As it happened | New Year 2025 Celebrations: New York City welcomes 2025 with Ball Drop moment

New York City’s iconic Times Square was electric last night as the clock struck midnight, ringing in the year 2025 with an unforgettable celebration. Crowds gathered, bundled up and buzzing with excitement, to witness the historic ball drop, one of the most anticipated moments in… pic.twitter.com/GTAqYy619Y

— NYC Scoop (@NY_Scoop) January 1, 2025

Confetti falls after the ball dropped over Times Square during the 2025 New Year’s Eve celebrations on January 1, 2025 in New York City.

Fireworks explode during the New Year celebration at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early on January 1, 2025. A traditional fireworks display and free music concerts will be held to welcome the new year during the New Year's Eve celebration in Rio de Janeiro.

The Rio Mayor's Press Office considers it the world's biggest New Year's Eve celebration, with 2 million people expected to attend.

The epic tradition was first held on December 31, 1907, when the New Year's Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square. Since then, every year the ball drop has been held. 

However, in 1942 and 1943, in observance of wartime blackouts, when due to the "dim out" of lights in New York City, the ceremony was suspended.

Every year, for decades, New York City has marked the New Year's celebration with its epic ball drop.

Just like every year, this year, the ball will drop at the stroke of midnight in the Big Apple (0500 GMT and 1030 IST), ushering in the new year.

A video of a breathtaking firework display as Sydney, Australia welcomes the New Year, is going viral. Watch:

Sydney, Australia.. 👌 pic.twitter.com/32ldZ1iPMd

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) December 31, 2024

New Year has finally arrived in India. The country has welcomed 2025 with much fervour. 

Bangladesh welcomed the New Year after a year of upheaval in the country. 

Hundreds of people gathered at Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for a firework display to celebrate the New Year. 

Crowds gathered in Japan's capital Tokyo at Tokudai-ji temple to celebrate the New Year to take part in the ringing of bells. 

South Korea held muted New Year events and cancelled the big celebration following the plane crash on Sunday (Dec 29). 

Australia kicked off 2025 in style, with Sydney’s iconic fireworks display taking centre stage during the country’s celebrations.

In his New Year’s Eve address, Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Germans to vote in the snap elections set for February.

New Year's Eve celebrations have begun in Australia as the country is about to dive in 2025, with utmost enthusiasm and thrill. A "family fireworks" has already lit up the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

New Zealand welcomes the New Year as the clock struck midnight on December 31, being the first major country to ring in 2025. The country celebrates with its traditional stunning fireworks at the iconic Sky Tower. Thousands of people gather at the waterfront to witness the beautiful moments on the New Year.

Take a look at New Zealand’s breathtaking fireworks display lighting up the night sky, welcoming 2025 in style.#NewYear2025 #NewZealand #NewYear pic.twitter.com/UtwBe8fAQA

— WION (@WIONews) December 31, 2024