Nine tons of fireworks were fired in Sydney. Like every year, thousands of people gathered at the picturesque harbor of the Australian metropolis for a huge party.
The year 2024 was marked by many crises – the war in Ukraine continued unabated, there was no permanent ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and the conflict even spread to Lebanon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his New Year’s message that his country would do “everything” to end Russia’s war of aggression in 2025. “May 2025 be our year. The year of Ukraine. We know that peace is not given to us, but we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war,” Zelensky said.
It was also an election year: millions went to the polls in over 60 countries, including Russia and the United States. Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump were elected president in their countries.
There was hope in Syria, where Assad’s brutal rule ended in December – but there is great uncertainty as to what will happen next with the new Islamist rulers.
In Damascus, people waved the three-star flag of the 2011 Syrian democracy movement, which has now been taken over by the interim government. After the fall of Assad, he had great hope for his country, said taxi driver Kassem al-Kassem. “All we want now is peace.”
In Georgia, tens of thousands of people once again took to the streets to protest against the government on New Year’s Eve. In the capital Tbilisi, protesters met in front of parliament for the 34th day in a row on Tuesday, many of them waving EU and Georgian flags.
At Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, up to 2.5 million people attended a New Year’s Eve party with fireworks and concerts. As always, the famous crystal ball, the Times Square Ball, was lowered into Times Square in New York. At midnight, tens of thousands cheered and hugged each other in the shower of confetti.
The year 2025 will probably be shaped by Trump’s inauguration in January. And in Germany, after the traffic light coalition collapsed, there are elections in February – and a new government will then direct the country’s fortunes.
In Berlin, another big party took place at the Brandenburg Gate under the motto “Welcome 2025”. The musical guests included rap artist Shirin David, Icelandic pop singer Asdis and British singer Chris de Sarandy.
Because of the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, there were discussions, especially in the affected city itself, about foregoing celebrations or at least fireworks. Ultimately, however, local firecracker ban zones and stricter security precautions remained nationwide.
According to an initial police report, around 330 people were arrested in Berlin. 13 police officers were injured, one of them seriously. Nationwide, at least five men died in accidents involving fireworks on New Year’s Eve. The police reported two deaths in Saxony and one each in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg and Brandenburg.
