World welcomes New Year with spectacular shows

The Americas have started their journey into the new year. New York City took the the United States into 2024 with the traditional 'ball drop' in Times Square in temperatures just above freezing. As in many other U.S. cities, the celebrations in Times Square were accompanied by increased security measures. The security authorities in the U.S. feared incidents due to the international tensions caused by the war in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people welcomed the New Year with fireworks and music in the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro as the clock struck midnight Monday morning. The city took great measures to prevent potential violence and crime during the celebrations, as about 3,000 more police officers patrolled the streets as compared to the previous year, and more security cameras were placed in several locations that can recognize car license plates and people's faces. London rang in the new year with the chimes of Big Ben and a spectacular fireworks display on the London Eye Ferris wheel. With the help of light drones, the inclusive message 'London is a place for everyone' was written in the sky above the River Thames, with tens of thousands of people gathered on its banks. Africa, Oceania, and Asia also changed their calendars at the strike of midnight. There were also light projections generated by artificial intelligence as crowds hit the streets like in many other cities, with coronavirus restrictions a thing of the past across the world. The Pacific country's capital Wellington also organized fireworks and music at an inner city lagoon. The Chatham Islands, part of New Zealand's territory, were first in the country to ring in the year. The islands, about 800 kilometres east of New Zealand's South Island, are home to some 700 people. In Bangkok, celebrations centred on the Chao Phraya River which reflects the lights of the fireworks display each year. Thailand, which follows the Buddhist calendar, is welcoming the year 2567. In the South Korean capital Seoul, the start of 2024 was marked with the giant Bosingak bell being struck exactly 33 times, like every year. Tens of thousands of people gathered for the event. However, in the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, New Year's Eve has a higher significance due to their British and Portuguese heritage. In Hong Kong, tens of thousands gathered by Victoria Harbour to marvel at the huge fireworks display. American Samoa, 220 kilometres to the east of Samoa on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last to ring in 2024.

World welcomes New Year with spectacular shows

The world celebrated the New Year with breathtaking fireworks and stunning shows. From Sydney's iconic harbor to Paris' Eiffel Tower, these images take you on a journey to witness some of the most spectacular New Year celebrations around the globe.