New Year latest: 300 arrests in Berlin as thousands welcome 2024
Berlin police claim that people threw fireworks at officers and attempted to make molotov cocktails
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Berlin police detained over 300 people on New Year’s Eve after at least 14 on-duty officers were injured as people shot fireworks at each other and police throughout the city.
One of the incidents occurred near Alexanderplatz where around 500 people were letting off fireworks at each other before police dispersed the group at the landmark Neptune Fountain, reported DW.
The crowd fired at police with pyrotechnics when they tried to check them for fireworks, according to the outlet.
In Neukölln, a number of arrests were made after people attempted to make Molotov cocktails, which police say they confiscated.
It came amid jubilant scenes in the US as tens of thousands of beaming people in New York’s Times Square, were showered with confetti and hugs and kisses after watching the descent of the colourful ball marking the birth of 2024.
The UK earlier welcomed 2024 with a bang as tens of thousands packed the streets of London and Edinburgh to watch the cities’ world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks displays.
Tickets for the event in London sold out and official viewing areas were full. Organisers finished checks on the pyrotechnics with more than 10,000 fireworks shooting up into the night’s sky after the Big Ben countdown.
The march of midnight from time zone to time zone brought the new year first to places like Australia, where more than 1 million people watched a pyrotechnic display centred around Sydney’s famous Opera House and harbour bridge — a number of spectators equivalent to one in five of the city’s residents.
Mayor of London hails ‘best fireworks in the world'
Sadiq Khan has hailed London’s “mesmerising” fireworks display as the best in the world.
Tens of thousands of revellers braved the cold and blustery weather to see London’s breathtaking New Year’s Eve firework show as the UK welcomed in 2024 with a bang.
There wasn’t a spare place to stand along the River Thames near the London Eye as people from all around the world gathered to watch the 12-minute long spectacular which also featured a drone light show and music.
It came as news emerged that a 16-year-old boy was tragically stabbed to death as families gathered to a viewing point in Primrose Hill just minutes before midnight.
More than 300 arrested on New Year’s Eve in Berlin as people shoot fireworks at police
Berlin police detained over 300 people on New Year’s Eve after at least 14 on-duty officers were injured as people shot fireworks at each other and police throughout the city.
One of the incidents occurred near Alexanderplatz where around 500 people were letting off fireworks at each other before police dispersed the group at the landmark Neptune Fountain, reported DW.
The crowd fired at police with pyrotechnics when they tried to check them for fireworks, according to the outlet.
More than 300 arrested on New Year’s Eve in Berlin as fireworks shot at police
Around 500 people involved in chaotic scenes in which at least 14 officers were injured
Sophie Ellis-Bextor dances into the New Year in homage to Saltburn’s Murder On The Dance Floor scene
Her famous hit has been used in the final scene of the Emerald Fennell-directed psychological thriller, Saltburn.
The 44-year-old singer mirrored Barry Keoghan’s moves in a video she posted to TikTok on Sunday (31 December).
Dressed in a multicoloured sequin dress and a pair of antlers, the singer danced her way down the stairs in time to the song.
She captioned the post: “Heading into 2024 like… Happy Saltburn New Year!”
Sophie Ellis-Bextor recreates Saltburn Murder On The Dance Floor scene
Sophie Ellis-Bextor dances into the New Year in a replica Saltburn Murder On The Dance Floor scene video. Her famous hit has been used in the final scene of the Emerald Fennell-directed psychological thriller, Saltburn. The 44-year-old singer mirrored Barry Keoghan’s moves in a video she posted to TikTok on Sunday (31 December). Dressed in a multicoloured sequin dress and a pair of antlers, the singer danced her way down the stairs in time to the song. She captioned the post: “Heading into 2024 like… Happy Saltburn New Year!”
Watch live as Pope Francis leads New Year’s Day Mass from the Vatican
After mass the Pope will go to Peter’s Balcony to deliver his papal blessing to the watchful crowd at St Peter’s Square, weather permitting. In 2020 the head of the Catholic Church was forced to give the Angelus blessing from the papal library due to poor weather.
Last year was a solemn event: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95, causing thousands of Catholics to gather in Saint Peter’s Square to remember the former leader of the Church.
Watch live: Pope Francis leads New Year’s Day Mass
Watch live as Pope Francis leads New Year’s Day Mass from the Vatican on Monday (1 January).
Watch New York ball drop as thousands gather in Times Square for 2024 countdown
Tens of thousands of people gathered in New York City’s Times Square for the countdown to 2024 on Sunday (31 December).
Those celebrating the end of 2023 and the start of a brand new year were showered with confetti as they watched the descent of the colourful ball marking the birth of 2024.
Watch New York ball drop as thousands gather in Times Square for 2024 countdown
Tens of thousands of people gathered in New York City’s Times Square for the countdown to 2024 on Sunday (31 December). Those celebrating the end of 2023 and the start of a brand new year were showered with confetti as they watched the descent of the colourful ball marking the birth of 2024. Tyrell Jacobs, 27, and Sarah Crayton, 26, arrived from New Orleans 15 hours before midnight and got engaged in streets packed with celebrations. “It’s definitely a must-see,” Crayton said of the colourful cast of strangers nearby in tall hats and blowing noisemakers. “At least go once, you know, just to experience the magic.”
Watch spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks as London welcomes 2024
New Year's celebration sweeps across the globe, but wars cast a shadow on 2024
New Year’s Day arrived to cheers from tens of thousands of beaming people in New York’s Times Square who were showered with confetti and hugs and kisses after watching the descent of the colourful ball marking the birth of 2024 with hope for some, even as the world’s ongoing conflicts subdued celebrations and raised security concerns across the globe.
There were snapshots of joy from country to country as the new year was welcomed with optimism that its days will bring more joy than sorrow.
Before midnight arrived in Times Square, December Lee, 26, and Shadayah Lawrence, 25, of Columbus, Ohio, said their New York visit highlighted four years of traveling the globe.
“It is a good way to bring in the new year,” Mr Lee said.
A small army of thousands of police officers worked to keep New York City safe, just as heightened security had done in the cities midnight hit first. New York has seen near-daily protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.
Some 90,000 police and security officers were deployed around France including along Champs-Elysees Avenue, where large crowds took in a multidimensional light show projected onto the Arc de Triomphe showcasing the history of Paris and sports on the menu for next year’s Summer Olympics in the city.
‘Going well so far’ New Yorkers last to see in 2024
“It’s beautiful,” Corin Christian of Charlotte, North Carolina, said of the scene seconds past midnight as Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blared from speakers in Times Square as thousands held cell phones in the air, trying to capture clock strike midnight.
“It’s going very well so far,” said Jacob Eriksson of Salt Lake City, Utah, with the earliest assessment of the New Year.
The march of midnight from time zone to time zone brought 2024 first to places like Australia, where more than 1 million people watched a pyrotechnic display centred around Sydney’s famous Opera House — a number of spectators equivalent to 1 in 5 of the city’s residents.
It would be another 16 hours before New York finished 2023.Also in Times Square, Tyrell Jacobs, 27, and Sarah Crayton, 26, arrived from New Orleans 15 hours before midnight and got engaged in streets packed with tens of thousands of people counting first the hours and then the minutes until midnight.
“It’s definitely a must-see,” Crayton said of the colourful cast of strangers nearby in tall hats and blowing noisemakers even before the ball dropped.
“At least go once, you know, just to experience the magic.”
Security tightened for New Year’s Eve celebrations after FBI warnings
The governor of New York has announced heightened public safety measures for New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement comes about two weeks after the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a Public Service Announcement warning that threats of violence against the United States are likely heightened because of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Report:
Security tightened for New Year's Eve celebrations after FBI warnings
Threats of violence are heightened because of the Israel-Hamas war, the bureau has warned
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