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Cities Worldwide Gear Up for Spectacular New Year Celebrations
As the world prepares to welcome 2025, cities across the globe are set to showcase their unique cultural traditions and celebrations, from dazzling fireworks displays to solemn observances, after a year marked by global conflicts and political challenges.
First to Welcome 2025
South Pacific nations will lead the celebrations, with New Zealand marking midnight 18 hours ahead of New York’s Times Square. Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is expecting thousands of revelers in the city center and on its volcanic hills for a fireworks display honoring the Indigenous Māori tribes. This follows a year of protests advocating for Māori rights.
Two hours later, Australia will take the stage, with over a million people gathering at Sydney Harbor for its iconic fireworks show. British pop star Robbie Williams will headline the event, while Indigenous performances will acknowledge Australia’s first peoples.
Asia: A Mix of Festivity and Mourning
In Japan, the New Year coincides with the Year of the Snake in the local zodiac, symbolizing renewal. Temples and homes have been meticulously cleaned in preparation, while shops are stocked with snake-themed items. Other parts of Asia will celebrate the Year of the Snake during the Lunar New Year.
South Korea’s festivities, however, have been subdued as the nation mourns the tragic Jeju Air crash that claimed 179 lives. The disaster has cast a shadow over the country’s usual celebratory spirit.
Diplomatic Exchanges and Calls for Peace
China’s state media highlighted an exchange of greetings between President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, showcasing their countries’ deepening ties amid tensions with the West. Meanwhile, Pope Francis in Rome will lead special New Year services, emphasizing peace amid ongoing global conflicts.
Europe’s Celebrations and Challenges
Paris will conclude a transformative year with fireworks on the Champs-Élysées, celebrating the success of the Summer Olympics. London plans a grand parade and pyrotechnics along the River Thames, despite wintry weather. However, Edinburgh’s famed Hogmanay events have been canceled due to storm conditions.
South America and North America Prepare for Festivities
Rio de Janeiro is set to host over 2 million people on Copacabana Beach for Brazil’s largest New Year celebration, featuring concerts and a 12-minute fireworks display.
In the United States, New York’s Times Square will showcase its traditional ball drop with performances by global stars, while Las Vegas will light up the Strip with an eight-minute fireworks display, enhanced by new attractions at the Sphere venue.
As celebrations ripple across time zones, American Samoa will be among the last to ring in 2025, closing a full 24-hour global wave of New Year joy.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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