The world welcomes in 2024 with a bang: Australia and New Zealand set off huge firework displays at New Year’s Eve parties as millions across the planet celebrate the new year
- The Pacific nation of Kiribati and New Zealand have welcomed the arrival of 2024
- The bombastic fireworks display will follow in Sydney at 12 noon British time
- Security for parties in New York and Paris is being stepped up amid global tensions
Australians and New Zealanders are welcoming 2024 with a bang as they are among the first to announce the arrival of a new year with typical bombastic flair.
Antipodeans mark the end of 2023 and the beginning of a new era with fireworks, including from the top of the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Pacific nation of Kiribati was the first country to ring in the New Year, greeting its arrival at 10am UK time, while New Zealand began its celebrations an hour later.
Eastern parts of Australia will ring the bell from 1200 GMT in 2024 – but Sydney has seen huge fireworks displays beforehand, lighting up the sky and landmarks such as the Harbor Bridge and Opera House with fireworks.
Australian authorities say they expect 425 million people around the world to watch the midnight fireworks finale online, while about 1 million people are expected to descend on the New South Wales city's waterfront.
Fireworks launch from the top of Auckland's Sky Tower to herald the arrival of 2024 – one of the first celebrations on Earth to mark the New Year
Pre-New Year fireworks light up the Sydney skyline as Australia prepares to welcome the New Year
Closer to home, preparations are underway for the UK's festivities – with fireworks set to fly 650 feet into the air and launch from the London Eye at the stroke of midnight.
In Scotland, Edinburgh's 30th Hogmanay Street Party will be headlined by rock band Pulp following their surprise reunion last year.
In New York's Times Square, officials and party organizers say they are ready to welcome crowds of partygoers and guarantee their safety – amid tensions over frequent protests in the area linked to the war between Israel and Hamas.
The star-studded bash will include live performances from Flo Rida, Megan Thee Stallion and LL Cool J, as well as television appearances from Cardi B, among others.
However, authorities will be on guard after a man with a machete attacked three police officers a few blocks from the center of the festivities last year.
New York Mayor Eric Adams said: “We will be here with our dogs, on horseback, our helicopters, our boats. But as we saw last year, after there have been no specific threats, we still get a threat.”
Security will also be increased across France on Sunday, with 90,000 law enforcement officers deployed, domestic intelligence chief Céline Berthon said on Friday.
Of those, 6,000 will be in Paris, where French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said more than 1.5 million people are expected to attend the celebrations on the Champs-Elysées.
During a press conference, Darmanin called a “very high terrorist threat” partly because of “what is happening in Israel and Palestine.”
The festivities in Paris will focus heavily on the city's status as host of the 2024 Olympics – but will also feature an attempt at 'the largest Mexican wave ever performed' and 'giant karaoke'.
Not every city celebrates the arrival of the new year; in Muslim-majority Pakistan, the government has banned celebrations, saying it is an act of solidarity with Palestinians.
In a late-night television message, interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar called on Pakistanis to “show solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza” by starting the new year with simplicity.