The arrival of New Year's Eve traditionally brings with it spectacular fireworks displays. While visually impressive, these celebrations often have unintended consequences, such as disturbing wildlife, contributing to air pollution, and posing fire hazards. As environmental awareness grows, there's a shift towards finding safer, more sustainable ways to celebrate. This guide offers a range of creative and eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks for welcoming the New Year, ensuring that your celebrations are not only memorable but also kind to our planet and its inhabitants. Exploring Creative and Sustainable Ways to Ring in 2024 without Fireworks 1. Theme-based Home Party Transform your home into a magical celebration space with a chosen theme. Consider superheroes or fairy tales for kids, and perhaps a nostalgic retro or glam theme for adults. Encourage guests to dress in theme-specific attire. Decorations and snacks tailored to your theme can elevate the experience. This personalized, home-based party offers a unique, intimate, and cost-effective way to usher in the new year. 2. Epic Movie Marathon Plan a movie marathon night with a specific theme like classic comedies, epic adventures, or family favorites. Set up a comfortable viewing area, either indoors with blankets and pillows or outdoors with a projector under the stars. Create a mix of films to cater to different age groups, ensuring everyone has a favorite to look forward to. Don't forget the popcorn machine and a snack bar to mimic a real cinema experience! Read more: 10 Foods to Eat for Good Luck in New Year 3. Culinary Delights: Cooking and Potluck Why not make the kitchen the heart of your New Year's celebration? Arrange a group cooking session where each participant can contribute to making a special dish. For a more relaxed approach, host a potluck dinner where everyone brings their signature dish. This not only makes for a diverse spread of culinary delights but also sparks conversations and recipe exchanges. Combine this with music, a dance area, and a storytelling corner to reminisce memories, experiences, and adventures. 4. Competitive Game Night Organize a game night featuring a variety of games – from classic board games and card games to interactive video games and outdoor sports if weather permits. Tailor the game selection to suit all ages and interests, ensuring everyone has a chance to participate. Offer small prizes for winners to add an extra layer of excitement to the competition. 5. Showcase of Talents: Music, Dance, and More Create a home concert or talent show where guests can perform their favorite songs, dance routines, or even magic tricks. This is a great opportunity for everyone, especially children, to showcase their talents and enjoy the spotlight. You can also curate playlists for a dance party, ensuring there’s something for every musical taste. Read more: IGP calls for flawless security over Christmas and New Year

Russia will opt out of the International Space Station after 2024 and focus on building its own orbiting outpost, the country's newly appointed space chief said Tuesday. Yuri Borisov, who was appointed earlier this month to lead the state-controlled space corporation Roscosmos, said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia will fulfill its obligations to other partners at the International Space Station before it leaves the project. “The decision to leave the station after 2024 has been made,” Borisov said. Borisov's statement reaffirmed previous declarations by Russian space officials about Moscow's intention to leave the space outpost after 2024. It comes amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West over the Kremlin's military action in Ukraine. Despite the rift, NASA and Roscosmos made a deal earlier this month for astronauts to continue riding Russian rockets and for Russian cosmonauts to catch lifts to the International Space Station with SpaceX beginning this fall. Read: New Russian lab briefly knocks space station out of position The agreement ensures that the space station will always have at least one American and one Russian on board to keep both sides of the orbiting outpost running smoothly, according to NASA and Russian officials. The swap had long been in the works and was finalized despite frictions over Ukraine in a sign of continuing Russia-U.S. cooperation in space.