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Bride Excludes Sister from Wedding Party Over Concerns She Won’t Lose ‘Baby Weight’
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- A woman shared on Mumsnet that she’s “sad” because her sister didn’t ask her to be a bridesmaid over worries she won’t lose her “baby weight” in time for the wedding
- The bride’s sister will be 10 months postpartum at the time of the ceremony
- Fellow Mumsnet users commented that being excluded from the wedding party might be a “blessing” in disguise
A bride’s decision to exclude her older sister as a bridesmaid over weight concerns has resulted in a heavy emotional toll.
In a new post on the internet community forum Mumsnet, the bride’s sister asked users whether or not she’s being “unreasonable” for feeling “sad” that she’s being left out of the wedding party because she might not lose the weight she’s gained during her pregnancy in time.
“She said that she is worried that I won’t have lost my baby weight by the date of her wedding,” wrote the woman, who is currently 13 weeks pregnant but will be 10 months postpartum at the time of the ceremony.
Upset bridesmaid (stock photo).
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The woman explained that the bride also argued that because she will be focusing on caring for her three children at the nuptials, she “won’t have the time” to fulfill her bridesmaid duties, which she says requires making “her the center of attention.” The expectant mother agreed this is “an excellent point” because her children “are very important,” but she still can’t help but take the bridesmaid role exclusion personally.
“I feel so bad about this,” she said.
To make matters worse, the news was delivered on Christmas Day. Learning that five friends were asked to be bridesmaids while she was not, was especially hurtful she said.
The woman explained that she “romanticized” the idea in her head because her sister was one of her bridesmaids and she “would have loved to be hers.”
Fellow Mumsnet users commented that the bride is being “unreasonable” and many individuals said that the bride’s reasoning for leaving her sister out of the wedding party is “mean.”
Pregnant woman holding a bouquet (stock photo).
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Several people commented that not being asked to be a bridesmaid might be a “blessing” in disguise because the woman now doesn’t have to “fawn around” someone who seems “incredibly self-centered” and “shallow.”
“Sounds like there’s a bridezilla on the way. Just be grateful it won’t include you,” one person commented, with another agreeing, “Dodged a bullet there I reckon.”
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New Year’s Eve Australia LIVE UPDATES: Australia among first in the world to ring in 2026 with spectacular fireworks show
Follow along with New Year’s Eve celebrations here.
More than a million people are expected to gather in Sydney for the city’s famous midnight firework display in a show of unity and defiance.
NSW Police have increased security measures to unprecedented levels at the event in light of the Bondi Beach massacre.
All eyes will be on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which will be lit white with a menorah projected onto its pylons at 11pm to commemorate the victims.
NSW Premier Chris Minns encouraged Australians to enjoy the night.
‘We want to make it clear that we are not going to be in a situation where the way we live in our beautiful city is substantially altered as a result of the behaviour of these terrorists,’ he told reporters.
Thousands of armed officers have been deployed to metropolitan Sydney in a bid to bolster safety as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraged everyone to show kindness.
‘What Bondi also showed us was the best of the Australian spirit, in all its courage and compassion,’ he said.
Police will also be out in force in Melbourne, with about 500,000 people expected to flock to the city for the fireworks and laser display at midnight.
Check out our coverage below.
PICTURED: Sydney’s NYE fireworks
Welcome to 2026!
PICTURED: Melbourne welcomes 2026
‘Where’s the menorah?’
Australia falls silent in honour of the 15 lives lost in the Bondi Beach terror attack
Sydney Harbour Bridge turned blue in display of support and unity
WATCH: Play School celebrates its 60th anniversary in Sydney
Wollongong scraps NYE fireworks
Viewers slam ‘boring’ show
Pictured: Fireworks dazzle Sydney
Aussies disappointed by NYE coverage
ABC kicks off coverage with a Welcome to Country
Anthony AlbaneseChris Minns
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New Year’s Eve Australia LIVE UPDATES: Australia among first in the world to ring in 2026 with spectacular fireworks show
We all need the right amount of vitamins and minerals to keep us healthy but many watch some more closely than others
A deficiency can affect your vision
Most people know they need to keep an eye on their vitamin and mineral intake to make sure they stay healthy. Many will add an extra glass of orange juice to breakfast to boost their vitamin C or eat spinach and kale to up their iron and calcium levels.
But one vitamin tends to hide in the background despite carrying the risk of serious health problems if it falls too low. Vitamin E is a nutrient that supports a healthy immune system – too little and your body will not function properly.
As most people can get all they need from a healthy diet, it is rarely in the spotlight. However, people with some conditions which mean their body is less able to absorb fat, can find they are failing to get the nutrients from their diet.
According to the Cleveland Clinic Vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects your cells from free radicals. It explains: “Free radicals are chemical reactions that can damage your cells.
“Your body needs plenty of vitamin E to fight free radicals. If you lack vitamin E, your immune system may have trouble protecting you against illnesses and infections.”
It says the vitamin has a number of uses. It is also important because it:
- Supports healthy skin
- Promotes good vision
- Prevents blood clots
- Reduces inflammation
Symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency
The Cleveland Clinic says: “Vitamin E deficiency symptoms mostly affect your nervous system. These may include muscle weakness, vision issues and problems controlling your body movements.
“Other symptoms include numbness and fatigue. Severe cases can lead to blindness.” Other symptoms of vitamin E deficiency can include:
- Bleeding within the brain
- Abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eyes
- A blood disorder called Haemolytic anaemia
- Slow reflexes
- Trouble walking
- Weakened immune system
Causes of vitamin E deficiency
“Fat absorption disorders and certain genetic disorders usually cause vitamin E deficiency,” advises the Cleveland Clinic. “Less commonly, low vitamin E intake causes the condition. Vitamin E is found in many foods. So people who are healthy rarely have the deficiency.”
Fat absorption disorders
In countries such as the UK and USA where there is plenty of food for most people, deficiency of vitamin E is uncommon. If you do have vitamin E deficiency, it’s often due to a disorder that prevents your body from absorbing fat. These diseases include:
- Liver disease
- Pancreatitis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Celiac disease
Certain rare genetic diseases can also lead to the condition. These include abetalipoproteinemia and ataxia with vitamin E deficiency.
Low intake of vitamin E
In countries with high rates of food insecurity, the most common cause of vitamin E deficiency is a lack of vitamin E in the foods you eat. A very low-fat diet doesn’t contain a lot of vitamin E. And your body needs some fat to digest and absorb it.
Those most at risk?
“Newborns — particularly premature infants — have a higher risk of being deficient in vitamin E. That’s because very little vitamin E crosses the placenta during fetal development. So, when they’re born, they don’t have a lot of the vitamin stocked up,” says the Clinic.
“With age, their risk goes down. Babies can usually get the vitamin E they need through breast milk or formula.
“Your risk of developing vitamin E deficiency goes up if you don’t eat foods with any fat in them. Your body needs fat to digest and absorb certain vitamins.”
When to see a doctor
If you have any of these symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic recommends you contact your healthcare provider
Robbers stole items worth up to $105bn from safe-deposit boxes held at a German retail bank in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia state, during the Christmas holiday, German police said on Tuesday.
The German news agency dpa reported that it may rank among the biggest thefts in the country’s history.
What happened and what was stolen?
The thieves broke into a branch of Sparkasse bank in the city of Gelsenkirchen, in North Rhine-Westphalia state, from an adjacent parking garage, according to the police, at some point when businesses were closed for the Christmas holiday.
The German state is home to museums and Gothic architecture. Its capital, Dusseldorf, is known for its shopping boulevard and the Rheinturm telecommunications tower.
Using a large drill, the thieves bore through a thick concrete wall of the bank and gained access to an underground vault room. Then, they forced open some 3,000 safe deposit boxes, before making off with cash, gold and jewellery.
A police spokesperson likened the break-in to the movie, Ocean’s Eleven, and described it as “very professionally executed”, according to the AFP news agency.
“A great deal of prior knowledge and/or a great deal of criminal energy must have been involved to plan and carry this out,” the spokesperson told the agency.
The bank said “more than 95 percent of the 3,250 customer safe deposit boxes were broken into by unknown perpetrators.”
Police say they were alerted to the robbery when a fire alarm went off on Monday, but have not confirmed exactly when the robbery took place.
How much are the stolen items worth?
Investigators estimate the total value of the stolen items to be anything between 10 and 90 million euros ($11.8m and $105.7m), according to police spokesperson Thomas Nowaczyk.
Police said the average insured value of each deposit box was more than 10,000 euros ($11,700). However, officers said several victims have reported that the contents of their boxes were worth significantly more than the insured amounts.
What do we know about the robbers?
No arrests have been made, and the thieves remain at large.
Security camera footage showed a black Audi RS 6 leaving the bank’s parking garage during the early hours of Monday, with masked people inside.
The police said the car’s licence plate had been stolen earlier in the city of Hanover, about 200km (124 miles) northeast of Gelsenkirchen, where the robbery took place.
How have bank customers reacted?
On Tuesday, angry customers rallied outside the bank branch, demanding answers about the robbery from the bank.
The police spokesperson told AFP that the bank branch remained closed for security reasons after threats were made against bank employees.
“We’re still on site, keeping an eye on things,” AFP quoted the police spokesperson as saying, adding “the situation has calmed down considerably.”
How has the bank responded?
The bank is writing to notify all customers affected by the robbery. It also set up a customer hotline for those affected.
It said it is also working with insurers to determine how compensation claims will be handled.
“We are shocked,” said bank press spokesman Frank Krallmann. “We are standing by our customers and hope that the perpetrators will be caught.”
Which other significant heists have happened recently?
October 2025: The Louvre, France
In late October, a gang of robbers broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris and stole eight Napoleonic pieces of jewellery in less than seven minutes. The thieves made off on motorcycles laden with eight items dating back to the Napoleonic era, dropping a ninth on their way out.
The stolen items of jewellery were estimated to be worth $102m.
So far, French authorities have arrested eight suspects over the Louvre heist.
The first four suspects, three men and a woman, were arrested, formally investigated and charged.
The last four suspects taken into custody are two men aged 38 and 39, and two women aged 31 and 40, from the Paris area. They are being investigated as possible accomplices. The names of the suspects arrested have not been made public.
September 2025: Museum of Natural History, France
On September 30, a 24-year-old Chinese woman was arrested in Barcelona on suspicion of stealing six gold nuggets from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The gold nuggets were worth about 1.5 million euros ($1.76m).
The woman was arrested while trying to dispose of melted gold – it is unclear who melted it or how. The museum’s alarms and security system had been disabled in a cyberattack, but it is also unclear whether the thieves were also behind that cyberattack or whether the theft was opportunistic.
March 2024: Los Angeles cash site, United States
Thieves stole at least $30m in cash from a GardaWorld facility in Los Angeles over the Easter weekend.
GardaWorld is a global security company which provides services such as facilities management, property management and cash handling.
Local media called the heist one of the biggest cash heists in LA history. There has not been a public announcement indicating that the burglars have been caught.
Snowfall is expected across much of the UK in a chilly start to the new year, forecasters have said, as revellers were advised to wrap up with near-freezing temperatures expected on New Year’s Eve.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations are expected to go ahead after last year’s cancellation due to high winds, despite yellow warnings for snow across northern Scotland.
Elsewhere in the UK, the weather is likely to be perfect for fireworks, dry with clear skies, though temperatures are due to be chilly, making extra layers a necessity, the Met Office said.
Moving into Friday, weather warnings for snow are in place in Northern Ireland and stretching from Wales, across parts of the north-west, the West Midlands and through to London and most of the south-east of England.
Transport is expected to be affected, with people advised to allow extra time for journeys on the road and delays and cancellations expected on public transport.
The forecaster Simon Partridge said as 2026 begins it would be “cold regardless of where you are”.
He said: “At midnight in London there will be mostly clear skies, it will be quite chilly, but with fairly light winds, with temperatures around 1-2C. For Cardiff it’s again dry, there will be a bit more cloud around but still dry, again light winds, temperatures there a little bit warmer, 2-3C.”
Partridge said further north there would be cloudier skies, but this was not expected to affect visibility for watching fireworks displays. “We are not looking at low cloud, mist or murk, so you should be able to see fireworks, just not stars.”
Cars drive through fog across Dorney Common, Buckinghamshire, on 31 December. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock
Wednesday had a frosty start to the morning with fog lingering in the south-west but this made way for winter sunshine.
Patches of freezing fog were expected in the west and north-west of England during the day, the national weather service said, and advised those travelling early on New Year’s Day to take care.
In a post on X, the Met Office said: “A cold New Year’s Eve evening for those out celebrating, so extra layers will be needed.”
In London, where tens of thousands of partygoers will head to the banks of the Thames to watch the mayor’s annual fireworks display, the temperature will be just above freezing when Big Ben strikes midnight.
Going into 2026, temperatures are expected to drop further as snow and gale-force winds are expected to batter the north of the country.
About 10cm of snow is expected to have accumulated in some areas by Friday morning, reaching up to 30cm on the highest roads and hills.
Meanwhile, amber cold health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the north-east and north-west of England and are due to remain in place until noon on 5 January, with temperatures expected to fall to 3-5C.
The UKHSA said this meant the weather was likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a rise in the number of deaths among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.
Getty Images
Armed police carrying assault rifles patrol outside the Sydney Opera House
Thousands of heavily armed police officers are patrolling the streets of Sydney as people mark the new year – a rare and stark sight in Australia, following the Bondi Beach mass shooting.
Some officers were authorised to carry high-grade weapons as part of heightened security measures. The attack on 14 December targeted Australia’s Jewish community and killed 15 people at a Hanukkah festival.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said more than 2,500 officers would be on duty across the city.
Official New Year’s Eve parties were paused at 23:00 local time (12:00 GMT) for a minute’s silence to commemorate the victims of the attack, while the Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up by a white light to symbolise peace.
Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
An image of a menorah was projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Crowds turned on their mobile phone flashlights as they observed the minute’s silence
Pictures from Sydney Harbour – where huge crowds gather every year to watch the city’s famous fireworks display – show officers patrolling the crowds with longarm weapons.
In the lead up to the event, Premier Chris Minns had warned that some people may find the sight “confronting”, with police “carrying firearms and weapons that you haven’t seen before”.
“But I don’t make any apology for that. We want people to be safe in our community,” he added.
British tourists Joe and Lucy said the increased police presence reassured them.
The pair – who timed their Australia trip to coincide with the fireworks – were in Melbourne when the shooting occurred.
“We had our worries about coming for New Year’s Eve”, Joe told the BBC, adding, “but we were reading more recently in the news… how more police were going to be here, it would be a bit safer”.
Getty Images
Thousands surrounded the Opera House at Sydney Harbour to watch the city’s fireworks display
Separately, Minns had urged Sydneysiders to not let the “horrible criminal terrorist event” at Bondi change the way they live, as he called on people to “show defiance” and celebrate the new year.
This sentiment was shared by some of the spectators.
Out among the crowds at Barangaroo’s Observatory Hill, a close spot to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was Hélène from Belgium.
She told the BBC people “cannot live in fear” following the attack.
Hours ahead of the countdown, hundreds of thousands of people flocked towards the harbour, with many official viewing areas filling to capacity by early evening.
On the harbour, sailboats dotted the water – one of the best spots to watch the midnight fireworks display.
Sydney’s celebration – with its iconic fireworks display – kicks off a chain of events, from Dubai, to London and New York.
Additional reporting by Harry Sekulich
Finnish police on Wednesday seized a vessel suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia.
The vessel was spotted with its anchor lowered near the site in Estonia’s exclusive economic zone where telecom provider Elisa detected a fault early Wednesday.
A Finnish border guard vessel and helicopter located the ship and ordered it to stop, raise its anchor, and move into Finnish territorial waters.
“Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary,” President Alexander Stubb wrote on X.
Undersea ‘sabotage’ has countries on high alert
There was no immediate information about the ship’s flag or its origin.
Finnish police said they were investigating the incident as “aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.”
There have been a series of outages affecting power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines connecting Nordic, Baltic, and other European countries since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Europe’s undersea cables under attack?
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Experts and political leaders have viewed the suspected cable sabotage as part of a “hybrid war” carried out by Russia against Western countries.
NATO stepped up patrols in the Baltic Sea earlier this year due to the number of incidents.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
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U.S. and partner forces killed or captured nearly 25 Islamic State operatives in Syria in the days following a large-scale U.S.-led strike on Dec. 19, according to a new statement from U.S. Central Command, underscoring Washington’s assessment that ISIS remains an active and persistent threat inside the country.
CENTCOM said those forces conducted 11 follow-on missions between Dec. 20 and Dec. 29, killing at least seven ISIS members, capturing the remainder and eliminating four ISIS weapons caches. The operations followed Operation Hawkeye Strike, when U.S. and Jordanian forces hit more than 70 ISIS targets across central Syria using over 100 precision munitions, destroying infrastructure and weapons sites linked to the group.
“We will not relent,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said, adding that U.S. forces remain “steadfast” in working with regional partners to dismantle ISIS networks that pose a threat to U.S. and regional security.
The scope of the follow-on raids highlights a reality U.S. commanders and analysts have been warning about for months: ISIS no longer controls large swaths of territory, but it retains the ability to organize, strike and regenerate inside Syria’s fragmented security landscape.
SYRIANS MARK FIRST YEAR SINCE ASSAD’S FALL AS US SIGNALS NEW ERA IN RELATIONS
U.S. Army soldiers prepare to go out on patrol from a remote combat outpost on May 25, 2021, in northeastern Syria. U.S. forces, part of Task Force WARCLUB operate from combat outposts in the area, coordinating with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in combatting residual ISIS extremists and deterring pro-Iranian militia. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Syria remains divided among competing forces, militias and foreign-backed armed groups, with no single authority exercising full control over large parts of the country. Analysts say that vacuum continues to provide space for ISIS cells to operate quietly, recruit and exploit overstretched local forces.
Analysts note that Syria’s security environment remains shaped by former jihadist networks that were never fully demobilized after the war. The country’s transitional leadership, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa, emerged from armed Islamist factions that relied heavily on foreign fighters and militias, according to regional security assessments. While those groups are not synonymous with ISIS, experts say the incomplete dismantling of extremist networks has left gaps that ISIS cells continue to exploit.
“ISIS today doesn’t need a caliphate to be dangerous,” Bill Roggio told Fox News Digital. “We’ve always been quick to declare terrorist organizations defeated and insignificant, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Roggio said the group has adapted rather than disappeared, shifting away from holding territory toward smaller, more covert cells capable of carrying out lethal attacks. He pointed to ongoing ISIS activity not only in Syria and Iraq, but also in Afghanistan and other regions, citing United Nations reporting that estimates roughly 2,000 ISIS fighters remain active in Afghanistan alone.
“That’s not what a defeated group looks like,” Roggio said, noting that ISIS continues to recruit, indoctrinate and inspire attacks even without the visibility it once had.
FROM SYRIA TO SOMALIA, US TROOPS REMAIN DEPLOYED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON UNDER MISSIONS THAT NEVER FORMALLY ENDED
ISIS terrorists in Syria. (Reuters)
One of the most sensitive vulnerabilities remains the network of detention facilities in northeastern Syria holding thousands of ISIS terrorists and supporters. Those prisons are guarded primarily by Kurdish-led forces backed by a small U.S. military presence, estimated at roughly 1,000 troops, according to Reuters.
U.S. and coalition officials have repeatedly warned that any major disruption to prison security could allow hardened ISIS operatives to escape and reconstitute networks across Syria and beyond. Kurdish officials have also raised concerns about funding shortages, manpower strain and pressure from rival militias operating nearby.
While U.S. officials have not publicly linked the recent strikes to prison-related threats, analysts say the broader environment of fragmented control increases the risk of coordinated attacks, insider assistance or prison unrest.
The danger is not theoretical. ISIS has previously staged mass prison break operations in Syria and Iraq, including a 2022 assault on the al-Sinaa prison in Hasakah that required days of fighting to contain.
The U.S. strikes also come amid continued instability inside Syria, where multiple armed actors operate with overlapping authority. Analysts note that clashes among militias, sectarian violence and unresolved command structures have weakened overall security and diverted attention from counterterrorism efforts.
US, SYRIAN TROOPS COME UNDER FIRE WHILE ON PATROL: REPORT
U.S. soldiers attached to the Iowa National Guard sign GBU-31 munitions systems in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Dec. 18, 2025 as the U.S. military launched large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria in retaliation for an attack on U.S. personnel, U.S. officials said. (Air Force Photo/Handout via Reuters)
Bombings in neighborhoods of Damascus, including Mezzeh, and unrest in minority areas have further illustrated the gaps ISIS and other extremist groups can exploit, according to regional security assessments and open-source reporting.
“Syria’s chaos is the accelerant,” Roggio said. “ISIS thrives where no one is fully in charge.”
U.S. officials and analysts stress that ISIS activity in Syria is part of a wider pattern rather than an isolated flare-up.
Sources in the Israeli Mossad told Fox News Digital of continued ISIS-linked activity across multiple theaters, including recruitment networks and small-scale attacks designed to test security responses and maintain operational relevance.
In Turkey, security forces recently clashed with Islamic State militants during counterterrorism operations, wounding several officers, according to Reuters on Monday. Turkish authorities said the raids targeted ISIS cells suspected of planning attacks inside the country.
DEADLY STRIKE ON US TROOPS TESTS TRUMP’S COUNTER-ISIS PLAN — AND HIS TRUST IN SYRIA’S NEW LEADER
Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government ride in the back of a vehicle moving along a road in Syria’s western city of Latakia on March 9, 2025. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for national unity and peace on March 9, amid growing international backlash following the killing of civilians along the country’s coast in the worst violence since the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images)
“These are signals, not spikes,” Roggio said. “ISIS operates across regions, adapting to pressure and exploiting weak governance wherever it finds it.”
The renewed U.S. military action raises difficult questions for policymakers about how long the current containment strategy can hold.
While U.S. officials say the Dec. 19 strikes delivered a significant blow to ISIS infrastructure, they have also acknowledged that counterterrorism operations alone cannot eliminate the underlying conditions that allow the group to persist.
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People wave guns in the air as they gather to celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime in Umayyad Square on Dec. 8 in Damascus, Syria. (Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images)
“Just because we want to declare the war against terror over doesn’t mean it’s over,” Roggio said. “The enemy gets a vote.”
Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.
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More than 3,000 fireworks have been launched over the top of New Zealand’s tallest building – the Sky Tower – as Auckland became the first majot city to welcome in the new year.
New Zealand’s capital celebrates midnight 18 hours before New York. The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240-metre (787-foot) Sky Tower.
At 1pm GMT, Australia will join in the celebrations with the annual huge fireworks display over Sydney. It has already warmed up with a smaller display ahead of midnight for families and those seeking an early night.
The island of Kiritimati was the first place in the world to celebrate 2026. Part of the Pacific Ocean nation Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and north-east of Australia. It is made up of several atolls – ring-shaped coral reefs – and spans almost 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) from east to west. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979 and has a population of about 116,000.
The ‘family fireworks’ – also known as the Country fireworks – are displayed three hours before midnight every year over the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridg (AFP/Getty)
Japan and South Korea will celebrate the New Year around 3pm GMT, joined by Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan.
However, Hong Kong will not mark the occasion with a fireworks display after a devastating fire killed 161 people in an apartment complex in November. It marked the deadliest blaze the city had seen in decades. The city is usually home to the world’s largest and most extravagant demonstrations with light shows, fireworks, music and performances.
Instead, the government has organised a light show and pared-back musical performances for members of the public.
The ‘family fireworks’ – also known as the Country fireworks – are displayed three hours before midnight every year over the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge (Getty)
Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year’s Eve address broadcast by state media hailed his country’s technological progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewing threats against Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory.
“We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship,” he said. “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.” China this week launched large-scale military drills around the island.
Europe will join later with Germany, France and Italy celebrating at around 11pm before the UK, Portugal, Mali and Ghana. Residents of the German capital are already enjoying snowfall, taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The famous Berlin TV Tower is nearly invisible thanks to the falling flakes and fog.
People gather at the Sydney Opera House in anticipation of the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display on December 31, 2025 in Sydney, Australia (Getty)
The biggest firework display in London this year, as in previous years, will be the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks – an event watched by more than 10 million people in the UK.
Tickets to view the display up close are highly coveted, and typically sell out long before New Year’s Eve. Areas around the display, including Embankment and parts of Lambeth, begin closing to the public as early as 2pm as preparations get underway.
New York will join in the celebrations at 5am GMT on New Year’s Day, with performances by Diana Ross and Ciara, with Los Angeles celebrating at 8am GMT.
If your end-of-year to-do list includes a bank stop, you may want to pause before heading out the door.
Most banks in the U.S. are closed on federal holidays or operate at reduced hours, which can make New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day errands slightly more challenging. This practice dates back to 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the first-ever national bank holiday to keep the banking system from failing during the Great Depression.
Since then, banks have expanded their observance to include several holidays throughout the year, including major ones like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As 2025 comes to a close, you might be wondering: Is New Year’s Eve considered a federal banking holiday, and will your local branch be open? We’ve got all the answers below to help you avoid any last-minute banking headaches.
Are banks open on New Year’s Eve 2025?
Sign at the entrance to a Chase branch in Manhattan.
Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty
While hours may vary depending on the branch, all banks are open and accessible on New Year’s Eve.
However, they will be closed on Jan. 1, 2026, as New Year’s Day is considered a federal banking holiday. You can still use mobile banking and ATMs, but keep in mind that any transactions submitted after 11:30 p.m. EST on New Year’s Eve will not be processed until the banks reopen on Jan. 2, 2026.
What are the different banks’ hours on New Year’s Eve 2025?
TD Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 27, 2016.
Raymond Boyd/Getty
Major banks like JPMorgan, PNC, Wells Fargo and Bank of America typically close early on New Year’s Eve around 4 p.m., but make sure to check your local branch’s specific holiday hours before you head out.
Other financial service providers that may have reduced hours on New Year’s Eve include credit unions, mortgage lenders and loan providers, but again, make sure to confirm their local hours in advance.
Is the stock market open on New Year’s Eve?
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on April 03, 2025 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty
Similar to banks, the U.S. stock market keeps things mostly business as usual on New Year’s Eve. Stocks will trade during normal market hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, while bond markets wrap up early, closing at 2 p.m. EST, per Bankrate.com.
Both the stock and bond markets will be closed on New Year’s Day, with normal trading resuming on Jan. 2.
In other words, if you’re looking to get a head start on your 2026 financial goals, you’ll want to keep these holiday hours in mind!
Can I still deposit and withdraw money from the bank on New Year’s Eve?
Facade of Bank of America with two automated teller machines (ATMs) on a city sidewalk, San Francisco, California, February 21, 2025.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty
Since banks are open on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have plenty of time to cash those holiday checks and make sure you’ve got a little extra in your pocket for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, but the earlier you go, the better.
Transactions made after your local bank closes or past the cutoff for mobile deposits could take a bit longer to process and post to your account, so plan ahead to avoid any delays.
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Moment dangerous driver leads police on hair-raising 100mph chase as he’s jailed for 18 months
A dangerous driver risked multiple crashes as he led police on a terrifying 18-mile high speed chase.
Sarwar Rasool Mustafa ran red lights and overtook vehicles at speeds of up to 100mph across Dorset.
Dashcam footage showed the moment Mustafa began overtaking cars in an attempt to make a getaway.
As the police chase continued, cars on both sides were forced to pull onto the hard shoulder to avoid being hit as Mustafa veered onto the wrong side of the road.
Dorset Police said it was down to luck that Mustafa did not hurt anyone as he sped towards oncoming traffic.
The 27-year-old from Chard, Somerset, has been jailed for 18 months after admitting dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
He was also disqualified from driving for 40 months when he was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court.
Sarwar Rasool Mustafa, 27, jailed for 18 months after admitting dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance and otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Mustafa led police on an 18-mile chase across Dorset, driving at speeds of up to 100mph
Officers noticed Mustafa’s grey BMW 1 series on the A35 which they believed had cloned registration plates and no insurance at around 9.45am on June 22.
The driver ignored police sirens and led them on an 18-mile chase from Bere Regis to Ferndown.
Mustafa ran red lights and ignored double white lines to dangerously overtake other cars.
At one point he also reversed into one of the police vehicles which was chasing him.
The dashcam footage also showed one moment where he veered back onto the right side of the road in a busy line of traffic and narrowly missing a collision with a car towing a caravan.
At another point he was forced to change direction when he was stuck at a red light and police were closing in.
One police car tried to block his path he swerved left and took off again at speed through quiet residential streets.
Mustafa was eventually caught when he foolishly turned into a cul-de-sac and police were able to block his escape.
Police eventually caught up with Mustafa after he turned into a cul-de-sac, leaving police able to block his escape
PC Mark Palmer, of the Roads Policing Team, said: ‘Mustafa was travelling at speeds of up to around 100mph and overtook many vehicles in a dangerous manner.
‘It is extremely lucky that he was not involved in a collision and no other road users were harmed by his reckless driving.
‘The dashcam footage from this incident is shocking – there is no excuse for driving the way that Mustafa did that day. This could have ended in devastating and tragic consequences.
‘Everybody has a responsibility for not only themselves, but also other road users when getting behind the wheel and we need everyone to play their part by making good decisions and driving within the law.’
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Moment dangerous driver leads police on hair-raising 100mph chase as he’s jailed for 18 months
Family members spoke out amid fears the former world boxing champ may struggle to overcome the psychological trauma of the crash
11:21, 31 Dec 2025
Anthony Joshua is “responding to treatment” in hospital after the horror car crash that killed two of his closest friends, his family have said.
The former world heavyweight boxing champ, 36, is expected to remain at the Duchess International Hospital, where his condition is described as “stable”, until the New Year.
His mum Yeta Odusanya has been at his bedside, but wider family members have so far not been allowed to visit him inside the private hospital in Lagos.
Joshua reportedly said: “I feel pain all over my body” after the crash, which killed his best friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both aged 36, at around lunchtime on Monday.
David Joshua, who is an older brother of Joshua’s dad Robert, said: “We have not been allowed to see him, but from information given by authorities, he is responding to treatment.”
Friends of Sina Ghami place flowers outside his gym in North LondonREAD MORE: Queen Camilla speaks about horror train attack, where she fought off groper as teen, for first time
Joshua was seen grimacing in pain after being pulled out of the wreckage of the crash in Nigeria on Monday(Image: X)
Another of the boxer’s uncles, Adedamola Joshua, revealed his famous nephew had been in Nigeria for less than six hours when the tragedy took place.
The trio were on their way to the Nigerian city of Sagamu, in the south-west of the country, to spend the festive period with Joshua’s family.
Adedamola said: “The incident shook our family deeply. Though our son, Anthony, is alive, two of his friends, who came to celebrate with us, lost their lives.
“This is a serious tragedy, not only for our family, but for Ogun State, Nigeria, and the world at large. We are deeply saddened that two people very close to Anthony did not survive. Our hearts are with their families.”
Mr Adedamola, who expressed gratitude to God for sparing the life of their son and the driver, also urged authorities to allow limited family access to see Joshua, noting that the family remains eager but respectful of security and medical protocols.
Joshua came within inches of death in the back seat of a Lexus SUV when it crashed into a stationary truck(Image: X)
He spoke out after pals of Joshua admitted they fear the Olympic gold medallist may never be the same following the crash.
His physical injuries are less serious than first feared after Monday’s horror crash, but friends say he could struggle to overcome the psychological trauma of the crash.
And there are concerns he may not feel able to carry on with his career without strength and-conditioning coach Sina and personal trainer Latif.
Lindsey Jacobs was among dozens of mourners who yesterday left flowers and written tributes to Sina at a gym he owned in Colindale, North West London.
Joshua, known to millions as AJ, had been seen there with him on Saturday, just hours before they flew to Nigeria.
Caterer Lindsey, whose daughter counts the trio as friends, said: “How AJ is going to cope without them I don’t know. I don’t think he can go on without his two best mates.
“They were best friends. Like family. The three of them were inseparable. They went everywhere together. He relied on them for everything. I don’t think he’s going to cope with this. It’s like both his arms have been cut off.”
The boxing star is being treated at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, where he is expected to stay until the New Year(Image: AP)
Well-wishers from the boxing world, including rival Tyson Fury, have been among those to send him messages of support.
Fury, 37, whose proposed £100million super-fight with Joshua later this year is now in doubt, added: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”
The Gypsy King’s dad John, 60, said: “AJ you’ve got a guardian angel my friend. God has his arms wrapped around you.”
Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly spoke with both Joshua and his mother Yeta by phone in hospital, during which he conveyed his “sympathies and condolences”.
Joshua, who has Nigerian heritage, came within inches of death in the back seat of the Lexus SUV when it crashed into a stationary truck at around lunchtime on Monday. Police are probing claims a tyre blowout, caused by excessive speed during overtaking, may have been to blame for the smash.
Sina and Latif, who were sitting on the same side of the Lexus, are believed to have died instantly. It is understood Joshua was seated behind the driver, along with another passenger, when the crash occurred.
Joshua pictured with his close pals Latif Ayodele (left) and Sina Ghami (right)
Joshua’s injuries have been described as “minor” after some initial reports that they were more serious.
According to reports in Nigeria, he was taken to hospital sitting up in a police truck as no mother, ambulances were available, having earlier been hauled from the mangled car and taken past the bodies of his pals.
Sina and Latif, known as Latz, were on holiday with Joshua when the crash happened.
They are believed to have also been alongside him in Miami on December 19, when he successfully knocked out YouTuber Jake Paul, 28, in a £70million bout.
Speaking about AJ, Lindsey, from Edgware, North London, added: “I think he’ll retire. I don’t think he can possibly go on without them. I may be mistaken, but let’s just hope he’s OK physically and mentally.”
Lindsey first found out about the crash through her daughter, who is distraught after videos circulated online of her friends in the aftermath of the accident.
She said: “I’ve seen the videos of AJ getting out the car and somebody posted another one which my daughter told them to take down.
Lindsey Jacobs looked at tributes outside the Evolve gym in Colindale, north west London, which had been owned by Sina Ghami(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
“It’s disrespectful to the family. It’s not necessary for any of us to see it. I want to remember Sina the way I always knew him – bright, vibrant, funny, generous of heart. I don’t want to see anything else.”
Boxing coach Andrew Afshar, 38, from Colindale, first met Sina, 36, when they played football together. He said: “I’m still in shock.
He had everything in front of him.” Asked what effect he thinks the tragedy will have on Joshua, he said: “I don’t think he’ll be back – I don’t think it’s possible.
“It could happen, but to watch two of your friends die, it’s going to be a lot to come back from. It’s a big loss to the boxing community as well because we all come from nothing and we’re all just trying to make better lives for ourselves and then within half a second it’s over.”
Waheed Moneni, 40, put down a bouquet of flowers with his 10-year-old son Malik, who he said was able to carry out his dream of meeting AJ thanks to Sina. Speaking about Joshua, he said: “I hope he’s doing well and I wish him a quick recovery.”
Waheed Moneni and his ten-year-old son Malik were also among those who left tributes outside the Evolve gym(Image: Tim Merry/Staff Photographer)
Sina was a key figure in Joshua’s corner during several landmark bouts, including his 2017 victory over Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
Later that year, he co-founded Evolve Gym. Latif was a non-League footballer with Aylesbury United, Tooting & Mitcham United, Hillingdon Borough, AFC Hayes, Chalfont Wasps and Northwood.
According to his Facebook profile, he attended St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth, a few miles from Joshua’s hometown of Watford.
British envoy Simon ¦ Jo¦ Field, was among those Fury & who visited Joshua in Tyson hospital following the crash, which happened on the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The 80-mile road is one of the west African country’s deadliest routes having claimed 73 lives in the past three months and a total of 645 deaths over the past two years.
Field, who is deputy head of the Mission of the High Commission, also reportedly held discussions with Ogun state governor Dapo Abiodun and his Lagos counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as officials continue to monitor developments surrounding the incident.
Abiodun said: “We are comfortable with the doctors and the quality of care at the hospital and we appreciate the medical team for their professionalism. This immense tragedy has cast a deep shadow.”
WORLD NEWS
Ex-Australia batter Damien Martyn in induced coma after contracting meningitis | World News
Ex-Australia batter Damien Martyn has been placed in an induced coma after contracting meningitis.
Cricket Australia confirmed that the 54-year-old sportsman, who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006 and won two World Cups, became unwell on Boxing Day and is being treated in a Brisbane hospital.
“I’m saddened to hear of Damien’s illness. The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said in a statement.
His friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist added: “He is getting the best of treatment and (Martyn’s partner) Amanda and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes.”
Former Australian Football League (AFL) star Brad Hardie, speaking on his radio show with Perth’s 6PR station, told listeners that Martyn was receiving treatment at a Queensland hospital.
He said: “I’d like everybody to have their best wishes and positive thoughts for Marto. Let’s hope he can pull through, because it’s really serious.”
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Darren Lehmann, the Northamptonshire head coach and former teammate of Martyn, sent “lots of love and prayers” via X.
He added: “Keep strong and fighting legend. Love to the family xxx.”
Read more from Sky News:
Anthony Joshua was ‘shocked’ and ‘couldn’t talk’ after crash
Martyn, who represented Yorkshire as an overseas player in 2003, posted on X on Christmas Eve looking ahead to the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
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He wrote: “If the old brigade could play again then this would be it. Boxing Day Test match. What a cauldron.”
Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 saw its third year of double-digit gains, while non-US stocks registered their best run since 2009.
Published On 31 Dec 2025
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Stock markets had a stellar run in 2025.
From North America to Europe and Asia, markets racked up some of the biggest gains in years.
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While Wall Street achieved a third straight year of heady returns, non-US stocks did even better as investors sought out alternative markets amid the tumult wrought by United States President Donald Trump’s shake-up of global trade.
The globally-focused MSCI ACWI Ex-US index had its strongest performance since 2009, when the global financial crisis was in full swing.
The index, which tracks non-US stocks in more than 40 markets, was on Wednesday on track to finish 2025 up about 30 percent, compared with the nearly 18 percent return of the benchmark S&P 500.
The bullish streak marks a break from the decade-plus trend of US stocks dominating global indexes.
Analysts have attributed the standout performance by non-US markets to uncertainty caused by Trump, concerns about the sky-high valuations of Silicon Valley tech firms, artificial intelligence (AI) advances in China and the weakness of the US dollar, among other factors.
“International stocks could be poised for another strong year as earnings and economic growth are expected to accelerate and stocks are attractively valued compared with stocks in the S&P 500 index,” Charles Schwab analyst Michelle Gibley said in a note earlier this month.
Asia saw some of the biggest gains.
South Korea, long among the weakest developed markets despite being home to corporate giants Samsung and Hyundai, topped the global rankings, with its KOSPI finishing up nearly 76 percent.
SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics led the gains, rising some 280 percent and 125 percent, respectively, on the back of strong demand for their chips used in AI.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index ended the year nearly 31 percent higher, while the SSE Composite Index in Shanghai was up more than 21 percent.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was up about 28 percent.
Europe also finished strong.
The FTSE 100 in London and DAX 40 in Frankfurt were both heading into 2026 up more than 20 percent.
WORLD NEWS
‘It’s not a hen party hellscape’: Dublin’s Temple Bar strives to shake off its bad reputation | Ireland
When Ireland redeveloped a swathe of central Dublin in the 1990s, the idea was to create a version of Paris’s Left Bank, a cultural quarter of cobbled lanes, art and urban renewal.
Planners and architects transformed the run-down Temple Bar site by the River Liffey into an ambitious experiment that drew throngs of visitors and won awards.
Three decades later, there are some withering verdicts on what happened next.
“It seems that Temple Bar is becoming a violent post-apocalyptic place,” a judge said last year after sentencing a man who bludgeoned a victim with a can of cider. “It’s shocking to see it, that people can’t be safe down there. It makes it a no-go area for people.”
Frank McDonald, who writes about urban planning for the Irish Times, recalled how he moved into the area in 1995, full of optimism, but fled in 2022 amid hordes of pub-crawlers and thumping nightclub music. “I feared that our home would become uninhabitable,” he wrote in July.
Gardaí enforcing coronavirus restrictions in Temple Bar in 2021. Photograph: Artur Widak/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock
Since then, there have been more grim headlines, including the alleged mugging of a visiting NFL quarterback and an assault on an English tourist who later died. A study of online reviews rated Temple Bar the world’s third biggest tourist trap, reinforcing the perception of a raucous, brawling district best left to stag parties.
It adds up to a crushing indictment of the original vision: instead of art and culture, crime and overpriced Guinness.
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There is, however, an alternative view that Temple Bar is a victim of outdated stereotyping and that a renaissance is under way, making the area a vibrant and a worthy home for organisations such as the Irish Film Institute, Project Arts Centre, Smock Alley Theatre and Graphic Studio Gallery.
“It is Dublin’s cultural quarter,” said Martin Harte, the chief executive officer of the Temple Bar Company, a business association. “The era of massive drinking – it’s not that now. Temple Bar is an entirely different place. It’s the front room of Dublin city.”
Martin Harte, CEO of the Temple Bar Company, says the era of ‘massive drinking’ is over and the area is ‘the front room of Dublin city’. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
Violent incidents garnered publicity but set against an annualised footfall of 24m visits they were very rare, said Harte. “To say Temple Bar is unsafe is not accurate. Walk around, it has everything from small art galleries to coffee shops, tattoo parlours, vintage clothes shops, hotels. It’s where people come, it gives it that electricity.”
Tom Roo, 39, and Heather Mitchell, 28, a couple from Leeds, agreed. “I was expecting young lads and drinking everywhere but it’s really nice to walk around, it’s relaxed,” said Roo. Mitchell found the pubs picturesque – more so even than their images on Instagram.
Tom Roo and Heather Mitchell, visitors from Leeds. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
In the 1980s, much of this web of lanes and streets was derelict and due to become a bus terminus. Instead, in 1991 the government decided to channel Dublin’s year as European city of culture into a showcase project driven by a state agency and tax incentives. Renovated historic buildings and new contemporary structures and art installations created a landmark in urban renewal.
The decade also brought cheap flights, laddish culture and superpubs that turned Temple Bar into a boozing destination. “That’s where it got its initial stripes, its brand,” said Harte. “You had to queue behind 30, 40 people to get in anywhere to have a drink.”
The supposed culture hub was nicknamed the Temple of Bars and likened to Ibiza. Bacchanalia continued through the 2008 economic crash and prompted another judge – ruling in a 2017 assault case – to brand Temple Bar a vomit-splattered “disgrace to Ireland”.
The Covid pandemic brought more challenges. Gangs marauded through under-policed streets, stealing and vandalising. “All the zombies came out,” said Ángel Luis González, director of PhotoIreland, which runs exhibitions and a bookshop called The Library Project.
Ángel Luis González in The Library Project. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
However, improved policing has restored safety, confidence and an eclectic vibe, said González, echoing a widespread view among stakeholders. People who come to take selfies outside famous pubs end up visiting galleries and discovering artists.
John Cullen, who runs a jewellery shop and stall in a refurbished square, said the outdoor market drew in families with children. “It civilises the place.”
John Cullen at his jewellery and accessories stall in Temple Bar. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
Pubs such as the Palace, Gogarty’s and the Norseman still drew big crowds but the number of late night licences – which allow venues to serve alcohol until 3am – had plunged from 25 to seven and fine dining was making inroads, said Harte. “Every single pub now serves food. People are still drinking but nowhere near at the old levels.”
Will Wollen, who moved to Temple Bar two years ago to run the Gaiety School of Acting, said the area’s reputation for excess was unfair. “There is an energy but it’s not a hen party hellscape. It’s a pub culture with warmth and friendliness.”
Stephen Kennedy, who runs the Copper and Straw cafe and chairs the Aston Quay and Temple Bar Business and Residents’ Alliance, said there were plans for more street art, seating, lighting and perhaps an outdoor cinema. “I would tell any tourist coming to Dublin that Temple Bar is a must.”
Other Dubliners, in contrast, urge visitors to steer clear unless they like crowds, price gouging and ersatz Irishness. Critics also accuse platforms such as Airbnb of driving up rents and driving out people.
Londoners Tom Salter, left, and Ben Early at a pub in Temple Bar. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
Perry Share, a sociologist and co-editor of a book on Irish pubs, said Temple Bar was a “pub theme park” that offered a degree of authenticity. “Tourists come to replicate an Irish pub experience they have perhaps seen online. The music and drink is essential to that.”
A vox pop of early evening drinkers last week yielded toasts to Temple Bar. “TikTok said it was too touristy but the buzz is great,” said Tom Salter, 22, from London. Dave Howard, from Derbyshire, had a caveat. “It can be quite fun watching a stag party. But not for the locals, obviously.”
Guinea’s junta chief Gen Mamady Doumbouya has won the presidential election by a landslide, getting 86.7% of the vote, according to provisional results published by the election commission.
The general is hoping to legitimise his rule after seizing power in a coup in 2021.
A civil society group calling for the return of civilian rule earlier condemned the election as a “charade” after Gen Doumbouya’s main rivals were barred from contesting, while opposition candidates said the poll was marred by irregularities.
On Monday, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that access to social media platforms TikTok, YouTube and Facebook had been restricted as Guineans waited for the full results.
There has been no official comment on the restrictions, but opponents see it as an attempt by the junta to stifle criticism of the results.
The 41-year-old general’s victory gives him a seven-year mandate. Should the results be challenged, the Supreme Court has eight days to validate them.
Opposition candidate Faya Millimono said on Monday that the election was marred by “systematic fraudulent practices”, citing the expulsion of poll observers, ballot stuffing and intimidation.
The ruling party and the government have yet to comment on the complaints.
After overthrowing then-83-year-old President Alpha Condé in 2021, Gen Doumbouya promised not to seek election and to hand power to a civilian.
“Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he said at the time.
The junta leader broke his promise by putting his name on the ballot after a new constitution, implemented in September, permitted him to run for office.
Djenabou Toure, the country’s top election official who announced the provisional results, put the voter turnout at more than 80%.
However, a civil society group, the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution, said in a statement on Monday that the turnout was low.
“A huge majority of Guineans chose to boycott the electoral charade,” the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Eight other candidates took part in Sunday’s election, but with the exclusion of main opposition parties RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG, none of the participants have a solid political footing.
Although he is popular with many of Guinea’s youth, Gen Doumbouya has been criticised for restricting opposition activities, banning protests and stifling press freedom in the run-up to the elections.
The general justified deposing Condé on similar charges – including rampant corruption, disregard for human rights and economic mismanagement.
Guinea has the world’s largest bauxite reserves and some of its richest iron ore. Last month, authorities launched the gigantic Simandou iron-ore mine to widespread anticipation.
However, over half of the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank figures.