New Year’s celebrated across world as countdown begins to London fireworks despite bad weather: live
Millions of Britons fear New Year’s Eve washout as storms heading south look set to wreak havoc on festivities – but not in the capital, confirms Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan
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Your support makes all the difference.New Year’s is being celebrated across world – including in London, where the fireworks are set to go ahead despite bad weather forcing the cancellations of events across the UK.
Millions of Britons fear a New Year’s Eve washout as storms heading south look set to wreak havoc, with weather warnings issued for nearly every part of the country.
Heavy rain, snowstorms, 70 mph gales and even landslides are causing travel disruption, flooding and celebration cancellations, with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor events already scrapped.
However, while London’s City Hall has said it is “closely monitoring” the weather, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed the capital’s fireworks display will go ahead. Despite the 41mph gusts forecast, thousands are expected to flock to Big Ben and millions more to watch the live broadcast from around the world.
Network Rail Scotland said they were dealing with 15 flooding incidents on the Far North Line and a landslip near Brora on 31 December, while rising river levels have led to closures of the Dalguise viaduct lines and the Highland Main Line remains closed in Kingussie.
“Do not travel” warnings have been issued as rivers are feared to burst their banks in other areas of Scotland.
Three days of weather warnings are in place across the country, with heavy rain set to turn to blusters of snow showers on Wednesday, which is forecast to continue through the night in Scotland.
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New Year’s Eve travel misery for millions due to stormy weather, strike action and engineering work
Travel plans for millions are in disarray as a combination of bad weather, rail engineering work and a train managers’ strike disrupt public transport.
At London Euston, Avanti West Coast is running only a skeleton service of intercity trains during the first of 21 days of strikes by train managers in a dispute over rest-day working.
As around 300 RMT members walk out, most Avanti trains linking the capital with the West Midlands, northwest England, North Wales and southern Scotland are cancelled, with passengers urged to avoid travel.
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
New Year’s Eve travel misery for millions due to stormy weather and strike action
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Revellers seen gathering on London’s Embankment waiting for fireworks despite bad weather
Robbie Williams kicks off new year celebrations with performance in Australia
Singer Robbie Williams kicked off new year celebrations in Australia with a performance outside Sydney Opera House.
The 50-year-old headlined ABC's New Year's Eve Party in the city, where 2025 has already begun, playing his biggest hits to celebrate the release of his film Better Man.
Speaking after the show, Williams said: "I've always had a soft spot for Australia.
"Ever since I first arrived here on my solo tour in 2003, Australia accepts me for who I am and that's the best feeling.
"So, it was truly an honour to entertain the nation in front of the iconic Sydney Harbour counting down to New Year's Eve."
Better Man is out now in UK cinemas and its soundtrack album has also been released digitally.
The album features remixed versions of songs such as Angels, She's The One and Rock DJ, as well as new song Forbidden Road, which has been nominated in the Best Original Song (Motion Picture) category at next year's Golden Globes.
The musical film is based on the story of the rise, fall and return of British musician Williams, who is portrayed by a CGI chimpanzee.
Pakistan sees in New Year with dazzling fireworks display
What New Year’s Eve fireworks have been cancelled amid bad weather
A number of fireworks displays have been cancelled across the UK amid the bad weather battering the country.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay outdoor celebrations, which include a street party and fireworks, have been cancelled due to safety concerns.
Fireworks displays in Blackpool, Newcastle, Ripon in North Yorkshire, and the Isle of Wight have also all been axed.
However, Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed that London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event will still go ahead at midnight.
What weather warnings have been issued by Met Office over New Year period
The Met Office has issued numerous weather warnings across the UK, with almost every region affected between Monday and Wednesday.
- Yellow warnings for wind have been issued for parts of central and southern Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, with gusts expected to reach up to 70mph.
- A yellow warning for snow and rain initially covered most of Scotland until midnight, which the Met Office said “may bring significant disruption in the build-up to New Year,” but it was later revised to cover the Highlands and Moray only, with the warning extended until 4am.
- The new year will be off to a turbulent start with weather warnings in place for wind, rain and snow on 1 January. Winds of up to 60mph are forecast across much of England and Wales all day on Wednesday, with gusts of 75mph likely around coastal areas and hills, according to the Met Office.
London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event to go ahead amid weather concerns
London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks event will go ahead at midnight despite weather concerns across the UK, Sir Sadiq Khan confirmed.
With weather warnings in place, many planned 31 December events have been cancelled, but the capital’s fireworks display will proceed as scheduled to mark the start of 2025.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq 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.”
Rome’s traditional New Year’s Eve festivities brings start of Pope Francis’ Holy Year
Rome's traditional New Year's Eve festivities have an additional draw: the start of Pope Francis' Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration projected to bring some 32 million pilgrims to the Eternal City in 2025.
On Tuesday, Francis has celebrated a vespers at St Peter's Basilica.
Mass on Wednesday will follow, when he is expected to again appeal for peace amid wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
New Year’s Day, 1 January, is a day of obligation for Catholics, marking the Solemnity of Mary.
The New Year Honours list 2025 in full
The release of the New Year Honours provides an opportunity to celebrate individual outstanding achievements and contributions to British society.
This year Actor Stephen Fry, former England manager Gareth Southgate and London mayor Sadiq Khan have been knighted in list.
Honours have gone to a host of Team GB athletes, including runner Keely Hodgkinson, who was named the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, and mountain biker Tom Pidcock, after the Paris Olympics.
There are also honours for those who campaigned on behalf of wrongfully convicted subpostmasters, after the Horizon IT scandal.
Here we take a look at the full list:
The New Year Honours list 2025 in full: Every person celebrated this year
From OBEs to Knight Commander
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