Among other milestones, 2024 will become the hottest year on record.
With fireworks or champagne, the The world began to celebrate this Tuesday the arrival of 2025 and the end of a year marked by hostilities in the Middle Eastthe political return of Donald Trump and the Paris Olympic Games.
In Sydney Harbour, with some New Year’s Eve parties already underway, many of those gathered were happy to put the last twelve months behind them.
“There’s obviously been a lot of war and unrest in a lot of places,” said insurance worker Stuart Edwards, 32. “It would be nice for the world if everything is resolved,” said.
The self-proclaimed “New Year’s capital of the world” set off nine tonnes of fireworks from the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridgethe heart of the bay, at twelve o’clock.
Also in Asia, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Taipei have already welcomed the New Year with a countdown and fireworks.
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Among other milestones, 2024 will become the hottest year on record, with natural disasters caused by climate change that caused devastation across the planet, from the Amazon rainforest in Brazil to the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
But not everything was disasters and conflicts. In 2024, Taylor Swift closed her successful Eras tour, Lionel Messi’s Argentina extended its winning streak with its victory in the Copa América and a Spain full of young talents like the teenager Lamine Yamal won the Euro Cup.
Also on the sporting level, The Paris Olympics captured the world’s attention for two weeks in July and August with swimmers competing in the Seine, athletes running in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and jockeys riding their horses in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
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Elections and wars
2024 was an election year, with millions of people going to the polls in more than 60 countries.
Mexico elected Claudia Sheinbaum as the country’s first female president and Venezuelans experienced other controversial and disputed elections, which resulted in the proclamation of a new mandate for Nicolás Maduro.
But No vote generated as much attention as the November 5 presidential election in the United States in which Donald Trump secured his return to the White House.
Although he will not be inaugurated until January 20, his victory already has repercussions throughout the planet. The president-elect has promised tariffs on Mexico or China and has said that he will end the war in Ukraine in just 24 hours.
After almost three years of war, Ukrainians fear a decrease in US military aid under Trump that will worsen their situation on the Eastern Front, where Russian troops, better armed and more numerous, are gradually advancing.
Unrest intensified in the Middle East, with direct attacks between Iran and Israel, the incursion and bombings of the Jewish State in Lebanon in its war against Hezbollah or the fall of the Syrian government of Bashar al Assad.
In Damascus, the country’s new leader, Ahmed al Sharaa, met with representatives of the clergy of the Christian community, in a context of concern among Syrian minorities. In the Vatican, Pope Francis celebrated New Year’s Eve in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In Gaza, scene of a war between Israel and Hamas from October 2023the humanitarian crisis worsened due to shortages of food, shelter or medicine. “The year 2024 was the most difficult year. I have lost many loved ones, including my father,” said Gazan Wafaa Hayaj from a displaced persons camp in Deir al Balah.
“May security return and the war finally come to an end,” he wished.
Returns, more football and heat
It is difficult to predict what 2025 will bring, although experts foresee more advances in artificial intelligence technologies and a slowdown in inflation in recent years.
It will also be the year of the return of the British band Oasis, after the apparent reconciliation of the explosive Gallagher brothers and also of the megastars of the Korean pop band BTS after having completed their military service.
In a year without major national team tournaments, soccer fans will be able to satisfy their desire for games in the summer with the new format of the Club World Cup, which will be played in the United States between 32 teams.
Where No big changes are predicted in the thermometers. The United Kingdom Meteorological Service is once again predicting a year marked by heat that will probably end up among the hottest ever recorded.
