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New Year's Eve: Global celebrations bring in 2015 New Year's Eve: Global celebrations bring in 2015
(about 7 hours later)
Revellers across the globe are gathering to welcome in the new year, with New Zealand and Australia leading the celebrations. Celebrations for the start of 2015 have taken place across Asia and Europe, with firework displays in a host of major cities.
A giant clock in Auckland's Sky Tower counted down the minutes until midnight (11:00 GMT), when fireworks erupted. New Zealand led the way, with Sydney Harbour providing a spectacular backdrop to Australia's display.
Up to 1.5m people lined the shores of Sydney harbour in preparation for the city's famous firework display. There was shock in Asia as a crush in Shanghai, China saw 35 people die marking the start of 2015.
Celebration plans have been muted in Indonesia, however, in the wake of the AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash. Europe's celebrations began in Moscow with fireworks over St Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin.
Up to 1.5m people lined the shores of Sydney harbour to see the city's famous firework display.
The city's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the recent hostage crisis in the city had focussed the minds of Sydney residents.
"We are celebrating that we are a multicultural, harmonious community but we will be thinking about what happened," he said.
Celebration plans were muted in Indonesia in the wake of the recent AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash.
But across the rest of Asia there were lavish parties, with a sound and light show at Beijing's Olympic stadium and an eight-minute firework display in Hong Kong.
"I think a more peaceful year would be good for everyone," Louis Ho, 65, told AFP news agency, as the territory bade farewell to a year that saw widespread street protests.
Moscow's display led the way in Europe, with President Vladimir Putin describing the 2014 annexation of Crimea as "a historic landmark" for Russia.
Mr Putin also sent messages to several world leaders, telling US President Barack Obama that the US and Russia had a shared interest in "maintaining peace and international stability".
In Brazil, more than one million people will join the crowds on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, while New Yorkers will watch the city lower its trademark crystal ball over Times Square.In Brazil, more than one million people will join the crowds on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, while New Yorkers will watch the city lower its trademark crystal ball over Times Square.
Some of the easternmost corners of earth, including Samoa, Kiribati and the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, were the first places to herald the new year. Pacific Islands just to the west of the international date line, including Samoa, Kiribati and the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, were the first places to herald the new year.
Send us your pictures of your new year celebrations by emailing yourpics@bbc.co.ukSend us your pictures of your new year celebrations by emailing yourpics@bbc.co.uk