New Year Celebrations Highlights: Australia rings in New Year 2025 with fireworks at Sydney Opera House

Devotees throng Vrindavan's Prem Mandir on occasion of New Year's Eve

Australia celebrates New Year 2025 with dazzling fireworks in Sydney

A large number of people reached Manali ahead of the New Year celebration.

Atishi said, "I am happy that the registration for the 'Pujari Granthi Samman' scheme launched by Arvind Kejriwal, has started today... The registration of the Granthis has started today... The Granthis (Gurudwara priests) said that this is probably the first government after Maharaja Ranjit Singh's government that is worried for the Granthis... When the Arvind Kejriwal government is formed in Delhi, every temple and Gurudwara priest will get Rs. 18,000 under this scheme..."

New Zealand's Auckland welcomes New Year 2025 with fireworks

This year, spectators may view the dazzling fireworks from the roof of London. The display is divided into six viewing areas: blue, red, pink, green, white, and orange, with one accessible viewing space. The location has a set number of gates that will be used on that night to allow ticket holders to enter the area they have reserved. The Mayor of London's New Year's Eve celebrations take place in Westminster, near the London Eye and Big Ben.

Edinburgh's outdoor Hogmanay celebrations have been canceled due to forecasts of wind, rain, and snow across the UK in the following days. The Met Office has issued eight separate weather warnings for the next days, predicting "a wet and windy spell for many up into the new year". Much of the country will be bracing for inclement weather, including rain and heavy winds, with wind gusts of up to 70 mph (112 km/h) expected in certain locations. An amber rain warning is in effect in several parts of Scotland, as are flood alerts and warnings - including a rare severe flood warning - throughout the remainder of the country, reported BBC

Mumbai police have increased security measures for New Year's Eve celebrations. A total of 2,184 police officers and 12,048 police enforcers have been deployed, including 8 new police commissioners, 29 deputy commissioners of police, and 53 assistant commissioners of police.

To ensure public safety, Bengaluru authorities have made masks mandatory  and banned whistling in public places during New Year's Eve celebrations. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru city police have made great preparations ahead of the New Year's Eve celebrations today (December 31) and moving into the New Year 2025 celebrations (January 1), with up to 11,000 personnel deployed to preserve law and order across the metro.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced that commuters will not be allowed to exit from Rajiv Chowk metro station after 9 pm. “As advised by the police authorities, to ensure public safety and manage crowds on New Year’s Eve (31st December 2024), exit from Rajiv Chowk metro station will not be allowed from 9:00 pm onwards. However, entry of passengers will be allowed until the departure of the last train from Rajiv Chowk metro station on 31st December,” DMRC said in a post on X.

To maintain law and order on the eve of the New Year celebrations, Delhi Police has implemented elaborate traffic arrangements and restrictions throughout the national capital, particularly at Connaught Place, and has deployed almost 20,000 police and paramilitary personnel. According to a senior police officer, 50 squads equipped with alcometers will be stationed in strategic places to monitor and prosecute drunk driving incidents. The picket personnel will also have alcometers for additional testing.

As the New Year approaches, Uttar Pradesh's iconic religious locations -- Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Mathura -- are seeing an unprecedented inflow of pilgrims. These holy towns are ready to accommodate the large number of pilgrims going to temples and sacred places for a spiritual start to 2025, thanks to increased security measures and precise crowd management strategies. Ayodhya is experiencing a major influx of devotees ahead of the New Year, with the freshly consecrated Ram temple drawing hundreds eager to seek Lord Ram's blessings.

Traffic restrictions will be implemented around Connaught Place beginning at 8 p.m. Police have handed stickers to vehicles that enter the area after this hour. According to the officer, ten sites have been classified as no-car zones.

Russia launched an aerial attack on Ukraine on Tuesday, striking the capital and other regions with multiple missiles and drones. Ukraine's air force reported a ballistic missile threat at 3 am (0100 GMT), with at least two explosions heard in Kyiv minutes later. Another missile alert was issued at 8 am followed by at least one explosion in the city. Missile debris fell in the Darnytskyi district of the capital with no reports of casualties or damage, the local administration said. Authorities in the northeastern Sumy region reported strikes near the city of Shostka, where the mayor, Mykola Noha, said 12 residential buildings had been damaged as well as two educational facilities. He said some “social infrastructure objects” were destroyed, without providing detail.

A fire broke out at a hospital in K Pudur, causing panic in the area, police said on Tuesday. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The fire, likely triggered by an electrical short circuit, occurred on the third floor of the hospital, which was being used as nurses’ quarters. Fire and rescue personnel arrived at the scene and battled the flames for about two hours before successfully extinguishing the fire.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday deferred its hearing till January 2 on compliance of its order by the Punjab government on shifting of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for past 35 days over various demands, to hospital. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia listed the matter for further hearing on January 2 after Advocate General Gurminder Singh, appearing for the Punjab government, said that an application has been moved seeking three days more time for compliance of the court's December 20 order.

On Tuesday, Delhi residents woke to a chilly morning, with the weather department forecasting a "cold day" ahead. The minimum temperature was 9.6 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees above average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The temperature was 10.3 degrees Celsius on Monday. The weather department predicts a "cold day" with dense fog in most areas in the early morning. Later, skies are expected to be mostly clear, with haze or shallow fog developing in the evening and night, according to the forecast. The highest temperature is forecast to stay around 15 degrees Celsius.

In response to his brief imposition of martial law, a South Korean court on Tuesday issued warrants to arrest and search impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's home and office. According to the nation's anti-corruption body, it is looking into whether his declaration amounted to rebellion. However, analysts continue to argue that unless Yoon is officially removed from office, there is little prospect of arrest or searches. According to a statement from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is spearheading a cooperative investigation with police and military authorities, the Seoul Western District Court issued warrants to detain Yoon and search the presidential residence and office in central Seoul.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), December recorded Delhi's cleanest first half ever, with just one 'very poor' air day between December 1 and December 15. On Monday, the AQI was 173, falling in the "moderate" category, a significant improvement from Sunday's 225, which was classified as "poor." This marked the eighth moderate air quality day this month, whereas Delhi had recorded no more than three moderate days in December in previous years.

Delhi has recorded its cleanest December air since the introduction of the Air Quality Index (AQI) system in 2015, with an average AQI of 294. Officials attribute this improvement to strong, consistent winds during the first half of the month, followed by record-breaking rainfall in the second half.

On Monday, there was some sunlight during the day, but due to the cold wave, the sun was not fully visible. Today, most areas will remain cold. According to the IMD report, the maximum temperature is expected to be 15°C, and the minimum temperature has been recorded at 10°C.

On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, Delhi is expected to see temperatures ranging from a minimum of 13.57°C to a maximum of 22.18°C. The humidity levels are forecasted to be at 21%.

Delhi is currently experiencing a temperature of 16.56°C. The day's forecast indicates that the temperature will range from a low of 10.05°C to a high of 20.84°C. The relative humidity is at 38%, with winds blowing at a speed of 38 km/h.