The UK celebrated the start of 2025 with a spectacular fireworks display on the banks of the River Thames – as London defied weather concerns which led to the cancellation of other events around the country.

Thousands listened to Big Ben ring in the new year after celebrations had already taken place across the world – with fireworks lighting up the night skies in major cities including Sydney in Australia, Mumbai in India and Damascus in Syria.

The 11-minute display in the UK capital took place over the London Eye and began with the message “Your New Year Is Unwritten”.

To a diverse soundtrack which featured music from the likes of Sir Elton John, One Direction and Charli XCX, the display looked back at 2024 with topics including the weather, the Paris Olympics, the Paralympics and Euro 2024.

Follow latest: Live updates as world ushers in 2025

There were also voiceovers from British actress Dame Imelda Staunton and actor Sir Ian McKellen.

The London mayor’s office said around 100,000 ticketholders had attended the display, which included more than 12,000 fireworks and 420 lights.

The display ended with a message from Paddington Bear that “anyone can fit in” in London before a version of Auld Lang Syne by Boney M.

UK celebrations fall victim to bad weather

Meanwhile, crowds sheltered under umbrellas to watch fireworks and enjoy entertainment in Manchester, but the weather curtailed celebrations elsewhere with fireworks displays cancelled in Blackpool, Newcastle, Ripon in North Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight.

It came after Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, which were due to include a street party and fireworks, were called off due to safety concerns.

The Met Office has numerous weather warnings in place across the country on New Year’s Day – including an amber warning for rain covering much of the North West.

The world parties into 2025

The first country to welcome in the new year was the Pacific nation of Kiribati at 10am UK time.

It was followed by New Zealand an hour later – with fireworks launched from the Sky Tower in Auckland as part of a spectacular light show.

At 1pm UK time it was Australia’s turn to usher in 2025.

A stunning fireworks display lit up the sky above Sydney Harbour Bridge as more than one million people watched below.

British pop star Robbie Williams led a singalong moments earlier outside Sydney Opera House, with indigenous ceremonies and performances also taking place in the build up to the celebrations.

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A couple of hours later the clocked ticked into 2025 in South Korea, North Korea and Japan.

In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony took place in the historic Bosingak Pavilion.

On the other side of the demilitarised zone, North Korea said goodbye to 2024 with a fireworks display in Kim II Sung Square in the capital Pyongyang.

At the same time crowds had gathered at a temple in central Tokyo to watch a traditional bell-ringing ceremony, known as Joya no Kane.

An hour later fireworks kicked off 2025 with a bang in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It came as crowds in the Chinese capital Beijing gathered in Shougang Park to celebrate the start of 2025.

In the Thailand capital Bangkok, fireworks blasted off in style over Chao Phraya River, while in Malaysia people gathered near the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur, to celebrate the New Year.

A fireworks display in Indonesia’s Jakarta featured 800 drones.

A couple of hours later it was India’s turn to say goodbye to 2024, with thousands of people in Mumbai flocking to the city’s bustling promenade facing the Arabian Sea.

In the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai, thousands attended a dazzling light and fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.

It came before hundreds gathered in the Syrian capital Damascus to sing, dance and watch a fireworks display – with many looking forward to a new beginning weeks after rebels ousted President Bashar al Assad.

Hours later countries in Europe began to celebrate the start of 2025.

Paris appeared to have spared no expense with its display at the Champs-Elysees.

The French capital was capping a momentous 2024 following the Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.

Meanwhile, Rome’s traditional New Year’s Eve festivities had 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.

At 3am UK time, A huge fireworks display thrilled crowds gathered on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro as Brazil welcomed the new year.

More than two million people were expected to descend on the beach for the celebration.

Two hours later thousands of people celebrated the start of 2025 in Times Square in New York.

Crowds cheered and couples kissed when a crystal-covered ball weighing almost six tons descended down a pole in the square to signal the beginning of the new year.

The Times Square celebrations also included musical performances by TLC and Jonas Brothers.

Las Vegas brought in 2025 with fireworks launched from the rooftops of casinos, with an estimated 340,000 people believed to have shown up on the iconic strip in the entertainment capital of the world.

Elsewhere, Chinese state media covered an exchange of new year’s greetings between leader Xi Jinping and Russian president Vladimir Putin in a reminder of the growing closeness between two leaders who face tensions with the West.

Meanwhile, a blackout hit nearly all of Puerto Rico early on Tuesday as the US territory prepared to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

More than 1.2 million out of 1.47 million customers were without power, according to Luma Energy, a private company that oversees electricity transmission and distribution on the island.

It was not immediately clear what caused the widespread outage or when power would be restored.

A 70-year-old woman has been killed after a hit-and-run crash in Paisley on New Year’s Eve.

The pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by a white car in Barrhead Road at about 7pm on Tuesday.

Police Scotland said the driver failed to stop at the scene, near to the junction with Ladykirk Crescent.

The force added enquiries are ongoing to identify and locate the car, as well as to establish the full circumstances which led to the fatal collision.

Detective Inspector David Tomlinson said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died and everyone affected by this tragic incident.

“I would urge anyone who may have witnessed anything or believes they saw, or may have dashcam footage, of a white coloured car on the road prior to the collision to get in touch.

“We would also be keen to speak to anyone who thinks they have seen a car matching this description after the collision which may have had damage.”

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed 2024 as a “year of change” as he shared his first New Year message as prime minister.

But the Labour leader, who took office after a staggering general election victory over the Conservatives in July, admitted there is “still so much more to do” in 2025.

It will include a plan to make sure there will be “more cash in your pocket”, as well as a raft of other initiatives for “change”.

Almost six months into the prime minister’s time in Downing Street, Sir Keir is battling criticisms of his party’s management of the economy and the direction in which he is taking the country.

Despite this, the Labour leader’s New Year message largely takes an optimistic tone, celebrating a “year of changing Britain for the better” and looking forward to a “fight for change” that will define “every waking hour of this government”.

The prime minister also takes a moment to joke that his mantra of “change” didn’t extend to football in 2024, lamenting “another agonisingly close shave for England” in the Euros final.

He said: “But change in politics, with the election of this Labour government in July. And more importantly, with the work of change that we have begun.

“The minimum wage will be raised by a record amount. Wages are up more broadly. Returns of foreign national criminals – up 20%. Billions of pounds worth of new projects in clean British energy making our country more secure. And over £25bn invested in our NHS starting to cut waiting lists in your local hospital.

“Now, I know there is still so much more to do. And that for many people it’s hard to think about the future when you spend all of your time fighting to get through the week.

“So I want to be clear. Until you can look forward and believe in the promise and the prosperity of Britain again, then this government will fight for you.”

The prime minister says this “fight for change” will “define this year, next year, and indeed – every waking hour of this government”.

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He mentions his “Plan for Change”, vowing to focus on a “year of rebuilding” for the country – and “rediscovering the great nation that we are”.

“We have a clear plan for change: 1.5 million new homes – restoring the dream of home ownership; children starting school, ready to learn; a more secure energy system; waiting lists cut dramatically; immigration – reduced; neighbourhood police, tackling anti-social behaviour in every community; and more cash in your pocket, wherever you live,” Sir Keir explains.

“A nation that gets things done. No matter how hard or tough the circumstances.

“We will have time to reflect on that this year. A chance, with the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ day, to cherish the greatest victories of this country. And the greatest generation that achieved it.

“But that victory – and indeed the peace and the prosperity that followed – all rested on that same foundation we must rebuild today.

“The security of working people. That is the purpose of this government. The goal of our Plan for Change. And we will push it forward in 2025.”

The prime minister concludes: “Here’s to a year of changing Britain for the better.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch noted that her party is going through a “period of change” in her New Year message.

She said: “This process of renewal will be a long-term project.

“Things may be bumpy along the way, but the Party I now lead is going to do things differently. Watch this space.”

Ms Badenoch, who took over as Conservative leader months ago, added she is looking forward to a 2025 that is “full of hope, security and prosperity”.

Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has also shared his New Year message.

He has called on Labour to “be much bolder” to deliver “real change” and tackle the challenges facing the UK in 2025.

The Lib Dem leader also used his New Year message to claim instability and insecurity around the world has been “made worse” by Donald Trump’s re-election in the US.

Sir Ed is looking forward to the next year with “genuine hope”, he will say, as the UK has “the people, the grit, the talent, the businesses – and the right values, to change things for the better”.

Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said in his message that the UK has been “appallingly led” for several decades.

He said: “We’re in societal decline, we’re in economic decline, most people are getting poorer with every year that passes, we’re losing any sense of national identity and we’re actually teaching kids at school that people like Winston Churchill – born in this palace – are bad people and that our country’s history is something to be ashamed of.”

Mr Farage said Reform’s campaigning will include calls for “proper border controls” and to reduce the cost of living.