New Year Celebrations Around the World

A vast crowd gathered to watch fireworks lighting up the sky over Sydney harbour, while thousands in Japan climbed mountains to greet the first dawn of the new year.

Sydney was one of the first big cities to celebrate, with a lavish firework display marking the 75th anniversary of the opening of one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Harbour Bridge. The bridge, which opened in March 1932, was used as a platform for some of the 100,000 fireworks released yesterday.

In Japan, police expected 95 million visitors to Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines over the next three days as people offer prayers for peace, health and prosperity. Many Japanese climbed mountains, including Mount Fuji, overnight so they could reach the top in time for sunrise.

In New York, at least a million revellers were expected in Times Square for performances by singers Christina Aguilera and Toni Braxton, while in Brazil, more than 2 million people were expected at the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to watch a firework show and concerts by Brazilian and foreign musicians, including the Black Eyed Peas.

In India, police arrested two suspected Islamic militants at a busy railway station in Delhi. The pair were less than a mile from the site of the Indian capital's main New Year's Eve celebrations.

Chinese authorities deployed nearly a quarter of a million police in Beijing to prevent New Year fireworks accidents. The government lifted a 12-year ban on firecrackers in the inner city last year but the ban remains in force around cultural sites, stations, the airport and hospitals.

In the Philippines, the popularity of firecrackers proved hazardous for nearly 300 people who were injured by fireworks and celebratory gunfire in the two weeks ahead of New Year's Day, a 75% increase on last year.

Across South-East Asia, stormy weather and powerful waves in coastal areas dampened festivities.

Romania and Bulgaria were celebrating joining the European Union from today.

In Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, organisers set up stages for a fireworks show and an outdoor party that was expected to draw 40,000 people. The blue and gold EU flag fluttered across Bucharest, the Romanian capital, and strobe lights flashed through the sky.