: Singapore general election

December 2025: parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan

In Bangladesh, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus promised to hold elections between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.

EVENTS

2025 World Expo: from 13 April to 13 October, Japan to host the Universal Exposition in Osaka, centred on "Designing Future Society for Our Lives"

Asia Summit on Global Health: 26-27 May in Hong Kong

Asia Christian Rights Fair: 1-2 September in Bangkok, Thailand, an event that will focus on the rights of Christians in the Asia

 

RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS

Lunar New Year: 29 January. This marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese calendar, associated this year with wood

Ramadan: 28 February-29 March

Pesach: Jews celebrate Passover, starting on the evening of 12 April

This year Easter falls on 20 April, coincidentally the same date in both the Gregorian calendar (followed by Catholics and Protestants) and the Julian calendar (followed by Eastern Churches)

Vesak Buddhist Festival: 12 May

Diwali Hindu holiday: 21 October

CHURCH EVENTS

1 January: Today Card Felipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Darman (India), takes over the leadership of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC)

27-29 March: The Gregorian University in Rome hosts "Missio Dei in today's world", the International Conference on Mission, marking the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Missionary Institute of the Word

9 May: in Rome, commemoration of the new Martyrs, witnesses of the faith, during the Jubilee

Late May: the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and Pope Francis plan to make a joint pilgrimage to Nicaea, in modern-day Turkey, to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council where the Nicene Creed in the divine nature of Jesus was affirmed. The location is now within the wider Istanbul region.

28 July-3 August: Jubilee for young people in Rome

4-5 October: Jubilee of the missionary world in Rome

28 December: closing of the Jubilee in dioceses around the world

 

SPORTING EVENTS

11 July-3 August: World Aquatics Championships in Singapore

13-21 September: World Athletics Championships in Tokyo

ANNIVERSARIES

1925 (centennials)

Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam: On 3 February 1925, Ho Chi Minh founded the Communist Party of Vietnam, which played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence.

May Thirtieth Movement in China: On 30 May 1925, a protest in Shanghai against foreign imperialism and working conditions erupted into violence, marking a turning point for China’s nationalist movement.

1975 (50 years)

Khmer Rouge rise to power in Cambodia: On 17 April 1975, the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh, establishing a regime that led to the death of millions of people.

End of the Vietnam War: On 30 April 1975, with the fall of Saigon, the Vietnam War ended, marking the reunification of the country under communist rule.

Proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic: On 2 December 1975, after taking control of the country, the Pathet Lao abolished the monarchy and established a communist regime.

2000 (25 years)

Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon: On 24 May 2000, Israel completed the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon, ending 18 years of occupation.

2000 Inter-Korean Summit: In June 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time, marking a significant step towards reconciliation between the two countries.

• asia
• 2025
• events
• anniversaries
• elections