From Kiribati to Samoa to New Zealand, people have already started into 2024. Celebrations with large light shows are planned in many places around the world. Germany is looking forward to the turn of the year with anticipation, but also with concern.
The people of the South Sea atoll of Kiritimati were the first in the world to welcome the year 2024. The approximately 7,300 residents started the new year at 11 a.m. German time. The Chatham Islands, which belong to New Zealand, followed just 15 minutes later. They are located about 800 kilometers east of New Zealand and have their own time zone – only around 700 residents live on two of the ten islands in the archipelago.
An hour after Kiritimati, New Zealand and the island states of Samoa and Tonga celebrated the turn of the year. In New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, the 328 meter high Sky Tower was at the center of an elaborate light show with 500 kilograms of pyrotechnics.
Gigantic Light spectacle in many cities
At 2 p.m. German time, a mega light show will illuminate the sky in Sydney, Australia, against the world-famous backdrop of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House. According to organizers, more than 13,500 fireworks with all sorts of elaborate special effects will be set off in the harbor district alone.
In addition, for the first time ever, there will be light projections generated by artificial intelligence – which cause neither air nor noise pollution. A million onlookers are expected in the metropolis on the east coast, including visitors from Germany and other European countries. Around a billion people around the world traditionally watch on screens.
Gigantic light spectacles are also planned in many Asian cities, including Singapore, where numerous onlookers are expected to watch the fireworks at Marina Bay with a view of the skyline. In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River is once again at the center of the celebrations, in which the lights of the fireworks are traditionally reflected. Impressive images of celebrations are also expected from Dubai, Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro and New York.
American Samoa, located just 220 kilometers east of Samoa on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last country to ring in 2024 – twelve hours after Germany.
Pictures
Worldwide start into 2024
Elevated Police presence in Berlin and Cologne
In Germany, fear of riots clouded the anticipation of the turn of the year – especially in Berlin. After riots at the turn of the year last year, the police there are facing one of their biggest New Year’s Eve operations. There is an increased police presence with more than 4,000 police officers on duty at night. A pro-Palestinian demonstration was banned.
The fire brigade and other aid organizations want to be active with a total of more than 1,500 emergency services. Private fireworks are prohibited at the Brandenburg Gate, where the traditional New Year’s Eve party takes place. There will be fireworks there for the first time since the corona pandemic.
In Cologne and other cities, too, a large police presence is intended to prevent riots like last year. In Cologne, indications of Islamist attack planning have been leading to strict police controls at the cathedral for days. According to the information, the emergency services will patrol the city area with submachine guns if necessary.
On New Year’s Eve a year ago, emergency and rescue workers in Berlin and other cities were massively attacked. In some cases the police had to be deployed to protect firefighters from attacks while extinguishing fires. There are fears of riots again this year.
Faeser announces tough measures
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced in the “Tagesspiegel” “extreme vigilance” and a “tough crackdown” in general outbreaks of violence or attacks against police officers. “Our emergency services have had to experience again and again that blind anger is carried out on their backs,” said the SPD politician. “The answer to this must be tough action by the police, but also by the judiciary.”
The police union (GdP) once again expects major challenges for emergency services. “As in the past, New Year’s Eve will be a stress test for the police, fire brigade and rescue workers,” said GdP federal chairman Jochen Kopelke to the newspapers of the Funke media group. At the same time, he warned against alarmism. “Society is not becoming more and more brutal,” he emphasized. “But there are groups that can be identified for whom serious violence is something normal.”
Discussion about the ban on firecrackers
Doctors, animal protection and environmental associations also called for a ban on firecrackers this year. The German Medical Association, for example, spoke out in favor of it because of the enormous risk of injury. “The politically responsible people should spend New Year’s Eve in an ambulance or in an emergency room, then their view of the apparently peaceful New Year’s Eve fireworks would quickly change,” said German Medical Association President Klaus Reinhardt.
In many cities and municipalities, the throwing or shooting of fireworks is only permitted to a limited extent. This year there are also bans on the use of pyrotechnics in some towns affected by flooding. In other places, the population was also urged to refrain from shooting so as not to put additional strain on emergency services.
First calls for fireworks
Numerous incidents and accidents have already been reported in the run-up to New Year’s Eve. A man lost a hand when setting off a fireworks rocket in Berlin. The 40-year-old set off the signal rocket on the terrace of a bungalow, the Berlin police said. Immediately after ignition, the rocket exploded in his hand. He was taken to a hospital.
In the Kreuzberg district, fireworks were thrown into a subway station and an attempt was made to set a Christmas tree on fire with a burning garbage can. There were several arrests. Firefighters had previously been shot at with pyrotechnics by unknown persons when they tried to extinguish a burning battery of fireworks.
In downtown Osnabrück, a man threw fireworks at two policewomen. The 28 and 36-year-old officers, who were searching the street for drugs with dogs, were uninjured, the police said.