Friday 03 / January / 2025
Dubai residents and tourists were treated to pyrotechnic shows at 45 locations in the city, as the United Arab Emirates celebrated the start of 2025.
The world's tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, was the setting for one of the world's most notable light and fireworks shows, attended by thousands of people.
The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, began a record-breaking 53-minute firework display at the stroke of midnight local time.
Trump celebrates new year at Mar-a-Lago
US President-elect Donald Trump is attending a New Year's Eve Party at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.
The black-tie gala was attended by billionaire tech CEO Elon Musk, Senator Ted Cruz, and other supporters.
Trump also thought 2025 would be a "great year" and "we're going to do fantastically well as a country."
"There's a whole light over the whole world, not just our country. They're a lot of happy people," Trump said of recent weeks.
Asked about his resolutions for the new year, Trump said, "I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well."
Trump later took the stage to briefly address the crowd ringing in the new year at Mar-a-Lago and promised "to do a great job as your president."
Von der Leyen has 'determination to deliver' in 2025
In a New Year's message, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said 2025 brings "new hope and determination to deliver."
"From economic strength to security, defense and global partnerships, my team and I are ready to roll up our sleeves to work for stronger Europe, at home and abroad," she promised on social media.
DW's Bernd Riegert wrote the new EU leadership in Brussels will have a lot on its plate in 2025. It will need to confront the challenges without a strong Franco-German alliance.
Syria welcomes fresh start amid heavy security
Syria welcomed the new year with a renewed sense of hope for the country's future.
Less than one month after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebel forces after a 13-year bloody civil war, the first New Year's Eve was celebrated in Damascus with a big party.
Gunshots were heard from Mount Qasioun, which overlooks the capital, while hundreds of people enjoyed a fireworks display and an array of music from a DJ.
The green, white and black "revolution" flag with its three red stars was seen flying all over the capital.
Across cities like Homs, Aleppo, Daraa and Suwayda, streets and squares were covered in lights and colors to mark the occasion.
Security forces were deployed to ensure safety during the celebrations. The Interior Ministry warned against celebratory gunfire and promised penalties for violators.
London kicks off New Year despite weather concerns
The United Kingdom is the latest country to ring in the new year, but bad weather threatened to see London's famed fireworks display and show.
Hogmany, which is the Scottish word for the last day of the year, is their traditional New Year's Eve celebration. All planned outdoor events canceled at Scotland's largest celebration yesterday with extreme weather predicted.
In the north of England, Blackpool’s annual seaside fireworks display has also been canceled because of the high wind forecast.
However, despite the inclement weather concerns, an entertaining show took place with Big Ben in the background before the tower lit up at the stroke of midnight.
New Year in Ukraine as gas transit deal with Russia lapses
Ukrainians marked a second New Year's Eve at war with Russia, as a new analysis showed Moscow's forces made territorial gains of 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 miles) in 2024.
Data from the Institute for the Study of War found that most of Russia's gains happened in October and November and were the largest since the early weeks of the conflict in March 2022.
Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles across Ukraine overnight and early Tuesday, with officials in Kyiv conceding there were successful strikes in the east of the country and near the capital.
At midnight, a gas transit deal with Moscow, that allowed Russian gas to be transported to Europe via pipelines under Ukraine, ended.
Kyiv has refused to renew the agreement due to the ongoing war, despite making millions in transit revenues from Russian energy giant Gazprom.
The decision meant countries like Slovakia and Austria had to source alternative supplies.
Although Europe weaned itself off Russian energy when the conflict began, a third of the remaining gas sold to Europe was transported via Ukraine until Wednesday.
