Auckland Celebrates New Year
Auckland, New Zealand, witnessed its first grand New Year celebrations for 2024, as thousands enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display launched from the top of the Sky Tower, the tallest building in New Zealand, alongside a light show in the city center.
Global Tensions
This year’s New Year celebrations occur amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, casting a shadow over the festivities and escalating tensions in various parts of the world. Many cities have ramped up security and canceled some New Year events altogether.
New Year Celebrations in Auckland
Auckland experienced light rain throughout Sunday, which cleared, as predicted, at midnight before the countdown commenced on a digital screen illuminated near the top of the 328-meter tall communications and surveillance tower. Two hours later, in neighboring Australia, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will become the center for a famous midnight fireworks and light show, watched by approximately 425 million people worldwide annually, according to local authorities.
Security Measures in Sydney
A larger number of police officers have been deployed in Sydney to ensure safety as more than a million people flock to the harborfront, according to local government authorities. Many revelers camped out at prime viewing spots since Sunday morning.
Protests in Sydney
The Sydney Harbourfront saw heated protests after the sails of the Sydney Opera House were lit in the colors of the Israeli flag in response to the attack launched by the Palestinian Hamas movement on October 7, which led to the outbreak of war.
Pope Francis Calls for Peace
In the Vatican, Pope Francis remembered 2023 as a year filled with wars during his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. He offered his prayers for “the suffering Ukrainian people, the Palestinian and Israeli people, the Sudanese people, and many others.” The Pope said, “At the end of the year, we must have the courage to ask ourselves how many human lives have been shattered due to armed conflicts, how many dead, how much destruction, how much suffering, and how much poverty. Those who have an interest in these conflicts should listen to the voice of conscience.”
New Year Celebrations in New York
Officials and organizers in Times Square, New York, say they are prepared to welcome tens of thousands of revelers in the heart of Manhattan and ensure their safety. New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that there are no “specific threats” to the annual New Year celebration, which will feature live performances by Flo Rida, Megan Thee Stallion, and LL Cool J, along with television appearances by Cardi B and others. In-person attendance is expected to return to pre-COVID pandemic levels, although foot traffic around Times Square has slightly decreased since the pandemic.
Security Reinforcements in European Cities
In France, 90,000 police officers are set to be deployed, according to the head of internal intelligence, Celine Berthon. This includes 6,000 in Paris, where French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin expects more than 1.5 million people to attend celebrations on the Champs-Élysées. Darmanin noted a “very high terrorist threat” due to “what is happening in Israel and Palestine,” referring to the war between Israel and Hamas. Darmanin mentioned that police will be able to use drones for the first time as part of the security operation, with tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers also being deployed.
New Year Celebrations in Paris
The New Year celebrations in the French capital will focus on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including DJ performances, fireworks, and video displays on the Arc de Triomphe, highlighting “the city’s changes and the faces of the games,” according to the Paris city press service. Among the planned events are “the largest Mexican wave ever executed” and a “massive karaoke.”
Security Enhancements
Security in Berlin
About 4,500 police officers are expected to remain in Berlin to maintain order and avoid riots like last year. The police in the German capital have issued a ban on the use of traditional fireworks in several streets across the city. A pro-Palestinian protest has also been banned in the Neukölln district, which has witnessed several pro-Palestinian riots since the attack on October 7.
Impact of Conflicts on Celebrations in Russia
Military actions by Russia in Ukraine are the prevailing events in year-end celebrations, as fireworks and the usual parties in Red Square in Moscow have been canceled, as they were last year. Following the shelling in the Russian border city of Belgorod on Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of 24 people, some local authorities in Russia have canceled the usual fireworks displays, including in Vladivostok. Millions across Russia are expected to tune in to President Vladimir Putin’s New Year address.
Ban on Celebrations in Pakistan
In the predominantly Muslim Pakistan, the government has banned all New Year celebrations in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians. In a televised message during the night, interim Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar urged Pakistanis to “show solidarity with the oppressed people in Gaza” by starting the new year with simplicity. Kakar stated that Muslims around the world were saddened by the Israeli attacks on Gaza that have resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocents.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/times-square-new-years-eve-ball-drop-17154156831f22b2354b82688d4272af
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