in the big apple tonight. new york city and the rest of the country are set to ring in the new year end just a matter of hours. meantime others around the world have already welcomed in 2024 but you are looking at celebrations in the middle east where the clock just hit midnight. happy new year everyone and welcome to a special edition of fox news live i am rich edson. you are looking at times square courtesy of ea earth cam authorities here at home find the right balance between safety and celebration crowds already gathering in new york city s times square for eight hours to go until the iconic ball drops. 1 million people expected to attend in person there tonight. law enforcement agencies in the federal state and city level all taking special care as israel s war against hamas sparks heightened concern over potential disruptions like protest or even violence. thousands of nypd officers and fbi agents are ready for any threats to public safety. and alexis is live and times