The New Year arrived first in the South Pacific. At midnight local time, fireworks were set off over Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand.

A massive fireworks display lit up Sydney, Australia, with some 5,000kg of explosives sent up around the famous harbour bridge. An estimated 1.5 million attended the city's dramatic show.

'MAGICAL' DISPLAY
The Japanese capital, Tokyo, was greeting the New Year in traditional style, with bells rung in temples at midnight. The city's Sensoji Temple has been draped with banners wishing visitors a happy new year.

No major events were planned on mainland China - which celebrates the change of the Lunar New Year instead - but a fireworks display will be staged over Hong Kong's waterfront skyline.

Despite heavy snowfall and temperatures down to 14 degrees, celebrants packed Red Square in Moscow.
"I wish everybody spiritual well-being in the coming year. I wish health to the children and all the best to all in the new year," said one city resident.

In the French capital Paris, the Eiffel Tower was the scene of a "unique and magical" display, said city officials. Creator of the show, Bernard Schmitt, told the AFP news agency that the tower was "transformed into a giant Christmas tree with tinsel".

London's show focused around the huge London Eye wheel on the banks of the River Thames. Those attending were warned to prepare for temperatures of around freezing.

An estimated one million people were expected in New York's Times Square to join in the countdown to midnight and see the famous New Year ball descend from its flagpole. (Source: BBC)

Story Date: January 1, 2010