New Year: Seeing in 2009

Sydney, Australia: Fireworks light up the sky above Sydney harbour Photograph: Paul Miller/EPA

Sydney, Australia: The spectacular New Year's Eve midnight fireworks display Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Auckland, New Zealand: The midnight fireworks display Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Gisborne, New Zealand: Fireworks bring in the new year during the Rhythm & Vines festival at the Waiohika estate Photograph: Rhythm & Vines/PA

Young Japanese people raise their arms in celebration of the first sunrise of the year at Misaki beach, Chiba province, Japan. Photograph: Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA Photograph: Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA

Ahmedabad, India: Students pose during New Year celebrations at a school Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Joypur, India: Boys play cricket during the last sunset of 2008 Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Denpasar, Bali: A masked dancer performs during a New year's Eve celebration parade Photograph: Made Nagi/EPA

Tokyo, Japan: Volunteers cook food at the New Year's village for temporary workers Photograph: Katsumi Kasahara/AP

Hong Kong, China: Decorations illuminate trees in Tsim Sha Tsui Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images

Johannesburg, South Africa: Partygoers dance in the hot summer sun during a New Year's Eve street parade Photograph: Kim Ludbrook/EPA

Lorne, Australia: Festival attendees celebrate the new year during day three of the Falls Music and Arts festival Photograph: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Cars pass a sign at Jumairah Palm Island. Hotels in Dubai scrambled to rework their plans after a last-minute order cancelled celebrations due to the Israeli bombing of Gaza Photograph: Kamran Jebreili/AP

Tokyo, Japan: People fly balloons to celebrate New Year at the Zojo-ji Buddhist temple Photograph: Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters

Hong Kong, China: Revellers hold balloons as they celebrate during the 2009 New Year countdown event Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

Hong Kong, China: Revellers enjoy a mass party at Causeway Bay Photograph: Mike Clarke/AFP/Getty Images

Cadiz , Spain: A group of men enter into the water for a New Year's Eve swim at La Victoria beach Photograph: Jorge Zapata/EPA

Lorne, Australia: Festivalgoers hold up sparklers to celebrate the new year Photograph: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images

Kuala Lumpur: Fireworks explode near the Petronas towers Photograph: Zainal Abd Halim/Reuters

Manila, Philippines: Spectators enjoy a fireworks display Photograph: John Javellana/Reuters

Seoul, South Korean: People watch a fireworks spectacular Photograph: Kim Jae-hwan/AFP/Getty Images

Taipei, Taiwan: Fireworks explode from Taipei 101, the world's tallest completed skyscraper Photograph: Pichi Chuang/Reuters

Fireworks burst over the ancient temple of Parthenon at the Acropolis hill in Athens. Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Fireworks are seen over the Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Fireworks light the sky above the Cathedral Square in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. Photograph: Mindaugas Kulbis/AP Photograph: Mindaugas Kulbis/AP

Fireworks explode behind the quadriga of Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate. Photograph: Clemens Bilan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Clemens Bilan/AFP/Getty Images

Fireworks mark the new year in Scotland's capital city Edinburgh. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Fireworks light up the London skyline seconds after midnight on 1 January 2009 in England. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Fireworks light up the London skyline just after midnight on 1 January 2009 in England. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Fireworks over the River Thames in London to celebrate the New Year. Photograph: Johnny Green/PA Photograph: Johnny Green/PA

New York, USA: The Waterford Crystal Ball is raised surrounded by fireworks in preparation for its descent at midnight in Times Square Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP

New York, USA: A couple kiss in Times Square Photograph: Joshua Lott/Reuters

Mexico City: Mexico's golden Angel of Independence stands in front of fireworks during New Year's celebrations Photograph: Eduardo Verdugo/AP

Universal City, California: A woman wearing glasses with year 2009 design arrives to join thousands of others to welcome the New Year Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images