Auckland has become the first major city to receive the New Year 2024with thousands of people celebrating a fireworks display that erupts from the tallest structure in New Zealandthe Sky Tower, and a light show downtown.
The celebrations of New Years Eve this year are overshadowed by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Loopwhich have overshadowed the festivities and increased tensions in parts of the world. Many cities are implementing additional safety measures and some places have canceled New Year’s Eve events entirely.
LOOK: New Year 2024 LIVE: follow the celebrations around the world Live
In Aucklanda light rain throughout Sunday had cleared as expected at midnight over the city of 1.7 million before the countdown began on an illuminated digital screen near the top of the 328 meter observation and communications tower (1,076 feet).
Two hours later, in the neighboring Australiathe Bridge of Sydney Harbor will become the focal point of a famous light show and Fireworks to midnight, watched annually by about 425 million people around the world, according to city officials.
More police than ever have been deployed throughout Sydney to ensure safety as more than a million people (equivalent to one in five of the city’s population) converge on the port’s promenade to enjoy the best views available, state government authorities said in a statement.
Many revelers have been camping since Sunday morning at the best viewpoints.
The boardwalk has been the scene of heated pro-Palestinian protests after the candles of the Sydney Opera were illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag in response to the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that sparked the war.
In Times Square of NYofficials and party organizers say they are prepared to welcome crowds of revelers and ensure their safety.
At a security briefing on Friday, the mayor of the city of NY, Eric Adams said there were “no specific threats” to the annual New Year’s Eve party, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the heart of downtown Manhattan.
The celebrity-studded event will include live performances from Flo Rida, Megan Thee Stallion and LL Cool J, as well as televised appearances from Cardi B and others. Organizers said in-person attendance is expected to return to pre-COVID levels, even as foot traffic around Times Square continues to decline slightly since the pandemic.
Amid almost daily protests in New York sparked by the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, police said they would expand the security perimetercreating a “buffer zone” that will allow them to avoid possible demonstrations.
“We will be here with our dogs, on horses, our helicopters, our boats,” said Adams. Officials will also monitor protests with drones, she said. “But as we saw last year, after having no specific threats, we received a threat.”
During the party of New Years Eve Last year, a man with a machete attacked three police officers a few blocks from Times Square.
Security will also be reinforced throughout France on Sunday, with the deployment of 90,000 law enforcement officers, national intelligence chief CĂ©line Berthon said Friday.
Of them, 6,000 will be in Pariswhere French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said more than 1.5 million people are expected to attend the celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.
At a news conference, Darmanin cited a “very high terrorist threat” due, in part, to “what is happening in Israel and Palestine,” referring to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Darmanin said that for the first time police will be able to use drones as part of security work and that tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers will also be deployed.
The celebrations of New Years Eve in the French capital will focus on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe, highlighting “the changes in the city and the faces of the Games,” according to the service. Press of the City of Paris. Other planned events include “the biggest Mexican wave ever” and “giant karaoke.” Local authorities have banned the sale of alcohol in and around the Champs-ElysĂ©es on New Year’s Eve, and the public will not be allowed into the area with glass bottles and flasks.
The security challenge ahead of the Olympics was highlighted when a tourist was killed in a knife attack near the Eiffel Tower on December 2. Large-scale attacks, such as the one at the Bataclan in 2015, when Islamic extremists invaded the music hall and opened fire. the cafe terraces, killing 130 people, also take on great importance.
In Russiathe country’s military actions in Ukraine have overshadowed the end-of-year celebrations, with the usual fireworks and concerts in Moscow’s Red Square cancelled, like last year.
After the bombing in the center of the Russian border town of Belgorod killed 24 people on Saturday, some local authorities across Russia also canceled their usual fireworks displays, including in Vladivostok. Millions of people across Russia are expected to tune in to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s speech.
In Pakistanwith a Muslim majority, the government has banned all New Year celebrations as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians.
In a televised address overnight, Acting Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar urged Pakistanis to “show solidarity with the oppressed people of Loop” starting the new year with simplicity.
Kakar said Muslims around the world were saddened by Israel’s attacks on Gaza that resulted in the killing of thousands of innocent people.
