On the eve of the New Year, Wednesday, the world bid farewell to 2025. The year 2025 came to be known for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, a ceasefire in Gaza, and ultimately futile efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.
This year was recorded as one of the hottest years globally. It brought wildfires in Europe, drought in Africa, and deadly rainfall in Southeast Asia. In Sydney, Australia, preparations for New Year celebrations were filled with enthusiasm, but the festivities were tinged with sadness. Fifteen people lost their lives in the deadliest mass shooting in 30 years at Bondi Beach.
The celebrations were to pause at 11:00 p.m. (12:00 GMT) for a minute of silence, and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge was to be illuminated in white light. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a video message, “Our New Year experience is often mixed with lingering sorrow.” At the stroke of midnight, nearly nine tonnes of fireworks were expected to explode.
Sydney residents and tourists gathered along the foreshore, while sailboats filled the waters to secure prime views near the Opera House. Security was tighter than usual, with heavily armed police units patrolling the crowds. Around the world, celebrations stretched from New York to the Hogmanay festival. More than two million people were expected to gather at Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
In Hong Kong, major fireworks displays were cancelled in tribute to the 161 people killed in a fire in November. In 2025, the world witnessed the craze of Labubu dolls, a daring heist at the Louvre Museum, and the return of K-pop group BTS. The death of pioneering primatologist Jane Goodall, the election of a new pope at the Vatican, and the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk became symbols of political polarization in the United States.
Donald Trump returned to the White House in January and initiated tariff hikes that triggered a global market slowdown. Through his own Truth Social platform, he sought to boost his approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections. In Gaza, after two years of war, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was reached in October under U.S. pressure. However, both sides accused each other of violations, and lasting peace has not been ensured.
Thousands of civilians lost their lives during the Hamas attacks and Israel’s retaliatory operations. World leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin began exchanging New Year greetings. Xi expressed readiness to maintain close dialogue with Putin to ensure continued progress in bilateral relations.
The war in Ukraine, which began in 2022, has still not seen a permanent ceasefire by the end of 2025. The coming year is expected to be challenging in the fields of sports, space exploration, and artificial intelligence (AI). Backed by Elon Musk, NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to conduct a 10-day test flight orbiting the Moon—50 years after the final Apollo lunar mission.
After a year of unchecked excitement, AI is now facing scrutiny, with investors questioning whether its future market may turn out to be a bubble. Athletes for the Winter Olympics will prepare in Italy’s Dolomites, while nations will gather in the United States, Mexico, and Canada for the largest football World Cup in history.
