The tiny South Pacific island states of Samoa and Kiribati were the first countries to welcome in the new year.
Fireworks burst over Samoa’s capital, Apia, where tourists mingled with islanders to ring in 2020.
Samoa, which has a population of 200,000, moved to New Year’s Eve pole position in 2011 when it decided to redraw the international dateline.
Its westward jump across the dateline means it is now among the first inhabited places on Earth to greet the new year.
The decision was taken in order to align the country’s time with its major trading partners in the region.
American Samoa, located about 125km east, will be among the last to show 2019 – and the decade – the door.
Next up it will be the turn of partygoers in New Zealand who will celebrate the start of 2020 at around 7 pm Malaysian time.
Then at 8.55 pm Malaysian time, the clock will strike midnight across much of Australia, including Sydney, where its spectacular harbour fireworks display is going ahead despite the deadly bushfire crisis. – Asian News Network
Samoa & Kiribati, First Countries To Enter 2020 {Full Text}
