music.

music. cheering.

and we arejust and we are just going to pop across to the african continent and nairobi in kenya. in these are there new year's celebrations as they bring in 2025, one of several new year's celebrations it will be taking place on the african continent. and what is going on in qatar? this is doha, and this is a synchronised drone display.

there have been fireworks, illuminations, a live stage show and i think following on from this we are also going to be, people and revelers there being treated to a dj and some drumming as well. let's go to damascus and of course syria, celebrating their first new year celebration, seeing in the new year since bashar al—assad was removed from power. he of course now in russia but let's not return to bahrain where we understand there are actually four fireworks displays are currently being held across bahrain. and this is bahrain bay. music.

cheering.

music. and let's go across to

damascus in syria, and this is the city will coming in 2025. music.

music

well, all i'm going to say if damascus sure know how to put on a party, and that was the new year's eve being welcomed in in syria. countries continue to welcome in... sorry, i've been dancing. laughter. ..welcoming in the new year with firework displays and drone shows. let's have a look at some of the celebrations. dubai has prepared a whopping

15,600 pyrotechnic elements for its fireworks display at the world's tallest building, the burj khalifa. abu dhabi is ringing in 2025 with the world's largest fireworks display. the celebrations also feature a 6000—drone show creating aerial art for over 20 minutes. this was part of their attempt to set new world records. this was the spectacular fireworks display in hong kong. #we # we are the champions... taipei also put on quite the show to welcome in 2025. music. and here's the celebrations in sydney. as always, a fireworks bonanza focused on the harbour bridge. this one went

on for 12 minutes. cheering. hello 2025 from new zealand. and this was new zealand with a spectacular fireworks display at the auckland sky tower. and there is more of the globe waiting their turn to look him in 2025 and say goodbye to 2024, and all that coming right here on bbc news. across the many time zones, it will take us 26 hours for the entire world to welcome in 2025. we will catch up with the weather in a moment. here in the uk, new year celebrations are being hampered by severe weather. fireworks displays in newcastle, blackpool and bangor are among those called off. it comes after edinburgh's outdoor hogmanay celebrations were cancelled for the first time in nearly 20 years because of strong winds and rain. from edinburgh, here's our scotland correspondent catriona renton.

in the scottish highlands, heavy rain caused the river to rage through carrbridge. flooding followed an amber weather warning for rain in the north of the country which expired late afternoon. network rail had to close the highland mainline as the level of water made it unsafe for trains. severe flood warnings had been issued overnight in the areas around aviemore. lifted as the rain was not as intense as anticipated. around the uk, weather warnings have led to cancellations of outdoor new year's eve parties from bangor to here in newcastle, which would have been the first new year fireworks display at the quayside since 2019, halted by forecast winds of over 50 mph. this morning, we woke up, and the wind direction has changed slightly. and now the debris would go towards the baltic, and despite everything that we've put in place, sadly we just can't

fire the show safely. and here in edinburgh, the world—famous street party, live music and fireworks over the castle were cancelled on safety grounds yesterday. would—be revellers were looking forward to it. we're from chicago, in the states, and we were really looking forward to going to the festival, but unfortunately the weather had other plans. we don't know. we don't know because all the restaurants are busy, i always busy, but we don't know what we'll do now _ on the hogmanay. i think it's a pity because the weather now seems to be quite good, but i appreciate they had to set all the stuff up, so these things happen, as they say, especially in scotland. disappointed. we wanted to do the torchlight parade, and that was cancelled, and even the castle is closed, so it's a real shame, but never mind. and we're from wellington, which is known for its wind, and we're thinking this isn't quite as windy

as even we know it! and spare a thought for michelle mason, her husband stephen and two dogs who travelled to edinburgh in their motor home from lancashire. they had tickets for the hogmanay celebrations. we're devastated. new year's a big year, isn't it? i we've travelled. from lancashire. we've planned it for months, i and we're here now with nothing to do on new year's eve. it's not your ideal situation. a sprinkling of snow in shetland ahead of more weather alerts. from midnight, snow and ice forecast for the north of scotland and wind and rain warnings for much of england and wales to kick off 2025. and you canjoin my colleague nicky schiller to see in 2025 with full coverage of the world—famous london fireworks along with the best of the new year celebrations from around world here on bbc news. the special prgramme starts

at 11:30pm gmt tonight. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

helicopter off the coast of occupied crimea. ukraine says one of its sea drones has shot down a russian helicopter off the coast of occupied crimea. officials say it's a world first. this video, released by ukrainian intelligence and which we've not been able to independently verify, appears to show an explosion in mid—air and a large splash in the sea. let's speak to inna sovsun, ukrainian mp. welcome to the programme. how are ukrainians feeling if they had towards 2025? i’zre

are ukrainians feeling if they had towards 2025? i've been heafina had towards 2025? i've been hearing and _ had towards 2025? i've been hearing and this _ had towards 2025? i've been hearing and this was - had towards 2025? i've been hearing and this was on - had towards 2025? i've been hearing and this was on the l hearing and this was on the programme before i hit life, i could hear about all the fireworks and other countries taking place. fireworks are not allowed in ukraine any longer because it is so reminiscent of people of the air raid attacks the russians have been conducting and it is traumatic than 70 people. so it has been banned for over two years. and also i heard about some drone shows in other countries. you can imagine the only drone shows we have all the russian drones that are attacking ukraine right now as we speak in the south. there are drones which are attacking the southern parts of ukraine right now, 40 minutes before the new year starts here in ukraine. and then there are big celebrations on the streets in other countries. they are not allowed here in ukraine as well because we are under curfew, so for a midnight because we are under curfew, so fora midnight up because we are under curfew, so for a midnight up until 5am people are not allowed to be outside. so that is not an option either. so i would say the mood is definitely very

different from what you were sitting in other countries in the world. sitting in other countries in the world-— sitting in other countries in the world. ., ., ., the world. have we heard from mr zelensky — the world. have we heard from mr zelensky at _ the world. have we heard from mr zelensky at the _ the world. have we heard from mr zelensky at the end - the world. have we heard from mr zelensky at the end of- the world. have we heard from mr zelensky at the end of this | mr zelensky at the end of this year or has he given a new year address? he year or has he given a new year address? . address? he will give that in 40 minutes— address? he will give that in 40 minutes or _ address? he will give that in 40 minutes or 30 _ address? he will give that in 40 minutes or 30 minutes . address? he will give that in| 40 minutes or 30 minutes or something before it the new year exactly, that is a tradition over here, so we are still waiting for that address. it has been quite close to the year with those russian strikes on christmas day?— year with those russian strikes on christmas day? yes, indeed, and also this — on christmas day? yes, indeed, and also this morning _ on christmas day? yes, indeed, and also this morning we - on christmas day? yes, indeed, and also this morning we all - and also this morning we all woke up because of the air raid alert and there were some explosions over here in kyiv and then of course they're part of ukraine as well. so this unfortunately has been taking place even today, there are no guarantees it will not happen tomorrow. so that is unfortunately part of our daily reality and the holiday is not a break for that. reality and the holiday is not a breakfor that. find reality and the holiday is not a break for that.— a break for that. and very quickly. _ a break for that. and very quickly, what _ a break for that. and very quickly, what significant l a break for that. and very - quickly, what significant gains has ukraine made in this conflict this year, over this past year?—

conflict this year, over this ast ear? ~ ., �*, ., ., past year? well, that's a tough one because — past year? well, that's a tough one because of _ past year? well, that's a tough one because of course - past year? well, that's a tough one because of course we - past year? well, that's a tough one because of course we havej one because of course we have lost unfortunately lots of land lost u nfortu nately lots of la nd because lost unfortunately lots of land because we have had delays in the supplies of weapons but i think the very fact that we are still standing and then we are still standing and then we are still fighting is something that the world did not expect deceit, especially given all the trouble for the supplies of weapons. so i hope that in the next year will finally see the war stop and ukraine when, but for that, the whole world needs to unite together and stand with ukraine and supply the weapons we need to actually win in this terrifying war.— in this terrifying war. thank ou in this terrifying war. thank you very — in this terrifying war. thank you very much _ in this terrifying war. thank you very much indeed - in this terrifying war. thank you very much indeed and i in this terrifying war. thank - you very much indeed and happy 2025 to you, thank you. among those welcoming in the new year this hour is syria. the country has already a momentous 2024 with the fall of the assad family after 50 years of dictatorship. bashar al—assad fled to moscow with his family after rebels from the north and south swept across country and captured the capital damascus over the course of a week.

let's speak to dr marwan kabalan, a syrian academic who is currently based in qatar at the arab centre for research and policy studies. hello, welcome to the programme, thank you for joining us. syria heading into 2025, how would you describe it? ~ ~ 2025, how would you describe it? ~ ., , it? well, i think most syrians are thrilled _ it? well, i think most syrians are thrilled finally _ it? well, i think most syrians are thrilled finally to - it? well, i think most syrians are thrilled finally to have - are thrilled finally to have succeeded in bringing down the receipt of assad. that was like a dream came true after many years actually of struggle against that brutal regime. but the challenges ahead are big. we have so many issues we need to deal with, starting with the transitional period and the establishment of an inclusive government. reviving the economy and starting the

reconciliation and initial reconstruction between the different syrian factions. we have also to start the reconstruction of the country because as you know, we have something like 27% of our housing destroyed either entirely or partially by this conflict. we have over 2 million housing units completely destroyed by the conflict. we have 90% of syrians under the poverty line. we have the challenges of dealing with the foreign interference and the affairs of syria. so we have so many issues that we need to deal with actually and the coming year. with actually and the coming ear. �* ., ., [111 year. i've got about 30 seconds. _ year. i've got about 30 seconds, you - year. i've got about 30 seconds, you talk- year. i've got about 30| seconds, you talk about different factors and we have iran, russia, the us, turkey. what roles to these foreign powers have been syria's

future? , , ., , future? over the past few years actually we _ future? over the past few years actually we have _ future? over the past few years actually we have seen _ future? over the past few years actually we have seen this - future? over the past few years actually we have seen this war i actually we have seen this war by proxy playing out on syrian territories by these different countries, but now we hope actually that the united states, russia, turkey will be having a more constructive role in helping syrians in order to rebuild the country. and start some sort of reconciliation. 0k, doctor, iapologise some sort of reconciliation. 0k, doctor, i apologise for interrupting but thank you very much indeed. you are watching bbc news. hello there. good evening. well, it's been a blustery and a wet end to 2024 for many of us, and there's more severe weather to come in the forecast as we head into the new year, too, with more heavy rain. it stays windy on new year's day. it is going to be turning colder, but for the rest of tonight, well, it's certainly mild out there for the vast majority. more rain across the central swathe of the uk, these fronts pushing further southwards. and if we just zoom in

as the clock chimes midnight, you can see wintry showers and now colder air across the far north of scotland. still some more showers across these flood—affected areas. it's windy across the central belt. strong gusts still across northern england, southern scotland, and this is where we're likely to see the heaviest of the rain, too, across the north midlands and into north wales. further south, it is largely dry for the rest of the night, but some squally gusts of wind just ahead of this cold front as it continues to push further southwards as we head through the rest of the night. so turning wet into tomorrow morning across the south of england and into south wales. some sunshine a little further north, squally gusts of wind as that front goes through, and on the second front, then, there will be some wintry showers over the higher ground of the pennines and the cumbrian fells. and this is where that colder arctic air is starting to dig in. temperatures even in the south dropping as we head throughout the day with that colder—feeling air and that northerly wind starting to take hold across the whole of the uk as we head through wednesday night and into thursday morning.

so, on thursday, then, watch out for some icy stretches, and there will be quite a widespread frost to start the day as well. many of our temperatures already below freezing. let's take a look at thursday morning, then, more wintry showers just piling into the far north of scotland on that northerly wind. also into the far north of northern ireland and down through these north sea—facing coasts. watch out for the icy patches in places. the winds lightening a little inland, but temperatures won't get much past low single figures. it will be largely dry. there'll be some sunshine, but it will be feeling cold, particularly in exposure to that northerly wind. and for some of us, it will feel as if it's below freezing for much of the day. let's take a look at the pressure chart for friday. high pressure out towards the west, a slight switch in wind direction to more of a north—westerly, and that will help to drive some of these wintry showers further inland across north—west scotland, northern ireland, the midlands and into north wales. still feeling very cold. bye for now.

this is bbc news. the headlines — fireworks light up the sky in damascus as syria welcomes its first new year since the collapse of the assad regime. celebrations in bahrain, too,

as the clock strikes midnight in the kingdom. we'll bring you all the major celebrations from around the world. but there's disappointment in some parts of the uk as yellow storm warnings put paid to many of the outdoor celebrations. now on bbc news, it takes a village. this is the house i grew up in. notjust me. also my brother and sister. you guys cuddled up on the sofa. we then had to get a new sofa, because you put your foot through it. and for a few years, my mum's best friend and her daughter lived with us, too. hello. we might be on film! 0h, hi! my mum called it the single mum's mansion, but others call it a �*mum—une'.