This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-years-eve-celebrations-around-the-world-london-new-york-washington-dc-auckland-sydney-tokyo-a7503301.html
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Eve celebrations: India, China and Russia join Australia in celebrating the end of 2016 | New Year's Eve celebrations: India, China and Russia join Australia in celebrating the end of 2016 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| China, Russia and India are all celebrating the beginning of 2017 – while most of the West waits eagerly for 2016 to finish. | China, Russia and India are all celebrating the beginning of 2017 – while most of the West waits eagerly for 2016 to finish. |
| Millions of people across the world have taken to the streets, launched fireworks and joined in with local commemorations of the new year. | Millions of people across the world have taken to the streets, launched fireworks and joined in with local commemorations of the new year. |
| In Russia – which in one sense celebrates the New Year a number of times because of its various timezones – 2017 was welcomed with a stunning firework and light show. But it also came with a warning from Putin that 2016 had been a "difficult year" and that people should work harder to make 2017 a better one. | |
| Sydney in Australia celebrated by unleashing its biggest fireworks display in history. | Sydney in Australia celebrated by unleashing its biggest fireworks display in history. |
| More than a million crowded around its famed harbour and opera house to watch firecrackers and flaming starbursts fill the night's sky. | More than a million crowded around its famed harbour and opera house to watch firecrackers and flaming starbursts fill the night's sky. |
| Auckland in New Zealand earlier became the first city in the world to say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in the new year. | Auckland in New Zealand earlier became the first city in the world to say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in the new year. |
| The city celebrated the start of 2017 with a fireworks and laser display from the Sky Tower at 11am GMT. | The city celebrated the start of 2017 with a fireworks and laser display from the Sky Tower at 11am GMT. |
| Tonga and Samoa were among the first places in the world to welcome the new year around 10am GMT. | Tonga and Samoa were among the first places in the world to welcome the new year around 10am GMT. |
| Australia was next, celebrating the new year at 1pm GMT. | Australia was next, celebrating the new year at 1pm GMT. |
| The show paid homage to Prince and David Bowie and was set to a musical medley inspired by the late singers. | The show paid homage to Prince and David Bowie and was set to a musical medley inspired by the late singers. |
| The seven tons of fireworks launched from barges on the harbour also included a “Willy Wonka moment” in tribute to the late actor Gene Wilder's most famous role,. | The seven tons of fireworks launched from barges on the harbour also included a “Willy Wonka moment” in tribute to the late actor Gene Wilder's most famous role,. |
| Australia was followed by Japan at 3pm GMT, where temple bells echoed at midnight as families flock to shrines for the country's biggest holiday. | Australia was followed by Japan at 3pm GMT, where temple bells echoed at midnight as families flock to shrines for the country's biggest holiday. |
| Beijing and Shanghai, China's two largest cities, passed New Year's Eve at 4pm GMT in a state of security lockdown, according to Chinese media reports citing police. | Beijing and Shanghai, China's two largest cities, passed New Year's Eve at 4pm GMT in a state of security lockdown, according to Chinese media reports citing police. |
| Two years ago, more than 30 people died in a deadly stampede on Shanghai's waterfront, where 300,000 people had gathered to watch a planned light show. | Two years ago, more than 30 people died in a deadly stampede on Shanghai's waterfront, where 300,000 people had gathered to watch a planned light show. |
| This year, a "leap second" is being added to the end of the year to compensate for a slight slowing of the Earth's rotation. | This year, a "leap second" is being added to the end of the year to compensate for a slight slowing of the Earth's rotation. |
| 2016 is already a leap year. | 2016 is already a leap year. |