Mumbai, Dec. 31 -- As the clock struck midnight across various time zones this New Year's Eve, people and cities from different corners of the world ushered in 2026 with joy, celebrations, and even a solemn remembrance for the year ahead.

To begin with, Australia's iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge once again dazzled with its world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks -- a spectacle that drew hundreds of spectators along the waterfront. Also, this year's celebration carried a deeper resonance, offering tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.

In the weeks leading up to the celebrations, Sydney was struck by a terror attack at Bondi Beach during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah that claimed 15 lives. Authorities and community leader...