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| New Year: Celebrations mark start of 2016 | New Year: Celebrations mark start of 2016 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Countries around the world are marking the New Year, with festivities under way in the US and Canada. | Countries around the world are marking the New Year, with festivities under way in the US and Canada. |
| In New York, a million people converged on Times Square, amid tight security, to watch the famous ball descend. | In New York, a million people converged on Times Square, amid tight security, to watch the famous ball descend. |
| In Brazil, crowds packed Rio's de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach to watch a spectacular firework display. | In Brazil, crowds packed Rio's de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach to watch a spectacular firework display. |
| Earlier, European cities ushered in 2016 - despite heightened security measures in some countries. | Earlier, European cities ushered in 2016 - despite heightened security measures in some countries. |
| In Japan, people released balloons by Tokyo Tower, while South Koreans celebrated with traditional bell-ringing. | In Japan, people released balloons by Tokyo Tower, while South Koreans celebrated with traditional bell-ringing. |
| Revellers in Australia and New Zealand were among the first to welcome 2016. | Revellers in Australia and New Zealand were among the first to welcome 2016. |
| Crowds counted down at Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand, with a laser show and fireworks display. Fireworks also lit up Sydney harbour in Australia. | Crowds counted down at Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand, with a laser show and fireworks display. Fireworks also lit up Sydney harbour in Australia. |
| In London, more than 100,000 people watched the fireworks display by the River Thames with thousands of extra police officers on duty. | In London, more than 100,000 people watched the fireworks display by the River Thames with thousands of extra police officers on duty. |
| In the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, the traditional Hogmanay party received a New Year message from British astronaut Tim Peake who was broadcasting live from the International Space Station. | In the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, the traditional Hogmanay party received a New Year message from British astronaut Tim Peake who was broadcasting live from the International Space Station. |
| In Berlin, fireworks were held at the Brandenburg Gate, with one million people estimated to have attended the countdown. The celebrations took place as police in Munich warned of a planned terror attack and asked people to avoid crowds. | In Berlin, fireworks were held at the Brandenburg Gate, with one million people estimated to have attended the countdown. The celebrations took place as police in Munich warned of a planned terror attack and asked people to avoid crowds. |
| In Paris, the traditional fireworks display was cancelled to be replaced by a five-minute video performance at the Arc de Triomphe just before midnight. The screening was relayed on screens along the Champs-Elysees. | In Paris, the traditional fireworks display was cancelled to be replaced by a five-minute video performance at the Arc de Triomphe just before midnight. The screening was relayed on screens along the Champs-Elysees. |
| The city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said the video was intended to send "the world the message that Paris is standing, proud of its lifestyle and living together''. | The city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, said the video was intended to send "the world the message that Paris is standing, proud of its lifestyle and living together''. |
| Earlier, President Francois Hollande in a New Year's Eve address to the nation said that his country had "not finished with terrorism yet", six weeks after gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris. | Earlier, President Francois Hollande in a New Year's Eve address to the nation said that his country had "not finished with terrorism yet", six weeks after gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris. |
| In one of the more innovative celebrations, four divers equipped with musical instruments and breathing apparatus performed an underwater "concert" in a fish tank in Yantai, east China. | In one of the more innovative celebrations, four divers equipped with musical instruments and breathing apparatus performed an underwater "concert" in a fish tank in Yantai, east China. |
| Festivities went ahead in Dubai despite a fire at the city's Address Hotel. A fireworks display was held near the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. | Festivities went ahead in Dubai despite a fire at the city's Address Hotel. A fireworks display was held near the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. |
| Egypt celebrated with fireworks staged in front of the pyramids near Cairo, as the government works to revive its tourist industry. | Egypt celebrated with fireworks staged in front of the pyramids near Cairo, as the government works to revive its tourist industry. |
| Russia - the first major European city to welcome 2016 - held a fireworks display over Red Square in Moscow. | Russia - the first major European city to welcome 2016 - held a fireworks display over Red Square in Moscow. |
| Despite security fears across the continent, many major public events are going ahead, though with heightened security restrictions. | Despite security fears across the continent, many major public events are going ahead, though with heightened security restrictions. |
| Only 25,000 people in Madrid were allowed into the Puerta del Sol square. | Only 25,000 people in Madrid were allowed into the Puerta del Sol square. |
| Over in Sierra Leone, the declared end of Ebola was marked by a return to New Year festivities, after Freetown, the capital, was left deserted a year ago due to the disease's outbreak. | Over in Sierra Leone, the declared end of Ebola was marked by a return to New Year festivities, after Freetown, the capital, was left deserted a year ago due to the disease's outbreak. |
| How did you mark the start of 2016? Share your pictures and stories with us haveyoursay@bbc.co | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |