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The world welcomes 2025 after a year of wars, elections and Olympic glory
With fireworks and champagne , the world began celebrating the arrival of 2025 on Tuesday and the end of a year marked by hostilities in the Middle East, the political comeback of Donald Trump and the Paris Olympics .
In Sydney Harbour, with some New Year’s Eve celebrations already underway, many of those gathered were glad to put the past twelve months behind them.
“There’s obviously been a lot of war and unrest in a lot of places,” said insurance worker Stuart Edwards, 32. “It would be nice for the world if it all gets sorted out,” he said.
The self-proclaimed “New Year’s capital of the world” set off nine tonnes of fireworks from the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the heart of the bay, at twelve o’clock sharp.
Also in Asia, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei have already welcomed the New Year with a countdown and fireworks.
Among other milestones, 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, with climate-change-driven natural disasters wreaking havoc across the planet, from Brazil’s Amazon rainforest to Spain’s Mediterranean coast.
But it wasn’t all disaster and conflict. In 2024, Taylor Swift closed her successful Eras tour, Lionel Messi’s Argentina extended its winning streak with its victory in the Copa América and a Spain full of young talents such as teenager Lamine Yamal won the European Championship.
In sporting terms, too, the Paris Olympic Games captured the world’s attention for two weeks in July and August, with swimmers competing in the Seine, athletes running in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and horsemen riding their horses in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
Elections and wars
2024 was an election year , with millions of people going to the polls in more than 60 countries.
Mexico elected Claudia Sheinbaum as the country’s first female president, and Venezuelans experienced another controversial and disputed election, which resulted in the proclamation of a new mandate for Nicolás Maduro.
But no vote has generated as much attention as the November 5 US presidential election, which saw Donald Trump secure his return to the White House.
Although he will not be sworn in until January 20, his victory is already having repercussions around the world. The president-elect has promised tariffs on Mexico and China and has said he will end the war in Ukraine in just 24 hours.
After nearly three years of war, Ukrainians fear a reduction in US military aid under Trump that would worsen their situation on the eastern front, where Russian troops, better armed and more numerous, are gradually advancing.
Conflict in the Middle East
The Middle East has intensified its unrest , with direct attacks between Iran and Israel, the Israeli state’s incursion and bombing of Lebanon in its war against Hezbollah and the fall of the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad.
In Damascus, the country’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, met with representatives of the Christian community’s clergy, amid concerns among Syrian minorities. In the Vatican, Pope Francis celebrated New Year’s Eve in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In Gaza, the scene of a war between Israel and Hamas since October 2023, the humanitarian crisis has worsened due to shortages of food, shelter and medicine. “2024 was the most difficult year. I have lost many loved ones, including my father,” said Wafaa Hayaj from a displaced persons camp in Deir al-Balah.
“May security return and may the war finally come to an end,” he wished.
Returns, more football and heat
It is difficult to predict what 2025 will bring, although experts predict further advances in artificial intelligence technologies and a slowdown in inflation in recent years.
It will also be the year of the return of the British band Oasis after the apparent reconciliation of the explosive Gallagher brothers and also of the megastars of the Korean pop band BTS after having completed their military service.
In a year without major national team tournaments, football fans will be able to satisfy their thirst for matches in the summer with the new format of the Club World Cup , which will be held in the United States between 32 teams.
The thermometers are not expected to change much. The UK weather service is predicting another hot year, which will probably end up among the hottest on record.
