The devastating earthquake on New Year’s Holiday in Japan, claiming numerous lives, is poised to significantly impact the country’s travel industry.

The aftermath, including disrupted infrastructure and ongoing seismic concerns, is likely to contribute to a steady decline in tourism. The tragic events have not only resulted in immediate human losses but also raised apprehensions among potential travellers, potentially affecting the tourism sector as the nation grapples with the aftermath and endeavors to rebuild.

A powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake hit Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan, prompting the meteorological agency to downgrade tsunami warnings along the Sea of Japan to advisories. While the immediate threat has diminished, residents are urged to remain vigilant, as the agency anticipates the possibility of earthquakes with similar intensity persisting for about a week. The advisory underscores the ongoing seismic risk in the region, urging continued preparedness and caution among the affected population.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel alert for Japan following a series of deadly earthquakes that triggered a tsunami, causing significant damage in the Ishikawa prefecture.

The recent magnitude-7.6 earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture has led to widespread impact along the Sea of Japan coast. Affected areas encompass Ishikawa, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, Hyogo, Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Kyoto, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures. The seismic event has not only prompted tsunami warnings but has also caused considerable damage, including disrupted transportation links and infrastructure issues.

In addition to mainland regions, the warning extends to the islands of Iki and Tsushima. These are the tourists attractions in the country. Residents in these areas are advised to exercise caution and closely follow guidance from local authorities. The Japan Meteorological Agency, responsible for monitoring and alerting about seismic activity, continues to emphasize the potential for aftershocks of similar intensity in the coming week, emphasising the importance of ongoing preparedness measures for the affected communities.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed that around 1,000 members of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces were engaged in search and rescue operations in the affected areas. The focus of efforts shifted to establishing sea routes to reach isolated regions, particularly the northern Noto peninsula, where the earthquake struck. Despite the tsunami warning being lifted, the aftermath left approximately 500 people stranded at Noto airport, awaiting evacuation from damaged facilities.

Local reports highlighted extensive damage to the airport terminal building, with the runway displaying multiple cracks, leading to the closure of the domestic airport until at least Thursday. The evolving situation prompted the FCDO to update its travel advice, emphasizing the ongoing risk of aftershocks and disrupted transportation links.

In their statement, the FCDO outlined the affected areas, including the Sea of Japan coast in Ishikawa, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, Hyogo, Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, Kyoto, Tottori, and Shimane prefectures, along with Iki and Tsushima Islands. The advisory urged individuals in these regions to follow local authorities’ instructions and stay informed through reliable news sources like NHK World.

The FCDO also directed attention to the Japan Meteorological Agency and Japan National Tourism Agency websites for additional information. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed solidarity with Japan and advised British nationals in affected areas to heed the guidance provided by Japanese authorities.

The aftermath of the earthquakes and tsunami has not only resulted in a tragic loss of life but has also disrupted vital infrastructure and transportation networks. The FCDO’s travel alert serves as a crucial communication tool to inform and guide British nationals in the affected regions, emphasizing the importance of staying updated with the latest information and cooperating with local authorities for their safety and well-being.

It has now been almost 10 months since China fully reopened its borders to foreign visitors.

Beijing also withdrew its advice to citizens warning them against overseas travel.

Travel to and from China has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, but domestic travel has seen a surge in popularity.

“If you use 2019 as a benchmark, travel and tourism contributed 11.6 per cent to the Chinese economy,, to the Chinese GDP,” says Julia Simpson, president and chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

In that year, the travel and tourism industry employed 82 million people in China and was worth US$1.8 trillion.

Citing analysis released jointly by the WTTC and Oxford Economics, Simpson says that travel and tourism are estimated to have contributed 7.8 per cent to the Chinese economy in 2023, employing about 74 million people in an industry worth US$1.48 trillion.

“If you compare where China is to the rest of the world, it’s still slightly behind [in international recovery],” Simpson says, identifying the lack of airlift capacity and complex visa requirements as the main challenges.

“We have a little bit of a problem at the minute with people from the West, and particularly America, getting here by air because of the Russian airspace issues,” she says. “American airlines are not flying over Russian airspace [because of its war on Ukraine], so it means adding on some time.”

“Whenever you put a transfer into a trip, it always puts people off,” she adds. “Fuel is so expensive. It means you’re not still getting quite as much airlift.”

In an effort to increase inbound travel, on December 1, China granted visa-free entry to travellers from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Malaysia. From January 1, China simplified visa procedures for tourists from the United States.

With regards to traffic in the opposite direction, “a lot of Chinese want to travel overseas, but they’re having difficulty getting visas at the embassies”, Simpson says. “It’s not about geopolitics, it’s just about resourcing.

“There aren’t enough people in the embassies, and also [for] a lot of Chinese people, their passport [has] expired. These are temporary issues, but it’s slightly slowed the recovery.”

According to a travel booking site, the top five international destinations for Chinese tourists in 2023 were, in order of popularity: Thailand; Japan; South Korea; Singapore and Malaysia.

While Chinese outbound and inbound tourism has not reached pre-pandemic levels, “the domestic travel business has outperformed 2019”, says Frederick Wong, vice-president of commercial, Greater China at Hyatt Hotels.

“If we look at the data from [travel data provider] OAG, our domestic airlift, in terms of seat capacity, has already exceeded 2019. We’re looking at 118 per cent [as of November].”

People are expecting the sector to act sustainably, so hotels look at things like plastics, food waste, energy consumption. Julia Simpson, president World Travel & Tourism Council said this.

Customer behaviour has also changed since the pandemic, with domestic travellers increasingly looking for experiences centred on culture, Wong says.

“What they’re really looking for is the blend of cultural heritage, unique experiences, scenic beauty [and] historical significance.”

As such, many travellers are flocking to secondary and tertiary cities such as Chengdu, Hangzhou, Changsha and Nanjing, where costs are lower than when travelling abroad or to major cities like Shanghai.

Key opinion leaders (KOLs) – who regularly post about their experiences on Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu – are partly responsible for spurring the trend towards cultural experiences, Wong says.

“The travel KOLs focus a lot on cultural initiatives, targeted tourism campaigns, infrastructure [and] the modern development of the secondary and tertiary cities, [which] really help the travellers to know more about cities.”

Chongqing, for example, is famous for its hotpot, but the city is also home to a particularly photogenic spot that has been making the social media rounds – Liziba station, in the Yuzhong district, where a train runs through the middle of a residential building.

KOL power has also been seen in Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China.

“It is not an international city. Even for domestic Chinese travellers, they don’t go there often,” Wong says. “However, when we opened a hotel and worked with KOLs [who posted] a lot of stories about Jingdezhen, they attracted a lot of domestic travellers to that city.”

Domestic travellers are also looking to combine business and leisure – “bleisure” – an option afforded by the flexible working schedules adopted during the pandemic, Wong says. Comparing October 2019 to October 2023, Hyatt has seen a 15- to 19 per cent increase in occupancy across its hotels in China, he says.

“In the past, for the West Lake [in Hangzhou], a lot of people went down there for a weekend, maybe from Shanghai, from Suzhou or the surrounding Zhejiang area. But we see the pattern also shifting to weekdays,” Wong says.

Similarly, Hyatt’s hotels in business hubs are seeing more weekend occupancy.

Younger travellers are emphasising sustainability, prioritising organic and local food choices and eco-friendly transport.

In China at least, they would prefer to hear [that] the ingredients are actually from the surrounding area, Wong says, as opposed to rare ingredients flown in from around the world.

This mirrors a global hospitality trend.

“People are expecting the sector to act sustainably, so hotels look at things like plastics, food waste, energy consumption,” Simpson says.

The WTTC helps hotels sign agreements to buy renewable energy, and is encouraging governments to work with energy providers to supply more sustainable fuel.

Wong says that while people from China used to visit Hong Kong to shop, the activity has become more of an add-on because of the variety of stores in China’s major cities.

Many countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region have seen a strong recovery in travel and tourism.

For the majority of the big tourist destination countries – Thailand, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore – inbound [travel] to those countries has reached or exceeded 2019 levels, says Omri Morgenshtern, chief executive of an online travel agency.

According to Agoda’s search data – which is, Morgenshtern stresses, biased towards leisure travel – Japan, helped by its depreciating yen, is easily the biggest inbound travel destination in the APAC region, with plenty of visitors from Southeast and North Asia.

And a new force is emerging.

Going into 2024, Wong anticipates that inbound travel to China will increase along with improved airlift capacity, especially since more international events – such as the Formula One motorsport event in Shanghai, the International Auto Show in Beijing and international banking and finance conferences in business hubs – will return.

Both Wong and Simpson believe that travellers have put most of their concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic behind them.

“The Western countries are so over Covid now. I think that the travellers trust that if something is now open, they’re not going to get caught [and] locked down,” says Simpson.

According to a website, China’s top markets for inbound tourism are South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, Britain and Germany, with 70 per cent of those visitors heading to Shenzhen.

China’s industry is currently “recovering very powerfully”, and the country is expected to overtake the United States as the biggest single travel and tourism economy within a decade, says Simpson.

“In 10 years, we expect that travel and tourism in China will be worth over 14 per cent of the economy,” employing 105 million people, she says.

“The global economy is probably going to grow on average 2.4 per cent a year, but travel and tourism is going to grow by about 5.6 per cent,” says Simpson. “So it’s a growth economy.”

A dreadful crash took place outside an entertainment venue in upstate New York on New Year’s Day. Law enforcement officials have reported to take it as possible terrorism.  

David Smith, the city’s police chief, told the media that five people were injured and two lost their lives after a Ford Expedition crashed into a Mitsubishi Outlander. This resulted in a tragic incident amidst the festive mood of New Year’s Eve. 

The law enforcement officials are suspecting that this could be a resultant situation of terrorism because almost a dozen gasoline cannisters were found in the Ford Expedition. 

As the concertgoers were leaving the venue, this accident took place near a crosswalk. 

The collision sped past the pedestrians on the crosswalk, and the two vehicles collided with each other. 

With the crash, a large fire spiraled across the area of the accident that the Rochester Fire Department almost took an hour to extinguish. 

The driver of the Mitsubishi Outlander was taken to a nearby hospital with minor wounds, but the other occupants of the vehicle lost their lives as a result.

As a result of potentially fatal injuries, the Ford Expedition’s driver was admitted to the hospital.  

Other than this, there have not been any revelations regarding the identities of the victims. 

The Joint Terrorism Task Force is instrumental in leading the investigation. Though they are unsure of the fact that whether any terrorism was involved in this or not.  

In addition, the investigators are probing further into the matter by tracing the devices as well as social media concerning the driver of the Ford Expedition to find an explanation for the gasoline canisters. 

The other vehicle, the Mitsubishi Outlander, that was involved in the crash was reported to be an Uber. 

Malik Evans, the Rochester Mayor, requested that the people come forward if they had any information regarding this collison. 

Evans even told the media that the community will have lots of questions, but they have been requested to cooperate. This will soon lead to new information, and the cause of this collision will become apparent. 

[Image Source: ABC7 Chicago]

The United Kingdom finally implements a new rule, which is going to be effective from January 31, 2024. 

People have faced troubles searching for work in the United Kingdom pertaining to visas. Now the UK has finally solved the problem with changes to visitor visas. It has been said that the country will allow people to go and work there just on visitor visas. 

This will furthermore allow additional activities relating to business that have been published in the immigration rules by the government of the United Kingdom. 

According to the updated regulations, guests will be permitted to continue working for their foreign employer while they are in the UK. 

In addition, the primary intent should not be dubious, but it should be clear. The visitation must happen in accordance with the reason for tourism, visiting family, or another non-work related activity. 

The expansions to visitor visas are inclusive of the following matters: 

Eligibility for Client Work: There are specific circumstances in which visitors with these visas may engage in client work. They may work for companies that have branches in the UK and abroad. A tiny portion of the work may involve client work performed overseas. Furthermore, the visitor’s employer abroad should assign the project rather than the UK client directly. 

Operating from the United Kingdom: People who are visiting will be granted permission to work in the United Kingdom; however, remote work should not be the only reason behind their visitation. 

Other pursuits for lawyers: Attorneys can now participate in arbitration proceedings, teach, serve as expert witnesses, and offer advice. 

The PPE, or Permitted Paid Engagement: This will mean that standard route visitors will be merged into the visitor route. This will mean that the paid engagements will not require any separate visas yet still plan activity within 30 days of arrival.  

Jeremy Hunt, who is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, previously had commented on the visitor visas. Expanding business visitor regulations to allow for a wider range of approved activities and paid engagements was something he had previously stated. 

Several people suffered minor injuries when a commuter train derailed. It also caught fire on New Year‘s Day in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As the officials said, there was disruption of service after the incident.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit train had just left Orinda on its way to Lafayette around 9 a.m. Monday when the front two cars went off the track, agency spokesperson Jim Allison said.

All passengers were evacuated and fire crews quickly extinguished flames in two cars, he said.

Several passengers were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, Allison said.

The total number of people injured wasn’t immediately known. The remaining passengers walked back to Orinda Station.

Passenger Enrique Gonzalez said the train came late and when it started moving again he heard a few loud pops and saw smoke billowing out in between cars.

Early indications were that the derailment happened at an interlocking section of rail. There trains can switch from one track to another, Allison said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the derailment about 8 miles (13 kilometers) northeast of Oakland.

Officials didn’t immediately say how many people were on the train when it derailed.

Service was discontinued on a 12-mile (19-kilometer) stretch of rail between Rockridge and Walnut Creek in both directions, the Chronicle reported.

BART officials said Orinda Station would likely be closed for the rest of the day as crews remove the damaged cars and inspect the tracks.

While the transit system was carrying fewer passengers than usual on New Year’s Day, the disruption will likely impact tens of thousands of people, Allison said.

It’s certainly unfortunate people are stranded on a holiday like this, he said.

As the clock strikes midnight around the world, countries usher in the New Year with a tapestry of celebrations, each weaving its unique cultural threads into the global fabric of festivities. From dazzling fireworks to time-honoured traditions, the arrival of 2024 is marked by joy, hope, and the promise of a fresh start in nations far and wide.

Australia and New Zealand: The Pacific’s Early Revelry

The Pacific nations of Kiribati and New Zealand are among the first to welcome the New Year, their celebrations unfolding against the backdrop of stunning landscapes. In Auckland, New Zealand, the iconic Sky Tower becomes a canvas for a spectacular fireworks display, illuminating the night sky and reflecting off the waters of the Harbour Bridge.

Asia: A Symphony of Lights and Tradition

As the earth rotates, Asia becomes the next continent to embrace the New Year. In Tokyo, Japan, the bustling cityscape is bathed in neon lights, with fireworks adding a burst of color to the skyline. Meanwhile, in Beijing, China, the historic Forbidden City provides a majestic backdrop to the celebrations, blending modernity with tradition.

Europe: A Kaleidoscope of Cultures

As the clock ticks towards midnight in European capitals, a kaleidoscope of cultures comes alive. Paris, the City of Lights, transforms into a glittering spectacle with the Eiffel Tower at its center. London’s iconic Big Ben chimes in the New Year, while Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate becomes a focal point for revellers.

In Spain, the streets of Madrid and Barcelona are alive with the rhythm of flamenco and traditional music, creating a festive atmosphere that spills into the early hours. The countdown in Rome is marked by the timeless beauty of ancient landmarks, blending history with contemporary celebration.

The Americas: Times Square Extravaganza and Latin Vibes

The eyes of the world turn to New York City as Times Square hosts one of the most iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations. The famous ball drop, accompanied by a shower of confetti, is a symbol of hope and renewal. Across the United States, cities and towns join the festivities, creating a tapestry of celebrations from coast to coast.

In Latin America, the vibrant spirit of carnival infuses New Year’s celebrations. Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach in Brazil welcomes millions dressed in white, paying homage to the goddess of the sea. The sound of samba and the scent of traditional Brazilian cuisine fill the air as revelers bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.

Oceania: Pacific Islands and Maori Traditions

As the New Year sweeps through the Pacific Islands, nations like Fiji and Samoa join the global celebration. Traditional dances, fire performances, and communal feasts mark the occasion, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the islands.

In New Zealand, the Maori tradition of the haka, a powerful ceremonial dance, is performed, symbolizing unity and strength. The blending of ancient customs with modern celebrations reflects the resilience of indigenous cultures in the face of change.

A Global Tapestry of Hope

As the clock completes its journey around the world, from the Pacific to the Americas, a global tapestry of hope and joy emerges. The celebrations are as diverse as the cultures that participate, yet they share a common thread—a collective yearning for a better tomorrow and a shared moment of optimism as the world steps into the embrace of a New Year.

In this symphony of lights, traditions, and celebrations, people from every corner of the globe unite in the spirit of hope, resilience, and the belief that the 2024 New Year brings with it endless possibilities. As the echoes of fireworks fade and the cheers of revelers subside, the world stands on the cusp of a new chapter, ready to script its story in the pages of 2024.

Up to nine new airlines are preparing to launch in 2024. It is because Thailand’s tourism industry is likely to boom.

The Thai government has set a target of 40 million foreign tourists in 2024. It is a substantial increase from the 27 million who came in 2023.

The country’s tourism industry is nearly recovered from the plunge that COVID-19 pandemic had caused.

Therefore, the government is pointing to an easing of travel restrictions and the re-opening of international borders.

The nine new airlines are:

1. Asian Aerospace Service

2. Siam Seaplane

3. Really Cool Air

4. Avanti Air Sarter

5. Landarch Airlines

6. Bangkok Helicopter Services

7. Pattaya Airways

8. Asia Atlantic Airlines

9. P80 air

Though some will focus on regional and domestic routes or have limited passenger seating, these nine new airlines are expected to add capacity to the Thai aviation market and to help boost tourism.

Some of the new airlines may also operate international flights.

The government is providing financial assistance to help get the airlines get off the ground as it expects the new entries to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

In 2023, some 100 million passengers passed through the airports.

The Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) estimates that fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024), will see at least 130 million individual passengers passing through the current six airports under the supervision of the agency.

This would signify a near return of passengers to historic levels in 2019, before the Covid emergency.

That expectation aligns with that of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), which also anticipates that 2024 will see a recovery in the aviation industry, and a resurgence of passenges to nearly pre-COVID conditions.

Projections suggest an estimated total of 162 million passengers, comprising around 88.62 million international passengers and approximately 74.05 million domestic passengers.

However, despite the continuing growth in Thailand’s aviation industry, it remains short of meeting the increased demand.

In its position as the governing body overseeing and promoting the operations of civilian aviation businesses, AOT has been expediting approvals and licensing processes to enable airlines to swiftly acquire additional aircraft.

Simultaneously, regulatory adjustments are being considered to make it easier for airlines to acquire additional aircraft to meet the growing passenger demand.

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck north-central Japan on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning along coastal regions of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the warning, cautioning residents about the potential danger of tsunami waves.

The earthquake’s epicenter and its significant magnitude raised concerns about the possibility of a destructive tsunami. The Japan Meteorological Agency specifically highlighted the coastal areas of Ishikawa, Niigata, and Toyama prefectures, urging residents to evacuate to higher ground and take immediate safety measures.

The tsunami warning included an alarming projection of waves up to 5 meters high potentially reaching Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture. The agency advised residents to remain vigilant and adhere to evacuation orders promptly. Initial reports indicated that waves exceeding 1 meter in height had already struck the coast of Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture.

In response to the seismic activity, Hokuriku Electric Power initiated checks for any irregularities at its nuclear power plants, underlining the importance of safety protocols during such events. The earthquake’s impact and the ensuing tsunami warning prompted heightened emergency preparedness across the affected regions.

The seismic event occurred in a seismically active region, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation for potential aftershocks and further developments. The earthquake serves as a reminder of Japan’s vulnerability to seismic activity and the importance of swift and coordinated responses to mitigate the impact on communities.

Japan, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country has implemented robust earthquake preparedness and early warning systems to minimize the potential impact of seismic events. The tsunami warning system is a critical component of these efforts, providing valuable time for residents to seek safety.

As the situation unfolds, authorities will continue to assess the seismic activity, monitor the coastline for tsunami waves, and coordinate evacuation efforts to ensure the safety of residents in the affected regions. The earthquake serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing seismic risks faced by Japan and the need for constant vigilance and preparedness.

Brits in southern England of the UK came to know that there will be no festivities for New Year’s Eve due to the wild winds. They will be throwing the fireworks off course.

The Met Office has put a yellow weather warning in place due to 75mph winds barrelling through Plymouth and Devon.

Winterwonderland in Plymouth and the town fireworks in Devon have both been axed in anticipation of the gale force winds.

Organisers of the Plymouth event said although they are very disappointed and frustrated, but safety comes first. They will not take the risk.

Meanwhile, Barnstable Town Centre Management said that the Devon display cannot go on due to the expected weather.

In an announcement, they said: “Unfortunately due to the weather conditions and the gusting winds we will be unable to do the fireworks this evening due to safety. We know this is disappointing, but safety is always the priority and we unfortunately can’t control the weather.”

Huge swathes of the country are under yellow weather warnings today as the south of the country is expected to see strong winds and torrential downpours.

Gales may be there along the south coast, the west and the east and started at around 10am.

They may stop as the clock chimes 12 and Brits welcome in the New Year.

As well as the southern spots, Blackpool, Blackburn, Bolton and Lancaster will also see some of the wet weather.

But the rain will not call off play for Britain’s revellers as 40,000 are expected to flock to bars tonight.

An additional 100,000 partygoers are going to descend on central London for the midnight fireworks.

Tens of thousands will also flock to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

People across Europe welcoming the New Year 2024 against a backdrop of top security concerns.

The first major city to see 2024 was Auckland, in New Zealand. Here fireworks were let off from its tallest building, the Sky Tower.

Ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and tensions in parts of the world, have affected this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in a myriad of ways.

Many cities in Europe were deploying extra security, and some places cancelled New Year’s Eve events altogether.

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’s Square, he offered prayers.

It is for the tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others.

Ramed up police presence in France

In France, 90,000 law enforcement officers were set to be deployed, domestic intelligence chief Céline Berthon said on Friday.

Of those, 6,000 will be in Paris, where French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said over 1.5 million people may attend celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.

Darmanin cited a “very high terrorist threat” because, in part, of “what is happening in Israel and Palestine,” referring to the Israel-Hamas war.

New Year’s Eve celebrations in the French capital will centre on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. It will be including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe.

Other planned events include “the largest Mexican wave ever performed” and a “giant karaoke.”

In Berlin, some 4,500 police officers are expected to keep order and avoid riots like a year ago.

Police in the German capital issued a ban on the traditional use of firecrackers for several streets across the city.

They also banned a pro-Palestinian protest in the Neukoelln neighbourhood of the city, which has seen several demonstrations since the 7 October attack by Hamas.

New Year’s celebrations called off in Russia

In Russia, the country’s military actions in Ukraine have overshadowed end-of-year celebrations, with the usual fireworks and concert on Moscow’s Red Square cancelled, as last year.

After shelling in the centre of the Russian border city of Belgorod on Saturday killed 24 people, some local authorities across Russia also cancelled their usual firework displays, including in Vladivostok.

Millions throughout Russia are expected to tune into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s address.

Sydney and Auckland were the world’s first major cities to ring in 2024, with more than a million revellers cheering spectacular fireworks displays that lit up the skies over Sydney Harbor and New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower.

“It’s total madness,” 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. “It’s not so easy to find a good place to sit, but the view is incredible.”