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New Year’s Eve: London fireworks go ahead despite weather concerns as UK events elsewhere cancelled – live

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New Year’s Eve: London fireworks go ahead despite weather concerns as UK events elsewhere cancelled – live

UK sees in 2025 with spectacular London fireworks display as weather chaos cancels events elsewhere

The UK has greeted 2025 on a night when weather disrupted planned celebrations across Scotland and northern England, while crowds in London gathered for a firework display that went ahead despite the conditions.

Crowds had gathered in central London for the traditional display that centres around the London Eye on the River Thames.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan, announcing that the event would go ahead as planned, said: “I’m really excited about the London New Year’s Eve fireworks, the biggest fireworks taking place anywhere across Europe. Hundreds of thousands of fireworks, great light display but also a great soundtrack tonight as well.”

A person uses a mobile phone to take a picture of the London Eye. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

An amber warning for heavy rain was been put in place across parts of north-west England until 9am on New Year’s Day, PA Media reporter.

The Met Office warning stretches from Settle in the Yorkshire Dales across to Preston and down to parts of the Peak District. The warning states that heavy rain is “likely to lead to disruption including flooding in some locations” with a chance some places could see more than 10cm of rain.

Some celebrations in Edinburgh had already been disrupted after a decision on Monday to cancel outdoor event due to the risk of weather conditions.

In a message ahead of the new year, UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, compared the task his government faces with that the Attlee government faced in 1945, and said there would be “a year of rebuilding”.

Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch told voters to “Watch this space” as she said the Conservative party faced “a long term project” of renewal and that “Things may be bumpy along the way.”

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Key events

The world’s largest time capsule is due to be opened this year. Put together in 1977, it contains 5,000 items, “ranging from small items such as books to large objects such as automobiles.”

It was made by a small-town Nebraska store owner named Harold Keith Davisson, who chose the items with his grandchildren in mind.

It will be opened on 4 July 2025.

Here is a video of New Year’s celebrations around the world so far:

New Year’s Eve: from Auckland to London, the world welcomes 2025 – video

Three baby boys born at stroke of midnight in South Korea

Three women have given birth to baby boys at the stroke of midnight in Goyang, South Korea, the Chosun Daily reports.

In South Korea, 2025 is the Year of the Snake.

Their names:

The first newborns of the year were nicknamed “Dingguli,” born to mother Koo Seul-ki, 35, and father Kang Woo-seok, 41; “Kkomuli,” born to mother Koo Ra-gyeom, 27, and father Lee Hyo-young, 38; and “Nikke,” born to mother Lee Seung-hyun, 33, and father Park Jun-soo, 36. The babies weighed 3.29 kilograms, 3.12 kilograms, and 3.1 kilograms, respectively.

Here is Paddington in the London Eye, with what must be an especially large marmalade sandwich under his hat:

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has posted his New Year’s message and a video of the fireworks, which says, “Greatest city in the world. Greatest fireworks in the world. Happy New Year, London!”:

Here are more photographs from the procession:

A young ‘Baesemann’ (broom man), equipped with long-handled juniper broom, wooden mask, and air-filled pig bladders called ‘Soeiblaatere,’ holds a wooden mask in his hands prior to the 101st traditional ‘Achetringele’ procession on New Year’s Eve in Laupen, Switzerland, 31 December 2024. Photograph: Anthony Anex/EPA
Young ‘Baesemanne’ (broom men) in Laupen, Switzerland, 31 December 2024. Photograph: Anthony Anex/EPA
The traditional ‘Achetringele’ procession marks New Year’s Eve in Switzerland. Photograph: Anthony Anex/EPA

While elsewhere in the country, people took part in the 101st traditional “Achetringele” procession in Laupen. This photograph shows Young “Baesemanne” (broom men), who hold long-handled juniper brooms and wear wooden masks and air-filled pig bladders called “Soeiblaatere”:

Baesemanne in the Achetringele procession in Laupen, Switzerland. Photograph: Anthony Anex/EPA

The festive procession, which starts from Laupen Castle, uses the pig bladders, as well as bells, brooms, and the masks to drive away demons and evil spirits.

The leader of the procession announces New Year’s wishes, followed by a chase with the inflated Soeiblaatere. Originating a century ago, the parade features masks crafted in 1924, and its roots may date back to the Germanic Julfest.

“Achetringele” means ‘ring down,’ symbolizing the banishment of the old year.

In Switzerland, some brave souls farewelled 2024 with a swim in icy waters:

Swimmers attend the traditional New Year’s Eve swimming at Lake Moossee in Moosseedorf, Switzerland, Tuesday, 31 December 2024. Photograph: Anthony Anex/AP

Fireworks over the London Eye:

Fireworks explode over the London Eye to mark the New Year’s celebrations, in London, Britain, 1 January 2025. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

Here is another view of the fireworks over the Arc de Triomphe in Paris:

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the The Arc of Triomphe during the New Year’s celebrations in Paris, France, 01 January 2025. Photograph: Yoan Valat/EPA

Hello from the other side of the world and 11 hours into the future.

It is 11.21 here in Sydney, sunny, and most of my colleagues on the international desk have already had a swim: 2025 is looking good so far.

And with that I am handing over to my colleague Helen Sullivan on the other side of the world in Australia. It just leaves me to point out that my co-pilot Willow this evening has not been the most enthusiastic contributor to the live blog – and has basically slept through the whole thing, local fireworks and all. Which is probably a blessing.

Willow sleeps through new year Photograph: Martin Belam/The Guardian

Please let me take this opportunity, on behalf of everybody at the Guardian and the Observer in the UK, to wish you a very happy new year, and one that is as peaceful as it can be. I will see you on the website somewhere again soon.

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