"Global New Year's Eve 2024: Festive Fireworks and Somber Shadows"
Countries around the world celebrated the arrival of 2024 with fireworks and festivities, with New Zealand and Sydney putting on spectacular displays. In contrast, Gaza faced a somber mood amidst ongoing conflict. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II announced her upcoming abdication, while leaders like Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un delivered New Year messages focusing on unity, economic recovery, and military advancements, respectively. Pope Francis and French President Macron shared hopeful messages, and German police thwarted a potential attack on Cologne Cathedral.