Australians, New Zealanders Preparing to be Among First to Ring in 2024

2024 glasses are displayed ahead of New Year's Eve in Times Square, Dec. 29, 2023, in New York. Tourists walk around New Year's Eve sign in Times Square, Dec. 29, 2023, in New York.

Australians and New Zealanders are making final preparations on New Year's Eve to become among the first nations to ring in 2024 as ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza cast a pall over celebrations and heightened tensions across parts of the world.