News
New Year’s Day Around the World, who got to 2024 first?
Dana Malcolm
Staff writer
January 1, 2024 – As we welcomed the year 2024 on Monday January 1, some fireworks went off before others, as they do every year, but what determines who celebrates the new year first?
The short answer is time zones and the International Date Line.
United Kingdom
The Date Line is the internationally accepted boundary between one day and the next and sits halfway around the world from the Prime Meridian. Generally, if a map was spread flat, with the IDL in the middle; to the west of the Date Line would be eastern countries like Russia, New Zealand, and Japan. To the right, are Western countries including the Americas and some parts of Europe and Africa. However, one would find there are even some of the easternmost countries that lie just to the right of the line, like American Samoa. It means despite sitting right next to each other Kiribati and American Samoa are generally the very first and very last countries respectively to experience the new year.
The IDL is not legally binding, and countries can make requests to be on either side. In fact, Kiribati used to be bisected by the line, with some of its islands celebrating the new year first, and others much later. Following a request to include all of its islands on the western side of the line the country officially became the first to celebrate New Year’s each year.
There are 38 time zones. Each time zone celebrates New Year’s Day in a staggered motion. Time Zones are listed below with some of the countries that fall into each, and the corresponding TCI time when they hit the 12 am mark.
UTC+14:00 including Kiribati at 5 a.m. Sunday
UTC+13:45 including sections New Zealand at 5:15 a.m. Sunday
UTC+13:00 including Tonga at 6 AM on Sunday
UTC+12:00 including Fiji at 7 AM Sunday
UTC+11:00 including the Solomon Islands at 8 AM Sunday
UTC+10:30 including Australia at 8:30 AM Sunday
UTC+10:00 including Papua New Guinea at 9 AM Sunday
UTC+09:30 including at 9:30 Northern Australia AM Sunday
UTC+09:00 including at Japan, Korea (N&S), and Russia 10 AM Sunday
UTC+08:45 including Western Australia at 10:15 AM Sunday
UTC+08:00 including China at 11 AM Sunday
UTC+07:00 including Thailand at 12 p.m. Sunday
UTC+06:30 including Mynmar at 12:30 p.m Sunday
UTC+06:00 including Bangladesh at 1 PM Sunday
UTC+05:45 including Nepal at 1:15 PM Sunday
UTC+05:30 including India at 1:30 PM Sunday
UTC+05:00 including The Maldives at 2 PM Sunday
UTC+04:30 including Afghanistan at 2:30 PM Sunday
UTC+04:00 including the UAE at 3 PM Sunday
UTC+03:30 including Iran at 3:30 PM Sunday
UTC+03:00 including Kenya at 4 PM Sunday
UTC+02:00 including South Africa and Greece at 5 PM Sunday
UTC+01:00 including Germany Frances and Denmark at 6 PM Sunday
UTC+00:00 including The UK, Ghana, and Ireland at 7 PM Sunday
UTC−01:00 including The Cabo Verde Islands at 8 PM Sunday
UTC−02:00 including Brazil at 9 PM Sunday
UTC−03:00 including Argentina and Chile at 10 PM Sunday
UTC−03:30 including parts of Canada at 10:30 PM, Sunday
UTC−04:00 including Barbados, and The Dominican Republic at 11 PM Sunday
UTC−05:00 including The Turks and Caicos, The United States, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Cayman at 12 AM Monday
UTC−06:00 including Belize at 1 AM Monday
UTC−07:00 including parts of Mexico at 3 AM Monday
UTC−08:00 including the Pitcairn Islands at 3 AM Monday
UTC−09:00 including Alaska at 4 AM Monday
UTC−09:30 including French Polynesia at 5 AM Monday
UTC−10:00 including Hawaii at 5:30 AM Monday
UTC−11:00 including American Samoa at 6 AM Monday
UTC−12:00 including uninhabited islands at 6 AM Monday
Huge celebrations were held in almost every location.
Kiribati has become a niche tourist destination for those who want to ring in the new year first.
Fireworks and drone shows populated the globe, going off one after the other with sometimes as little as fifteen minutes in between time zones.
Exciting and by now, we are all well into the Year 2024!
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – May 14th, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Molo Hotel Group reached a pivotal juncture on Monday, May 13th, 2024, with the ceremonial signing of a development agreement at the Premier’s Office on Providenciales. The agreement, which received official Cabinet approval on March 13th, 2024, signifies a steadfast commitment to advancing the economic landscape of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Molo Hotel Group is a family-owned business, renowned for its distinguished portfolio of high-quality hotels worldwide. The
development initiative encompasses the construction of three distinct IHG branded hotels: InterContinental Turks and Caicos, Kimpton Turks and Caicos and Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos. Scheduled for completion by 2027, each resort boasts a distinctive design from luxury to laidback sophistication spanning across the shores of Grace Bay Beach.
Kimpton Turks and Caicos – an epitome of luxury lifestyle living, will feature 192 guest rooms including three outdoor pools, a luxury spa and a fitness center. Additionally, seven dining options ranging from a beachfront restaurant to a rooftop bar.
Adjacent to the Kimpton, InterContinental Turks and Caicos will offer 59 classic luxury suites with panoramic ocean views. Mirroring its counterpart, this resort will offer an array of dining options and upscale facilities.
Steps away from the Intercontinental and Kimpton resorts, Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos will embrace a sense of community and contemporary elegance, offering 56 bedrooms. The resort will feature an onsite restaurant, lobby bar, outdoor pool, and fitness room.
Beyond the realm of hospitality, this development agreement underscores the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing employment opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Molo is partnering with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) to actively promote hospitality as a career choice and support in developing training programs, career fairs, seminars, workshops, and events to raise awareness about hospitality careers. Molo has committed to provide employment and apprentice opportunities to TCICC students and provide mentoring and practical on property training to students.
The signing event was graced by Hon. Charles Washington Missick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier, Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Public Safety and Utilities, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Łukasz and Marcin Slominski, Owners of Molo, Ross Morrow, Managing Director Molo, Arik Kono, Vice President Upscale Development for IHG, Dr. Candice Williams, President and CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Angela Musgrove, InvestTCI CEO, Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Chairperson of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Dr. Delores Stapleton- Harris, Vice President of Academic, Vocational and Student Affairs for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Mr. Kevin Baxter, Dean of Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Sheryl McLaughlin, InvestTCI Investment Services Executive.
Commenting on the development agreement, Premier, Hon. Misick, stated “The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing of
IHG/Molo Hotels is a significant step towards a sustainable future for hospitality in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Three hotels, Kimpton, Intercontinental, and Hotel Indigo, will be introduced, enhancing our tourism product and creating employment opportunities.”
He further added, “Partnerships with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission are underway, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to developing human capital and elevating tourism offerings. This project will bring economic growth, embrace local talent, and enrich our economy.”
Additionally, Mrs. Angela Musgrove, CEO of Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, emphasized “This collaboration confirms our commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity within our country. We have worked closely with Molo Hotel Group, and we are confident that this transformative project will further position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination for travel and investment. Much to our delight, it will also provide opportunities for engagement with our Community College and small business community.”
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, operating through its primary Investment Promotion
Agency, Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, remains committed to attracting and facilitating Foreign Direct Investments to the country by providing a comprehensive suite of services. Through strategic initiatives and targeted promotion, the agency catalyzes sustainable development, driving innovation and small business opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have
charged a man who allegedly stole a vehicle.
The accused, DANVANTE BRISCO, 30, of Kew Town, Providenciales, was charged with:
- One Count: Robbery
- One Count: Taking Motor Vehicle Without Authority
- One Count: Using Offensive Weapon to cause fear
Mr. BRISCO appeared in court today (May 13 ) and was granted bail of $7500.00 with one surety.
The matter was adjourned to July 05 for a Sufficiency Hearing.
#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – A 20-year-old Dock Yard male appeared in court today (May 13th) charged with a series of firearm-related offences.
The accused, JAMES SIMON, was denied bail and remanded into custody pending a Sufficiency Hearing scheduled for July 05th, 2024.
Mr. SIMON faces the following charges:
- One Count: Robbery;
- One Count: Gang Membership
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm for the Benefit of a Gang
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition for the Benefit of a Gang.
The charges against Mr. Simon followed investigations by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force into a robbery at the parking lot of a Casino where three males robbed a victim.
Additionally, Mr. Simon is charged with the following offences, having been arrested on May 02nd, 2024, along South Dock Road.
- One Count: Possession of a Firearm
- One Count: Possession of Ammunition
- One Count: Unlawful Entry
Officers also charged a teenage minor who was in the company of Mr. Simon on May 02nd with One Count of UNLAWFUL ENTRY.
The accused, seventeen and from Kew Town, Providenciales, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on May 20th.
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