The world bids farewell to 2025, a year marked by Trump’s tariffs, a fragile Gaza truce, continued Ukraine war, and record-breaking global heat.
SYDNEY: Revellers worldwide will usher in 2026, closing a year defined by political upheaval, fragile truces, and climatic extremes.
The past 12 months saw the return of Donald Trump to the White House and a global tariff blitz that rattled markets.
A US-brokered ceasefire brought a fragile pause to the devastating war in Gaza, though long-term peace remains uncertain.
The conflict in Ukraine continues to grind on, with diplomatic hopes for a breakthrough dashed at year’s end.
It was also one of the warmest years on record, fueling wildfires, droughts, and deadly rains across continents.
In Sydney, one of the first major cities to celebrate, New Year’s Eve festivities carried a sombre tone.
The city will pause for a minute’s silence at 11 pm local time to honour victims of a recent mass shooting.
“Here’s hoping the world looks like a brighter place in 2026,” said Sydney resident Steph Grant.
Hundreds of thousands are expected along the city’s foreshore for a fireworks display using nine tonnes of pyrotechnics.
Security will be heightened with heavily armed police patrols following the recent attack.
The year also witnessed global pop culture moments, from a Labubu doll craze to BTS’s musical return.
It saw the loss of pioneering zoologist Jane Goodall and a new pope chosen for the Vatican.
The assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in the US exposed the nation’s deep political divisions.
The Gaza truce followed two years of war that left the territory in ruins, beginning with Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
That attack killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed more than 70,000 people in Gaza, says the Hamas-run health ministry.
The United Nations considers the Gaza health ministry’s casualty figures to be reliable.
Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire, casting doubt on its durability.
In Ukraine, the major obstacle to peace remains Kyiv’s reluctance to cede land and Moscow’s refusal to return it.
Looking ahead, 2026 promises significant events in sports, space, and technology.
NASA’s Artemis II mission, backed by Elon Musk, plans a crewed test flight around the moon.
Mounting scrutiny is falling on artificial intelligence as investors question a potential market bubble.
Athletes will gather in Italy’s Dolomites for the Winter Olympics.
The football World Cup will expand to 48 teams, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
