Millions of people around the world have welcomed the
arrival of 2016 with parties and fireworks, although security concerns
have disrupted celebrations in Europe and parts of Asia.
Crowds thronged to vantage points to see the displays centred on Sydney's famed harbour which drew more than 1 million people, ahead of the chimes of midnight moving across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally the Americas.Samoa and Kiribati were the first countries to usher in 2016 followed by New Zealand which put up an impressive fireworks display, reported to be the biggest in the city's history.
Countries to welcome 2016
| City | Time in Sydney (AEDT) |
|---|---|
| December 31 | |
| Apia, Samoa | 9:00pm |
| Auckland | 10:00pm |
| January 1 | |
| Tokyo | 2:00am |
| Beijing | 3:00am |
| New Delhi | 5:30am |
| Moscow | 8:00am |
| London | 11:00am |
| Rio de Janeiro | 1:00pm |
| New York | 4:00pm |
| Los Angeles | 7:00pm |
| Honolulu | 9:00pm |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa | 10:00pm |
Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore and other Asian cities may rival Sydney's pyrotechnic splash, but Brunei offers a sober evening after banning Christmas in a shift to hardline Islamic law.
Jakarta remains on high alert after anti-terror police foiled detailed plans for an alleged New Year suicide attack in the Indonesian capital.
Terrorism concerns will also curb celebrations in Europe.
Paris will still hold celebrations without the display at the Champs-Elysees, but in Brussels, all public celebrations have been scrapped in the Belgian capital after the arrest of six people suspected of plotting an attack.
Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur said the police could not guarantee people's safety.
"Last year there were 100,000 people [and] in these circumstances we have no guarantee of checking every single person who comes to the event," he said.
"Since the investigation is not over yet, it's better not to take risks."
In Turkey, police have detained two suspects linked to Islamic State allegedly planning to stage attacks in the centre of Ankara which is expected to be packed on New Year's Eve.
Meanwhile, in Moscow police will for the first time close off Red Square where tens of thousands of revellers traditionally gather.
"It's no secret that Moscow is one of the choice targets for terrorists," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said recently.
Photo:
An estimated 1.6 million people gathered for New Year fireworks in Sydney. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
In Britain, Scotland Yard said there will be around 3,000 officers across central London in what is reported to be an unprecedented anti-terror security effort.
Fireworks were banned in towns and cities across Italy, in some cases because of a recent spike in air pollution but also because of fears that, in the current climate, sudden loud bangs could cause crowds to panic.
The number of police on duty in Italy has been increased by 30 per cent compared to last year although the Interior Ministry stressed: "There has been no specific alert."
In Madrid, thousands of people will flock to Puerta del Sol square, however police will limit the number allowed in to just 25,000.
Street parties in Germany, Beach bashes in Sierra Leone
Berliners will do better with about a million expected at the Brandenburg Gate for a free mega-street party.
The Egyptian government is staging celebrations in front of the pyramids near Cairo, with ambassadors, artists and intellectuals all invited.
Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is hoping to reclaim its mantle as host of the best beach parties in Africa after Ebola scared people away last year.
Celebrations away from the palm-fringed beaches will be muted, however, as people remember almost 4,000 victims of the epidemic.
Security has also been tightened in the US, most namely New York City, where around a million people gather into Times Square yearly at New Year's Eve to watch the renowned ball drop for the midnight countdown.
Pacific nations Nauru, Tuvalu and smalls portions of eastern Russia are next to usher in 2016, while the American islands of Hawaii are set to be the last.
ABC/AFP
