Sydney and Auckland were among the world鈥檚 first major cities to ring in 2024, with revelers cheering spectacular fireworks displays that lit up the skies over Sydney Harbor and New Zealand鈥檚 tallest structure, Sky Tower.
As the clock struck midnight in Australia, tons of explosives erupted in a 12-minute display that focused on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. More than 1 million people 鈥� a number equivalent to one in five of the city鈥檚 residents 鈥� watched from the shore and from boats in the harbor.
鈥淚t鈥檚 total madness,鈥� said German tourist Janna Thomas, who had waited in line since 7:30 a.m. to secure a prime waterfront location in the Sydney Botanic Garden. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not so easy to find a good place to sit, but the view is incredible.鈥�
In Auckland, the light rain that fell all day had cleared as forecast by midnight over the city of 1.7 million people before the countdown began on an illuminated digital display near the top of the 328-meter (1,076-foot) communications and observation tower.
The ongoing wars in and , and heightened tensions in parts of the world, are affecting this year鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Eve celebrations in a myriad of ways. Many cities were deploying extra security, and some places canceled New Year鈥檚 Eve events altogether.
More police than ever were deployed throughout Sydney. The waterfront has been the scene of heated pro-Palestinian protests after the sails of the Sydney Opera House were illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas that triggered the war.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering. During his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter鈥檚 Square, he offered prayers for 鈥渢he tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others.鈥�
鈥淎t the end of the year, we will have the courage to ask ourselves how many human lives have been shattered by armed conflict, how many dead and how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty,鈥� the pontiff said. 鈥淲hoever has interest in these conflicts, listen to the voice of conscience.鈥�
In Japan, temple bells rang out across the nation as people gathered at shrines and temples to welcome in the new year. At the Tsukiji Temple in Tokyo, visitors were given free hot milk and corn soup as they stood in line to strike a big bell, and a pipe-organ concert was held before a majestic altar.
In New York City, officials and organizers said they were prepared to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of revelers expected to flood Times Square in the heart of midtown Manhattan.
Mayor Eric Adams said there were 鈥渘o specific threats鈥� to the annual New Year鈥檚 Eve bash, which was set to feature 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 was expected to return to pre-COVID levels, even as foot traffic around Times Square remains down slightly since the pandemic.
Amid near-daily protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, New York City police said they would expand the security perimeter around the party, creating a 鈥渂uffer zone鈥� that would allow them to head off potential demonstrations.
Officials also planned to monitor any protests with drones, the mayor said.
鈥淲e will be out here with our canines, on horseback, our helicopters, our boats,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淏ut as we saw last year, after having no specific threats, we get a threat.鈥�
During last year鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Eve party, a machete-wielding man attacked three police officers a few blocks from Times Square.
Security also will also be heightened across European cities on Sunday.
In France, 90,000 law enforcement officers were set to be deployed, domestic intelligence chief C茅line Berthon said Friday.
Of those, 6,000 will be in Paris, where French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said over 1.5 million people are expected to attend celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.
Darmanin cited a 鈥渧ery high terrorist threat鈥� partly because of the Israel-Hamas war. Police for the first time will be able to use drones as part of security work, he said, and tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers would also be deployed.
New Year鈥檚 Eve celebrations in the French capital will center on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe, highlighting 鈥渃hanges in the city and faces of the Games,鈥� according to the press service of the City of Paris. Other planned events include 鈥渢he largest Mexican wave ever performed鈥� and a 鈥済iant karaoke.鈥�
The security challenge was highlighted when a tourist was killed in a on Dec. 2. Large-scale attacks 鈥� such as that at the , when Islamic extremists invaded the music hall and shot up cafe terraces, killing 130 people 鈥� also loom large.
In Berlin, some 4,500 police officers are expected to keep order and avoid . Police in the German capital issued a ban on the traditional use of fire crackers for several streets across the city. They also banned a pro-Palestinian protest in the Neukoelln neighborhood of the city, which has seen several pro-Palestinian riots since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
In Russia, the country鈥檚 military actions in Ukraine have overshadowed end-of-year celebrations, with the usual fireworks and concert on Moscow鈥檚 Red Square canceled, as last year.
After Saturday killed 24 people, some local authorities across Russia also canceled their usual firework displays, including in Vladivostok. Millions throughout Russia are expected to tune into Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 address.
In Muslim-majority Pakistan, the government has banned all New Year鈥檚 Eve celebrations as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians.
In an overnight televised message, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar urged Pakistanis to 鈥渟how solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza鈥� by beginning the new year with simplicity.
Kakar said Muslims across the world were saddened over Israel鈥檚 attacks on Gaza that resulted in the killings of thousands of innocent people.
The Associated Press
