<p>The New Year is here, with Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in Kiribati, which lies in the world’s earliest time zone, seeing the the clock strike past midnight, heralding the arrival of 1 January 2026. This is followed by other islands across the Asia–Pacific region and Oceania.</p><h2>The first places to welcome the New Year&nbsp;</h2><p>The Republic of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, is usually the first place where a new day begins. Kiritimati (Christmas Island) is the earliest inhabited location to enter the New Year, as it is located in the UTC+14 time zone, the world’s most easterly time zone, just west of the International Date Line.</p><p>Caroline Island, also known as Millennium Island, lies slightly farther east within the same time zone. While it can technically be the first land to catch the sun’s rays depending on latitude and conditions, it is essentially uninhabited.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/january-2026-holiday-calendar-festivals-public-holidays-and-long-weekends-you-shouldn-t-miss-1767157626917/amp">January 2026 holiday calendar: Festivals, public holidays, and long weekends you shouldn’t miss</a></p><h2>Why Kiritimati Island is first to greet each new day</h2><p>Kiribati adjusted its time zones in 1995 to unify the country under a single calendar day and to ensure that the Line Islands would be the first to welcome each new day and year. Kiritimati Island, the most populated of the Line Islands, is therefore widely recognised as the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/new-ott-releases-in-january-2026-from-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-to-taskaree-shows-movies-to-watch-on-netflix-prime-and-other-ott-platforms-1767111509313">New OTT releases in January 2026: From A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to Taskaree: Shows &amp; movies to watch on Netflix, Prime, and other OTT platforms</a></p><h2>Where else does the New Year arrive early in 2026?</h2><p>After Kiribati, other Pacific nations such as Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) enter the New Year soon afterwards. While some Antarctic regions may experience continuous daylight during the southern summer, Kiribati holds the distinction among inhabited places.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/2025-brings-a-break-2026-brings-action-indian-women-s-cricket-plans-ahead-1762325615996/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/2025-brings-a-break-2026-brings-action-indian-women-s-cricket-plans-ahead-1762325615996/embed</a></p><h2>World set to welcome 2026</h2><p>Below is an approximate list showing when 1 January 2026 begins in selected locations, expressed in Indian Standard Time (IST). These times indicate the arrival of the New Year at midnight local time, not local sunrise.</p><p>Chatham Islands, New Zealand — 3:45 pm IST<br>Wellington, New Zealand — 4:30 pm IST<br>Fiji — 5:30 pm IST<br>Sydney, Australia — 6:30 pm IST<br>Tokyo, Japan — 8:30 pm IST<br>Beijing, China — 9:30 pm IST<br>Dhaka, Bangladesh — 11:30 pm IST<br>Kathmandu, Nepal — 11:45 pm IST<br>Moscow, Russia — 2:30 am IST<br>Paris, France — 4:30 am IST<br>United Kingdom — 5:30 am IST<br>New York, United States — 10:30 am IST</p>

Kiribati’s Kiritimati Island is the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January 2026. Pacific nations follow as the New Year moves west across the globe, marking the transition into 2026.

The New Year is here, with Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in Kiribati, which lies in the world’s earliest time zone, seeing the the clock strike past midnight, heralding the arrival of 1 January 2026. This is followed by other islands across the Asia–Pacific region and Oceania. The first places to welcome the New Year The Republic of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, is usually the first place where a new day begins. Kiritimati (Christmas Island) is the earliest inhabited location to enter the New Year, as it is located in the UTC+14 time zone, the world’s most easterly time zone, just west of the International Date Line. Caroline Island, also known as Millennium Island, lies slightly farther east within the same time zone. While it can technically be the first land to catch the sun’s rays depending on latitude and conditions, it is essentially uninhabited. Also read: January 2026 holiday calendar: Festivals, public holidays, and long weekends you shouldn’t miss Why Kiritimati Island is first to greet each new day Kiribati adjusted its time zones in 1995 to unify the country under a single calendar day and to ensure that the Line Islands would be the first to welcome each new day and year. Kiritimati Island, the most populated of the Line Islands, is therefore widely recognised as the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January. Also read: New OTT releases in January 2026: From A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to Taskaree: Shows & movies to watch on Netflix, Prime, and other OTT platforms Where else does the New Year arrive early in 2026? After Kiribati, other Pacific nations such as Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) enter the New Year soon afterwards. While some Antarctic regions may experience continuous daylight during the southern summer, Kiribati holds the distinction among inhabited places. https://www.wionews.com/videos/2025-brings-a-break-2026-brings-action-indian-women-s-cricket-plans-ahead-1762325615996/embed World set to welcome 2026 Below is an approximate list showing when 1 January 2026 begins in selected locations, expressed in Indian Standard Time (IST). These times indicate the arrival of the New Year at midnight local time, not local sunrise. Chatham Islands, New Zealand — 3:45 pm IST Wellington, New Zealand — 4:30 pm IST Fiji — 5:30 pm IST Sydney, Australia — 6:30 pm IST Tokyo, Japan — 8:30 pm IST Beijing, China — 9:30 pm IST Dhaka, Bangladesh — 11:30 pm IST Kathmandu, Nepal — 11:45 pm IST Moscow, Russia — 2:30 am IST Paris, France — 4:30 am IST United Kingdom — 5:30 am IST New York, United States — 10:30 am IST

<p>Kiribati’s Kiritimati Island is the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January 2026. Pacific nations follow as the New Year moves west across the globe, marking the transition into 2026.</p>

2026 is here! Kiribati Islands enters New Year as clock strikes midnight in world's easternmost inhabited region

From beach parties in Goa to snowy escapes in Manali, royal stays in Udaipur and peaceful retreats in Rishikesh, these seven Indian destinations offer the perfect mix of celebration, nature and calm to welcome the New Year 2026 in style.

<p>From beach parties in Goa to snowy escapes in Manali, royal stays in Udaipur and peaceful retreats in Rishikesh, these seven Indian destinations offer the perfect mix of celebration, nature and calm to welcome the New Year 2026 in style.</p>

From Goa to Manali: 7 best places in India to welcome New Year 2026

<p>The countdown for New Year Day has begun. With the holidays mode officially clocking in, it is important to be aware of what will be operational and which will be closed on the first day of the year. While it is a federal holiday for those in the United States of America, it is not a gazetted holiday in India. The Indian government marks January 1 is classified as a Restricted Holiday (RH), and several states officially designates January 1 as a public holiday. The stock market is also open for trading but banks and schools are closed in few states.</p><p><br>New Year's Day will be on Thursday in 2026, which means a week day. &nbsp;Below is a list of what will be open and closed on January 1, 2026 in India and the US.</p><h2>What's open in India on January 1&nbsp;</h2><ul><li>Central government offices: Since it is a restricted holiday, all Central government offices are mostly open&nbsp;</li><li>Banks: Except in states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Northeastern states, where it is a declared holiday, most banks are open.&nbsp;</li><li>Retail shops and malls: Most shopping centers, markets, and malls remain open and often hold New Year sales.</li><li>Restaurants and cafes: Eateries typically operate with normal or extended hours.</li><li>Public transport: Local buses, metros, trains run&nbsp;</li><li>Emergency services: Hospitals, police, ambulances are always open</li><li>Private workplaces: Many private companies choose to remain open (depending on company policy).</li><li>Tourist sites: Attractions are open on January 1</li><li>Stock Markets: Both the BSE and NSE are open for regular trading</li></ul><h2>What's closed in India on January 1&nbsp;</h2><ul><li>Bank branches: In many states, including Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, physical bank branches close for New Year/related local holidays. However, digital banking services (UPI, mobile banking, ATMs) remain fully operational nationwide</li><li>Government offices: Most central/state government offices observe New Year/holiday schedules and may be closed or on reduced staffing</li><li>Some postal services: Post offices may be on holiday or limited schedule</li><li>Courts: The Supreme Court of India is closed from December 22, 2025, through January 1, 2026, for winter holidays</li></ul><h2>What's closed in the US on January 1&nbsp;</h2><ul><li>Federal Offices: All non-emergency federal government offices are closed.</li><li>Post Offices: The United States Postal Service (USPS) is closed</li><li>Courts: Both federal and state courts are closed</li><li>Banks: Most brick-and-mortar branches, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase, are closed. Online banking and ATMs remain functional</li><li>Stock Markets: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are completely closed for trading</li><li>UPS: Domestic ground and air delivery services are closed</li><li>FedEx: Most services are closed, with the exception of FedEx Custom Critical</li></ul><p>While many retailers stay open, some major chains close to give employees the day off:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Closed: Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe's, and Sam's Club.</li><li>Open (Hours may vary): Walmart, Target, and most major pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens</li></ul><h2>&nbsp;</h2>

New Year’s Day 2026 falls on a Thursday. While it’s a federal holiday in the US, India treats January 1 as a restricted holiday. Stock markets remain open in India, with most offices, transport, shops and restaurants operating, though banks and schools are shut in select states.

The countdown for New Year Day has begun. With the holidays mode officially clocking in, it is important to be aware of what will be operational and which will be closed on the first day of the year. While it is a federal holiday for those in the United States of America, it is not a gazetted holiday in India. The Indian government marks January 1 is classified as a Restricted Holiday (RH), and several states officially designates January 1 as a public holiday. The stock market is also open for trading but banks and schools are closed in few states. New Year's Day will be on Thursday in 2026, which means a week day. Below is a list of what will be open and closed on January 1, 2026 in India and the US. What's open in India on January 1 Central government offices: Since it is a restricted holiday, all Central government offices are mostly open Banks: Except in states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Northeastern states, where it is a declared holiday, most banks are open. Retail shops and malls: Most shopping centers, markets, and malls remain open and often hold New Year sales. Restaurants and cafes: Eateries typically operate with normal or extended hours. Public transport: Local buses, metros, trains run Emergency services: Hospitals, police, ambulances are always open Private workplaces: Many private companies choose to remain open (depending on company policy). Tourist sites: Attractions are open on January 1 Stock Markets: Both the BSE and NSE are open for regular trading What's closed in India on January 1 Bank branches: In many states, including Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, physical bank branches close for New Year/related local holidays. However, digital banking services (UPI, mobile banking, ATMs) remain fully operational nationwide Government offices: Most central/state government offices observe New Year/holiday schedules and may be closed or on reduced staffing Some postal services: Post offices may be on holiday or limited schedule Courts: The Supreme Court of India is closed from December 22, 2025, through January 1, 2026, for winter holidays What's closed in the US on January 1 Federal Offices: All non-emergency federal government offices are closed. Post Offices: The United States Postal Service (USPS) is closed Courts: Both federal and state courts are closed Banks: Most brick-and-mortar branches, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase, are closed. Online banking and ATMs remain functional Stock Markets: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq are completely closed for trading UPS: Domestic ground and air delivery services are closed FedEx: Most services are closed, with the exception of FedEx Custom Critical While many retailers stay open, some major chains close to give employees the day off: Closed: Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe's, and Sam's Club. Open (Hours may vary): Walmart, Target, and most major pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens

<p>New Year’s Day 2026 falls on a Thursday. While it’s a federal holiday in the US, India treats January 1 as a restricted holiday. Stock markets remain open in India, with most offices, transport, shops and restaurants operating, though banks and schools are shut in select states.</p>

Is January 1 a bank holiday? Full List of what's open and what's closed on New Year 2026 in US and India

<p>People across the world welcomed the New Year with enthusiasm and hopes that 2024 will come with peace, prosperity and happiness as people have wrapped up 2023 — a year which was defined by wars and climate crises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The year 2023 has gone by, leaving some bittersweet memories. When it started, the world was still discussing the vast impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war. Little did we know that we would see another war, later in October — the Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On October 7, hundreds of Hamas militants entered Israel, crossing the border from Gaza, killing around 1,140 people, mostly civilians. They took about 250 people as hostages, some of them were returned when the two sides agreed to a week-long truce. During the truce period, Hamas released 105 hostages, mostly women and children, and Israel freed 240 Palestinian prisoners.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-world-welcomes-2024-with-enthusiasm-and-hope-675385">World welcomes 2024 with enthusiasm and hope</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The attack by Hamas militants was termed the worst in Israel's history. The gunmen reportedly raped women, killed babies, showing a horrible side of the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "destroy" Hamas and launched a campaign of air strikes in Gaza followed by a ground offensive that reduced many regions in the Gaza Strip to rubble.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The war is likely to continue for "many more months" as Gazans have little hope that 2024 will offer much relief. On Sunday, the last day of 2023, those on the Rafah border were more concerned with finding shelter, food, and water than with thinking about the New Year. The border with Egypt has become the main hub for Palestinians fleeing other sections of the enclave.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the Russia-Ukraine war, Kyiv launched a highly anticipated counteroffensive after amassing billions in powerful Western-made weapons and training new recruits, but the conflict remained a stalemate. And at the fag end of the war, both sides made fresh claims of missiles and drones strikes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But the year brought rare good news for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in mid-December when EU leaders agreed to open membership talks with Kyiv.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/rewind-2023-nasas-james-webb-telescope-clicked-some-of-the-best-images-675366">NASA's James Webb telescope clicked some really good images</a></strong></p>

<h2><strong>Climate crisis&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The European Union's climate monitor predicted 2023 to be the hottest on record. Drought made worse by climate change is cited as one of the factors behind the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century that claimed at least 115 lives on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Quakes and other news</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>In the early hours of February 6, one of the deadliest earthquakes in a century flattened entire cities in southeast Turkey, killing more than 50,000 people, with nearly 6,000 others killed across the border in Syria.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On September 8, an earthquake struck Morocco's Marrakesh–Safi region, killing nearly 3,000 people. The earthquake's epicentre was located 73.4 km southwest of Marrakesh, near the town of Ighil and the Oukaïmeden ski resort in the Atlas.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;New Year 2024: Australia, New Zealand welcome 2024 with fireworks, celebrations&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>What did the leaders say?</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his soldiers as heroes but mostly emphasised unity and shared determination as he made only passing reference in his New Year address about the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While speaking in a televised speech to mark the New Year, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that the country will consolidate and enhance the positive trend of its economic recovery in 2024, and sustain long-term economic development with deeper reforms. He also said that China would "surely be reunified".&nbsp;</p>

<p>North Korea vowed to launch three new spy satellites, build military drones, and boost its nuclear arsenal in 2024 as leader Kim Jong Un said US policy is making war inevitable, state media reported on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address ahead of New Year celebrations that 2024 would be "the year of our French pride" marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games and the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral after a devastating fire.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, the trends suggest more months of wars, and discussions about nuclear weapons will dominate the coming year. But what will exactly happen, only time will tell.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


People across the world welcomed the New Year with enthusiasm and hopes that 2024 will come with peace, prosperity and happiness as people have wrapped up 2023 — a year which was defined by wars and climate crises.

People across the world welcomed the New Year with enthusiasm and hopes that 2024 will come with peace, prosperity and happiness as people have wrapped up 2023 — a year which was defined by wars and climate crises. The year 2023 has gone by, leaving some bittersweet memories. When it started, the world was still discussing the vast impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war. Little did we know that we would see another war, later in October — the Israel-Hamas war. On October 7, hundreds of Hamas militants entered Israel, crossing the border from Gaza, killing around 1,140 people, mostly civilians. They took about 250 people as hostages, some of them were returned when the two sides agreed to a week-long truce. During the truce period, Hamas released 105 hostages, mostly women and children, and Israel freed 240 Palestinian prisoners. Also read: World welcomes 2024 with enthusiasm and hope The attack by Hamas militants was termed the worst in Israel's history. The gunmen reportedly raped women, killed babies, showing a horrible side of the war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "destroy" Hamas and launched a campaign of air strikes in Gaza followed by a ground offensive that reduced many regions in the Gaza Strip to rubble. The war is likely to continue for "many more months" as Gazans have little hope that 2024 will offer much relief. On Sunday, the last day of 2023, those on the Rafah border were more concerned with finding shelter, food, and water than with thinking about the New Year. The border with Egypt has become the main hub for Palestinians fleeing other sections of the enclave. In the Russia-Ukraine war, Kyiv launched a highly anticipated counteroffensive after amassing billions in powerful Western-made weapons and training new recruits, but the conflict remained a stalemate. And at the fag end of the war, both sides made fresh claims of missiles and drones strikes. But the year brought rare good news for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in mid-December when EU leaders agreed to open membership talks with Kyiv. Also read: NASA's James Webb telescope clicked some really good images Climate crisis The European Union's climate monitor predicted 2023 to be the hottest on record. Drought made worse by climate change is cited as one of the factors behind the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century that claimed at least 115 lives on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August. Quakes and other news In the early hours of February 6, one of the deadliest earthquakes in a century flattened entire cities in southeast Turkey, killing more than 50,000 people, with nearly 6,000 others killed across the border in Syria. On September 8, an earthquake struck Morocco's Marrakesh–Safi region, killing nearly 3,000 people. The earthquake's epicentre was located 73.4 km southwest of Marrakesh, near the town of Ighil and the Oukaïmeden ski resort in the Atlas. Watch: New Year 2024: Australia, New Zealand welcome 2024 with fireworks, celebrations × What did the leaders say? Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his soldiers as heroes but mostly emphasised unity and shared determination as he made only passing reference in his New Year address about the war in Ukraine. While speaking in a televised speech to mark the New Year, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that the country will consolidate and enhance the positive trend of its economic recovery in 2024, and sustain long-term economic development with deeper reforms. He also said that China would "surely be reunified". North Korea vowed to launch three new spy satellites, build military drones, and boost its nuclear arsenal in 2024 as leader Kim Jong Un said US policy is making war inevitable, state media reported on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address ahead of New Year celebrations that 2024 would be "the year of our French pride" marked by the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games and the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral after a devastating fire. So far, the trends suggest more months of wars, and discussions about nuclear weapons will dominate the coming year. But what will exactly happen, only time will tell. (With inputs from agencies)

World welcomes new year, bids farewell to 2023, a year marked by wars and climate crises

<p>People across the world turned a new chapter of their lives as they bid farewell to the year 2022 and welcomed a new year on Sunday (January 1) with celebrations in different parts including Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With aspirations and expectations, the world's eight billion people look forward to the year 2023. They said goodbye to the chaotic 12 months, which were marred by several crises, including the Ukraine war, and other conflicts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>2022 was bittersweet and will be remembered for a lot of reasons like the Russia-Ukraine war, the cost of living crisis, the Covid pandemic etc. The past year will also be remembered for the deaths of Queen Elizabeth, Pele and former pope Benedict. There were some happy moments as well, such as&nbsp;Argentina's World Cup win.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New year celebrations started in New Zealand as people marked the arrival of 2023 with a fireworks display in Auckland. The fireworks show from Auckland's 328-metre-tall Sky Tower returned after last year's cancellation due to concerns over the coronavirus Omicron variant.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | People in New Zealand cheerfully welcome New Year 2023 amid fireworks &amp; light show. Visuals from Auckland.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewYear2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewYear2023</a><br />
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(Source: Reuters) <a href="https://t.co/mgy1By4mmA">pic.twitter.com/mgy1By4mmA</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1609145959153569792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Mesmerising images showed people celebrating in Australia as Sydney ushered in the new year with a typically dazzling fireworks display which for the first time featured a rainbow waterfall off the iconic Harbour Bridge.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy New Year from the city that dazzles 🎆<br />
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Here’s to a wonderful 2023! <a href="https://t.co/IpbtiR5dkO">pic.twitter.com/IpbtiR5dkO</a></p>
— City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) <a href="https://twitter.com/cityofmelbourne/status/1609181274215944192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Despite the coronavirus scare in the country, people in China welcomed the new year. Reports mentioned that tens of thousands of revellers celebrated the start of the new year in central Wuhan with a heavy security presence in the city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News agencies reported that people in the centre of Moscow marked a somewhat muted new year's eve without the usual fireworks and celebrations on Red Square.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hong Kong welcomed the New Year with a multimedia light show over Victoria Harbour.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy New Year’s Eve from NYC.<br />
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📷: jay_roams/Ig <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESBright?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ESBright</a> <a href="https://t.co/JuriyqeWSR">pic.twitter.com/JuriyqeWSR</a></p>
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmpireStateBldg/status/1609278364057059328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the country welcomed the New Year after witnessing&nbsp;tumultuous&nbsp;political and economic&nbsp;2022, with fireworks and light shows with drones. At least 12,000 fireworks lit up the sky at midnight as the drones&nbsp;spelt out the message "2023 with love from London".</p>

<p>According to reports, more than&nbsp;100,000 people gathered on the banks of the Thames in London to mark the beginning of 2023 with the&nbsp;theme of "love and unity".&nbsp;The drones were also used to pay&nbsp;tribute to the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II who passed away, last year, in September.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Amazing use of the drones in London to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth II.<br />
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Happy New Year! 🥂🎆🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/IMRn8ShCal">pic.twitter.com/IMRn8ShCal</a></p>
— Rangers FC &amp; Linfield FC (@bluesbrothers86) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluesbrothers86/status/1609359299251257345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>In Ukraine, with no end in sight to the Russian invasion of the country which began in February 2022. Reportedly, Moscow,&nbsp;on Saturday, New Year's eve&nbsp;fired a barrage of cruise missiles and sirens wailed across the country on New Year's Day. However, people gathered near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv's&nbsp;central Christmas tree as midnight approached, said media reports.&nbsp;</p>

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People across the world turned a new chapter of their lives as they bid farewell to the year 2022 and welcomed a new year on Sunday (January 1) with celebrations in different parts including Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others.

People across the world turned a new chapter of their lives as they bid farewell to the year 2022 and welcomed a new year on Sunday (January 1) with celebrations in different parts including Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, and others. With aspirations and expectations, the world's eight billion people look forward to the year 2023. They said goodbye to the chaotic 12 months, which were marred by several crises, including the Ukraine war, and other conflicts. 2022 was bittersweet and will be remembered for a lot of reasons like the Russia-Ukraine war, the cost of living crisis, the Covid pandemic etc. The past year will also be remembered for the deaths of Queen Elizabeth, Pele and former pope Benedict. There were some happy moments as well, such as Argentina's World Cup win. New year celebrations started in New Zealand as people marked the arrival of 2023 with a fireworks display in Auckland. The fireworks show from Auckland's 328-metre-tall Sky Tower returned after last year's cancellation due to concerns over the coronavirus Omicron variant. × #WATCH | People in New Zealand cheerfully welcome New Year 2023 amid fireworks & light show. Visuals from Auckland.#NewYear2023 (Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/mgy1By4mmA — ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2022 × Mesmerising images showed people celebrating in Australia as Sydney ushered in the new year with a typically dazzling fireworks display which for the first time featured a rainbow waterfall off the iconic Harbour Bridge. Happy New Year from the city that dazzles 🎆 Here’s to a wonderful 2023! pic.twitter.com/IpbtiR5dkO — City of Melbourne (@cityofmelbourne) December 31, 2022 × Despite the coronavirus scare in the country, people in China welcomed the new year. Reports mentioned that tens of thousands of revellers celebrated the start of the new year in central Wuhan with a heavy security presence in the city. News agencies reported that people in the centre of Moscow marked a somewhat muted new year's eve without the usual fireworks and celebrations on Red Square. Hong Kong welcomed the New Year with a multimedia light show over Victoria Harbour. Happy New Year’s Eve from NYC. 📷: jay_roams/Ig #ESBright pic.twitter.com/JuriyqeWSR — Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) December 31, 2022 × Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the country welcomed the New Year after witnessing tumultuous political and economic 2022, with fireworks and light shows with drones. At least 12,000 fireworks lit up the sky at midnight as the drones spelt out the message "2023 with love from London". According to reports, more than 100,000 people gathered on the banks of the Thames in London to mark the beginning of 2023 with the theme of "love and unity". The drones were also used to pay tribute to the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II who passed away, last year, in September. Amazing use of the drones in London to pay respect to Queen Elizabeth II. Happy New Year! 🥂🎆🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/IMRn8ShCal — Rangers FC & Linfield FC (@bluesbrothers86) January 1, 2023 × In Ukraine, with no end in sight to the Russian invasion of the country which began in February 2022. Reportedly, Moscow, on Saturday, New Year's eve fired a barrage of cruise missiles and sirens wailed across the country on New Year's Day. However, people gathered near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv's central Christmas tree as midnight approached, said media reports. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

From New Zealand to Hong Kong: World welcomes 2023 with fireworks and light shows

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidRfS0SPVpPmb2" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>The rabbit is a sign of peace, prosperity, and longevity in Chinese culture.</p>

<p>So, as we travel into 2023 – the Year of the Rabbit -- we start with the hope that the growling Tiger that caused pain to the world this year is left behind for good, locked away for at least the next dozen years.</p>

<p>This year has been one of a war in Europe, high inflation, economic hardship, rising food prices and interest rates, and a China that first refused to lift its Covid lockdowns and then suddenly swung the other way. What will the next turn out to be like?</p>

<p>Let us look at some of the issues that might crowd our mind&nbsp;and life spaces.</p>

<h2><strong>The Middle Nation Dilemma</strong></h2>

<p>The world will be watching China very closely, as it reopens after a prolonged Covid-triggered lockdown and looks at pushing its economy rapidly ahead and flexes its political, diplomatic, and economic muscles. The Covid Zero policy is out and people will have to get used to living with the virus that devastated the world in 2020 and 2021. Hospitals will be under stress and so will businesses as they stave off very different challenges than the ones faced during lockdowns. However, the Chinese economy is still predicted to grow at more than 4 per cent. The first few months of the New Year will decide whether the Year of the Rabbit turns out to be benign, peaceful, and prosperous, or whether the remnants of the growling Tiger will still play a role.</p>

<p>Diplomatically, China will continue to face pressure from the West which now considers it as a sworn enemy. Militarily, China will flex its muscles, pushing neighbours and further raising uncertainties in Asia and elsewhere. On trade, it might see some targeted concessions from the United States, but it is unlikely their relations would return to what they were pre-Covid. The reality is that the Chinese economy has become too big for the usual U.S. sanctions to impact it beyond a point. China has other countries to potentially partner with in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Still, the United States will continue to work towards isolating China on technology in the hope that Beijing will fall in line on other contentious issues.</p>

<h2><strong>What’s the Face Saver?</strong></h2>

<p>The war in Ukraine would continue, with Russia putting further pressure as winter deepens and many European countries face shortages of gas for homes and industry. While the United States would like to keep the pressure on Russia, a frustrated Europe would eventually want a way out for Moscow – some face-saver that would help Russian President Vladimir Putin pull back claiming victory. After the long war in Afghanistan, there is only that much appetite for another in Ukraine. However, the larger and sustained economic cost of the war that pushed food and energy prices to all-time highs this year, is yet to be ascertained. It is a matter of who gives in first with Europe heading into a recession. Keep a close look at the conversations in several world capitals as the snow subsides in spring.</p>

<h2><strong>The Shift in The</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Middle East</strong></h2>

<p>The Gulf countries, fresh from making money from high oil prices and basking in the glory of hosting a football World Cup, will continue to invest in relationships beyond their traditional ties with the United States. Saudi Arabia – the region’s biggest economy – welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping in a snub to Washington and signed deals worth billions of dollars. In a post-Ukraine war world, larger Gulf nations would be more careful about their self-interest and open to dealing with others. Oil will continue to play an important role in the relationships Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates form with larger nations such as China, Russia, and India. How will the Gulf oil economies play their hand in 2023 will be important.</p>

<h2><strong>The New Most-Populous Nation</strong></h2>

<p>India will replace China as the world’s most populous nation, becoming the world’s biggest marketplace and positioning itself as a strong alternative to its northern neighbour for industrial and technological investments. For a country, which is increasingly seen as a “bright spot” in an otherwise uncertain world, 2023 can be a huge year as it dons the G20 presidency and tries to lead from the front on critical issues facing the world as well as become a much-needed bridge between the Global North and Global South as the world realigns. India, which recently replaced Britain as the world’s fifth-largest economy, is slated to take the third spot by the end of this decade. The new crown and its steadily growing economy might place India in the right spot to claim a seat on the UN Security Council. Watch India closely.</p>

<h2><strong>Who Gets the Chips?</strong></h2>

<p>The decades-old ties between Washington and Beijing are changing fast, as the Biden administration pushes hard to drop thick walls between China and the chips in its effort to curb the technological rise of the world’s second-biggest economy. After years of deep technological and political engagement, the United States has finally accepted that the Chinese economy is state-led, and not market driven. Given the long-standing linkages between the two economies, there is only that much that the United States can push back on trade with its sanctions and tariffs. The focus, therefore, is on starving China of technology – an area that China has moved fast in but is still behind the United States in key segments. Drying up the chips supplies and bringing the semiconductors back to its shores to gain an upper hand over China is part of the U.S. plan to protect itself from future shocks and threats. Who, therefore, gets those chips will be something to watch for in 2023.</p>

<h2><strong>Back to Work, Again</strong></h2>

<p>The dreaded Covid virus is on a rampage in China, just as the rest of the world prepares to get back to fully working from workplaces after three years of a work-from-home and work-from-home-and-also-from-office world. There are people who want to be back in offices, meeting colleagues and pumping their social batteries after months of isolation. There are also many who would still want to live and work in their pyjamas. The battle is real for businesses, which want people back in the office. Nothing works better than face-to-face meetings for faster and focused decision-making. Do expect a lot more people to return for longer to offices. The stragglers might not enjoy being left out as the world has started travelling and partying hard. Many more businesses will take a tough call in 2023 than the year that’s going by.</p>

<h2><strong>Cut To the Green</strong></h2>

<p>The shift to renewable power is accelerating thanks to the global energy crisis, and the International Energy Agency expects total capacity growth worldwide set to almost double in the next five years, overtaking coal as the largest source of electricity generation along the way and helping keep alive the possibility of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. The war in Ukraine increased the speed of the shift and global renewable power capacity is now expected to grow by 2,400 gigawatts (GW) over the 2022-2027 period. That is an amount equal to the entire power capacity of China today. Can European governments and businesses replace the Russian gas that has powered these nations? Next year will have a strong story to tell, as India, China and the United States lead the change.</p>

<h2><strong>But Then It is The Economy, Stupid!</strong></h2>

<p>High inflation is killing the world, its businesses and people, and by the looks of it, the trendline isn’t going to be dropping any soon. Several factors had a role to play this year – tighter supply chains, Covid-related stimuli, and higher food and fuel prices due to the war in Ukraine, all of which triggered monetary tightening by central banks that raised interest rates. There are strands of goodness ahead as some of these factors are becoming less of a worry given consumer prices are on the decline thanks to easing supplies, oil prices are back to their previous year levels and high-interest rates have choked demand. Do expect a slowdown, but the debate over a recession is still on as central banks might begin to go slow on further rate hikes. And if the Chinese economy manages to settle in better than expected in the new, open world, we just might see a faster economic turnaround despite the war in Europe. Asia seems to be better placed than others.</p>

<p>Hop into a New Year with the Rabbit!&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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The rabbit is a sign of peace, prosperity, and longevity in Chinese culture. So, as we travel into 2023 – the Year of the Rabbit -- we start with the hope that the growling Tiger that caused pain to the world this year is left behind for good, locked away for at least the next dozen years.

The rabbit is a sign of peace, prosperity, and longevity in Chinese culture. So, as we travel into 2023 – the Year of the Rabbit -- we start with the hope that the growling Tiger that caused pain to the world this year is left behind for good, locked away for at least the next dozen years. This year has been one of a war in Europe, high inflation, economic hardship, rising food prices and interest rates, and a China that first refused to lift its Covid lockdowns and then suddenly swung the other way. What will the next turn out to be like? Let us look at some of the issues that might crowd our mind and life spaces. The Middle Nation Dilemma The world will be watching China very closely, as it reopens after a prolonged Covid-triggered lockdown and looks at pushing its economy rapidly ahead and flexes its political, diplomatic, and economic muscles. The Covid Zero policy is out and people will have to get used to living with the virus that devastated the world in 2020 and 2021. Hospitals will be under stress and so will businesses as they stave off very different challenges than the ones faced during lockdowns. However, the Chinese economy is still predicted to grow at more than 4 per cent. The first few months of the New Year will decide whether the Year of the Rabbit turns out to be benign, peaceful, and prosperous, or whether the remnants of the growling Tiger will still play a role. Diplomatically, China will continue to face pressure from the West which now considers it as a sworn enemy. Militarily, China will flex its muscles, pushing neighbours and further raising uncertainties in Asia and elsewhere. On trade, it might see some targeted concessions from the United States, but it is unlikely their relations would return to what they were pre-Covid. The reality is that the Chinese economy has become too big for the usual U.S. sanctions to impact it beyond a point. China has other countries to potentially partner with in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Still, the United States will continue to work towards isolating China on technology in the hope that Beijing will fall in line on other contentious issues. What’s the Face Saver? The war in Ukraine would continue, with Russia putting further pressure as winter deepens and many European countries face shortages of gas for homes and industry. While the United States would like to keep the pressure on Russia, a frustrated Europe would eventually want a way out for Moscow – some face-saver that would help Russian President Vladimir Putin pull back claiming victory. After the long war in Afghanistan, there is only that much appetite for another in Ukraine. However, the larger and sustained economic cost of the war that pushed food and energy prices to all-time highs this year, is yet to be ascertained. It is a matter of who gives in first with Europe heading into a recession. Keep a close look at the conversations in several world capitals as the snow subsides in spring. The Shift in The Middle East The Gulf countries, fresh from making money from high oil prices and basking in the glory of hosting a football World Cup, will continue to invest in relationships beyond their traditional ties with the United States. Saudi Arabia – the region’s biggest economy – welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping in a snub to Washington and signed deals worth billions of dollars. In a post-Ukraine war world, larger Gulf nations would be more careful about their self-interest and open to dealing with others. Oil will continue to play an important role in the relationships Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates form with larger nations such as China, Russia, and India. How will the Gulf oil economies play their hand in 2023 will be important. The New Most-Populous Nation India will replace China as the world’s most populous nation, becoming the world’s biggest marketplace and positioning itself as a strong alternative to its northern neighbour for industrial and technological investments. For a country, which is increasingly seen as a “bright spot” in an otherwise uncertain world, 2023 can be a huge year as it dons the G20 presidency and tries to lead from the front on critical issues facing the world as well as become a much-needed bridge between the Global North and Global South as the world realigns. India, which recently replaced Britain as the world’s fifth-largest economy, is slated to take the third spot by the end of this decade. The new crown and its steadily growing economy might place India in the right spot to claim a seat on the UN Security Council. Watch India closely. Who Gets the Chips? The decades-old ties between Washington and Beijing are changing fast, as the Biden administration pushes hard to drop thick walls between China and the chips in its effort to curb the technological rise of the world’s second-biggest economy. After years of deep technological and political engagement, the United States has finally accepted that the Chinese economy is state-led, and not market driven. Given the long-standing linkages between the two economies, there is only that much that the United States can push back on trade with its sanctions and tariffs. The focus, therefore, is on starving China of technology – an area that China has moved fast in but is still behind the United States in key segments. Drying up the chips supplies and bringing the semiconductors back to its shores to gain an upper hand over China is part of the U.S. plan to protect itself from future shocks and threats. Who, therefore, gets those chips will be something to watch for in 2023. Back to Work, Again The dreaded Covid virus is on a rampage in China, just as the rest of the world prepares to get back to fully working from workplaces after three years of a work-from-home and work-from-home-and-also-from-office world. There are people who want to be back in offices, meeting colleagues and pumping their social batteries after months of isolation. There are also many who would still want to live and work in their pyjamas. The battle is real for businesses, which want people back in the office. Nothing works better than face-to-face meetings for faster and focused decision-making. Do expect a lot more people to return for longer to offices. The stragglers might not enjoy being left out as the world has started travelling and partying hard. Many more businesses will take a tough call in 2023 than the year that’s going by. Cut To the Green The shift to renewable power is accelerating thanks to the global energy crisis, and the International Energy Agency expects total capacity growth worldwide set to almost double in the next five years, overtaking coal as the largest source of electricity generation along the way and helping keep alive the possibility of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C. The war in Ukraine increased the speed of the shift and global renewable power capacity is now expected to grow by 2,400 gigawatts (GW) over the 2022-2027 period. That is an amount equal to the entire power capacity of China today. Can European governments and businesses replace the Russian gas that has powered these nations? Next year will have a strong story to tell, as India, China and the United States lead the change. But Then It is The Economy, Stupid! High inflation is killing the world, its businesses and people, and by the looks of it, the trendline isn’t going to be dropping any soon. Several factors had a role to play this year – tighter supply chains, Covid-related stimuli, and higher food and fuel prices due to the war in Ukraine, all of which triggered monetary tightening by central banks that raised interest rates. There are strands of goodness ahead as some of these factors are becoming less of a worry given consumer prices are on the decline thanks to easing supplies, oil prices are back to their previous year levels and high-interest rates have choked demand. Do expect a slowdown, but the debate over a recession is still on as central banks might begin to go slow on further rate hikes. And if the Chinese economy manages to settle in better than expected in the new, open world, we just might see a faster economic turnaround despite the war in Europe. Asia seems to be better placed than others. Hop into a New Year with the Rabbit! (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Into the Year of the Rabbit we travel

India's top destinations to welcome New Year 2023

New Year's resolutions are made at the start of the year, but in many cases, they fail with a few weeks, or sometimes days. But one can stick to the plans by following some steps. The list has been collated after taking inputs from an article published on health.harvard.edu Watch the video and follow the steps!

Already failing? Seven ways to stick to New Year's resolutions

Happy New Year! Muted celebrations as people around the world welcome 2022 amid COVID-19 pandemic

<p>New Year 2022 is almost a year!&nbsp;<br />
<br />
As another Covid impacted year, 2021 is coming to end, people across the globe are all set to welcome a&nbsp;new year with all hope of the pandemic to end. Marking the&nbsp; beginning of new promises, resolutions,&nbsp;people around the world are just hoping for a pandemic-free world, happiness, prosperity, growth and development for everyone.<br />
<br />
Now that we are entering the new year, it's best that we welcome the year with lots of joy and happiness. Although this year, the new year celebration is again affected by Covid, so we will suggest everyone stay in their homes and celebrate with their friends and family and avoid stepping out as much as you can.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
For the special day, if you have been struggling to find the best festive quotes and messages to wish your loved ones as soon as the clock ticks 12, don't worry as we have got you sorted.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Here we have curated a few wishes and messages that you can send to wish your loved ones before anyone else does!<br />
<br />
<strong>New Years 2022: WhatsApp Status:</strong><br />
<br />
<em>Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet – Happy New Year 2022.<br />
<br />
When Something is Gone, Something Better is Coming. Happy New Year.<br />
<br />
Here’s wishing each and every one of you an awesome year. Happy New Year!</em></p>

<p><em>Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.</em></p>

<p><em>One thing with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.&nbsp;-Michael Cibeuko</em></p>

<p><strong>New Years 2022:&nbsp;Wishes &amp; Quotes:</strong><br />
<br />
<em>Praying that you have a truly remarkable and blissful year ahead! Happy new year to you and your family!<br />
<br />
Warm wishes on New Year 2022. May this year surprise you with the most beautiful times of your life and keep you and your loved ones blessed.<br />
<br />
Wishing you a very Happy New Year. May this upcoming year unfold many more joys and good times for you my dear.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year! Remember, no matter what the year brings, you are loved and you are strong.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year! Let’s toast to yesterday’s achievements and tomorrow’s bright future.</em></p>

<p><strong>New Years 2022: Images:</strong></p>

<p><img alt="1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a1c5381b-9191-4dee-8145-9c73cf873a08" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/5_17.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3ac4f0c2-c315-46ff-886d-e6aa3feae504" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/4_28.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="s" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2219231c-8f7b-4c83-9966-d50d1a22184b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_90.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="4" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3b398051-08fc-40d4-b265-3fca48a97346" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_98.jpg" /></p>

<p><img alt="9" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba6e8223-7612-4dcc-b650-216680f5c17f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_91.jpg" /></p>


New Year 2022 is almost a year! As another Covid impacted year, 2021 is coming to end, people across the globe are all set to welcome a new year with all hope of the pandemic to end.

New Year 2022 is almost a year! As another Covid impacted year, 2021 is coming to end, people across the globe are all set to welcome a new year with all hope of the pandemic to end. Marking the beginning of new promises, resolutions, people around the world are just hoping for a pandemic-free world, happiness, prosperity, growth and development for everyone. Now that we are entering the new year, it's best that we welcome the year with lots of joy and happiness. Although this year, the new year celebration is again affected by Covid, so we will suggest everyone stay in their homes and celebrate with their friends and family and avoid stepping out as much as you can. For the special day, if you have been struggling to find the best festive quotes and messages to wish your loved ones as soon as the clock ticks 12, don't worry as we have got you sorted. Here we have curated a few wishes and messages that you can send to wish your loved ones before anyone else does! New Years 2022: WhatsApp Status: Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet – Happy New Year 2022. When Something is Gone, Something Better is Coming. Happy New Year. Here’s wishing each and every one of you an awesome year. Happy New Year! Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one. One thing with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us. -Michael Cibeuko New Years 2022: Wishes & Quotes: Praying that you have a truly remarkable and blissful year ahead! Happy new year to you and your family! Warm wishes on New Year 2022. May this year surprise you with the most beautiful times of your life and keep you and your loved ones blessed. Wishing you a very Happy New Year. May this upcoming year unfold many more joys and good times for you my dear. Happy New Year! Remember, no matter what the year brings, you are loved and you are strong. Happy New Year! Let’s toast to yesterday’s achievements and tomorrow’s bright future. New Years 2022: Images:

Happy New Year 2022: Wishes, quotes, images, Whatsapp and Instagram status

<p>We all tend to know what the coming year has in store for us and even rely on astrology and tarot to forecast the year ahead.</p>

<p>However, politics and international relations don't work that way.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-fireworks-australia-new-zealand-welcome-2021-353638">With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key</a></strong></p>

<h1><strong>Let's look at what awaits India in the new year vis-a-vis the world.&nbsp;</strong></h1>

<h2><strong>Vaccine manufacturing</strong></h2>

<p>The most important thing this year for India will be vaccine manufacturing and the world will be relying on the country for large-scale production and supply.</p>

<p>The Serum Institute of India is producing Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Hyderabad-based Biological E has struck a deal for the shot being developed by Johnson &amp; Johnson's subsidiary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports say Biological E may also manufacture the vaccine being developed by Houston's Baylor College of Medicine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indian Immunologicals Ltd has entered into a partnership with Australia's Griffith University.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Reddy's has a deal to produce 100 million doses of the Sputnik V.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India's vaccine makers are known for their safety measures and effectiveness. But, going forward, India's role will be beyond large-scale vaccine supply and in 2021, the country will also be looking for equitable distribution of vaccines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To ensure that distribution is not skewed towards wealthy countries, India will be supplying 100 million doses of vaccines to middle-income countries.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It has promised 30 million shots to Bangladesh. Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has said that India's lead to develop vaccines "is a source of hope for all of us".</p>

<p>In 2021, India will be the world's hope for global vaccination.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Reviving the economy</strong></h2>

<p>This year, another big task for India will be getting its economy back on track.</p>

<p>In 2020, India entered its first recession since Independence.</p>

<p>The country needs to restructure its balance sheets, improve monetary policy transmission.</p>

<p>The IMF predicts that it will take India at least three years to recover from the pandemic blow to get its per capita GDP back to pre-pandemic levels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the Indian economy gets back on its feet, it can try to use the opportunity to include more digital technology.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The China challenge</strong></h2>

<p>China is another big challenge for India in 2021 and this hurdle is multi-fold.</p>

<p>First, India will have to look at ways to restructure the supply China, weed out Chinese products.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Secondly, India will have to get the dragon off its back at Ladakh.</p>

<p>It should work towards defining the Line of Actual Control or find alternatives, maybe military options.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India has a headway here as it controls the heights at the LAC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The third challenge from China is autocracy. It will be up to India, the world's biggest democracy to stop China from spreading its aggressive and autocratic wings.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>A 5G alliance</strong></h2>

<p>In 2021, a 5G alliance also awaits India, a group that will stand opposed to reliance on Chinese technology.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The grouping is expected to include the world's biggest democracies, India, Australia, South Korea, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy, the US and the UK.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Along with these countries, India will try to create an alternative pool of 5G equipment and technologies so that the world can boycott Chinese technology.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Regional stability and terrorism</strong></h2>

<p>Finally, India will also continue to work towards regional stability and anti-terrorism in 2021. New Delhi will also have to find a balance between putting its neighbourhood first and at the same time forming strategic alliances.&nbsp;</p>

<h1><strong>Now let's zoom out and see what awaits the world in 2021.&nbsp;</strong></h1>

<p>The vaccines might be here, but most of the world will not get it next year. Rich countries have secured 51 per cent of the supplies. The poor countries have fallen behind.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per an estimate, the world needs 15 million doses, but COVAX, the global initiative for equitable access to immunisation has agreements in place to secure just around two billion doses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Low-income countries might have to wait until 2023 or 2024 for vaccination and with the new strains and shortage of vaccine supplies, the world still needs lockdowns.&nbsp;</p>


We all tend to know what the coming year has in store for us and even rely on astrology and tarot to forecast the year ahead. However, politics and international relations don't work that way.

We all tend to know what the coming year has in store for us and even rely on astrology and tarot to forecast the year ahead. However, politics and international relations don't work that way. Also read | With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key Let's look at what awaits India in the new year vis-a-vis the world. Vaccine manufacturing The most important thing this year for India will be vaccine manufacturing and the world will be relying on the country for large-scale production and supply. The Serum Institute of India is producing Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Hyderabad-based Biological E has struck a deal for the shot being developed by Johnson & Johnson's subsidiary. Reports say Biological E may also manufacture the vaccine being developed by Houston's Baylor College of Medicine. Indian Immunologicals Ltd has entered into a partnership with Australia's Griffith University. Dr Reddy's has a deal to produce 100 million doses of the Sputnik V. India's vaccine makers are known for their safety measures and effectiveness. But, going forward, India's role will be beyond large-scale vaccine supply and in 2021, the country will also be looking for equitable distribution of vaccines. To ensure that distribution is not skewed towards wealthy countries, India will be supplying 100 million doses of vaccines to middle-income countries. It has promised 30 million shots to Bangladesh. Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has said that India's lead to develop vaccines "is a source of hope for all of us". In 2021, India will be the world's hope for global vaccination. Reviving the economy This year, another big task for India will be getting its economy back on track. In 2020, India entered its first recession since Independence. The country needs to restructure its balance sheets, improve monetary policy transmission. The IMF predicts that it will take India at least three years to recover from the pandemic blow to get its per capita GDP back to pre-pandemic levels. As the Indian economy gets back on its feet, it can try to use the opportunity to include more digital technology. The China challenge China is another big challenge for India in 2021 and this hurdle is multi-fold. First, India will have to look at ways to restructure the supply China, weed out Chinese products. Secondly, India will have to get the dragon off its back at Ladakh. It should work towards defining the Line of Actual Control or find alternatives, maybe military options. India has a headway here as it controls the heights at the LAC. The third challenge from China is autocracy. It will be up to India, the world's biggest democracy to stop China from spreading its aggressive and autocratic wings. A 5G alliance In 2021, a 5G alliance also awaits India, a group that will stand opposed to reliance on Chinese technology. The grouping is expected to include the world's biggest democracies, India, Australia, South Korea, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy, the US and the UK. Along with these countries, India will try to create an alternative pool of 5G equipment and technologies so that the world can boycott Chinese technology. Regional stability and terrorism Finally, India will also continue to work towards regional stability and anti-terrorism in 2021. New Delhi will also have to find a balance between putting its neighbourhood first and at the same time forming strategic alliances. Now let's zoom out and see what awaits the world in 2021. The vaccines might be here, but most of the world will not get it next year. Rich countries have secured 51 per cent of the supplies. The poor countries have fallen behind. As per an estimate, the world needs 15 million doses, but COVAX, the global initiative for equitable access to immunisation has agreements in place to secure just around two billion doses. Low-income countries might have to wait until 2023 or 2024 for vaccination and with the new strains and shortage of vaccine supplies, the world still needs lockdowns.

What India has in store for world in 2021

<p>No one expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. The worst I imagined for this year, in my annual list of digital predictions in 2019, was that the “ever screechy” President Trump would get “to stay on Twitter retweeting fake accounts and links that appear to unmask a whistle-blower.”</p>

<p>If only. Mr. Trump is screechier than ever, and even more unhinged than expected. Most of his tweets are now labeled “disputed” by Twitter, which I would translate from geekspeak as a polite way of calling them lies.</p>

<p>Since I’m not polite, I’m starting this round of prognosticating with this: Soon after our forever troller in chief leaves office on Jan. 20, his account will be suspended by Twitter temporarily, and then, since he cannot stop breaking rules, he’ll get tossed off, just like his hideous pal, Alex Jones.</p>

<p>I have never thought, as many have, that Mr. Trump should have been de-platformed during his term as president. As flagitious as he can be, Mr. Trump has been a legitimate news figure and, thus, what he had to say should be aired.</p>

<p>But after Joe Biden is inaugurated, Mr. Trump should be treated like any other mendacious loudmouth, and Twitter will be well within its rights to put a sock in it. He’ll rage and then head over Parler to try to make fetch happen, which will not satisfy his enormous ego. It will all end in a whimper.</p>

<p>Speaking of the end, many of the multitude of “special interest acquisition companies” that have popped up in recent years and raised giant piles of money will fold in 2021 and 2022. (These SPACs are a financial maneuver seen as a back door to taking a start-up public, an alternative to a traditional I.P.O.)</p>

<p>There have been 165 SPACs in 2020, double the number the year before and five times more than five years ago. Back when there was a rush of new venture capital flooding the market, I used to say that there were not enough ratholes to shove all the money down. Guess what? There are also not enough rathole companies to merge into these SPACs.</p>

<p>Instead, there will be a lot of acquisitions. Big companies will swoop in, post-pandemic, to scoop up all the juicy bits. Because of increasing scrutiny from regulators, though, we will not see many megadeals, but rather smaller ones in arenas that are more competitive, such as in autonomous vehicles, health care, fintech and media. The maxim for midsize companies is clear: Get big or get bought.</p>

<p>And for the big companies, the mantra is just: Buy. The Amazon acquisition this week of the podcast maker Wondery, in a deal valued at $300 million — whatever that means — was exactly the kind of thing we will see more of. Amazon is aiming its considerable heft and pocketbook directly at a nascent podcast market. This will result in an inevitable smackdown with Spotify, which has been playing the most aggressively in this space, and we’ll see Apple wade in too along with traditional media companies.</p>

<p>Speaking of media companies: While the reverberations of the Warner Bros. decision to put all its 2021 movies on its HBOMax streaming service are sorting themselves out, the shift is permanent — whether offended filmmakers like it or not. Creators who adapt will benefit, especially if they devise new models of payment.</p>

<p>The longtime entertainment business model was built on powerful gatekeepers that made most of the money and relied on a vast network of middlemen. But in the new world, those who can assemble a fan base that they directly service will profit. Imagine the future relationship between creators and fans as a subscription business, and the economics get much more interesting. Hollywood will have to become much more nimble and entrepreneurial.</p>

<p>So, too, will more Americans in general, since the pandemic has accelerated the introduction of what will be permanent changes in how we work. Last December, I urged tech to be at the forefront of this major overhaul:</p>

<p>“And rather than accept that poor pay and poor protections for gig workers are inevitable and that the pressures of a global work force are too hard to push back, tech companies should figure out how to creatively and humanely deploy talent across the world to show that they are interested in dealing with the consequences of their inventions.”</p>

<p>This was pre-coronavirus — an exogenous circumstance. Now I am often asked when will work go back to normal, which is really a question of when will we get back to physical workplaces. That will certainly happen in the coming year, but in all kinds of new ways.</p>

<p>The coronavirus has forced the kind of work experimentation that would have taken a decade to eventually happen: limiting business travel, cutting in-person office time, questioning every cost associated with the analog workplace. Technology is making doing business cheaper and more efficient and, as it has turned out, more productive.</p>

<p>These changes have proved nearly useless and even dangerous when it comes to education, where physical presence is much more of an asset than we thought. More consideration will be put into how to make technology and schooling mesh better and how to provide students with the kind of experience that they are not getting, as well as a bigger focus on universal connectivity for those who are without it.</p>

<p>While pandemics are short term, the looming climate disaster is not. So, lastly, I’ll repeat my 2019 declaration that the “world’s first trillionaire will be a green-tech entrepreneur.” President-elect Biden, who is championing green technology, will be more successful if his efforts are seen as job creators, and not so much as giant government programs.</p>

<p>And now that Mr. Trump, who minimized the existential threat of climate change, is leaving, we can get to work on the kind of tech that could be the most lucrative ever. It’s an imperative that we solve our climate problems through innovation.</p>

<p>While Mr. Trump’s noxious digital fumes will dissipate, the other kind will not.</p>

<p><em><strong>(Kara Swisher is the host of “Sway,” a New York Times Opinion podcast, and a contributing writer for The Times.)</strong></em></p>


No one expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. The worst I imagined for this year, in my annual list of digital predictions in 2019, was that the “ever screechy” President Trump would get “to stay on Twitter retweeting fake accounts and links that appear to unmask a whistle-blower.

No one expected 2020 to turn out the way it did. The worst I imagined for this year, in my annual list of digital predictions in 2019, was that the “ever screechy” President Trump would get “to stay on Twitter retweeting fake accounts and links that appear to unmask a whistle-blower.” If only. Mr. Trump is screechier than ever, and even more unhinged than expected. Most of his tweets are now labeled “disputed” by Twitter, which I would translate from geekspeak as a polite way of calling them lies. Since I’m not polite, I’m starting this round of prognosticating with this: Soon after our forever troller in chief leaves office on Jan. 20, his account will be suspended by Twitter temporarily, and then, since he cannot stop breaking rules, he’ll get tossed off, just like his hideous pal, Alex Jones. I have never thought, as many have, that Mr. Trump should have been de-platformed during his term as president. As flagitious as he can be, Mr. Trump has been a legitimate news figure and, thus, what he had to say should be aired. But after Joe Biden is inaugurated, Mr. Trump should be treated like any other mendacious loudmouth, and Twitter will be well within its rights to put a sock in it. He’ll rage and then head over Parler to try to make fetch happen, which will not satisfy his enormous ego. It will all end in a whimper. Speaking of the end, many of the multitude of “special interest acquisition companies” that have popped up in recent years and raised giant piles of money will fold in 2021 and 2022. (These SPACs are a financial maneuver seen as a back door to taking a start-up public, an alternative to a traditional I.P.O.) There have been 165 SPACs in 2020, double the number the year before and five times more than five years ago. Back when there was a rush of new venture capital flooding the market, I used to say that there were not enough ratholes to shove all the money down. Guess what? There are also not enough rathole companies to merge into these SPACs. Instead, there will be a lot of acquisitions. Big companies will swoop in, post-pandemic, to scoop up all the juicy bits. Because of increasing scrutiny from regulators, though, we will not see many megadeals, but rather smaller ones in arenas that are more competitive, such as in autonomous vehicles, health care, fintech and media. The maxim for midsize companies is clear: Get big or get bought. And for the big companies, the mantra is just: Buy. The Amazon acquisition this week of the podcast maker Wondery, in a deal valued at $300 million — whatever that means — was exactly the kind of thing we will see more of. Amazon is aiming its considerable heft and pocketbook directly at a nascent podcast market. This will result in an inevitable smackdown with Spotify, which has been playing the most aggressively in this space, and we’ll see Apple wade in too along with traditional media companies. Speaking of media companies: While the reverberations of the Warner Bros. decision to put all its 2021 movies on its HBOMax streaming service are sorting themselves out, the shift is permanent — whether offended filmmakers like it or not. Creators who adapt will benefit, especially if they devise new models of payment. The longtime entertainment business model was built on powerful gatekeepers that made most of the money and relied on a vast network of middlemen. But in the new world, those who can assemble a fan base that they directly service will profit. Imagine the future relationship between creators and fans as a subscription business, and the economics get much more interesting. Hollywood will have to become much more nimble and entrepreneurial. So, too, will more Americans in general, since the pandemic has accelerated the introduction of what will be permanent changes in how we work. Last December, I urged tech to be at the forefront of this major overhaul: “And rather than accept that poor pay and poor protections for gig workers are inevitable and that the pressures of a global work force are too hard to push back, tech companies should figure out how to creatively and humanely deploy talent across the world to show that they are interested in dealing with the consequences of their inventions.” This was pre-coronavirus — an exogenous circumstance. Now I am often asked when will work go back to normal, which is really a question of when will we get back to physical workplaces. That will certainly happen in the coming year, but in all kinds of new ways. The coronavirus has forced the kind of work experimentation that would have taken a decade to eventually happen: limiting business travel, cutting in-person office time, questioning every cost associated with the analog workplace. Technology is making doing business cheaper and more efficient and, as it has turned out, more productive. These changes have proved nearly useless and even dangerous when it comes to education, where physical presence is much more of an asset than we thought. More consideration will be put into how to make technology and schooling mesh better and how to provide students with the kind of experience that they are not getting, as well as a bigger focus on universal connectivity for those who are without it. While pandemics are short term, the looming climate disaster is not. So, lastly, I’ll repeat my 2019 declaration that the “world’s first trillionaire will be a green-tech entrepreneur.” President-elect Biden, who is championing green technology, will be more successful if his efforts are seen as job creators, and not so much as giant government programs. And now that Mr. Trump, who minimized the existential threat of climate change, is leaving, we can get to work on the kind of tech that could be the most lucrative ever. It’s an imperative that we solve our climate problems through innovation. While Mr. Trump’s noxious digital fumes will dissipate, the other kind will not. (Kara Swisher is the host of “Sway,” a New York Times Opinion podcast, and a contributing writer for The Times.)

Goodbye, Twitter Trump! And other predictions for 2021

<p>A severe cold wave swept through Delhi on New Year's Day as the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 15 years, and "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres, affecting traffic movement.</p>

<p>On January 8, 2006, the city had recorded a minimum of 0.2 degree Celsius. The all-time record is minus 0.6 degrees Celsius registered in January, 1935.</p>

<p>The lowest minimum temperature recorded in January last year was 2.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.</p>

<p>Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD''s regional forecasting centre, said "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres at Safdarjung and Palam at 6 am.</p>

<p>According to the IMD, "very dense" fog is when visibility is between 0 and 50 metres. In case of "dense" fog, visibility is between 51 and 200 metres, "moderate" 201 and 500 metres, and "shallow" 501 and 1,000 metres.</p>

<p>The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in January in 15 years.</p>

<p>Delhi recorded a minimum of 3.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday. At 15.2 degrees Celsius, the city recorded the season''s lowest maximum temperature on December 18.</p>

<p>Srivastava said the minimum temperature will start rising under the influence of an "intense" western disturbance which will affect northwest India from January 2 to January 6.</p>

<p>The minimum temperature is predicted to rise to 8 degrees Celsius by January 4-5.</p>

<p>Light rain is also expected in the national capital under the influence of the western disturbance from January 3 to January 5.</p>

<p>The western disturbance will lead to moderate snowfall in the western Himalayan region, the IMD said.</p>

<p>In the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave if the minimum temperature dips to 4 degrees Celsius. A severe cold wave is when the minimum is 2 degrees Celsius or less.</p>

<p>A cold wave is also declared when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 notches less than normal.</p>

<p>A "severe" cold wave is when the minimum temperature dips to two degrees Celsius or the departure is more than 6.4 degrees.</p>

<p>The average minimum temperature in Delhi in December was the second-lowest in 15 years.</p>

<p>Data released by the IMD on Thursday showed that the mean minimum temperature (MMT) this December was 7.1 degrees Celsius. It was 7.6 degrees Celsius last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Srivastava, multiple western disturbances affecting the Himalayan region and the global impact of La Nina were the major reasons behind such low minimum temperatures.</p>

<p>The month of November last year was the coldest in the national capital in 71 years, with the mean minimum temperature dropping to 10.2 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data.</p>

<p>Delhi had recorded a mean minimum temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius in November 1949.</p>

<p>Also, the month of October last year was the coldest in 58 years in the city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mean minimum temperature in October last year was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.</p>


A severe cold wave swept through Delhi on New Year's Day as the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 15 years, and "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres, affecting traffic movement.

A severe cold wave swept through Delhi on New Year's Day as the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 15 years, and "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres, affecting traffic movement. On January 8, 2006, the city had recorded a minimum of 0.2 degree Celsius. The all-time record is minus 0.6 degrees Celsius registered in January, 1935. The lowest minimum temperature recorded in January last year was 2.4 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD''s regional forecasting centre, said "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres at Safdarjung and Palam at 6 am. According to the IMD, "very dense" fog is when visibility is between 0 and 50 metres. In case of "dense" fog, visibility is between 51 and 200 metres, "moderate" 201 and 500 metres, and "shallow" 501 and 1,000 metres. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded a minimum of 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in January in 15 years. Delhi recorded a minimum of 3.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday. At 15.2 degrees Celsius, the city recorded the season''s lowest maximum temperature on December 18. Srivastava said the minimum temperature will start rising under the influence of an "intense" western disturbance which will affect northwest India from January 2 to January 6. The minimum temperature is predicted to rise to 8 degrees Celsius by January 4-5. Light rain is also expected in the national capital under the influence of the western disturbance from January 3 to January 5. The western disturbance will lead to moderate snowfall in the western Himalayan region, the IMD said. In the plains, the IMD declares a cold wave if the minimum temperature dips to 4 degrees Celsius. A severe cold wave is when the minimum is 2 degrees Celsius or less. A cold wave is also declared when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and is 4.5 notches less than normal. A "severe" cold wave is when the minimum temperature dips to two degrees Celsius or the departure is more than 6.4 degrees. The average minimum temperature in Delhi in December was the second-lowest in 15 years. Data released by the IMD on Thursday showed that the mean minimum temperature (MMT) this December was 7.1 degrees Celsius. It was 7.6 degrees Celsius last year. According to Srivastava, multiple western disturbances affecting the Himalayan region and the global impact of La Nina were the major reasons behind such low minimum temperatures. The month of November last year was the coldest in the national capital in 71 years, with the mean minimum temperature dropping to 10.2 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data. Delhi had recorded a mean minimum temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius in November 1949. Also, the month of October last year was the coldest in 58 years in the city. The mean minimum temperature in October last year was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.

Severe cold wave in Delhi on New Year's Day; minimum temperature lowest in 15 years

<p>Brazil rang in the New Year with Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach nearly empty -- the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic -- and pot-banging protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.</p>

<p>Rio usually hosts one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve parties, but authorities canceled the festivities this year as Covid-19 racked the country.</p>

<p>"It was a complicated year, with this pandemic that has devastated the entire world," said Claudio Miranda, a 29-year-old salesman who was part of the relatively tiny crowd gathered on Copacabana.</p>

<p>"But we have to celebrate life -- our lives, our families' lives, everyone who's still here. Even if our hearts are aching for those who have left us," he told AFP.</p>

<p>Covid-19 has killed nearly 195,000 people in Brazil, the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States. The South American country of 212 million people is currently in the grips of a nasty second wave.</p>

<p>The cancelation of the official festivities did not stop revelers across Rio from lighting up the city's iconic skyline with fireworks of their own at midnight.</p>

<p>The loud booms blended with the sound of pot- and pan-clanging demonstrators shouting "Get out, Bolsonaro!" from their windows in Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil's two biggest cities, in protest against a leader they accuse of disastrous handling of the pandemic.</p>

<p>Bolsonaro, the politician dubbed the "Tropical Trump," has downplayed the gravity of the virus from the start and consistently defied health experts' advice on containing it.</p>

<p>He ended the year on the same note,&nbsp;saying that face masks -- which global health officials call a vital tool in preventing transmission of the virus -- "don't protect against anything."</p>

<p>"That's a fiction," he said in a New Year's Eve live address on Facebook.</p>

<p>"When are we going to get some people with the courage -- because I'm not a specialist on this, OK? -- to speak up and say that the protection provided by masks is a tiny percentage?"</p>

<p>New Year's celebrations were largely muted affairs across Brazil, though huge crowds of mask-less revelers could be seen at beaches and clubs in some areas.</p>

<p>Police broke up large parties in several cities, according to media reports.</p>

<p>Football superstar Neymar meanwhile tried to douse a firestorm of controversy over reports he organized a week-long party for 500 revelers at his mansion outside Rio.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker posted a video on Instagram of his preparations for what he called a "low-key little dinner at home" for friends and family on New Year's Eve.</p>

<p>"And it's not for 500 people, ok?" he added with a laugh.</p>


Brazil rang in the New Year with Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach nearly empty -- the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic -- and pot-banging protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazil rang in the New Year with Rio de Janeiro's famed Copacabana beach nearly empty -- the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic -- and pot-banging protests against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Rio usually hosts one of the world's biggest New Year's Eve parties, but authorities canceled the festivities this year as Covid-19 racked the country. "It was a complicated year, with this pandemic that has devastated the entire world," said Claudio Miranda, a 29-year-old salesman who was part of the relatively tiny crowd gathered on Copacabana. "But we have to celebrate life -- our lives, our families' lives, everyone who's still here. Even if our hearts are aching for those who have left us," he told AFP. Covid-19 has killed nearly 195,000 people in Brazil, the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States. The South American country of 212 million people is currently in the grips of a nasty second wave. The cancelation of the official festivities did not stop revelers across Rio from lighting up the city's iconic skyline with fireworks of their own at midnight. The loud booms blended with the sound of pot- and pan-clanging demonstrators shouting "Get out, Bolsonaro!" from their windows in Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil's two biggest cities, in protest against a leader they accuse of disastrous handling of the pandemic. Bolsonaro, the politician dubbed the "Tropical Trump," has downplayed the gravity of the virus from the start and consistently defied health experts' advice on containing it. He ended the year on the same note, saying that face masks -- which global health officials call a vital tool in preventing transmission of the virus -- "don't protect against anything." "That's a fiction," he said in a New Year's Eve live address on Facebook. "When are we going to get some people with the courage -- because I'm not a specialist on this, OK? -- to speak up and say that the protection provided by masks is a tiny percentage?" New Year's celebrations were largely muted affairs across Brazil, though huge crowds of mask-less revelers could be seen at beaches and clubs in some areas. Police broke up large parties in several cities, according to media reports. Football superstar Neymar meanwhile tried to douse a firestorm of controversy over reports he organized a week-long party for 500 revelers at his mansion outside Rio. The 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker posted a video on Instagram of his preparations for what he called a "low-key little dinner at home" for friends and family on New Year's Eve. "And it's not for 500 people, ok?" he added with a laugh.

Brazil rings in 2021 with nearly empty Copacabana beach

<p>There is something so special about a clean slate, each and every time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>New beginnings. New promises to yourself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During this time of the year, you cannot help but look back at the highlights - the hits and the misses.</p>

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<h5>As the curtains are drawn on yet another year and the stage is set for the next one, it is all about standing in the wings and soaking it all in. As you prepare for the next performance - you hope to do better this time.</h5>
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<p>Growing up, the 31st of December meant jotting down my New Year's Resolutions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I have been keeping the tradition alive all these years.</p>

<p>This time, of course, things feel different.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
An unprecedented year has ended. The world has seen so much loss, suffering, despair and helplessness. &nbsp;</p>

<p>2020 has taught us a lot - about life; about people around us; about ourselves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So resolutions aside, the more important list this year is about what I am grateful for.</p>

<p>This year has made me realize, all the more, that things could always be a lot worse.</p>

<p>No words can express the gratitude I feel for the frontline workers. Those who have been risking their lives to save others; those delivering basic supplies and making sure the world does not come to a complete halt.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-pandemic-diminishes-new-years-magic-353691"><strong>WATCH|</strong></a></p>

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<p>While the isolation has been difficult, times like these teach us the importance of being there for each other; to lend a helping hand as and when possible.</p>

<p>This year, for many of us, has been about going back to the basics - realizing the importance of spending time with family, their unconditional love, eating home-cooked meals and getting in touch with long-lost friends.</p>

<p>It's like life hit the pause button.</p>

<p>A collective detox period - that not only allowed us to take a step back, but also let our planet breathe easy - albeit only for a few months.</p>

<p>So while you draw out your resolutions and think about what you want to leave behind, don't forget to count your blessings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Remind yourself what you are thankful for.</p>

<p>Just like the pandemic, those habits you want to get rid of will not end overnight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So don't be hard on yourself.</p>

<p>This year has made us go through enough already.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Be kind to others and to yourself.&nbsp;</p>

<p>May you have a fulfilling 2021!</p>

<p>Stay safe.</p>


There is something so special about a clean slate, each and every time. New beginnings. New promises to yourself. During this time of the year, you cannot help but look back at the highlights - the hits and the misses.

There is something so special about a clean slate, each and every time. New beginnings. New promises to yourself. During this time of the year, you cannot help but look back at the highlights - the hits and the misses. As the curtains are drawn on yet another year and the stage is set for the next one, it is all about standing in the wings and soaking it all in. As you prepare for the next performance - you hope to do better this time. × Growing up, the 31st of December meant jotting down my New Year's Resolutions. I have been keeping the tradition alive all these years. This time, of course, things feel different. An unprecedented year has ended. The world has seen so much loss, suffering, despair and helplessness. 2020 has taught us a lot - about life; about people around us; about ourselves. So resolutions aside, the more important list this year is about what I am grateful for. This year has made me realize, all the more, that things could always be a lot worse. No words can express the gratitude I feel for the frontline workers. Those who have been risking their lives to save others; those delivering basic supplies and making sure the world does not come to a complete halt. WATCH| × While the isolation has been difficult, times like these teach us the importance of being there for each other; to lend a helping hand as and when possible. This year, for many of us, has been about going back to the basics - realizing the importance of spending time with family, their unconditional love, eating home-cooked meals and getting in touch with long-lost friends. It's like life hit the pause button. A collective detox period - that not only allowed us to take a step back, but also let our planet breathe easy - albeit only for a few months. So while you draw out your resolutions and think about what you want to leave behind, don't forget to count your blessings. Remind yourself what you are thankful for. Just like the pandemic, those habits you want to get rid of will not end overnight. So don't be hard on yourself. This year has made us go through enough already. Be kind to others and to yourself. May you have a fulfilling 2021! Stay safe.

Year-end diary: Lessons from 2020

<p>Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday greeted his fans on the occasion of New Year as the Juventus megastar motivated people to bounce back in the year 2021 and make a difference while adding that everyone can still become better versions of themselves.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Portuguese further wished that the year 2021 will be remembered for the best reasons as he took to social media platform Twitter to post a photograph with his family.&nbsp;<br />
"2020 was not an easy year, there's no doubt about it. No one can be indifferent to the pain and suffering that COVID-19 brought upon the world. But now it's time to bounce back and show that, together, we can make a difference. Because no matter how hard is the fall, what really defines us is the way we get back on our feet and how fast we are ready to face new obstacles," Ronaldo said in a while sharing a picture with his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, and all four kids.</p>

<p>"So let's try to turn 2021 into a turning point, a new beginning, a fresh start. Because all us - and I do mean all of us - can still become better versions of ourselves. And if we do it all together, that might actually be the secret to turn things around for the better. Happy New Year! And may 2021 be a year to always remember for the best reasons!" he added on Facebook.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-hamilton-to-ronaldo-athletes-who-tested-positive-for-covid-19-in-2020-352776" hreflang="en">From Hamilton to Ronaldo: Athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020</a></strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">2020 was not an easy year, there’s no doubt about it. No one can be indifferent to the pain and suffering that COVID-19 brought upon the world.<br />
But now it’s time to bounce back and show that, together, we can make a difference.<br />
Happy New Year!🙏🏽❤️ <a href="https://t.co/7n1i0ARjiK">pic.twitter.com/7n1i0ARjiK</a></p>
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano/status/1344769621199564800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Recently, Ronaldo was honoured with ‘Player of the Century’ award at the Globe Soccer Awards. The former Real Madrid star enjoyed phenomenal success in the last decade as he along with Lionel Messi set the bar higher with their hunger to achieve more laurels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Ronaldo also ended the year 2020 as the highest scorer in the top five European leagues in the world with a total of 33 goals, just ahead of Robert Lewandowski (32) and Ciro Immobile (27).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/armand-mondo-duplantis-i-want-to-be-the-best-pole-vaulter-to-ever-live-exclusive-interview-353813" hreflang="en">Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis: I want to be the best pole vaulter to ever live | Exclusive Interview</a></strong></p>

<p>Ronaldo would be looking to help his club Juventus get back to the top of Serie A after a torrid start to the season and also aim to win the UEFA Champions League title with the Old Lady.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday greeted his fans on the occasion of New Year as the Juventus megastar motivated people to bounce back in the year 2021 and make a difference while adding that everyone can still become better versions of themselves.

Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday greeted his fans on the occasion of New Year as the Juventus megastar motivated people to bounce back in the year 2021 and make a difference while adding that everyone can still become better versions of themselves. The Portuguese further wished that the year 2021 will be remembered for the best reasons as he took to social media platform Twitter to post a photograph with his family. "2020 was not an easy year, there's no doubt about it. No one can be indifferent to the pain and suffering that COVID-19 brought upon the world. But now it's time to bounce back and show that, together, we can make a difference. Because no matter how hard is the fall, what really defines us is the way we get back on our feet and how fast we are ready to face new obstacles," Ronaldo said in a while sharing a picture with his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, and all four kids. "So let's try to turn 2021 into a turning point, a new beginning, a fresh start. Because all us - and I do mean all of us - can still become better versions of ourselves. And if we do it all together, that might actually be the secret to turn things around for the better. Happy New Year! And may 2021 be a year to always remember for the best reasons!" he added on Facebook. ALSO READ: From Hamilton to Ronaldo: Athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 2020 was not an easy year, there’s no doubt about it. No one can be indifferent to the pain and suffering that COVID-19 brought upon the world. But now it’s time to bounce back and show that, together, we can make a difference. Happy New Year!🙏🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/7n1i0ARjiK — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) December 31, 2020 × Recently, Ronaldo was honoured with ‘Player of the Century’ award at the Globe Soccer Awards. The former Real Madrid star enjoyed phenomenal success in the last decade as he along with Lionel Messi set the bar higher with their hunger to achieve more laurels. Meanwhile, Ronaldo also ended the year 2020 as the highest scorer in the top five European leagues in the world with a total of 33 goals, just ahead of Robert Lewandowski (32) and Ciro Immobile (27). ALSO READ: Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis: I want to be the best pole vaulter to ever live | Exclusive Interview Ronaldo would be looking to help his club Juventus get back to the top of Serie A after a torrid start to the season and also aim to win the UEFA Champions League title with the Old Lady.

It's time to bounce back in 2021: Cristiano Ronaldo greets fans with a heartfelt post on New Year

<p>People in New Zealand were amongst the first globally to welcome 2021 as fireworks light up Auckland's 328-metre tall Sky Tower.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Revellers on the waterfront viewed the five-minute show which comprised fireworks and laser lighting colouring the night sky over the city's harbour.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-years-gift-india-sends-bcg-vaccines-to-maldives-353635">New Year's gift! India sends BCG vaccines to Maldives</a></strong></p>

<p>The festivities began in other countries as well amid the low-key celebrations seen in the wake of novel coronavirus that has killed millions this year. Let's take a look.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-pandemic-diminishes-new-years-magic-353691/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Australia</strong></h2>

<p>In the Sydney Opera House in Australia,&nbsp;fireworks sparkle the sky, but the harbour beneath was empty as a ghost town.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>North Korea</strong></h2>

<p>To mark the New Year, crowds thronged the main square in the North Korean capital Pyongyang to celebrate new year amid concert and fireworks, state media reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The performers sang and danced on a stage decorated with a big, colourful "2021" sign without wearing masks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>People witnessing the event wore masks but did not maintain social distancing as they displayed glowing lights and balloons in Kim II Sung Square.</p>

<h2><strong>Taiwan</strong></h2>

<p>In Taiwan's capital Taipei, people welcomed 2021 with spectacular fireworks held in the 101 tower, city's tallest skyscraper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the crowd was not as big as it generally is during the time of the new year due to Covid-19 restrictions.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India</strong></h2>

<p>India welcomed the new year in a very precautious manner as several metro cities imposed night curfews to avoid crowding which can lead to a spike in coronavirus infections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Popular attractions in Mumbai, including the Gateway of India looked deserted on new year's eve as the city is under night curfew from 11 pm to 6 am till January 5.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the IT city of Bengaluru from 6 pm on Thursday to 6 am Friday which made the celebrations very limited.</p>

<p>In the southern city of Chennai, festivities and celebrations took a toll as the government shut down restaurants, hotels, clubs and resorts on Thursday and Friday.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


People in New Zealand were amongst the first globally to welcome 2021 as fireworks light up Auckland's 328-metre tall Sky Tower. Revellers on the waterfront viewed the five-minute show which comprised fireworks and laser lighting colouring the night sky over the city's harbour.

People in New Zealand were amongst the first globally to welcome 2021 as fireworks light up Auckland's 328-metre tall Sky Tower. Revellers on the waterfront viewed the five-minute show which comprised fireworks and laser lighting colouring the night sky over the city's harbour. Also read | New Year's gift! India sends BCG vaccines to Maldives The festivities began in other countries as well amid the low-key celebrations seen in the wake of novel coronavirus that has killed millions this year. Let's take a look. Watch | Australia In the Sydney Opera House in Australia, fireworks sparkle the sky, but the harbour beneath was empty as a ghost town. North Korea To mark the New Year, crowds thronged the main square in the North Korean capital Pyongyang to celebrate new year amid concert and fireworks, state media reported. The performers sang and danced on a stage decorated with a big, colourful "2021" sign without wearing masks. People witnessing the event wore masks but did not maintain social distancing as they displayed glowing lights and balloons in Kim II Sung Square. Taiwan In Taiwan's capital Taipei, people welcomed 2021 with spectacular fireworks held in the 101 tower, city's tallest skyscraper. However, the crowd was not as big as it generally is during the time of the new year due to Covid-19 restrictions. India India welcomed the new year in a very precautious manner as several metro cities imposed night curfews to avoid crowding which can lead to a spike in coronavirus infections. Popular attractions in Mumbai, including the Gateway of India looked deserted on new year's eve as the city is under night curfew from 11 pm to 6 am till January 5. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the IT city of Bengaluru from 6 pm on Thursday to 6 am Friday which made the celebrations very limited. In the southern city of Chennai, festivities and celebrations took a toll as the government shut down restaurants, hotels, clubs and resorts on Thursday and Friday.

With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key

While kids might not be able to meet Santa in person this year an entertainment company in London has created an app so that virtual meet-ups can take place.

New app allows kids to virtually 'meet' Santa

From Lady Gaga to Adele, from Katie Holmes to Miley Cyrus, have a look at the celebrity splits and divorces of 2019.

A look at the celebrity splits and divorces of 2019

Yearender 2019: 'Joker' to 'Avenger: Endgame', the year of biggest blockbusters

People across India rang in the New Year 2020 with fireworks, dance, music, and prayers as the clock struck midnight on Wednesday (January 01).

India rings in 2020 with fireworks, revelry, and prayers

As 2019 is coming to end, we bring to you celebrity weddings of 2019. Have a look at it!

A look at the celebrity weddings of 2019

2019 has ended and it's new year now, we bring to you list of celebrity babies born in 2019. Have a look at it!

A look at the births of celebrity babies in 2019

<p>Different stories of 2019 can be strung together in some common threads. This was the "new normal" of the year gone by.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>1. UNREST</strong></p>

<p>If there's one headline from 2019 that Xi Jinping would like to undo, what would it be? "Taiwan should follow the Hong Kong model." That's what the Chinese President said on January 1, 2019. Unification is the goal, he said, and Taiwan should take a cue from Hong Kong. He spoke 6 months too soon. In June, Hong Kong began protesting, and by the time the year ended, the people of Hong Kong had mounted the biggest political challenge to Xi Jinping's authority. The government tried every trick in the book, from riot charges to half-concessions, inked water canons to police batons, but couldn't break the spirit of the people. The might and the arrogance of the dragon had been defeated.</p>

<p>The theme played out over and over again this year. France, Russia, Britain, Serbia, Ukraine, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Lebanon, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, India - across the globe people stood up to the powers that be.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In some cases they defeated their governments, in others they burst the bubble of invincibility.</p>

<p><strong>2. HACKED</strong></p>

<p>If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself. Prophetic words of George Orwell. Because as he predicted, the Big Brother is watching you. From your phone to your car to your CCTV, everything can and is being hacked. Your choices are being manipulated. Your opinion is being infected. Your activities are being tracked, your movements are being mapped. You are nothing but a source of data, to be sold with or without your knowledge. 2019 has proved that privacy is a myth in the digital age. Data is the lifeblood and the internet is the tool that governments can weaponise to incapacitate dissent. We talk about a future with smart cities. Cities that can be switched off with the push of a button or the swipe on a screen. Technology is a beast we're learning to both ride and control. Good luck to us.</p>

<p><strong>3. CLIMATE ACTION</strong></p>

<p>Snowstorms, hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires - thousands of lives and billions of dollars lost. Climate change is no more a distant concept restricted to academic circles. It's a clear and present danger. It's striking as we speak. What is the world doing about it? Disagreeing. Climate action was to 2019 what human rights were to the years before. Everyone makes the right noises, few make the right moves. So one Swedish teenager decided to bunk school and turned it into a global movement. World leaders discredited her, called her names, were condescending. They were met with a cold glare. Tens of thousands of young people across the world demanded that the decision-makers of today secure their tomorrow. It's work in progress. There's a long way to go. But this was the year when a decisive start was made.</p>

<p><strong>4. DEATH OF DIPLOMACY</strong></p>

<p>Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way. Diplomacy is to do and say, the nastiest thing in the nicest way.</p>

<p>2019 threw these lines out of the window. Diplomacy landed on twitter and was shot dead by angry tweets. Heads of states called each other names. Summits were fixed and junked on social media. Leaders Facetimed and bromanced in public instead of going through the inordinately long handshakes with measured smiles and cameras shuttering. They were caught on camera gossiping. They were caught online reprimanding others in shouty capitals. Conversations that were once bound by convention and peppered were pleasantries were replaced by unbridled bickering. There are no closed doors in the age of social media and tweet-happy diplomats. Log in to see all the dirty linen.</p>

<p><strong>5. MAJORITARIANISM</strong></p>

<p>The rise of the right was last year's story. This year, those who rose insisted they were right, whether you liked them or not. The men (no women in this list) who rule some of the biggest countries in the world - America, India, China, Russia - are all perceived to be bigots. A more politically correct word is majoritarian. The pushers of populist agendas. The upholders of majority interests. The conquerers of liberal forces. Despite the criticism, many of them have emerged victorious in elections and have won bigger mandates. Their politics and its success is a reflection of the countries they lead. Countries where the majority believes it's been shortchanged for way too long. Now the majority is going for its pound of flesh. There's bloodshed, but that's collateral damage. Unsolicited advice - majority rule doesn't have to majoritarian. Let's make room for everyone.</p>

<p>As the year ends, we can only hope for a healing touch, for better sense to prevail, for governments to listen to their people, for leaders to talk to and not at each other, for technology to be tamed before being tested on us, for the young to be optimistic about their future again, for more action and sweeter words. Happy new year!<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Different stories of 2019 can be strung together in some common threads. This was the "new normal" of the year gone by. 1. UNREST If there's one headline from 2019 that Xi Jinping would like to undo, what would it be?

Different stories of 2019 can be strung together in some common threads. This was the "new normal" of the year gone by. 1. UNREST If there's one headline from 2019 that Xi Jinping would like to undo, what would it be? "Taiwan should follow the Hong Kong model." That's what the Chinese President said on January 1, 2019. Unification is the goal, he said, and Taiwan should take a cue from Hong Kong. He spoke 6 months too soon. In June, Hong Kong began protesting, and by the time the year ended, the people of Hong Kong had mounted the biggest political challenge to Xi Jinping's authority. The government tried every trick in the book, from riot charges to half-concessions, inked water canons to police batons, but couldn't break the spirit of the people. The might and the arrogance of the dragon had been defeated. The theme played out over and over again this year. France, Russia, Britain, Serbia, Ukraine, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Lebanon, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, India - across the globe people stood up to the powers that be. In some cases they defeated their governments, in others they burst the bubble of invincibility. 2. HACKED If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself. Prophetic words of George Orwell. Because as he predicted, the Big Brother is watching you. From your phone to your car to your CCTV, everything can and is being hacked. Your choices are being manipulated. Your opinion is being infected. Your activities are being tracked, your movements are being mapped. You are nothing but a source of data, to be sold with or without your knowledge. 2019 has proved that privacy is a myth in the digital age. Data is the lifeblood and the internet is the tool that governments can weaponise to incapacitate dissent. We talk about a future with smart cities. Cities that can be switched off with the push of a button or the swipe on a screen. Technology is a beast we're learning to both ride and control. Good luck to us. 3. CLIMATE ACTION Snowstorms, hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires - thousands of lives and billions of dollars lost. Climate change is no more a distant concept restricted to academic circles. It's a clear and present danger. It's striking as we speak. What is the world doing about it? Disagreeing. Climate action was to 2019 what human rights were to the years before. Everyone makes the right noises, few make the right moves. So one Swedish teenager decided to bunk school and turned it into a global movement. World leaders discredited her, called her names, were condescending. They were met with a cold glare. Tens of thousands of young people across the world demanded that the decision-makers of today secure their tomorrow. It's work in progress. There's a long way to go. But this was the year when a decisive start was made. 4. DEATH OF DIPLOMACY Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way. Diplomacy is to do and say, the nastiest thing in the nicest way. 2019 threw these lines out of the window. Diplomacy landed on twitter and was shot dead by angry tweets. Heads of states called each other names. Summits were fixed and junked on social media. Leaders Facetimed and bromanced in public instead of going through the inordinately long handshakes with measured smiles and cameras shuttering. They were caught on camera gossiping. They were caught online reprimanding others in shouty capitals. Conversations that were once bound by convention and peppered were pleasantries were replaced by unbridled bickering. There are no closed doors in the age of social media and tweet-happy diplomats. Log in to see all the dirty linen. 5. MAJORITARIANISM The rise of the right was last year's story. This year, those who rose insisted they were right, whether you liked them or not. The men (no women in this list) who rule some of the biggest countries in the world - America, India, China, Russia - are all perceived to be bigots. A more politically correct word is majoritarian. The pushers of populist agendas. The upholders of majority interests. The conquerers of liberal forces. Despite the criticism, many of them have emerged victorious in elections and have won bigger mandates. Their politics and its success is a reflection of the countries they lead. Countries where the majority believes it's been shortchanged for way too long. Now the majority is going for its pound of flesh. There's bloodshed, but that's collateral damage. Unsolicited advice - majority rule doesn't have to majoritarian. Let's make room for everyone. As the year ends, we can only hope for a healing touch, for better sense to prevail, for governments to listen to their people, for leaders to talk to and not at each other, for technology to be tamed before being tested on us, for the young to be optimistic about their future again, for more action and sweeter words. Happy new year! (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Themes of 2019: Looking back at the year gone by

<p>With the year coming to an end, it&rsquo;s time to forget all your worries, take a much-needed break and celebrate the festive season with your friends and family. While some of you may have already finalised their party plans for Christmas and New Year, some must still be undecided on how to ring in the New Year. And when there is no plan, house parties are the best.</p>

<p>So if you are mulling over having one at your house this festive season, we bring you the most interesting and fun ways to plan one. And the best part is most of the things listed below can be done with things at your disposal, without you having to go out and shop.</p>

<p><strong>1. Selfie booth:</strong> Parties are incomplete without selfies. We understand that you all have smartphones with great cameras to take as many pictures as you want, but with hundreds of pictures on 20 different phones, a lot can get lost and every photo may not reach everyone. So how about the idea of having all photos in one place? And we believe the best way to do so is by setting up a selfie booth at your party.</p>

<p>Use a phone, selfie stick (and/or a tripod if you have), and some props to add flavour to photos, and voila! To make the experience even better, enable gesture(s) on the front camera for your guests to take photos without even touching the handset. After the party is over, you can create a group and share all those photos with everyone.</p>

<p><strong>2. Croon to the tune:</strong> There are different types of guests at a party. Some love to dance, some love to sing and some just simply enjoy both. And therefore, we suggest you to make your party richer by having a karaoke zone in addition to the occasional dance floor.</p>

<p>With so many karaoke tracks available online, it&rsquo;s pretty simple to set up. Just place your laptop either on a high table (or for that matter, a low table with bean bags for people to sit) and keep the site with karaoke tracks opened. Attach a microphone and a speaker to it, and it&rsquo;s ready. Let people choose their tracks and sing what they enjoy.</p>
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</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FwIE_fSMtf0"></iframe></div>

<p><br />
<strong>3. Let people be their own DJ:</strong> We all have our favourite tracks. And what more fun could it be for people than dance to their own tracks at a party. So we suggest all hosts to set up a music corner opened to all instead of keeping all music controls in their hand.</p>

<p>Connect a phone (with a music streaming app opened on it) to a Bluetooth speaker and let everyone own the music corner. Isn&rsquo;t it a good idea to let people dance to the tracks they like?</p>

<p><strong>4. Pump up the bass:</strong> Grooving to dance numbers in those high heels and fancy shoes gets uncomfortable (and at times, painful) after a point. And for all those trying times, we have an ultimate tech solution for you. How about having a foot massager in one corner for people to relax at intervals? This may sound bizarre, but it&rsquo;s likely to be very effective.</p>

<p>This will not only re-energise people to hit the dance floor again, but will also keep the party rolling until late.</p>

<p><strong>5. Silent disco:</strong> There is no harm in carrying on with the party till late in the night, but it&rsquo;s not a good idea to have fun by causing inconvenience to neighbours. So for all those late-night party people, you can set up a silent disco. Just arrange for a few (preferably, wireless) headphones and keep them on a table in a corner. As the night approaches, you can switch to the silent disco, wherein people can connect headphones to their respective phones and dance to their personal favourites. Imagine a picture with everyone dancing to different beats. It&rsquo;s not only cool but also happens to be a socially responsible way to party till late in the night.</p>

<p>You can let us know your favourite one in the comments section below.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


If you are mulling over having a house party this festive season, we bring you the most interesting and fun ways to plan one

With the year coming to an end, it’s time to forget all your worries, take a much-needed break and celebrate the festive season with your friends and family. While some of you may have already finalised their party plans for Christmas and New Year, some must still be undecided on how to ring in the New Year. And when there is no plan, house parties are the best. So if you are mulling over having one at your house this festive season, we bring you the most interesting and fun ways to plan one. And the best part is most of the things listed below can be done with things at your disposal, without you having to go out and shop. 1. Selfie booth: Parties are incomplete without selfies. We understand that you all have smartphones with great cameras to take as many pictures as you want, but with hundreds of pictures on 20 different phones, a lot can get lost and every photo may not reach everyone. So how about the idea of having all photos in one place? And we believe the best way to do so is by setting up a selfie booth at your party. Use a phone, selfie stick (and/or a tripod if you have), and some props to add flavour to photos, and voila! To make the experience even better, enable gesture(s) on the front camera for your guests to take photos without even touching the handset. After the party is over, you can create a group and share all those photos with everyone. 2. Croon to the tune: There are different types of guests at a party. Some love to dance, some love to sing and some just simply enjoy both. And therefore, we suggest you to make your party richer by having a karaoke zone in addition to the occasional dance floor. With so many karaoke tracks available online, it’s pretty simple to set up. Just place your laptop either on a high table (or for that matter, a low table with bean bags for people to sit) and keep the site with karaoke tracks opened. Attach a microphone and a speaker to it, and it’s ready. Let people choose their tracks and sing what they enjoy. 3. Let people be their own DJ: We all have our favourite tracks. And what more fun could it be for people than dance to their own tracks at a party. So we suggest all hosts to set up a music corner opened to all instead of keeping all music controls in their hand. Connect a phone (with a music streaming app opened on it) to a Bluetooth speaker and let everyone own the music corner. Isn’t it a good idea to let people dance to the tracks they like? 4. Pump up the bass: Grooving to dance numbers in those high heels and fancy shoes gets uncomfortable (and at times, painful) after a point. And for all those trying times, we have an ultimate tech solution for you. How about having a foot massager in one corner for people to relax at intervals? This may sound bizarre, but it’s likely to be very effective. This will not only re-energise people to hit the dance floor again, but will also keep the party rolling until late. 5. Silent disco: There is no harm in carrying on with the party till late in the night, but it’s not a good idea to have fun by causing inconvenience to neighbours. So for all those late-night party people, you can set up a silent disco. Just arrange for a few (preferably, wireless) headphones and keep them on a table in a corner. As the night approaches, you can switch to the silent disco, wherein people can connect headphones to their respective phones and dance to their personal favourites. Imagine a picture with everyone dancing to different beats. It’s not only cool but also happens to be a socially responsible way to party till late in the night. You can let us know your favourite one in the comments section below.

5 simple ways to tech up your house party this festive season

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happy new-year

2026 is here! Kiribati Islands enters New Year as clock strikes midnight in world's easternmost inhabited region

From Goa to Manali: 7 best places in India to welcome New Year 2026

What's open and what's closed on New Year 2026 in US and India

World welcomes new year, bids farewell to 2023, a year marked by wars and climate crises

From New Zealand to Hong Kong: World welcomes 2023 with fireworks and light shows

Into the Year of the Rabbit we travel

India's top destinations to welcome New Year 2023

Already failing? Seven ways to stick to New Year's resolutions

Happy New Year! Muted celebrations as people around the world welcome 2022 amid COVID-19 pandemic

Happy New Year 2022: Wishes, quotes, images, Whatsapp and Instagram status

What India has in store for world in 2021

Goodbye, Twitter Trump! And other predictions for 2021

Severe cold wave in Delhi on New Year's Day; minimum temperature lowest in 15 years

Brazil rings in 2021 with nearly empty Copacabana beach

Year-end diary: Lessons from 2020

It's time to bounce back in 2021: Cristiano Ronaldo greets fans with a heartfelt post on New Year

With fireworks, India, other nations welcome 2021 as celebrations turn low-key

New app allows kids to virtually 'meet' Santa

New app allows kids to virtually 'meet' Santa

A look at the celebrity splits and divorces of 2019

Yearender 2019: 'Joker' to 'Avenger: Endgame', the year of biggest blockbusters

India rings in 2020 with fireworks, revelry, and prayers

A look at the celebrity weddings of 2019

A look at the births of celebrity babies in 2019

Themes of 2019: Looking back at the year gone by

5 simple ways to tech up your house party this festive season