Drums, drones and fireworks ring in the New Year across Asia – National

The batsmen were hitting in the New Year and a computer-generated horse stampede was shown on part of the Great Wall as China and the rest of Asia marked the start of 2026.

Temple bells rang across Japan and some climbed mountains to witness the first sunrise of the year, the Year of the Horse, which according to the Asian zodiac is believed to herald energy and transformation. But Hong Kong held low-key celebrations following a recent fire that killed 161 people at an apartment complex.

Sydney welcomed the New Year with joy and defiance as the famous Harbor Bridge crackled with fireworks less than three weeks after Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.

South Pacific countries were the first to bid farewell to 2025. New Zealand’s capital, Auckland, held a fireworks display 18 hours before kick-off in New York’s Times Square.

Australia’s east coast welcomed 2026, two hours after New Zealand. In Sydney, celebrations took place under the cover of Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. Two gunmen targeted a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, killing 15 people and injuring 40 others.

A heavy police presence monitored the thousands of people who flocked to watch a fireworks display centered on Sydney’s Harbor Bridge. Many officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the event.

An hour before midnight, the victims of the massacre were commemorated with a minute of silence. The crowd was invited to show solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urged Sydneysiders not to stay away out of fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds as a victory.

“We must be defiant in the face of this terrible crime,” he said.

Indonesian cities have scaled back their festivities in solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in parts of the island of Sumatra a month ago, killing more than 1,100 people. Concerts and fireworks on the tourist island of Bali have been replaced by a cultural event featuring traditional dances.

People attend the New Year countdown to celebrate the start of 2026 in Hong Kong’s Central District, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)

Hong Kong rang in 2026 without the usual fireworks over Victoria Harbor after November’s massive fire. Monument facades were transformed into countdown clocks that presented a light show at midnight.

In Japan, where fireworks are not part of the traditional festivities, temple bells rang across the country. Celebrants lined up in front of Shinto shrines.

In Seoul, the South Korean capital, Mayor Oh Se-hoon and others rang the old Bosingak bell 33 times at midnight.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a New Year’s Eve speech broadcast by state media, praised his country’s technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, while renewing threats against Taiwan, which he claims as part of his sovereign territory.

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“We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship,” he said. “The reunification of our homeland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.” China launched large-scale military exercises around the island this week.

Palestinians in Gaza said they hope the new year will bring a definitive end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas that has ravaged the enclave for two years, as negotiators push for progress in the difficult second phase of the ceasefire.

“We hope that this will be a good year for our people in Palestine,” Faraj Rasheed said, noting that thousands of people continue to live in difficult conditions in tent camps.

Others described 2025 as a year of loss. “The war has humiliated us,” said Mirvat Abed Al-Aal, displaced from the southern city of Rafah.

Berliners marked the end of 2025 by taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate.

Fireworks were lit to light up the skies at other European landmarks, from Rome’s Colosseum to the London Eye. Revelers were expected to gather at viewing points along the River Thames for the fireworks to begin when Big Ben chimes at midnight.

In Scotland, where New Year’s Eve is known as Hogmanay, fireworks were planned over Edinburgh Castle.

Prime Minister John Swinney has urged Scots to follow the message of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and show small acts of kindness in 2026.

“Every year the world celebrates the New Year by singing a Scottish song, a song passed down through generations, written by our national poet, Robert Burns,” Swinney said.

Greece and Cyprus turned down the volume, replacing traditional fireworks with low-noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone demonstrations in capitals. Officials said the change was intended to make celebrations more welcoming to children and pets, especially animals sensitive to loud noise.

The New York Police Department will implement additional counterterrorism measures at Times Square Stadium, with “mobile enforcement teams.” This is not a response to a specific threat, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Once the ball drops, it will rise again, sparkling in red, white and blue, to mark the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Zohran Mamdani will take office as mayor in early 2026. Two swearing-in ceremonies are planned, starting with a private ceremony around midnight in a former metro station.

&copy 2025 The Canadian Press