Cities around the world are readying to ring in the New Year with celebrations highlighting local cultures and traditions, after a year roiled by ongoing conflict and political instability.

From Sydney to Vladivostok to Mumbai, communities around the world have begun welcoming 2025 with spectacular light shows, embraces and exciting live performances.Auckland became the first major city to celebrate as thousands of revellers counted down to the new year and cheered colourful fireworks launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure,

Auckland has become the first major city to welcome 2025, with thousands counting down to the new year and cheering at fireworks launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower.

Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from this week's WTA event in Auckland because of a back problem. The 22-year-old was due to play Robin Montgomery of the United States in the first round of the ASB Classic on Tuesday.

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu on Tuesday pulled out of the Auckland Classic with a "back niggle" in a blow to her preparations for the Australian Open which starts in less than two weeks. Former Australian Open semi-finalist Elise Mertens also withdrew Tuesday hours before the fifth seed's first-round match in Auckland.