Party time!

Sydney leads the way, as usual, as the world rings in a New Year

Sydney leads the way, as usual, as the world rings in a New Year

Multicoloured starbusts and gigantic sparklers lit the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour in a dazzling fireworks show witnessed by 1.5 million enthusiastic spectators who camped out all day to ring in the new year.

In Australia

Sydney touted its claim to be the New Year's Eve capital of the world with a spectacular display over the iconic Harbour Bridge using 7 tonnes of fireworks, its largest since 2000.

"Stunning, beautiful," said Cinthya Romo (32), a Sydney-based interpreter from Chile who watched the 12-minute fireworks show from the Opera House.

At the Opera Bar Beach House, hundreds of people paid up to $500 for the view and a party with a beach theme.

In New Zealand

A few hours earlier, New Zealand and many South Pacific island nations were first to see in new year.

New Zealanders sang and danced their way into 2011, with firework displays and sold-out concerts entertaining revelers.

In the biggest city, Auckland, explosions of red, gold and white burst over the Sky Tower while tens of thousands shouted, danced and sang in the streets below.

In Christchurch, thousands of partiers shrugged off a minor 3.3 earthquake that struck just before 10 pm and celebrated in Cathedral Square.
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The city has rumbled with thousands of aftershocks from a powerful 7.1-magnitude quake that damaged buildings across the city on September 4.

In Japan

As the clock ticked closer to 2011, cities across Asia readied for midnight events ranging from traditional prayers in Japan to a massive pyrotechnic display in the shape of a dragon in Taiwan.
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Europeans were looking forward to celebrations that could help them forget their economic worries.

In New York

Nearly a million revelers were expected to cram into the streets around Times Square to watch the traditional midnight ball drop.

The 20-inch snowstorm that blanketed the city will be just a memory thanks to work crews and warmer temperatures.

At midnight on Thursday with just 24 hours to go hundreds of people milled around Times Square as crews finished preparing TV sets for New Year's Eve broadcasts and vendors sold hats and noisemakers.