New 12 months’s Eve stay: Sydney fireworks ring in 2026 as Asia sees within the new yr forward of Europe and the US | New yr
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When will the clocks strike midnight in several international locations around the globe?
I’m writing at present’s weblog from London. Utilizing UK time, here’s a fast rundown of when (some very choose) international locations will ring within the new yr:
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Kiribati -10:00 GMT
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New Zealand – 11:00 GMT
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Most of Australia’s east coast – 13:00 GMT
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North Korea, South Korea and Japan– 15:00 GMT
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Taiwan, Hong Kong and China – 16:00 GMT
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Thailand – 17:00 GMT
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India and Sri Lanka – 18:30 GMT
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Russia (Moscow) – 21:00 GMT
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Ukraine – 22:00 GMT
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Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy – 23:00 GMT
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The UK, Ghana and Portugal– 00:00 GMT …
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Brazil and Argentina – 03:00 GMT
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The east coast of the US – 05:00 GMT
Key occasions
Mamdani to be sworn in as New York Metropolis mayor after midnight
Probably the most populous metropolis in the US will get a brand new mayor when the clock strikes midnight in simply over 12 hours.
Zohran Mamdani shall be sworn in as New York Metropolis mayor within the first minutes of 1 January, and has chosen a disused subway station beneath metropolis corridor because the venue for the non-public ceremony that he mentioned in a press release would mark the “inauguration of a brand new period”.
“It was a bodily monument to a metropolis that dared to be each lovely and construct nice issues that will rework working peoples’ lives,” Mamdani mentioned of the station.
Outgoing mayor Eric Adams, in contrast, took his oath of workplace in Instances Sq. on 1 January 2022:
Right here’s extra on Mamdani’s selection of venue:
New yr arrives in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
It’s formally 2026 in a swath of southeast Asia, with the clock hanging midnight in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Right here’s how they had been celebrating in Bangkok in what’s now yesterday:
Tom Phillips
Some 2.5 million persons are anticipated to flock to Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana seashore in just a few hours for what the Guinness World Data this week declared the largest New 12 months’s Eve occasion on Earth.
However native authorities are warning individuals to not enterprise off the sand into the water throughout the large show of fireworks and music as a result of stormy climate means dangerously excessive waves of over two metres.
Life guards are reportedly trying to find a 14-year-old boy who disappeared after going for a swim off the world-famous seashore on Wednesday morning. At the very least two different individuals have been rescued.
“Clearly persons are going to wish to take a dip – it’s going to be scorching – however … don’t swim within the sea,” the fireplace and rescue consultant Fábio Contreras informed the native information website G1.
Right here’s the scene in Beijing as the brand new yr arrived:
And in Putrajaya, Malaysia:
In Tokyo, monks rang within the new yr by tolling a big bell, as you’ll be able to see beneath:
Elsewhere within the metropolis, there was dancing:
As there was in Seoul, South Korea:
Hong Kong, China and Taiwan amongst international locations to usher within the new yr
China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philipines are among the many international locations which might be welcoming in 2026 with celebrations. Footage to return…
My colleagues over in our Movie division have compiled an inventory of nice movies to observe tonight in the UK if you’re selecting to remain in. There are some traditional titles dropped so try their suggestions and inform us your favourites within the remark part beneath:
Midnight is about half an hour away from being struck in quite a few different international locations in Asia, with celebrations happening in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Japan, South Korea and North Korea see within the new yr
It has simply gone 15:00 GMT in London, which suggests joyful new yr to these in Japan, South Korea and North Korea who’ve turn out to be the newest international locations to see within the new yr.
Though security issues have pressured the cancellation of a countdown occasion at a serious prepare station in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, persons are discovering different methods to have a good time in Japan and throughout East Asia.
At Tokyo’s Tokudai-ji temple, for instance, individuals have gathered to participate within the ringing of bells to usher in 2026.
In Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony has seen the top of 2025 in Bosingak Pavilion, whereas North Korea welcomed 2026 by placing on a fireworks show at Kim II Sung Sq. within the capital metropolis of Pyongyang.
Within the UK, Londoners have been left disillusioned after the closure of one of many metropolis’s parks containing what’s broadly thought-about one of the best fireworks viewing spot, Primrose Hill.
Fences have been erected to cease revellers gathering on the north London park, the place 30,000 individuals watched the fireworks final yr. The Royal Parks charity, which manages Primrose Hill, mentioned the choice was taken on security grounds, after the Metropolitan Police disbanded the Royal Parks specialist policing workforce this yr.
In case you assume your celebrations are full of life, check out the standard Balinese celebrations in Indonesia, that includes a vibrant parade in Denpasar and, later within the night, some Hindu temple leisure.
Robyn Vinter right here, running a blog from London.
In lower than an hour, Japan is about to welcome in 2026, with the New 12 months celebrations – shōgatsu – the largest occasion of the Japanese calendar, lasting till 3 January. It’s broadly thought-about a household affair, after Japanese residents have been to quite a few bonenkai – or “yr forgetting” – events throughout December.
On New 12 months’s Eve, it’s conventional to eat soba noodles and to remain as much as watch the primary dawn of the yr.
For Buddhists, it’s a time to assemble at temples throughout the nation, the most well-liked of which is able to obtain tens of millions of tourists all through shōgatsu.
Now we have a report up on Sydney Harbour’s spectacular fireworks show, which struck a extra sombre tone this yr as individuals mirrored on the tragedy and horror of the antisemitic terror assault at Bondi seashore earlier this month, during which 15 individuals had been killed.
One hour earlier than the clock struck midnight, Sydney paused for a minute of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the mass taking pictures amid an enhanced safety presence.
Right here is an extract from our story:
A cloud of worry has lingered over town because the terror assault, however crowds responded to leaders’ calls to exit in defiance of terrorism.
The festivities got here with a heavy safety presence, with 1000’s of armed police in attendance to make sure the crowds are protected.
One reveller, Irishman David Mooney, who nabbed an early spot at Sydney Harbour, mentioned the potential safety dangers had solely “barely” crossed his thoughts.
“With everybody in such good spirits, you virtually really feel a little bit of security in numbers,” the 29-year-old mentioned.
“Everybody’s in good kind, everybody’s relaxed, I personally couldn’t have felt extra reassured.”
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