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Final parts of world ring in 2025 as New Year’s Day celebrations kick off
BBC
Last year was a big year for us on the live team.
We covered the UK and US elections, and have closely followed news about global conflicts and disasters from our newsroom in London.
But we had some fun, too, covering events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Glastonbury and many (so many!) awards shows.
There were some stand-out moments for our team. Who could forget when military horses went on the loose in London? We went viral for a post in our live page about what we knew about the incident, because we didn’t know much.
We are already planning for next year – and it seems to be shaping up as another busy one. So from us, thank you for following our pages. It’s been a pleasure to bring you the news.
Happy new year.
We’re pausing our coverage of new year celebrations around the globe. Thanks for sticking with us as we welcomed in 2025.
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It’s 2025 everywhere!published at 15:00 1 January
BreakingAnd just like that it’s all over as Baker Island, in the central Pacific Island, leaves 2024.
It’s now already 2 January, 2025 in Kiribati.
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How London rang in the New Yearpublished at 14:28 1 January
Image source,EPAWe’re now nearly 12 hours into 2025 in the UK, and some of you might just be waking up (or for the late-night partygoers, hanging up your feather boas to hit the hay for the first time this year).
In any case, if you missed the big moment on the River Thames last night – where iconic London landmarks like Big Ben and the London Eye were illuminated by a stunning display of light – you can look back at all of the highlights here:
Media caption, New Year 2025: Spectacular firework and drone display in London
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The penultimate New Yearpublished at 14:00 1 January
BreakingThe second-to-last New Year’s Eve celebration is happening in Niue Island in the South Pacific, as they finally bring in the new year.
The country sits inside a triangle between Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands.
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With messages of unity and defiance, world leaders look ahead to the new yearpublished at 13:37 1 January
Image source,Getty ImagesLeaders from the across the globe have have ushered in 2025 with messages to their citizens.
Here’s a quick look at what some world leaders have said:
- China’s President Xi Jinping: Xi used his address to the nation to issue a warning to pro-independence forces in self-governed Taiwan, saying no one can stop China’s “reunification” with the island
- Russia’s President Vladimir Putin: The Kremlin leader paid tribute to the soldiers fighting the war in Ukraine and told Russians “everything will be fine” in 2025. Putin made no specific comments on the possibility for an end to the war
- India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi: In a message on X, Modi wrote: “May this year bring everyone new opportunities, success and endless joy. May everybody be blessed with wonderful health and prosperity”
- Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky: As the war in Ukraine continues, the country’s president thanked its citizens for proving “no cruise missile can defeat a nation that has wings”. Zelensky said had no doubt incoming US president Donald Trump could achieve peace
- South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa: The war in Gaza was addressed in Ramaphosa’s New Year message where he called for the end of hostilities and the release of Israeli hostages. He said South Africa is focused on “unity and development” as it looks forward to hosting the G20 summit in 2025
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer: The Labour leader vowed to rebuild Britain and said the government would introduce a plan to ensure people have “more cash in your pocket” in 2025
- France’s President Emannuel Macron: After a tumultuous year, Macron admitted his decision to call early elections in June had created more political instability. He also addressed conflicts across the globe and said Europe cannot delegate its security to other powers
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The show will go on, just a little bit laterpublished at 13:30 1 January
London’s New Year’s Day parade has been delayed due to adverse weather.
Organisers say the decision to delay the 12:00 GMT start by 30 minutes has been taken “in the interest of public safety” to avoid a squall line expected in London around midday.
Inflatable parade floats have also been dropped due to strong winds.
Organisers are urging spectators to come prepared and to dress appropriately for the weather.
Approximately 8,000 performers from 26 countries are expected to take part.
A yellow warning of wind is in place until 15:00 GMT.
Image source,ReutersImage caption, The weather for the 2024 New Year’s Day parade was more favourable than today’s forecast
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Whole of US now in 2025, as Hawaii strikes midnightpublished at 13:00 1 January
BreakingHawaii and the Alaskan Aleutian islands join the rest of the US to complete the country’s transition into 2025.
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In photos: The Americas wave goodbye to 2024published at 12:32 1 January
Not long ago, all of the west coast of the US, Canada and parts of Mexico welcomed the new year and joined most of the world in 2025.
In the next few hours, the below regions will also cross that dateline:
- Hawaii and the rest of the US – 10:00 GMT
- Nieu Island in the South Pacific – 11:00 GMT
- Baker Island in the central Pacific Island – 12:00 GMT
Here’s a look back at how cities across the Americas lit up the night skies with ornate fireworks displays.
Image source,EPAImage caption, Fireworks light up the evening sky as part of the New Year’s celebrations in Acapulco, Mexico
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, The coast of Valparaiso Bay and Vina del Mar in Valparaiso, Chile was brightened with a spectacular display
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, Over Lake Ontario in Toronto, Canada, people snapped the moment the new year began
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, San Francisco was one of the last cities on the west coast of the US to welcome 2025
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At least four dead in Germany from firework accidents – reportspublished at 12:13 1 January
Image source,EPAImage caption, Riot police stand guard on a street during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Berlin
At least four people have died across Germany from accidents linked to powerful fireworks set off to celebrate the new year, according to reports from local media and AFP news agency.
More than 300 were arrested in the capital Berlin overnight but, unlike previous years, “there were no major violence or incidents” according to police.
In recent years, the use of fireworks and firecrackers on New Year’s Eve has come under increased scrutiny, with some calling for a nationwide ban after riots and attacks on emergency services last year.
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2025 begins in Alaska and French Polynesiapublished at 12:00 1 January
BreakingMost of Alaska, and French Polynesia’s Gambier Islands are now entering the New Year.
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A Mouse leaves the house – and other works entering the public domainpublished at 11:52 1 January
As the US enters 2025, dozens of American artworks, books and films will enter the public domain. That means the works’ copyright has expired and it can be adapted without permission.
Music from 1924 and other works from 1929 will enter the public domain this year. Among them are:
- The original comic strip iteration of Popeye
- A dozen Mickey Mouse animations, including the mouse’s first speaking appearance
- William Faulkner’s novel The Sound and the Fury
- The song Singin’ in the Rain
As a note, copyright laws vary from country to country, so this list is representative only of works that are leaving copyright in the US.
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, At the start of 2024, the copyright for the earliest Mickey Mouse iteration ‘Steamboat Willie’ – seen here – expired and entered the public domain
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The clean up after the ball droppublished at 11:22 1 January
New York City’s iconic ball drop in Times Square is watched the world over.
Less attention is paid to the clean up after the fact, when sanitation workers descend on the square to clean up the roughly 1 tonne of confetti that is released during the celebration.
We’re seeing some images now of workers in New York City preparing to sweep away the festivities. Last year, about 200 workers, external were deployed for the clean up.
Image source,Reuters
Image source,Reuters
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LA-ter 2024!published at 11:00 1 January
BreakingCalifornia, including Los Angeles, has officially rung in 2025, along with Washington, part of Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho.
So has most of British Columbia in Canada.
That completes all of Canada and the contiguous US. Hawaii and Alaska, the last two remaining US states, will ring in the new year in the next couple of hours.
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As some await 2025, others begin celebrating New Year’s Daypublished at 10:22 1 January
While some regions of the world are still waiting to ring in the new year – including parts of the US and Canada and island nations in the South Pacific – others have already begun taking part in their traditional New Year’s Day celebrations.
Here’s a look at some of the ceremonies that are already under way:
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, Climbers watch the sunrise on New Year’s Day on Mount Tai in Taian, China
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, Devotees hold water pots before offering prayers during New Year’s Day at Kelaniya Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, A visitor tosses money into a large collection area as she prays and makes an offering on the first morning of the new year at Meiji Shrine in central Tokyo
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Small fires reported in Amsterdam from fireworkspublished at 10:08 1 January
Emergency services in Amsterdam are responding to small fires caused by fireworks. Fireworks are banned in some Dutch cities, including Amsterdam, but are allowed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
No injuries are reported in relation to the fires.
In a separate incident earlier on New Year’s Eve, a 14-year-old boy died in a firework-related accident in Rotterdam, according to local reports.
In 2023, a riot broke out in Berlin, Germany on New Year’s Eve with people launching fireworks towards police, prompting calls for a ban on the pyrotechnics.
Image source,Getty Images
Image source,Getty Images
Image source,Getty Images -
Saying goodbye to 2024 for more of the US, Canada and Mexicopublished at 10:00 1 January
BreakingIn the United States, the states of New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Montana are celebrating the new year.
Parts of Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, and Nevada have just seen the clock strike midnight.
Also welcoming 2025 is Alberta in Canada, and parts of Mexico, which in addition to parts of the US, are all in the Mountain Time Zone.
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Which nations have yet to ring in 2025?published at 09:40 1 January
Image source,ReutersImage caption, People gather at Copacabana beach to celebrate the New Year, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If you’re just joining us, here’s a reminder of when different parts of the globe will enter the new year.
The island nation of Kiribati in Oceania was the first to welcome the new year – at 10:00 GMT (Tuesday), shortly followed by New Zealand at 11:00 GMT (Tuesday).
Here are some of the other times around the world:
- Most of Australia’s east coast – 13:00 GMT (Tuesday)
- Japan and South Korea – 15:00 GMT (Tuesday)
- India and Sri Lanka – 18:30 GMT (Tuesday)
- The UK – 00:00 GMT
- Parts of Brazil and Argentina – 03:00 GMT
- The east coast of the US – 05:00 GMT
Still to come later this morning are:
- Parts of the US and Canada, as well as parts of Mexico – 07:00 GMT
- The west coast of the US and Canada – 08:00 GMT
- Most of Alaska and French Polynesia’s Gambier Islands – 09:00 GMT
- Hawaii and the rest of the US – 10:00 GMT
- Nieu Island in the South Pacific – 11:00 GMT
- Baker Island in the central Pacific Island – 12:00 GMT
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Sweet home Alabama… 2025 has come to youpublished at 09:00 1 January
BreakingThe clock has struck midnight in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Those states are all located in the Central Time Zone.
In South America, 2025 has reached Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize and El Salvador.
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Kisses and cheers in Times Square as 2025 arrivespublished at 08:25 1 January
Here’s the moment New York City’s Times Square burst into a cloud of confetti as the new year started.
Thousands had gathered to mark the moment.
Media caption, Watch: Kisses and cheers in Times Square as 2025 arrives in New York
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In pictures: New Year, New York Citypublished at 08:17 1 January
Image source,ReutersImage caption, Confetti flies in Times Square as 2025 arrives
Image source,ReutersImage caption, Thousands filled the square and surrounding streets to catch a sight of the famous ball drop
Image source,ReutersImage caption, The crowd celebrates as the new year begins
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The Big Apple greets 2025 as the Times Square ball dropspublished at 08:00 1 January
BreakingThe ball has dropped in New York City’s Times Square, which is filled with crowds braving the rain to welcome the new year.
It’s also midnight in Ottawa, Canada – happy new year!
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What is the Times Square ball drop?published at 07:39 1 January
In New York, in the US, Times Square is the centre of the countdown to midnight.
But the thing that everyone is looking forward to is called the ball drop, which is when a glowing ball is lowered down a big flagpole, to signal the start of the new year.
A Waterford crystal-encrusted, five-tonne ball flashing with more than 30,000 LEDs will descend to the bottom of a specially-designed flagpole as the new year arrives.
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, The ball will move down the flag pole in New York, reaching the bottom as the clock hits midnight
People have been celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square since 1904.
As a result, other cities in the US now have their own traditions of dropping things on New Year’s Eve.
In Vincennes in Indiana, for example, people drop watermelons to the ground from high up.
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In pictures: New York gears up for 2025published at 07:28 1 January
The east coast of the US is about to welcome the new year in about half hour’s time.
Here are some of the latest pictures we’ve seen from Times Square in New York City as crowds prepare for the annual ball drop.
Image source,ReutersImage caption, Rozonda Thomas of TLC performing at Times Square
Image source,ReutersImage caption, Singer Rita Ora attends new year celebrations in the rain
Image source,ReutersImage caption, These party-goers won’t be letting a bit of rain spoil tonight’s fun
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Fourteen-year-old boy dies in Rotterdam fireworks accident – local reportspublished at 07:08 1 January
Amy Walker
Live reporterA 14-year-old boy has died in a firework-related accident on New Year’s Eve in Rotterdam, according to local reports.
The incident took place at about 20:30 CET (19:30 GMT) in the Delfshaven district, according to Dutch news outlet NRC, external.
He was reportedly found on tram tracks and could not be resuscitated, according to Algemeen Dagblad, external.
Details are still emerging about the accident and it is not clear whether the boy set off the fireworks himself, according to reports.
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More of South America and Canada greet new yearpublished at 07:00 1 January
BreakingIt’s just gone midnight in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia and Puerto Rico.
The province of Nova Scotia in Canada has also now officially entered 2025.
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In pictures: Fireworks over Rio’s Copacabana beachpublished at 06:44 1 January
Image source,ReutersAs we’ve been reporting, the party is well underway in Rio de Janeiro.
These latest pictures show the moment the Brazilian city lit up during its fireworks display.
Image source,Reuters
Image source,Reuters -
Watch: Moment Rio de Janeiro enters 2025published at 06:27 1 January
We’ve just seen another spectacular fireworks display, this time from Rio de Janeiro as parts of Brazil enter 2025.
Here’s the scene along the city’s famous Copacabana beach, where huge crowds have gathered to greet the new year:
Media caption, Watch: Moment Rio de Janeiro enters 2025
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Parts of South America greet 2025published at 06:00 1 January
BreakingHappy new year to some of South America!
Some of Brazil, including the capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, are officially in 2025.
Also joining the party are Argentina, the Magallanes region of Chile, French Guiana and Bermuda.
In half an hour, the Canadian region of Newfoundland and Labrador will enter the new year.
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A global guide to welcoming 2025published at 05:58 1 January
If you’re just joining us, here’s a reminder of when different parts of the globe enter the new year.
The island nation of Kiribati in Oceania was the first to welcome the new year – at 10:00 GMT, shortly followed by New Zealand at 11:00 GMT.
Here are some of the other times around the world:
- Most of Australia’s east coast – 13:00 GMT (Tuesday)
- Japan and South Korea – 15:00 GMT (Tuesday)
- India and Sri Lanka – 18:30 GMT (Tuesday)
- The UK – 00:00 GMT
- Parts of Brazil and Argentina – 03:00 GMT
- The east coast of the US – 05:00 GMT
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In pictures: More celebrations from around the worldpublished at 05:19 1 January
The celebrations just keep coming. Firework displays have lit up the skies around the globe.
But in case you haven’t kept up with the parties, enjoy pictures of the displays:
Image source,ReutersImage caption, In Syria, it’s the first new year in decades where the country is no longer under Assad-family rule. In Damascus, they set off fireworks for the occasion
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, Fireworks light up the night sky to welcome 2025 in Baghdad, Iraq
Image source,ReutersImage caption, A drone show filled the sky over the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill, in Athens, Greece
Image source,EPAImage caption, People celebrate the New Year outside the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia
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Greenland celebrates – for the second time tonightpublished at 05:00 1 January
And the clock strikes midnight in Greenland.
Many in Greenland celebrate the welcoming of 2025 twice in one night. Once when the year begins in Denmark (four hours earlier) and again at 00:00 local time.
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Putin tells Russians ‘everything will be fine’published at 04:53 1 January
Image source,ReutersImage caption, People react as they take part in New Year celebrations in central Moscow
Speaking 25 years to the day since his first national address as acting president of Russia, Vladimir Putin told Russia in a midnight address that he was confident “everything [would] be fine” in 2025.
“And now, on the threshold of the new year, we are thinking about the future,” he said.
“We are confident that everything will be fine, we will only move forward. We know for sure that the absolute value for us was, is and will be the fate of Russia, the well-being of its citizens.”
He pays tribute to soldiers fighting in Ukraine but did not mention anything specific about the war or the economy.
Inflation reached 9.5% in Russia this year, according to Reuters news agency, following the central bank’s decision to hold its key interest rate at 21%.
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Police prepare for a million visitors at Times Squarepublished at 04:32 1 January
Blanca Estrada
US reporter
Image source,Getty ImagesIn a few hours, New York City will ring in the new year (at 05:00 GMT).
About one million people are expected to attend the iconic ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
And there will be a noticeable police presence. Police commissioner Jessica Tisch says there is no specific credible threat, but they are operating in a “heightened threat environment”.
The security plan has also been “calibrated” to account for the Christmas market attack in Germany, according to a briefing with local authorities.
Some intersections in midtown Manhattan will be blocked by rubbish lorries to stop vehicles entering pedestrian areas.
Party-goers should also expect to see drones deployed overhead to monitor the crowds. And according to a security briefing with Tisch, “all manholes, mailboxes, vending machines and litter baskets in the frozen zone will be either sealed or removed”.
We’ve been hearing from some of the revellers getting ready for the new year party:
Media caption, Watch: Party-goers in New York get ready for new year celebrations
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How do the Royal Family celebrate new year?published at 04:06 1 January
Image source,Getty ImagesIt’s been a long-running tradition for the British royal family to head to their Norfolk estate of Sandringham House to ring in the new year.
This will be the third new year’s without the late Queen Elizabeth II, but King Charles III seems set on carrying on the tradition.
Family members will also join, in a night rumoured to include lots of party games. Before he was King, Charles would go to Birkhall, his Scottish home on the Balmoral estate, to celebrate.
On New Year’s Day, the royal couple will attend a service St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.
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Azores the latest to enter the new yearpublished at 04:00 1 January
We can now move to the Atlantic Ocean, where the Azores have become the latest part of Portugal to welcome the new annum.
Up next is the Brazilian archipelago Fernando de Noronha, where midnight strikes at 02:00 GMT.
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Local adventures for me in 2025published at 03:52 1 January
Martine Croxall
BBC News presenterIn 2025, I have resolved to have micro-adventures right on my own doorstep, to see those places really close to where you live that you’ve never got round to seeing.
It doesn’t take a lot of planning or money, and it doesn’t require very much willpower at all!
Media caption, Watch: BBC News presenter Martine Croxall shares her new year’s resolution for 2025
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In pictures: London lights up as the new year arrivespublished at 03:42 1 January
As midnight approached, revellers lined the River Thames to see this year’s massive fireworks display.
Here are some of the best pictures we’ve seen of the dazzling show:
Image source,PA Media
Image source,PA Media
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What does 2025 have in store?published at 03:30 1 January
Chris Mason
Political editorAlongside all the predictable, boring and almost certain-to-fall-short lofty aims (more sleep/exercise/healthy food blah blah blah) and the never-to-be-under-appreciated hope for a healthy 12 months ahead, my mind inevitably turns to what I spend my professional life thinking about.
What will be the big talking points of 2025, the flashpoints, the rows, the successes, the failures?
People are always demanding of predictions on days like this – to which I like to say, “it’ll be noisy”.
Sufficiently vague to never be wrong – and hey, if news was predictable that would be boring!
Best wishes to all for the year ahead.
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Watch: London’s dazzling new year fireworks displaypublished at 03:23 1 January
The traditional bongs of Big Ben have ushered in 2025 as onlookers lined the Embankment in central London for a spectacular fireworks display.
You can catch some of the best moments in this short clip:
Media caption, Watch: London’s spectacular New Year fireworks display
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2025 is the year of the wood snakepublished at 03:15 1 January
Image source,Getty ImagesImage caption, The year of the wood snake will begin on 29 January in 2025 along with the Lunar New Year
The Chinese zodiac says 2025 will be the year of the wood snake.
In Chinese tradition, each year is represented by one of 12 different animals, which feature in the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Each year, one of these five elements are also incorporated: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.
The last year of the wood snake was in 1965.
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