Happy New Year 2024 LIVE Updates: Australia’s Sydney welcomes new year 2024 with fireworks

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have tightened security in the Udhampur district ahead of the New Year celebrations.

The JK police have put up barricades at strategic locations to conduct security checks on the Jammu Srinagar national highway for safe and smooth conduct of the celebrations.

Police personnel will check four-wheelers and motorcyclists at the locations. The officials have also appealed to visitors to celebrate New Year’s Eve safely.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Udhampur Joginder Singh said that he expects a large influx of visitors to Patnitop hill station and other popular tourist destinations on December 31. (ANI)

The East Singhbhum district administration has made adequate security arrangements for New Year celebrations, a police officer said.

Senior superintendent of police Kishore Kaushal and superintendent of police (City) Mukesh Kumar Lunayat on Sunday conducted a foot patrolling at Bistupur, Golmuri, Telco, Sakchi and Sitaramdera police station areas to take stock of security preparedness.

The SSP directed police officials to be vigilant and initiate action against law breakers during new year celebrations.

The senior officials also visited the composite control room (CCR) and checked CCTV camera footage of different areas of the city.

The SSP instructed Tiger Mobile personnel and special motorcycle squad to be on alert. (PTI)

On the eve of New Year’s Eve, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla on Sunday extended greetings to the people of the country.

“My dear countrymen, my family members, hearty congratulations and best wishes to all of you for the New Year, 2024,” said an official statement quoting the Lok Sabha speaker.

“I wish the New Year brings happiness to the lives of you all and your loved ones. May all your resolutions be fulfilled! May your life be filled with new achievements and new successes in the New Year!” it added. The statement further said that the new year is the time when we set new goals for ourselves and work with new energy and new enthusiasm to achieve them.

“New Year is the time when we set new goals for ourselves and work with new energy and new enthusiasm to achieve them. May your life move forward in the New Year with new commitments and new resolutions! Let us try to make ourselves the best with positive energy. Let us contribute our best to make our family, society and nation excellent,” the Lok Sabha Speaker said.

“I also pray to God that the New Year brings peace, happiness and prosperity in your lives!” he added. (ANI)

Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday called upon every citizen to ensure that India registers massive progress and scales greater heights in 2024.

The Lt Governor extended New Year wishes to the people of the union territory and Tamil Nadu and said “it is the duty of every citizen to ensure that the country registered massive progress in 2024.”

In his New Year eve message, Chief Minister N Rangasamy said the territorial government had implemented several progressive schemes in 2023 and termed them as “path-breaking” programmes which were unique in the country.

Puducherry Home Minister A Namassivayam, Agriculture Minister C Djeacoumar, Civil Supplies Minister Sai J Saravana Kumar, former Chief Minister and Congress leader V Narayanasamy, legislators and leaders of various political parties also extended greetings to the people on the eve of the New Year. (PTI)

President Vladimir Putin said Russia would “never back down” in his New Year’s Eve address, praising his country’s military personnel without explicitly mentioning the conflict in Ukraine.

“We have repeatedly proved that we are able to solve the most difficult tasks and will never retreat, because there is no force that can separate us,” Putin said. (AFP)

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukvinder Singh Sukhu said, as quoted by ANI, “Best wishes to the people of Himachal Pradesh for the new year. We pray for peace, prosperity and well-being of the people…In the budget, we had announced that we would progress towards making Himachal Pradesh a green state…”

Prediction of weekend snow and the chief minister’s directions not to be harsh with drunk revelers on New Year failed to woo tourists to Shimla which recorded 50-60 per cent occupancy, “the lowest in the last 40 years”.

Last year, Shimla had recorded more than 80 per cent occupancy on New Year. The hotel and allied industries were pinning hopes on ‘white New Year’ but chances of snowfall appear very bleak.

While, the Mall Road and The Ridge in the heart of the city are abuzz with tourists as winter carnival turned the place into a fair with lights and cultural bonanza being organised but tourist footfall has not converted in room occupancy in hotels, said Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders Association president M K Seth.

The occupancy is about 50-60 per cent which is the lowest in the last 40 years and even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourist rush on New Year was more than this time, he told the PTI.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had directed to follow the slogan of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, facilitate the tourists and make adequate arrangements and proper plans in all districts for smooth flow of traffic.

Besides allowing food joints and pan shops to remain open 24×7, he had said that drunk tourists would not be arrested, but would be facilitated by the police to their hotels to ensure that their New Year experience is not spoiled. (PTI)

In Mumbai, the police have implemented Section 144 until January 18 as a precautionary measure.

In the wake of the New Year celebrations in the country, the Karachi police chief on Sunday warned the citizens that they would be charged with attempted murder for aerial firing, The News International reported on Sunday.

It reported that Additional Inspector General Karachi Khadim Hussain Rind said that the charges of attempted murder will be included in the cases lodged against those involved in aerial firing on New Year’s night.

Moreover, AIG Rind also ordered his subordinates, especially traffic police chief DIG Iqbal Dara, to arrest people for drinking and driving.

A ban has also been ordered on the carrying and display of weapons throughout the city, as well as directives for arresting those involved in conducting aerial firing. (ANI)

Delhi, Bengaluru, Lucknow and other major cities across India have stepped up security arrangments and some of these cities have even imposed restrictions for the general public, bars and restaurants ahead of the New Year celebrations. Check city-wise details here.

Describing 2023 as a year of ‘special achievements’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the country is replete with self-confidence and the momentum should continue in 2024.

Addressing the nation through the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast, Modi mentioned the G20 summit, passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament, landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon and successes in sports as key achievements this year.

“Today every corner of India is brimming with self-confidence, imbued with the spirit of a developed India; the spirit of self-reliance. We have to maintain the same spirit and momentum in 2024 as well,” a statement from the prime minister’s office quoted him as saying. “The record business on Diwali proved that every Indian is giving importance to the mantra of ‘Vocal For Local.” 

READ MORE HERE. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and many other political leaders on Sunday extended their New Year greetings to the people.

In his message, Stalin said the new year was ushering in a new thought.

“The victory march of the Dravidian model government, which has been shattering any obstacle coming in the way of the journey towards equality, brotherhood and social justice will touch new heights in the coming year,” he said.

Palaniswami, also state Leader of Opposition, wished all-round prosperity and good health for all. (PTI)

The Delhi Police is geared up to tackle any nuisance and law and order condition in the city on New Year’s Eve while the traffic police have deployed more than 2,500 personnel for smooth movement of vehicles, officials said on Sunday.”

According to the police, more than 10,000 personnel will be deployed on the ground to curb hooliganism and traffic violations.

“We want everyone to welcome the New Year with great zeal. But if someone is found causing nuisance on roads, they will face action,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said.

A senior police official said drunk driving, stunts by motorcycle riders and loud exhaust sounds of any vehicle are strictly prohibited in Delhi and stressed that no one will be allowed to flout the rules.

As many as 250 teams of the Delhi Traffic Police have been deployed to curb drunk driving, officials said.

Movement of vehicles going towards Connaught Place will be regulated after 8 pm on Sunday. Around 450 motorcycles will also be positioned at different places, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) SS Yadav said

According to the police, adequate personnel will be deployed in areas where high footfall is expected.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday said commuters will not be allowed to exit the Rajiv Chowk metro station after 9 pm on New Year’s Eve to ease overcrowding. (PTI)

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan extended New Year greetings to the people of the state on Sunday. In his message, Governor Khan expressed his delight in wishing the people of Kerala as well as Keralites worldwide a very happy and prosperous New Year. 

“I sincerely hope that the year 2024 reinforces our unity and brings us happiness, security, and harmony in both ideas and actions for the progress and prosperity of our state,” he said. Chief Minister Vijayan said that New Year celebrations should serve as declarations of harmony, secularism, love, brotherhood, and friendship. “As the world welcomes the New Year, let us share our hopes for a better tomorrow filled with peace, happiness, and equality,” he said. (ANI)

Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai extended his heartiest greetings and best wishes to the people of Goa on the occasion of New Year.

The Governor, in his message, stated that the New Year is a joyous event when we refresh our thoughts and prepare for new achievements.

“It is a time when we refresh our thoughts and renew our resolve to make improvements in our life. The New Year brings new hopes, aspirations, expectations and rejuvenates our lives,” he said in a press note. (ANI)

As we welcome the upcoming year filled with joy, the quest for the ideal gift is heightened, especially in tech-savvy markets like India. If you are thinking about gifting something special to your loved ones, look no further! We have compiled a selection of the top five fantastic gift ideas. Read here.

2024 is almost here! With new resolutions and goals, people across the world are set to ring in a prosperous New Year on January 1. The New Year festivities definitely calls for a grand celebration, catching up with your loved ones and levelling up your aspirations.

But first, jumpstart your New Year celebrations by sharing these heartfelt wishes, quotes and WhatsApp messages with your friends and family: Read here.

Happy New Year 2024: As the new year approaches, many people engage in the tradition of creating New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions often symbolize individual aims and hopes for self-enhancement across different facets of life. Read here.

Several restrictions including section 144 have been imposed in several cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow for safe New Year celebrations. Tight security arrangements have been for parties on New Year’s Eve. Take a look at city-wise restrictions in India.
1) Delhi: Delhi Traffic Police will deploy 2,500 personnel to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and 250 teams will be tasked with checking drunken driving on New Year’s Eve, officials said. Police will keep extra vigil in Connaught Place, Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, and South Extension markets, among other places on the eve of New Year.
Read the complete story here.

Ahead of the New Year, the Mumbai Police on 30 December received a threatening phone call at around 6 pm where the caller claimed that there would be blasts in the city.

Police have started investigations at several places but till now nothing suspicious has been found. Read here.

Thousands of tourists are thronging to hill stations to experience snowfall around New Year 2024. While in many hill stations snowfall has already happened, weather forecasting scientists have predicted a dip in temperature along with snowfall in several destinations around New Year.

Hoteliers are upbeat due to the rain and snow forecast as New Year’s Eve has fallen on a weekend and snowfall would further boost the tourist arrival at places such as Shimla, Manali, Gulmarg, and Auli among others. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand may witness a wet spell in the mid and higher hills around New Year as the meteorological department has forecast light rainfall at isolated places in the mid hills and light rainfall or snow in the higher hills from December 30 to January 1. Read here.

2024 is almost here! With new resolutions and goals, people across the world are set to ring in a prosperous New Year on January 1. The New Year festivities definitely calls for a grand celebration, catching up with your loved ones and levelling up your aspirations. Read here.

As we welcome the upcoming year filled with joy, the quest for the ideal gift is heightened, especially in tech-savvy markets like India. If you are thinking about gifting something special to your loved ones, look no further! We have compiled a selection of the top five fantastic gift ideas

1) iPhone 15:

The latest flagship from Apple, the iPhone 15 comes with many improvements over its predecessor including almost doubling the peak outdoor brightness to an impressive 2,000 nits. The iPhone comes with a 6.1-inch display along with the new Dynamic Island technology that offers a more intuitive way to interact with their iPhones. Read here.

OYO Hotels, India’s leading hospitality chain, is gearing up for a packed weekend as its properties in popular tourist destinations like Puducherry, Nainital, Goa, Mysore, Mussoorie, and Manali are nearing 100% occupancy. This upbeat news was shared by OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal himself, indicating a strong revival in the travel and tourism sector after the pandemic slump.

“OYO hotels in Puducherry, Nainital, Goa, Mysore, Mussoorie and Manali are almost reaching 100% occupancy for the weekend,” said OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal in post on social media platform X. Read here.

New Year 2024: New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate the end of the year and one can make it even more special by following these ideas for a perfect memorable cozy and homely New Year. It’s the best time of the year to cherish and strengthen bonds with loved ones.

Here are some suggestions to celebrate the 2024 New Year with loved ones including friends and family at home.

Be a host

Invite friends and family to join us for a lively New Year’s Eve party. Decorate the house with streamers and balloons, and create a snack and drink station along with a cosy corner for a game of cards or Pictionary. Consider making it a potluck-style gathering where everyone contributes a dish.

Invite friends and family for dinner

Treat your loved ones to an upscale homemade dinner order food from a restaurant for an elegant dinner party at home. Following dinner, your loved ones can gather up to watch a movie together to make the night even more memorable. Read here.

With 2024 just a day away, it’s time to usher in the New Year enthusiastically. With some people already on their New Year Holidays, some have their plans ready for the party. If you are still looking for an ideal New Year party, brunch, or dinner options, here are your options to look out for.

Are you inclined towards a DJ Night with a delightful dining experience or looking towards escaping the hustle and bustle of the city for a serene celebration?
We have curated selections of fantastic party, and staycation options for you. Read the complete news here.