Countries around the world are celebrating the start of 2024, as the New Year arrives around the globe.
Celebrations were led by the Pacific islands, who were the first to see the sunrise on a new year.
Here’s how the start of 2024 has been rung in across the world.
Pacific islands, including Samoa and Kiribati Island
The Pacific nation of Kiribati was the first country to see in the new year.
The country’s largest island, Kiritimati – which is also known as Christmas Island – entered 2024 at 10am UK time.
It was closely followed by its neighbours Samoa and Tonga.
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New Zealand
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New Zealand welcomes in 2024
Image: Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland welcomed in the new year with a fireworks display over its tallest building, the Sky Tower.
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The tip of the 1,076ft (328m) communications and observation tower lit up in different colours as fireworks exploded in the cloudy night sky.
They were accompanied by a laser light and animation show.
Australia
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Fireworks over Sydney as Oz welcomes 2024
Image: Sydney Harbour, Australia
Image: The Yarra River, Melbourne, Australia
Sydney said hello to 2024 with a dazzling firework display featuring silver and gold pyrotechnics to mark the 50th anniversary of its famous Opera House.
The 12-minute show, which was accompanied by lasers and pyrotechnics, lit up the sky above the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
More than a million people – equivalent to one in five of the city’s residents – watched from the shore and from boats.
North Korea, South Korea and Japan
Image: Bosingak Pavilion, Seoul, South Korea
Image: Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul, South Korea
Image: Senso-ji temple in Taito Ward, Tokyo
Image: Itsukushima shrine in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima
In Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony took place in Bosingak Pavilion.
Pyongyang said goodbye to 2023 with a fireworks display at Kim II Sung Square.
Crowds gathered at a temple in central Tokyo to watch a traditional bell-ringing ceremony, known as Joya no Kane.
And in Hiroshima, Japan, groups of people celebrated the New Year at a large torch festival.
Young people carried the torch near Itsukushima shrine in Hatsukaichi City as crowds of tourists watched.
Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines
Image: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Image: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Image: Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan
Image: Marina Bay, Singapore
Image: Marina Bay, Singapore
Image: Fireworks explode over Rockwell Center in Manila, Philippines
Hong Kong had its biggest ever display to kick off 2024 – lasting 12-minutes, fireworks were set off from the rooftops of some of the island’s skyscrapers.
In Beijing, China, crowds gathered to watch the New Year countdown in Shougang Park.
Taiwan welcomed in 2024 with fireworks and a countdown from the Taipei 101 building.
And fireworks, set against illuminated tower blocks, lit up the night sky in the Philippines capital of Manila at the stroke of midnight.
Thailand
Image: The Grand Palace Bangkok, Thailand
Image: The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand saw a rainbow of fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River.
India
Image: Juhu Beach on the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, India
Image: Ahmedabad, India
Festivities took place in cities around India including New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Thousands of people from the financial hub of Mumbai flocked to a bustling promenade to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea.
In less romantic scenes, fireworks in New Delhi raised concerns that the capital – which is already infamous for its poor air quality – would be blanketed by a toxic haze on the first morning of the new year.
Pakistan
Image: Clifton beach in Karachi, Pakistan
Image: Karachi, Pakistan
Festivities in Pakistan were muted after the government banned all New Year’s Eve celebrations as an act of solidarity with Palestinians.
Caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar called on Pakistanis to “show solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza” by starting 2024 with simplicity.
A candlelight protest against Israeli airstrikes on Gaza was held in the city of Karachi.
United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russia, Ukraine
Image: Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Image: Outside the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia
Image: Moscow, Russia
Image: Red Square, Moscow, Russia
Fireworks exploded up and down the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, as clocks struck midnight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile Abu Dhabi boasted the “largest fireworks display in the world,” with organisers saying the show lasted 40 minutes.
Russia’s new year celebrations were overshadowed by its military actions in Ukraine, with the usual fireworks and concert on Moscow’s Red Square cancelled for a second year running.
Authorities in several Russian cities have pledged to send money to front lines instead.
Despite the cancelled celebrations, crowds of Muscovites and visitors still celebrated in the city centre.
Greece and South Africa
Fireworks were launched into the sky in Cape Town with the iconic Table Mountain lit up below.
While a dazzling show took place at the Acropolis in Athens.
Source : Sky News
