It's new year in Iran and more than half of RussiaIran is next to hear the new year gong, entering 2026 on the back of visual displays from nearby UAE. We're now steadily approaching the Asia-Europe border - here's a reminder of how Europeans are gearing up for 2026. And, more than half of Russia has said goodbye to 2025. The country spans a huge 11 time zones - with capital Moscow due to join next. You can follow along with the celebrations in Lusail, Qatar, at the top of the page - where midnight is set to tick over at 21:00 GMT.

Source: The Times December 31, 2025 12:29 UTC