As major countries of the world await with eagerness to celebrate 2024, a few nations have already begun their celebrations. China, New Zealand, Australia and Kiribati were one of the first nations to ring in 2024 as ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza cast a pall over celebrations and heightened tensions across parts of the world. Residents of Auckland welcomed in the new year with a fireworks display over Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest structure. Jubilant crowds began bidding farewell to the hottest year on record Sunday, closing a turbulent 12 months marked by clever chatbots, climate crises and wrenching wars in Gaza and Ukraine. 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.

Source: Nigerian Tribune December 31, 2023 18:21 UTC