New Year's Day celebrated across the world as Ukraine residents hope for peace in 2026

發佈日期: 2026-01-02 10:16

TVB News

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Countries across the world are continuing to usher in the New Year. 

The first country to welcome 2026 was the Pacific island nation of Kiribati followed by Samoa and Tonga,while Alaska and Hawaii will be among the last places to say goodbye to 2025.

Tracey Furniss takes a look at how some countries have ushered in 2026.

The first major city to ring in the New Year was Auckland, New Zealand. The fireworks display launched from New Zealand's tallest structure, Sky Tower.

Next, Australia saluted the New Year less than a month after its worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. A heavy police presence monitored crowds watching fireworks in Sydney. Many officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the event, after two gunmen targeted a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15 people.

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

Closer to home and fireworks featured in the Thai capital Bangkok over the Chao Phraya River to mark the New Year. While fireworks too featured in cities across Vietnam.

And in Malaysia, spectacular and colourful explosions in the sky against Kuala Lumpur's world-famous Petronas Twin Towers.

In Japan locals and tourists crowded the grounds of Tokudai-Ji temple in Tokyo at midnight to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

Similar scenes in the South Korean capital Seoul, with a bell tolling and countdown ceremony at the Bosingak Pavilion.

And in Spain, Madrid hosted a midday "rehearsal" for New Year celebrations on Wednesday, drawing crowds eager to start the celebrations early. And it all went to plan at midnight as hundreds of locals and tourists braved the chilly winter weather watching a traditional fireworks display, followed by revelers eating a grape for every chime to welcome 2026.

Meanwhile, New York's Time Square was packed with revelers counting down to the ball drop, welcoming in 2026.

Crowds bundled up against the chilly temperatures cheered and embraced as the New Year's Eve ball covered in more than 5,000 crystals descended down a pole.

This as U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania told reporters while on their way to a New Year's Eve party in Palm Beach, Florida, that their New Year's resolution is for peace.

(Reporter) Mr. President, do you have a New Year's resolution? "I have. Peace. Peace on Earth. Peace on Earth," Trump said.