Now, most parts of Europe have officially welcomed in the new year.
In pictures: Ghana, Africa, Europe joins Asia, Australia and NZ in 2024
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Across the different continents, 2024 is being welcomed whatever the weather - as everybody get closer and closer to being in the same year.
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00:00 GMT
In Ghana many people welcomed the New Year with church services. And as the clock hit 00:00 GMT there were shouts of happy new year all over. Across various places, fire works lighted the sky to welcome 2024.
lights up the iconic Adomi Bridge at Akosombo in the Eastern Region.
00:00 GMT
London rings in 2024 with fireworks
London's fireworks display began with the bongs of Big Ben and the words, lit up in the sky with drones, which read: "London, a place for everyone".
Next came a voiceover of someone saying: "What is the city, but the people" (a Shakespeare quote, I've just learnt) - and then a mash-up of music kicked off, with snippets of people saying "welcome" in various languages.
The theme of this year's display - like previous ones - seemed to be one of inclusivity.
There was a shout-out to the 10-year anniversary of same-sex marriage becoming legal in England and Wales, and later, a quote from King Charles III played out, saying: "Our society is woven from diverse threads comprising stories of remarkable courage and sacrifice, determination and strength. Through drawn from different parts of the world, they collectively enrich the fabric of our national life".
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The NHS also got a mention - with a voiceover wishing it a happy 75th birthday and thanking it for its work.
There were too many songs featured to mention - but some of the standout artists and songs I caught were: Millie Small's My Boy Lollipop, Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World, Junior Senior's Move Your Feet, Fifty Fifty's Cupid, and bangers from the Spice Girls, Dua Lipa, the Kinks, Lulu - and of course Auld Lang Syne.
23:00
Abuja, Nigeria
As the clock struck 12, Abuja in Nigeria erupted in a kaleidoscope of light from a drone show.
The drones lighted up the colours of the Nigerian national flag, green and white in the sky and in excitement, marking the arrival of 2024 with a vigor unrivaled by any other.
The drones lighted the words "God bless Nigeria" in the sky.
Happy new year, Europe!
It's just gone midnight in Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin - where crowds at the Brandenburg Gate saw the new year in with a rousing version of Auld Lang Syne.
Dubai
As the clock struck 12, Dubai erupted in a kaleidoscope of light and excitement, marking the arrival of 2024 with a vigor unrivaled by any other.
In 2024, the emirate's New Year's Eve celebration took on a special significance, pulsating with an infectious energy fueled by record-breaking tourism and a palpable economic surge.
Happy new year, to Ukraine, Greece, South Africa and Egypt
Since the start of our coverage, we've seen 2023 bid its farewell across 21 different time zones.
Now, it's the turn of Kyiv, Athens, Helsinki and Bucharest who have just welcomed in the new year.
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2024 has also arrived in parts of the Middle East - Israel, Gaza, Beirut - as well as parts of Africa such as Cairo, Khartoum, Harare and Johannesburg
For those here in the UK, the countdown is looming and 2024 is around the corner.
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Summary
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Parts of Asia are now ringing in the new year - with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka among the latest countries to reach midnight
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Hong Kong celebrated with a huge fireworks display over Victoria Harbour in front of hundreds of thousands of people
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Sydney's display was launched from the iconic Harbour Bridge and the Opera House and thrilled a crowd for 12 minutes
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Residents of the Pacific nation of Kiribati were the first to greet the new year
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And the first major city to greet 2024 was Auckland, in New Zealand, where fireworks were let off from its tallest building, the Sky Tower
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More than 100,000 people are expected to watch London's sold-out New Year's Eve display in person, with millions more tuning in online
21:00
In pictures: Moscow and Istanbul usher in the new year
It's now midnight in Moscow, Ankara, Doha and Nairobi (21:00 GMT).
Across the different continents, 2024 is being welcomed whatever the weather - as we all get closer and closer to being in the same year.
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In Brazil, New Year's Eve is serious business - as I've witnessed myself many times over the years.
There are several traditions some Brazilians follow to welcome the new year, from wearing white clothes to jumping seven waves (if you are near a beach).
Sported by religious and non-religious people, the tradition of wearing white clothes is widely adopted by worshipers who celebrate Iemanjá, a Yoruba deity who is called "Queen of the Sea".
As well as wearing white clothes, those who worship Iemanjá take flowers to the sea at the end of the year as offerings to say thanks for the year that passed.
For those who follow different religious practices (including many of the country's Catholic population), or none at all, wearing white clothes and going into the sea is done to manifest peace and harmony in the year ahead - rather than linked to the deity.
But for those choosing to set a specific intention for the year ahead, there is a well-documented tradition of wearing specific colours to "attract" different things.
Although this is subjective, and personal to each reveller, here's what each colour symbolises for the year to come:
- White suggests peace, harmony and tranquillity
- Gold indicates light and richness
- Silver for youthfulness
- Yellow if you are looking for enthusiasm and joy in the year ahead
- Blue for confidence and stability
- Green for growth, renewal and hope
- Brown for solidity and safety
- Black suggests elegance and power
- Red for energy, strength and passion
20:32
Iran joins other nations in 2024
It's time to wish Iranians a Happy New Year as the clock has just struck midnight (20:30 GMT) in the Middle Eastern country.
Next up will be parts of Russia - which has 11 different time zones - as well as Turkey and Kenya.
Stay with us as we work our way around the globe. We're toasting the arrival of the new year 38 times across a 26-hour period.
Happy New Year to the UAE, Azerbaijan and Armenia
... Those countries are among the latest places to reach 2024!
And here's a view of the world's tallest structure - Dubai's Burj Khalifa tower - lit up for the occasion:
2024 in Afghanistan
It's now officially January in the Asian country.
Pakistan welcomes the new year - without fireworks
Pakistan, which is only 30 minutes behind India and Sri Lanka, is now welcoming its new year.
But unlike previous years, festivities are expected to be subdued in the country, as the government announced a ban on celebratory events including music and fireworks.
The ban was put in place as a way of expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza - as the war in the enclave rages on.
India and Sri Lanka, it's time for your 2024 to begin
It's time to wish a happy new year to India and Sri Lanka.
We are expecting a large display in Delhi and will be bringing you the latest pictures as soon as we have them.
And you can watch firework displays from across the globe by clicking the play button above.
Happy new year, Nepal!
It's now just past midnight in Nepal (18:15 GMT) and the 26-hour new year journey across the globe continues.
Happy new year, Nepal!
Happy new year, Bangladesh!
Bangladesh and its capital, Dhaka, have just rung in the new year.
Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and eastern Kazakhstan have also just crossed over in 2024.
Happy new year to all!
They'll soon be joined by Nepal, in 15 minutes, and then India and Sri Lanka 15 minutes later.
Myanmar and Cocos Islands celebrate the arrival of 2024
Myanmar and the Cocos Islands - a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean - have just celebrated the arrival of 2024. Happy new year to all!
Happy new year to Bangkok, Hanoi and Jakarta
The new year has arrived in Bangkok, Hanoi and Jakarta now. Happy New Year to all! You can watch the fireworks extravaganza in Bangkok by clicking the play button above.
more to follow...