At the dawn of another year, setting financial resolutions becomes crucial for a stable future. It can serve as a roadmap towards economic well-being, empowering individuals to manage money more effectively. Proper management of expenses aids in reducing debt, making savings, and creating new investment windows. Prioritising financial goals ensures a more organised and secure financial journey. Overall, it fosters the path towards achieving long-term aspirations. Let’s take a look at some practical resolutions to manage your finances in 2024. Top 10 Financial New Year’s Resolutions and Ways to Fulfil Them Creating a Budget and Sticking to It Creating a proper budget is key to managing money smartly. Try using apps or spreadsheets to split your money between what you need, what you want to save, and what you can spend on non-essential or luxury things.  By keeping a close eye on your spending and sticking to your budget, you can avoid spending money on things you do not need. It helps you keep your expenses within your budget. Read more: 10 Foods to Eat for Good Luck in New Year Practising Mindful Spending Being mindful about spending means making choices that align with your goals and it leads to a more stable financial future. It is very important to take a mindful approach to spending by thinking before you buy. Try to focus on what you truly need rather than what you want right now. You may consider if your purchase brings long-term benefits. This way of spending helps you control your money better and keeps you on track to reach your financial aims.  Paying off Debts and Loans One should make it a priority to clear off debts with high interest rates as they can weigh one down financially. For instance, credit card debt needs to be paid in due time to avoid fines. To repay big debts arranging money from savings or low-interest loans can be considered depending on the situation.  In the new year, one can prepare a repayment plan to settle all debts and get financial freedom. Read more: 5 New Year Resolutions that are actually achievable Building an Emergency Fund Life can surprise us, so it is wise to have a safety net for unexpected costs. Try to stash away money for an emergency fund that can cover living expenses for three to six months if needed. You may look into FD or DPS packages offered by different banks or financial institutions. This practice can help you save more money while making sure you can access them easily.  Whenever you hit a milestone on your savings journey, take a moment to celebrate your progress towards your financial safety net.

The advent of a new year is celebrated around the world expecting a healthy and prosperous future ahead. In this celebration, people love to enjoy some quality time with family and friends in a joyous ambiance. Centering this event hotels and restaurants are offering lucrative offers for dinners and staycation. Let’s take a look at some events and parties in Dhaka on New Year’s Eve. New Year Festivities and Parties in Dhaka on December 31st Night Revibe Parties by Radisson Blu Dhaka’s Radisson Blu Water Garden has arranged the "Revibe Gala Dinner 31st Party'' in Utshab Hall and the "Winter Revibe Party" in the Ballroom, hosted by ReConnect Multimedia.  On offer is live music, and a dazzling array of entertainment, including fashion shows, celebrity dances, salsa, hip hop, laser shows, and belly dance. The Grand Ballroom and Utshab Hall present distinct celebrations, each offering a unique experience.  Tickets range from 3500 BDT to 10000 BDT. The minimum age requirement is 18, and the dress code mandates chic and sassy for ladies and a jacket or suit for gentlemen. Read more: 10 Foods to Eat for Good Luck in New Year Pankouri New Year Fiesta 2024 If you are looking for a family-centric celebration for an unforgettable evening, check out ‘The Pankouri New Year Fiesta 2024’. Organised by Pankouri An Indigenous Dine Out, the event aims to create meaningful moments for families.  Scheduled for December 31, 2023, starting at 8 PM at Pankouri Restaurant, the fiesta offers an exclusive experience with live music, DJ Vicky spinning 80s beats, a delectable buffet and live BBQ —all within a smoke and alcohol-free environment.  The event emphasises a joyous celebration for singles, couples and families with kids.  Tickets are available for those eager to welcome the New Year surrounded by family warmth. The ticket price for singles and couples is BDT 3000 and 6000 respectively. For a family with two children the ticket price is BDT 8000.  Read more: The Enduring Lessons of Christmas: Embracing Kindness, Hope and Renewal Galactic Night by Le Méridien  Do you want to welcome the new year in a cosmic environment with stellar vibes? Hosted by AllEvents.in, Le Méridien Dhaka’s Galactic Night event is set to entertain the guests with music under a celestial sky. 

The world population grew by 75 million people over the past year and on New Year's Day it will stand at more than 8 billion people, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday. The worldwide growth rate in the past year was just under 1%. At the start of 2024, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected worldwide every second, according to the Census Bureau figures. Trump is blocked from the GOP primary ballot in two states. Can he still run for president? The growth rate for the United States in the past year was 0.53%, about half the worldwide figure. The U.S. added 1.7 million people and will have a population on New Year's Day of 335.8 million people. If the current pace continues through the end of the decade, the 2020s could be the slowest-growing decade in U.S. history, yielding a growth rate of less than 4% over the 10-year-period from 2020 to 2030, said William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution. Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north The slowest-growing decade currently was in the aftermath of the Great Depression in the 1930s, when the growth rate was 7.3%. "Of course growth may tick up a bit as we leave the pandemic years. But it would still be difficult to get to 7.3%," Frey said. Maine bars Trump from ballot as US Supreme Court weighs states' authority to block former president At the start of 2024, the United States is expected to experience one birth every nine seconds and one death every 9.5 seconds. However, immigration will keep the population from dropping. Net international migration is expected to add one person to the U.S. population every 28.3 seconds. This combination of births, deaths and net international migration will increase the U.S. population by one person every 24.2 seconds.

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

Resolutions give us an opportunity to outline our aspirations and step towards personal growth. Beginning of the year is a great time for setting resolutions to embrace fresh beginnings with the pursuit of positive change. However, not all resolutions last longer. People often fail to keep resolutions. Let’s find out how to keep the New Year’s resolutions. Why New Year Resolutions Fail Tradition over Purpose Many resolutions arise from tradition rather than a genuine need for change. When resolutions are set solely because it is customary at the start of a new year, the motivation to pursue them may dwindle compared to goals rooted in a true necessity for transformation. Failure to Anticipate Obstacles A common oversight to fulfil resolutions is the lack of foresight regarding potential obstacles. The barriers are different for every individual. If someone neglects to identify and plan for potential barriers, it can significantly increase the likelihood of encountering setbacks in achieving his or her resolutions.   Read more: How to Spend the Weekend in a Creative Way Unrealistic Goals and Lack of Accountability Setting excessively challenging or overly simplistic objectives often leads to failure. Lack of accountability further diminishes the likelihood of accomplishing these goals. Studies reveal that accountability doubles the chances of achieving set objectives.  Neglecting Tracking and Planning Neglecting regular progress tracking and inadequate planning contribute to failure. Establishing a routine review system and meticulous planning are essential to keep resolutions. This process fosters consistency and allows for adaptations to challenges that may arise along the way. Unclear Purpose and Self-Doubt Unclear reasons behind resolutions and succumbing to self-doubt are detrimental. People tend to set goals without a clear roadmap. It leads to frustration and eventual abandonment of their resolutions. A strong emotional connection to goals helps dispel excuses and strengthens commitment.  Read more: Good Stress: What Are the Benefits of Eustress? 10 Tips to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolution Set Specific and Measurable Goals  First, establishing clear, measurable objectives is foundational. Try to begin by establishing precise, measurable objectives that can be effectively tracked. Specificity ensures clarity in what you aim to achieve and aids in progress monitoring and strategy refinement.  Measurable goals provide a tangible way to track the advancement and make necessary adjustments for success. When goals are well-defined, they become more manageable, and progress becomes more apparent. Read more: How to Enjoy Your Own Company: Tips to Overcome Loneliness

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has said he is looking forward to continued strengthening of the Bangladesh-US partnership in the new year. "During my first year in your remarkable country, it's been an honour to meet with members of civil society, government officials, artists, politicians of all parties, and our vital partners that work to continue to strengthen the ties between the United States and Bangladesh," he said Sunday in a message shared by the US Embassy in Dhaka on its verified Facebook page. Read: We remain better prepared in 2023: Shahriar Alam "I am also thankful for the incredible hospitality and have enjoyed tasting new culinary flavours from Briyani to Mishti-Doi," the ambassador said. "On behalf of the US embassy community, wishing everyone a peaceful, prosperous, and happy new year!" he added.  

As the new year approaches everyone is wishing to have a happy and prosperous year. Interestingly, some food traditions are believed to be a lucky way to start the next. People in diverse cultures try different types of good luck foods to bring fortune in the coming year. Let’s take a look at 10 top New Year's foods to bring you and your family good luck in 2023.  10 Best New Year’s Day Foods to Bring Prosperity in 2023 Black-Eyed Peas  The origin of this food is Europe. If you are celebrating New Year's dinner in the South, you can serve the dish of black-eyed peas that are prepared with meat, celery, and onion. It is a traditional dish that has been consumed for luck for more than 1,500 years.  They are special as they got their start as part of the Jewish New Year. Most importantly, they are packed with important nutrients including fiber and vitamin A.  Pomegranates  Probably the main origin of Pomegranates is Persia. The people of Greece think that pomegranates have brought good luck to them but they use it differently. Instead of eating, Greek families crush a pomegranate on the threshold of their home at the start of the New Year thinking to bring good luck to them. However, that doesn't mean you can't add extra fruit to your sparkling drink when you toast at midnight or turn it into a delicious drink.  Read More: 10 Netflix Shows to Watch during Christmas & New Year Holidays Lentils Lentils are originated in Europe and eaten all over the world for the new year because these tiny and yellow colored legumes suggest gold coins and they are considered to bring prosperity in the coming year. The people of most of the continents of the world eat lentils and it is considered to help you pad out your bank account in the progressing months. Whole Fish Chinese believes that serving fish whole with both head and tail brings prosperity, abundance, and a good year to come from start to finish. Legend also says that eating a whole fish—generally with the head, tail, and all—brings good fortune for the new year. Fish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins like D and B2 (riboflavin) and is rich in calcium and phosphorus. It is also a great source of minerals, including iron, zinc, iodine, magnesium, and potassium.  Cookies  Cookies are the right kind of food to Kick off the New Year with messages of luck, hope, and prosperity for your friends and family. You can slide each personalized message into your handmade cookie. If your loved ones have a good sense of humor, you can consider preparing cookies and drawing something laughing on each cookie.  If you're really busy all time, you can use your pre-made fortune cookies. Read More: 5 Exciting BBQ and Grilling Recipes for New Year’s Eve. Grapes/Raisins According to Spain culture 12 grapes or raisins are eaten just before midnight, one for each month of the year will bring good fortune for all 12 months of the year. It is also the tradition of Mexico also. They believe that the luck you’ll possess each month is dependent on the deliciousness of the grapes.   Buttered Bread/Cornbread The people of Ireland love to celebrate their New Year's Day with Buttered Bread. Traditionally, it is believed that buttered bread placed outside the front door epitomizes an absence of hunger in the household and presumably for the year to come. Cornbread is also considered lucky because of its golden brown color. People of the USA believe that cornbread can bring gold and wealth in the upcoming year.  Green Veggies Leafy greens vegetables have deep emerald colors and so hearty greens like kale, spinach, and collards are considered to bring wealth and health to you if you enjoy them early and often in the New Year. It is also believed that a garnish of parsley can fend off evil spirits. You need to embrace this New Year's food tradition if you wish to have health and wealth for the coming year.  Read More: Best New Year Movies of all time to start afresh Cake You can joyously consume cake for any occasion, so this whole luck thing just feels like a bonus. Round cakes are said to be lucky because of their shape. As they look like coins,  they are thought to bring forth wealth in the new year. In Greek culture, friends and family gather around and enjoy a round cake that often has a coin baked inside. If you receive the slice with the coin in it, you will get extra luck for the new year and usually a gift or prize.  Oranges  Oranges are usually passed out during Lunar New Year to call forth prosperity.  It is natural that these citrus fruits have made their way to our Gregorian calendar celebrations as well. The bright color of oranges evokes joy and happiness. The Chinese called the mandarin orange, Kam. You can take the mandarin orange an extra lucky piece of fruit for you and your family.  Read More: 5 New Year Resolutions that are actually achievable. Bottom line So far, we have mentioned 10 New Year's Day foods to bring good luck and prosperity. However, there is no scientific evidence that foods can bring good luck. Still, people of different cultures across the world follow News Year’s day food traditions to get a prosperous new year. Why don’t you try these foods and try your luck?

New Year's celebrations swept across the globe, ushering in 2023 with countdowns and fireworks — and marking an end to a year that brought war in Europe, a new chapter in the British monarchy and global worries over inflation. The new year began in the tiny atoll nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific, then moved across Russia and New Zealand before heading deeper, time zone by time zone, through Asia and Europe. At least for a day, thoughts focused on possibilities, even elusive ones like world peace, and mustering — finally — a resolve to keep the next array of resolutions. In a sign of that hope, children met St. Nicholas in a crowded metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Yet Russian attacks continued New Year's Eve. At midnight, the streets of the capital, Kyiv, were desolate. The only sign of a new year came from local residents shouting from their balconies, “Happy New Year!” and “Glory to Ukraine!” And only half an hour into 2023, air raid sirens rang across Ukraine’s capital, followed by the sound of explosions. Read more: Ukraine conflict casts shadow on Russia as it enters 2023 Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in Holosiivskyi district, and authorities reported that fragments of a missile that had been shot down had damaged a car in a central district. In Paris, thousands celebrated on the Champs Elysees, while French President Emmanuel Macron pledged continuing support for Ukraine in a televised New Year's address. “During the coming year, we will be unfailingly at your side," Macron said. "We will help you until victory and we will be together to build a just and lasting peace. Count on France and count on Europe.” Big Ben chimed as more than 100,000 revelers gathered along the River Thames to watch a spectacular fireworks show around the London Eye. The display featured a drone light display of a crown and Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait on a coin hovering in the sky, paying tribute to Britain’s longest-serving monarch who died in September. Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach welcomed a small crowd of a few thousand for a short fireworks display, and several Brazilian cities canceled celebrations this year due to concern about the coronavirus. The Brazilian capital's New Year's bash usually drew more than 2 million people to Copacabana before the pandemic. Turkey’s most populous city, Istanbul, brought in 2023 with street festivities and fireworks. At St. Antuan Catholic Church, dozens of Christians prayed for the new year and marked former Pope Benedict XVI’s passing. The Vatican announced Benedict died Saturday at age 95. New York City prepared to join the glow of the new year with a dazzling Saturday night spectacle in iconic Times Square, anchoring celebrations across the United States. The night culminates with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet (3.6 meters) in diameter and weighing almost six tons descends from its lofty perch atop One Times Square. Its surface is comprised of nearly 2,700 Waterford crystals that will be illuminated, officials said, by a palette of more than 16 million colors. Read more: Revellers throng to New Year’s parties after COVID hiatus At the stroke of midnight, a ton of confetti was expected to rain down on soggy revelers, glittering amid the jumbo screens, neon and pulsing lights. Last year, a scaled-back crowd of about 15,000 in-person mask-wearing spectators watched the ball descend while basking in the lights and hoopla. Because of pandemic rules, it was far fewer than the tens of thousands of revelers who usually descend on the world-famous square. Before the ball dropped, there were heavy thoughts about the past year and the new one to come. “2023 is about resurgence — resurgence of the world after COVID-19 and after the war in Ukraine. We want it to end,” said Arjun Singh as he took in the scene at Times Square. In Australia, more than 1 million people crowded along Sydney’s waterfront for a multi-million dollar celebration based around the themes of diversity and inclusion. More than 7,000 fireworks were launched from the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and another 2,000 from the nearby Opera House. “We have had a couple of fairly difficult years; we’re absolutely delighted this year to be able to welcome people back to the foreshores of Sydney Harbor for Sydney’s world-famous New Year’s Eve celebrations,” Stephen Gilby, the city’s producer of major events and festivals, told The Sydney Morning Herald. In Auckland, New Zealand, large crowds gathered below the Sky Tower, where a 10-second countdown to midnight preceded fireworks. The celebrations in New Zealand’s largest city returned after COVID-19 forced them to be canceled a year ago. Chinese cautiously looked forward to 2023 after a recent easing of pandemic restrictions unleashed the virus but also signaled a return to normal life. Like many, salesperson Hong Xinyu stayed close to home over the past year in part because of curbs on travel. “As the new year begins, we seem to see the light,” he said at a countdown show that lit up the towering structures of a former steel mill in Beijing. “We are hopeful that there will be more freedom in the future.” Concerns about the Ukraine war and the economic shocks it has spawned across the globe were felt in Tokyo, where Shigeki Kawamura has seen better times but said he needed a free, hot meal this New Year’s. “I hope the war will be over in Ukraine so prices will stabilize,” he said. In military-ruled Myanmar, authorities announced a suspension of its normal four-hour curfew in the country’s three biggest cities so residents could celebrate New Year’s Eve. But opponents of army rule urged people to avoid public gatherings, fearing that security forces might stage a bombing or other attack and blame it on them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s address to the nation usually is rather anodyne and backed with a soothing view of a snowy Kremlin. This year, with soldiers in the background, he lashed out at the West and Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine cast a long shadow as Russia entered 2023. Cities curtailed festivities and fireworks. Moscow announced special performances for soldiers’ children featuring the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus. An exiled Russian news outlet unearthed a video of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, now the Ukrainian president despised by the Kremlin, telling jokes on a Russian state television station's New Year’s show just a decade ago. Putin, in a nine-minute video shown on TV as each Russian time zone region counted down the final minutes of 2022 on Saturday, denounced the West for aggression and accused the countries of trying to use the conflict in Ukraine to undermine Russia. “It was a year of difficult, necessary decisions, the most important steps toward gaining full sovereignty of Russia and powerful consolidation of our society,” he said, echoing his repeated contention that Moscow had no choice but to send troops into Ukraine because it threatened Russia’s security. Read more: Sarajevo’s agony echoes as Ukraine braces for a dark winter “The West lied about peace, but was preparing for aggression, and today it admits it openly, no longer embarrassed. And they cynically use Ukraine and its people to weaken and split Russia,” Putin said. “We have never allowed anyone and will not allow anyone to do this." The Kremlin has muzzled any criticism of its actions in Ukraine, shut independent media outlets and criminalized the spread of any information that differs from the official view — including diverging from calling the campaign a special military operation. But the government has faced increasingly vocal criticism from Russian hardliners, who have denounced the president as weak and indecisive and called for ramping up strikes on Ukraine. Russia has justified the conflict by saying that Ukraine persecuted Russian speakers in the eastern Donbas region, which had been partly under the control of Russian-backed separatists since 2014. Ukraine and the West says these accusations are untrue. “For years, the Western elites hypocritically assured all of us of their peaceful intentions, including the resolution of the most difficult conflict in the Donbas,” Putin said. Western countries have imposed wide sanctions against Russia, and many foreign companies pulled out of the country or froze operations after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine. Read more: Russia hits key infrastructure with missiles across Ukraine “This year, a real sanctions war was declared on us. Those who started it expected the complete destruction of our industry, finances, and transport. This did not happen, because together we created a reliable margin of safety,” Putin said. Despite such reassurances, New Year’s celebrations this year were toned down, with the usual fireworks and concert on Red Square canceled. Some of Moscow’s elaborate holiday lighting displays made cryptic reference to the conflict. At the entrance to Gorky Park stand large lighted letters of V, Z and O – symbols that the Russian military have used from the first days of the military operation to identify themselves. “Will it make me a patriot and go to the front against my Slavic brothers? No, it will not,” park visitor Vladimir Ivaniy said. Moscow also announced plans to hold special pageant performances for the children of soldiers serving in Ukraine. The Russian news outlet Meduza, declared a foreign agent in Russia and which now operates from Latvia, on Saturday posted a video of Zelenskyy, who was a hugely popular comedian before becoming Ukraine’s president in 2019, performing in a New Year’s Day show on Russian state television in 2013. Zelenskyy jokes that the inexpensive sparkling wine Sovietskoe Shampanskoye, a popular tipple on New Year’s, is in the record books as a paradox because “the drink exists but the country doesn’t.” Adding to the irony, the show’s host was Maxim Galkin, a comedian who fled the country in 2022 after criticizing the military operation in Ukraine.

With countdown and fireworks, revellers in major cities across the country, including Dhaka and Chattogram, ushered in the first new year without Covid restrictions since the pandemic began in 2020.   Cox's Bazar, one of the major tourist spots in Bangladesh, welcomed the new year with characteristic fervour, with thousands of tourists gathering at the beach resort town to welcome 2023 on the Gregorian calendar. Most hotels, motels, resorts, and guest houses were pre-booked by tourists. Despite tight security, tourists and locals enjoyed the last sunset of 2022 on the beach and bid farewell to 2022. Masud Chowdhury and Samantha Rahman, a tourist couple from Narayanganj, said: "We welcome 2023 with a trip to Cox's Bazar to let go of disappointment, sadness, and pain." Abul Kashem Sikder, general secretary of the Cox's Bazar Hotel Motel Guest House Owners' Association, said some 90 percent of rooms had already been reserved for the "31st night" (new year's eve) celebration this year. Read more: No outdoor celebrations on 31st night: DMP