A few countries have already started their celebrations, while the world’s leading nations are still eagerly awaiting 2024.
As tensions throughout the world increased and festivities were marred by the ongoing battles in Gaza and Ukraine, China, New Zealand, Australia, and Kiribati were among the first countries to ring in 2024.
Aucklanders rang in the new year with a fireworks show over New Zealand’s tallest building, Sky Tower.
Sunday saw joyful crowds bid farewell to the warmest year on record, after a difficult 12 months that included devastating battles in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as clever chatbots and climate concerns.
With over eight billion people on the planet today, the population will see out the old and welcome the new, with many looking to escape the burden of exorbitant living expenses and unrest throughout the world.
More than a million partygoers crammed Sydney’s harbor foreshore, the self-described “New Year’s capital of the world,” despite police and city officials’ warnings that all available spots were taken.
Sydneysiders gathered through the day at prominent sites, defying uncharacteristically dank weather, and they were not disappointed when the Harbour Bridge and other landmarks were garlanded in light and colour by eight tonnes of fireworks.
Sydney’s spectacular show lit the fuse on 2024, a year that will bring elections concerning half the world’s population and a summer Olympiad celebrated in Paris.
Sequence Of New Year Celebrations
New Zealand – December 31, 11:00 am GMT (4.30 pm IST)
Australia – December 31, 1:00 pm GMT (6.30 pm IST)
Japan, South and North Korea – December 31, 3:00 pm GMT (8.30 pm IST)
China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines – December 31, 4:00 pm GMT (9.30 pm IST)
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia – December 31, 5:00 pm GMT (10.30 pm IST)
India, Sri Lanka
UAE, Oman, Azerbaijan – December 31, 8:00 pm GMT (January 1, 1.30 am IST)
Greece, South Africa, Cyprus, Egypt, Namibia – December 31, 10:00 pm GMT (January 1, 3.30 am)
Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Morocco, Congo, Malta – December 31, 11:00 pm GMT (January 1, 4.30 am IST)
UK, Ireland, Portugal – January 1, 00:00 GMT (5.30 am IST)
Brazil, Argentina, Chile – January 1, 3 am GMT (8.30 am IST)
Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Venezuela, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands – January 1, 4 am GMT (9.30 am IST)
US East Coast (New York, Washington DC, etc), Peru, Cuba, Bahamas – January 1, 5 am (10.30 am IST)
Mexico, parts of Canada and the US – January 1, 6 am GMT (11.30 am IST)
US West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc) – January 1, 8 am GMT (1.30 pm IST)
Hawaii, French Polynesia – January 1, 10 am GMT (3.30 pm IST)
Samoa – January 1, 11 am GMT (4.30 pm IST)
Baker Island, Howland Island – January 1, 12 pm GMT (5.30 pm IST)