LONDON: New Year celebrations to mark the arrival of 2019 have begun. From Sydney to Riyadh, Dubai to London, keep track of events, images and parties as the clock strikes '12' around the world.
(All times in GMT)
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Midnight: London opted to usher in the new year by celebrating its relationship with Europe, despite Britain's impending departure from the European Union.
London's fireworks display would seek to show Europe that the British capital would remain "open-minded" and "outward-looking" post-Brexit, said the city's mayor Sadiq Khan.
11.00pm: Parisians and tourists gathered on the Champs-Elysees to celebrate New Year's Eve under heavy security.
Anti-government protesters from the yellow vest movement have issued calls on social media for "festive" demonstrations on the famous avenue.
9.00pm: As the region enters 2019, we look at what’s in store for the Middle East in the year to come. With key Afghan peace talks in Saudi Arabia in January, a papal visit to UAE and the ongoing global economic uncertainty, Jennifer Bell looks at what are likely to be some of this year’s important talking points.
8.19pm: And here's the video and more pictures of the Dubai extravaganza
كل عام وأنتم بخير #MyDubaiNewYear #رأس_السنة_في_دبي pic.twitter.com/VVTLt1hD4v
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2018
#UPDATE: Spectacular #NewYearsEve pictures from #DubaiNewYear #Dubai2019 https://t.co/S7JBqA9Wza pic.twitter.com/2FWUSyP37h
— Arab News (@arabnews) December 31, 2018
8.02pm: UAE sees in the New Year with a massive firework display at Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Happy New Year. #Dubai welcomes 2019 with a spectacular laser & fireworks show on the tallest building in the world @BurjKhalifa . #MyDubaiNewYear pic.twitter.com/WhaSazztGd
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2018
7.45pm: In France, nearly 150,000 police are on duty around France on New Year's Eve with "yellow vest" protesters calling for another round of anti-government demonstrations.
In his New Year's Eve address, President Emmanuel Macron said the French state "can do better" at improving ordinary citizens' lives, while urging the French to "accept the reality" that increased public spending is not the answer to the country's economic woes.
6.10pm: Some images from Taipei and Bangkok as the Asian cities welcome in 2019...
5.32pm: Final preparations are underway in Dubai for the emirate's spectacular fire work displays. Several of the city's main roads are now shut and the government is advising motorists on alternative routes.
Few hours separate us from dazzling the world… #MyDubaiNewYear#Dubaihttps://t.co/F2G8wCfk5t pic.twitter.com/rPB9RytgaO
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 31, 2018
5.25pm: Earlier in the day UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a bleak New Year's message that called climate change an existential threat and warned that "it's time to seize our last best chance."
He also lamented growing intolerance, geo-political divisions and inequality, resulting in people "questioning a world in which a handful of people hold the same wealth as half of humanity."
One year ago, I issued a red alert to the world. The dangers still exist, but I also see reasons for hope. In 2019, let us build on them and create a better future for all. Happy New Year. pic.twitter.com/S31Q09x1HE
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) December 29, 2018
5.00pm: Thailand welcomes in the New Year with yet more fireworks.
Bangkok kicks off 2019 with fireworks https://t.co/otUiqyX22V
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) December 31, 2018
4.00pm: But in Singapore and Hong Kong, it was a spectacular sight...
Fireworks light up the sky above Hong Kong for New Year https://t.co/RbxftBDaHV
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) December 31, 2018
3.00pm: Tokyo's celebrations were slightly more muted than usual this year...
2.41pm: For a breakdown of where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Saudi Arabia, Arab News has put together a guide to the key events and best locations.
1pm: Sydney put on its biggest-ever fireworks display in a spectacular welcome to the New Year.
WATCH: Sydney’s outdone itself, with the city’s largest fireworks display to welcome 2019 #SydNYE https://t.co/SklcKnvCmi
(Video: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/uEgbtYFhoi
— Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) December 31, 2018
A record amount of pyrotechnics as well as new fireworks effects and colours lit up the city's skyline for 12 minutes and dazzled the more than 1.5 million spectators who packed the harbour front and parks.
Earlier the New Year arrived in the South PAcific in Samoa before celebrations started in New Zealand.
Here fireworks explode over Aukland's Sky Tower.
