New Year's Eve celebrations around the world - in pictures

The best of the photos as 2020 arrives and a new decade begins

New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the fireworks show. AFP

Crowds watch the fireworks from the SkyTower during Auckland New Year's Eve celebrations in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images

Fireworks illuminate the city's skyline during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 1, 2020 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

Fireworks from the SkyTower during Auckland's New Year's Eve celebrations. Getty Images

A woman prays in front of lanterns to welcome in the upcoming New Year at the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo

Indian school children pose for the cameras during an event to welcome the New Year in Ahmadabad, India. AP Photo

Members of the indigenous Gurung community take part in a New Year celebration ceremony known as 'Tamu Lhosar' in Kathmandu. AFP

Shinto priests conduct the Oharae ceremony or the Great Purification ceremony at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

People hold smoke bombs and a 2020 sign as they prepare to welcome the new year in Amritsar, India. EPA

People pose for photos to celebrate upcoming New Year in Seoul, South Korea. AP Photo

Stock traders wear New Year's 2020 party glasses at the New York Stock Exchange. Stocks slipped globally in quiet New Year's Eve trading Tuesday with many markets closed. Wall Street could close 2019 with back-to-back daily losses in a year that the U.S. posted the largest market gains since 2013. AP

Drones perform an aerial display over Marina Bay during New Year's Eve celebrations ahead of the new year in Singapore. Reuters

A reveller celebrates as confetti falls during a New Year's Eve party in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters

Fireworks explode above Petronas Twin Tower during New Year's Eve celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. EPA

A man takes part in the event of New Year's Eve countdown celebration at Shougang Industrial Park, one of the venues for the Beijing 2022 Olympics, in Beijing, China. Reuters

People take a photo after the fireworks and light effects display from the Taipei 101 skyscraper during New Year's Eve celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan. EPA

Fireworks and light effects illuminate the night sky from the Taipei 101 skyscraper during New Year's Eve celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan. EPA

New Year's fireworks light up the sky as protesters gather during a demonstration in Hong Kong. AP

A reveller wears glasses shaped like the year 2020 during the New Year's Eve party in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Reuters

South Korean buddhists pray during New Year celebrations at the Jogyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea. EPA

Fireworks explode after midnight over Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural park part of New Year celebrations in Bali, Indonesia. EPA

People celebrate the new year during a countdown event at Shougang Industrial Park, one of the venues for the Beijing 2022 Olympics, in Beijing, China. Reuters

People celebrate the new year during an event at Shougang Industrial Park, one of the venues for the Beijing 2022 Olympics, in Beijing, China. Reuters

Fireworks explode over Chao Phraya River during the New Year's celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, January 1, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Fireworks explode over Lagoon Beach during New Year's eve celebrations at Ancol in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reuters

A man takes a picture near the 2020 sign board in the main business district on New Year's Eve in Jakarta, Indonesia. Tens of thousands of revelers in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta were soaked by torrential rains as they waited for New Year's Eve fireworks. AP

epa08096577 Children watch a fireworks show during the National Children's Fireworks as part of New Year celebrations in front of the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, 31 December 2019. EPA/ROBIN UTRECHT

Fireworks are seen over the Gateway of India monument on New Year's Day in Mumbai, India. Reuters

Smoke-choked Sydney ushered in the New Year with a huge fireworks display, kicking off celebrations for billions around the world and ringing in the new decade.

Australia's largest city usually puts on a dazzling display of pyrotechnics over the glittering harbour, but this year there have been calls to cancel the fireworks as devastating bushfires rage across the country.

Fireworks displays were scrapped in Australia's capital, Canberra, and Sydney's western suburbs because of elevated fire danger and extreme weather conditions.

As the clock ticked past midnight, major cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas embraced the celebrations.

Midnight in London was marked by the chimes of Big Ben, which has been silent during a long restoration, as traditional fireworks are set off over the Thames for the last new year before Brexit.

Thousands lined the Thames to watch fireworks explode over the London Eye, Westminster Abbey and Elizabeth Tower near Parliament.

Fireworks exploded over the Kremlin in Moscow amid glorious scenes across the capital.

In Turkey spectacular scenes were pictured over the Ortakoy mosque.

Egypt saw a man dressed in a Santa outfit selling toys to mark the occasion.

Fireworks exploded behind the quadriga of Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate.

In Greece, fireworks erupted over the ancient temple of the Parthenon on top of the Acropolis hill.

People took pictures of the fireworks erupting in the sky over the Arc de Triomphe during the New Year's celebrations on the Champs Elysees avenue, in Paris.

But in some places the festivities were marked by turmoil and political upheaval.

After more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, Hong Kong police fired tear gas a few minutes into 2020 as protesters marked the New Year with midnight countdown rallies and a massive march planned for January 1.

Before midnight on Tuesday, thousands gathered across the financial centre, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong.

Protesters at the harbour-front counted down, chanting "Ten, nine, liberate Hong Kong, revolution now," as they used their phones to form a sea of lights.

Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades, before riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response.

In Paris, 250,000 to 300,000 people usually gather on the Champs-Elysees to welcome the New Year, but this year the turnout was marred by a transport strike that has spelt weeks of misery for commuters.