Pacific islands begin ringing in 2025 as New Year’s Eve celebrations begin around the world
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THE New Year has kicked off with Kiritimati among the first cities to charge into 2025. On the Pacific island of Kiribati - also know as Christmas Island - it is 14 hours ahead of the UK. The first major cities to usher in 2025 will be Auckland in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia, with epic fireworks displays prepared.
![[The London display will be set off near the Eye and Big Ben]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fireworks-light-london-sky-london-960602120.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Photos show people already gathering outside Sydney Opera House, which hits midnight at 1pm UK time. Billions across the world are getting ready to ring in the New Year - with tens of thousands expected to line the streets of London before Big Ben sounds its gongs.
![[People gather at the Sydney Harbour House in anticipation of the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-sydney-australia-estimated-1-960660431_91ff73.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Yesterday, rehearsals were held for the sound and light show at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. London's City Hall has said it is "monitoring the weather" ahead of the city's New Year's Eve celebrations after some of Edinburgh's Hogmanay festivities were cancelled due to bad weather.
![[People grab vantage points before New Year's Eve celebrations at East Balmain in Sydney]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/epa11799518-members-public-grab-vantage-960658450.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Almost every part of the country is covered by at least one of the multiple Met Office weather warnings between Monday and Wednesday. A yellow weather warning of heavy rain and snow is currently in force across most of Scotland for Monday and Tuesday, while an amber warning for rain is in place for an area around Inverness on Tuesday.
![[Revelers gather at Mrs. Macquarie’s Point in Sydney]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/epa11799669-revelers-gather-mrs-macquaries-960715237.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It is understood there are currently no plans to cancel any New Year's Eve events in London, but a spokesperson for the mayor confirmed local authorities were continuing "to monitor the weather forecast closely". As countries begin to enter 2025 we'll keep you updated with all the latest developments from the UK and around the world.
![[Rehearsals for the sound and light show at the Arc de Triomphe for New Year’s Eve 2025 in Paris]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2024-games-summer-mapping-monument-960706193_ae23e1.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
