World welcomes New Year with fireworks and prayers

At his Sunday prayers at the Vatican, Pope Francis wished everyone a peaceful end to the year

Confetti flies around in Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebrations, in New York City. Reuters

A view of the last sunset for the year 2023 on New Year's Eve, in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA

A worshipper and child during a new year's prayer at the St Joanes, Legio Maria of African Church Mission within Fort Jesus in Kibera district of Nairobi, Kenya. Reuters

Fireworks over the Rockwell Centre in celebration of the new year in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters

Fireworks bring in the new year over the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Ruel Pableo for The National

Balloons are released to celebrate the new year on Jianghan Road in Wuhan, China. Getty Images

New year celebrations at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea. AFP

Fireworks explode around the London Eye and The Elizabeth Tower, commonly known by the name of the clock's bell, Big Ben, at the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament, in central London, just after midnight on January 1, 2024. AFP

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Arc de Triomphe during the New Year's celebrations on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, France, January 1, 2024. Reuters

Fireworks explode over the Brandenburg Gate at midnight on New Year's Day, January 01, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

People look at an aerial image projection depicting an Iraqi map during New Year celebration in Baghdad, Iraq, January 1, 2024. Reuters

A reveller joins the crowds in Times Square ahead of celebrations of the New Year's Eve, in New York City, New York. Reuters

Thousands of people gather during the New Year's Eve concert in Zakopane, southern Poland, 31 December 2023. EPA

Fireworks and light effects illuminate the night sky during the 2024 new year's celebrations in the capital Colombo, Sri Lanka, 01 January 2024. EPA

Fireworks explode at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, during the New Year's Eve celebration, in Dubai. AP Photo

Fireworks for India during New Years Eve at Global Village, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fireworks are seen over Victoria Harbour for the New Year's Eve celebrations in Hong Kong. EPA

Fireworks over Marina Bay during a New Year's Eve show at the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2024 celebrations. EPA

Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

Fireworks at the Taipei 101 building during the New Year's celebrations in Taiwan. AP

The 9pm 'family fireworks' over the Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney. AFP

A man flies a decorated kite to mark New Year's Eve in Amritsar. AFP

Members of the Gurung community wearing traditional attire dance on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar festival marking the commencement of Gurung New Year in Kathmandu. AFP

A Happy New Year headpiece during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney. Getty Images

Balinese dancers take part in a cultural parade, during a New Year's Eve celebration in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. EPA

Pope Francis during the last Angelus prayer of the year from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City. EPA

A selfie in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters

A fireworks display in Auckland, New Zealand welcomed in the New Year as the first country in the world celebrated the arrival of 2024.

The fireworks illuminated the cloudy night sky and were accompanied by a laser light and animation show.

Other countries soon followed in bidding farewell to 2023 and welcoming the New Year.

Sydney, Australia hailed 2024 with a dazzling fireworks display featuring silver and gold pyrotechnics to mark the 50th anniversary of its famous Opera House.

At his Sunday prayers at the Vatican, Pope Francis said: “I wish everyone a peaceful end of the year, and please do not forget to pray for me.”

New Year’s celebrations across UAE - in pictures

Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing an election in March, made only passing reference in his New Year address to his war in Ukraine, hailing Russia's soldiers as heroes but emphasising unity and shared determination.

China's President Xi Jinping, speaking in a televised speech to mark the New Year, said the country will consolidate and enhance the positive trend of its economic recovery in 2024, and sustain long-term economic development with deeper reforms.

In North Korea, Kim Jong Un vowed to launch three spy satellites, build military drones, and increase its nuclear arsenal in 2024, with the leader saying US policy is making war inevitable.

UAE marks the new year with fireworks and drone displays - video

President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Sunday that 2024 will be the year of French pride and hope, marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games and the re-opening of Notre-Dame cathedral after a devastating fire.

"Only once in a century does one host Olympic and Paralympic Games, only once in a millennium does one rebuild a cathedral," Mr Macron said.

"2024, a year of determination, choices, recovery, pride. In fact, a year of hope."

For India, thousands of revellers from the financial hub of Mumbai watched the sun set over the Arabian Sea.

In New Delhi, fireworks raised concerns that the capital — already infamous for its poor air quality — would be blanketed by a toxic haze on the first morning of the new year.

Across Japan, people gathered at temples, such as the Tsukiji Temple in Tokyo, where visitors were given free hot milk and corn soup as they stood in line to strike a massive bell.