New year celebrations at Bandra Reclamation in Mumbai. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty 31-12-19, Mumbai)
Happy New Year 2020 Celebrations Highlights: The world ushered in the new year with spectacular fireworks across various parts such as Sydney, Tokyo, Dubai and India. However, celebrations in Australia were dampened by deadly wildfires, whereas protests were the backdrop of festivities in Hong Kong. India also witnessed a similar scene with protests in certain parts of the national capital.
Partygoers in Dubai were left mesmerised by a laser and fireworks show at the Burj Khalifa while a million revellers thronged Sydney Harbour and nearby districts to watch fireworks explode above the city, even as thousands of people along Australia’s eastern seaboard sought refuge from the bushfires on beaches. Due to Australia’s geographical position being close to the International Date Line, it was one of the first countries in the world to welcome the New Year. In Canberra, fireworks were cancelled and event organisers said other activities, including live music performances, could also be cancelled.
Happy New Year 2020 Advance Wishes Images, Quotes, Status, Messages, Wallpapers, Photos and Pics
At New York’s Times Square, the world-famous ball drop is the best place to witness the fireworks. Thousands of police officers were on duty for night’s festivities, along with specialised units armed with long guns, bomb-sniffing dogs and other measures.
New Year’s Day, which according to the Gregorian calendar falls on January 1, is one of the most popular occasions across the globe and people irrespective of religion, caste and creed celebrate it in their own ways. In many countries, people begin their celebrations on December 31, which continue until the wee hours of January 1. Merry-makers meet with their near and dear ones, hold themed parties, play games and ring in the New Year with great joy and gusto. In many places, the first day of the year is observed as a holiday.
In many countries, people begin their celebrations on December 31, which continue until the wee hours of January 1
India Gate saw several visitors on the first day of the new year as people came out to celebrate in large numbers.
Massive traffic snarls were witnessed in Delhi on Wednesday as scores of people flocked to India Gate and Connaught Place for New Year celebrations. Entry and exit gates of five Delhi Metro stations were closed in the evening to ease rush of passengers. The Delhi Traffic Police has been constantly alerting commuters about the vehicular traffic through its official handle on Twitter to avoid any inconvenience. Commuters were stuck in traffic jams on roads leading to India Gate, Connaught Place and ITO. Read more
Entry and exit gates at five Delhi Metro stations were closed on Wednesday evening to ease the rush of passengers on New Year's Day. "Entry & exit gates of Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Mandi House are closed. Interchange is available at Central Secretariat and Mandi House," Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted. Anticipating a huge crowd on the New Year's eve, the Delhi Metro on Tuesday had restricted exit from the busy Rajiv Chowk metro station after 9 pm. (PTI)
A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting on New Year was conducted at Chinese BPM Hut at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD Meeting Points in Ladakh. Indian delegation was led by Brig HS Gill and Col Manoj Kumar, and the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Col Bai Min and Lt Col Lee Ming Ju.
In his New Year message, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed that the first item on his agenda in 2020 is to fulfil the will of the electorate and to conclude the UK's divorce deal with the European Union within this month. "As we say goodbye to 2019 we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long," he said. "We can start a new chapter in the history of our country, in which we come together and move forward united, unleashing the enormous potential of the British people," he added.
The rupee kick started 2020 on a positive note with gains of 14 paise against the US currency on the first trading day of the New Year on Wednesday. The domestic currency settled at 71.22 against the previous close of 71.36 as positive macro data and optimism over the US-China trade deal boosted the investor sentiment. (PTI)
Nine people died after torrential rains hit Indonesia's capital Jakarta in one of the deadliest flooding on New Year's Eve. Electricity was switched off in hundreds of waterlogged neighbourhoods across greater Jakarta, with some train lines and one of the city's airports also shut. "We're hoping that the floodwaters will recede, but if the rain keeps up it'll continue," an official said.
As many as 57 people were arrested from the city for their alleged involvement in various crimes on the New Year's eve, police said on Wednesday. Of the total arrests, 40 were made as preventive measures while 17 people were apprehended from different parts of the city for allegedly committing crimes such as eve-teasing, drunken driving and rash driving, a senior officer said. "Several other arrests were also made on the New Year's eve. We are accumulating the total figure," he said. (PTI)
The BSE benchmark Sensex settled in the green on the first trading day of 2020 on Wednesday, tracking gains in index heavyweights Infosys, HDFC twins and Larsen & Toubro. The 30-share BSE Sensex ended the day higher by 52.28 points, or 0.13 per cent, at 41,306.02. The broader NSE Nifty closed 14.05 points or 0.12 per cent, higher at 12,182.50. (PTI)
Delhi witnessed massive traffic snarls on Wednesday as as people stepped out for New Year celebrations, officials said. The Delhi Traffic Police has been constantly alerting commuters about the vehicular traffic through its official handle on Twitter to avoid any inconvenience. "Traffic movement is closed on Jai Singh road from Ashok road side due to heavy volume of vehicles," the Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet. "Traffic will remain heavy from Raja Garden towards Punjabi Bagh due to ongoing work by PWD. Kindly avoid the stretch," it tweeted. (PTI)
Thousands of people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh rang in 2020 with singing the national anthem. As the clock struck 12, the protesting crowd burst into a cheer to greet the fellow protesters the new year, and moments later broke into the national anthem in unison which was followed by the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad". Several roamed around waving national flags while others displayed creative placards against the new law and chanted "Aazadi, Aazadi". (PTI)
In his New Year message to youths of Gujarat, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Wednesday that over 34,000 vacant government posts in the state would be filled up this year and urged the youths and students to have faith in the dispensation led by him. "A lot of confusion has been created since sometime among youths and students by some people for political gains. I want to tell you that my government will ensure that the hard work of youths does not go in vain," Rupani said in a video message shared on his Facebook account. "In the last three years, we have given government jobs to 1.18 lakh youths. In the current year, we will conduct recruitments to fill up another 34,000 to 35,000 government posts," he added. (PTI)
As many as 778 people were fined for drunk driving, while 1,100 were booked for various other traffic rules violations in Mumbai during the New Year celebrations, police said on Wednesday. "During checking, 578 people riding two-wheelers and 200 driving four-wheelers were fined for drunk driving," a senior police official said. "We also penalised 1,100 motorists for violating traffic rules. Of these, 601 were caught for jumping signals, 258 for riding triple seat and 241 for over-speeding," Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Madhukar Pandey said. (PTI)
Over 400 people were arrested for consumption or possession of liquor during the New Year celebrations in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city, police said on Wednesday. "As many as 368 people were arrested for consumption of liquor, while 41 others were held for possessing liquor last night," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Control) Vijay Patel said. "No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city and the celebrations went off peacefully," he added. (PTI)
Union minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday extended new year greetings to the nation in his trademark style. "Our new year begins with Pratipada (the first date of a month as per Hindu calendar). We derive our identity from Sanatana, from Lord Shri Ram. Bharatvarshis - what relationship do we share with each other? It is Jai Shri Ram, Jai Shri Ram. Best wishes for the administrative new year," Singh tweeted in chaste Hindi. (PTI)
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his first New Year message, said that he would create a prosperous country for all communities to live in peace and vowed not to allow any force to obstruct the realisation of people's expectations. "The new government is the outcome of unity among the people who love their country. We will not allow any force to obstruct the realisation of people's expectations. The sole aim is to create a conducive environment where all can live harmoniously in peace,” Rajapaksa said in a statement. (PTI)
Delhi Police issued a total of 352 challans for drink-and-drive cases on the eve of New Year, officials said on Wednesday. Security was beefed up across the national capital, especially in the vicinity of markets, malls, five-star hotels, restaurants, pubs and bars, in order to ensure orderly celebrations. All PCR vans, Raftaar motorcycles and Prakhar vans were dynamically deployed at vulnerable points, according to police officials. (PTI)
US President Donald Trump tweeted Happy New Year in caps, whereas, in another tweet, he shared a video of him and his wife Melania Trump attending a NYE party.
After being denied permission to hold a "protest party" at Carter road amphitheatre, groups of people protesting CAA gathered at the venue for some music and poetry on New Year's eve.
(Express photos by Amit Chakravarty)
Boris Johnson has pledged to represent remainers and work with them as “friends and equals”, in a New Year’s Day message in which he sounded upbeat about the UK’s fortunes in the 2020s.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu greeted people on the New Year and expressed hope that the state will become vibrant and progressive in 2020. 'My goal this year is to rededicate my heart and soul for the welfare of each district, each community, each religion, each family and each individual of my state,' he said. Khandu said the New Year gives everyone a brand new book containing 365 blank pages. 'Let us fill them with all the forgotten things from last year— the words we forgot to say, the love we forgot to show, the commitment we failed to implement and the charity we forgot to offer,' he said.
India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar took to Twitter to wish everyone for new year.May the New Year bring us happiness, peace, and prosperity. Wishing you a joyous 2020!#2020NewYear pic.twitter.com/v0h1mmQpWC— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 1, 2020
(Express photos by Pradip Das)
Tens of thousands of Hong Kong protesters are expected to join a New Year's Day march on Wednesday as anti-government demonstrations that have embroiled the Chinese-ruled city for over half a year spill into 2020. The pro-democracy march is being organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that has arranged a number of marches last year that drew millions. It will kick off from Victoria Park in the popular Causeway Bay shopping district, and end in the heart of the central financial district.
In a simple greeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished everyone a wonderful new year.
People gather at the Connaught Place to celebrate the New Year 2020, in New Delhi, Tuesday, December 31, 2019. (PTI Photo)
Ongoing anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh, Okhla on new year's eve on Tuesday. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
Fireworks explode over Chao Phraya River during the New Year's celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, January 1, 2020. (Reuters)
People hold up their smartphones as a "2020" sign lights up a building on the waterfront during New Year's celebrations in Hong Kong, early Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.
People flocked to temples and shrines in Japan, offering incense with their prayers to celebrate the passing of a year and the first New Year's of the Reiwa era.
People wearing rain coats gather at Bundaran Hotel Indonesia roundabout as they attend New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia December 31, 2019. (Reuters)
Some communities have cancelled New Year’s fireworks celebrations, but Sydney Harbour's popular display was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban that is in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.
Revelers as well as pro-democracy protesters flocked to sites across Hong Kong to usher in 2020.
The semi-autonomous Chinese city has toned down New Year's celebrations amid the monthslong demonstrations. The protests have repeatedly sparked pitched battles with police and have taken their toll on Hong Kong's nightlife and travel industries.
A fireworks display that traditionally lights up famed Victoria Harbor was canceled amid safety concerns, while some roads were closed and barriers set up in the Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district for crowd control.
Sydney decided to press ahead with its fireworks display despite calls by some members of the public for it to be cancelled in solidarity with fire-hit areas in New South Wales, of which the city is the capital.
Around a million revellers thronged Sydney harbour and nearby districts to watch more than 100,000 fireworks explode above the city, even as thousands of people along Australia's eastern seaboard sought refuge from the bushfires on beaches.
Midnight fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year's eve celebrations in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec.31, 2019. (Lukas Coch/AAP Images via AP)
Fireworks explode over Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, as seen from Cahill Expressway during New Year celebrations in Sydney, Wednesday, Jan.1, 2020. (Dean Lewins/AAP Images via AP)
More than a million people descended on a hazy Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas ahead of the ringing in of the new year despite the ongoing wildfire crisis ravaging New South Wales, Australia's most populous state. The planned 9 p.m. fireworks over Sydney's iconic landmarks was delayed by 15 minutes due to strong winds, but revelers clearly enjoyed themselves in a desperately needed tonic for the state.
More than a million people descended on a hazy Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas ahead of the ringing in of the new year despite the ongoing wildfire crisis ravaging New South Wales, Australia's most populous state. The planned 9 p.m. fireworks over Sydney's iconic landmarks was delayed by 15 minutes due to strong winds, but revelers clearly enjoyed themselves in a desperately needed tonic for the state.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday asked people to commit themselves to make a peaceful, caring and compassionate society, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan. "The dawn of New Year and the new decade is an occasion to commit ourselves to the making of a society that is peaceful, caring and compassionate. This is also an apt occasion to renew our commitment towards a stronger and more prosperous India," he said in his message to fellow citizens on the eve of New Year 2020.
People in the city and across West Bengal celebrated New Year's eve with gusto on Tuesday, with revellers thronging tourist destinations and party hubs on the chilly last day of December 2019. The devout were seen praying at the churches and temples for a happy and prosperous 2020. Children accompanied by their parents were seen at the Alipore Zoo, Birla Planetarium, Eco Park and other tourist spots in the city.
Launching a new environmental prize, Duke of Cambridge Prince William called the 2020s as the “decade of action” for saving the environment and the earth. “The Earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve,” William said in a statement put out by Kensington Palace. Read more...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished on Tuesday that the year 2020 marks the continuation of people-powered efforts to transform India and empower the lives of its citizens.
Train travel in New Year will cost you more as the railways on Tuesday announced fare hike across its network, excluding suburban trains, effective from January 1, 2020. According to the railway ministry circular, starting January 1, 2010, an additional 4 paisa per kilometre will be charged on AC ticket while additional 1 paisa per kilometre will be charged on ordinary non-AC trains and 2 paise for Express Non-AC trains. Read more...
New Year is a time for new beginnings and what better than starting the year with inspiring and motivating messages that are all about happiness and positivity? From thinking big to spreading love and cheer, let the new year sun shine bright on you. Take a look at what we have curated for you this New Year. Read more...
Over 3,000 people, including youth, women, and many from LGBT community, thronged the Ernakulam boat jetty to burn 'Pappanji', the old man, to begin the New Year. Setting aflame 'Pappanji' on the last day of the year symbolises burning to ashes all the sorrowful memories of the past year while looking forward to a brighter future.
Huge rush at Ernakulam boat jetty in Kerala for New Year 2020 celebrations at Fort Kochi. (Express Photo: Arun Janardan)
Good news for boozers and revellers in Telangana as the state government Tuesday issued orders relaxing the timings for operation on liquor shops and bars in the wake of New Year’s eve celebrations.
The government has allowed license holders of 2B (Bars),, C1 Licenses (In-House) EP1 licenses (event permit) and TD1 (In-House Licenses of Tourism Development Corporation) to serve liquor upto 1 am on the intervening night of December 31. It has also allowed A4 licensees(retail shops) to keep open till 12 midnight on the 31st. Read more...
National Hangover Day is almost here. That’s right. New Year’s Eve is fun and all, but it’s the day after that we’re here to address. While New Year’s Day is only a few hours away, we also unofficially are dedicated to recognising that much of the world will wake up with nasty hangovers after ringing in the new year with plenty of alcoholic beverages. Read more...
It is that time of the year when you bid goodbye to old things and look forward to new ones. Every New Year brings hope and happiness, that the coming year will be far better than the previous one. So as we gear up to step into the New Year, here are some warm wishes that you can share with your loved ones. We have curated a list of inspiring advance Happy New Year Wishes for you. Take a look!
Hyderabad residents who plan to party late on December 31 have some good news — even if tipsy, you will have one safe means of getting home that night. The Hyderabad Metro Rail has announced that people who have consumed alcohol will be allowed to travel by metro trains on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. People who had consumed alcohol were barred from the Hyderabad metro in September this year, after a drunk man created a ruckus on a train. Read more...
New Year will be upon us in a few hours. It is the first day of the year, as per the modern Gregorian calendar. But, do you know why so many countries all over the world celebrate this particular day with so much grandeur every year? It is believed that ever since the modern calendar came into being, civilizations around the world have been observing the New Year’s Day festivities, making resolutions, watching the fireworks and making elaborate and not-so-elaborate plans for the new year. Read more...
It is that time of the year when you bid goodbye to old things and look forward to new ones. Every New Year brings hope and happiness, that the coming year will be far better than the previous one. So as we gear up to step into the New Year, here are some warm wishes that you can share with your loved ones. We have curated a list of inspiring advance Happy New Year Wishes for you. Take a look!
Midnight in London will be marked by the chimes of Big Ben, which has been silent during a long restoration, as traditional fireworks are set off over the Thames for the last new year before Brexit. It follows a year of political wrangling that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa and culminated in Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging to leave the European Union on January 31.
Security has been tightened in and around the city with a special focus on women safety on the New Year's eve, police said on Tuesday. Vigil has been upped in areas under the jurisdiction of Kolkata and Bidhannagar police forces to check drunken driving, pick-pocketing, eve-teasing and fraudulent activities, news agency PTI reported a senior officer as saying.
As the clock ticks past midnight, major cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas will embrace the celebrations, but in many places the festivities will be marked by turmoil and political upheaval. After more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, Hong Kong will usher in 2020 with a series of pro-democracy rallies planned for New Year's Eve. Protesters are set to form human chains across the city, stage demonstrations at major shopping malls and hold "suck the eve" gatherings at major countdown attractions including the city's famed Victoria Harbour. (Reuters)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to make a closely watched New Year address on Wednesday which is likely to offer a glimpse of a "new path" he has vowed to take if the United States fails to meet his deadline to soften its stance over denuclearisation. The New Year address is expected to touch upon a wide range of issues from foreign affairs and military development to the economy and education.