{"id":3508,"date":"2016-12-31T19:53:43","date_gmt":"2016-12-31T19:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bcpdt.org.uk\/news\/?p=3508"},"modified":"2023-05-30T23:58:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T22:58:07","slug":"new-year-celebrations-around-world-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bcpdt.org.uk\/news\/2016\/12\/31\/new-year-celebrations-around-world-live\/","title":{"rendered":"New year celebrations around the world \u2013 as it happened"},"content":{"rendered":"

Follow the new year celebrations through this article from around the world, Tokyo, London, New York and many more cities.<\/p>\n

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\"PoweredThis article titled “New year celebrations around the world \u2013 live” was written by Nicola Slawson, Marc Walker and Alexandra Rogers, for theguardian.com on Saturday 31st December 2016 19.44 UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

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7.44pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sadiq Khan has called for resilience ahead of London\u2019s New year fireworks show, saying the capital is \u201cas safe as it possibly can be\u201d. Khan said the mood on the streets was upbeat, adding that it was \u201creally important we don\u2019t allow terrorists to disrupt our celebrations on this New Year\u2019s Eve\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve done everything we possibly can do to keep us safe,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got more armed police officers on duty tonight than we have on any previous year, we\u2019ve got more visible police officers working tonight than on any previous year. We\u2019ve got to make sure the resilience that London is famous for is demonstrated tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

A huge police presence has been deployed to the streets as spectators from around the world gather to watch fireworks light up the Thames as Big Ben strikes midnight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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7.27pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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This is Alexandra Rogers taking over the new year live blog from Marc Walker to keep you updated on celebrations across the world as they happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 7.30pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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7.21pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Crowds gathered to watch fireworks light up the night sky behind Myanmar\u2019s landmark Shwedagon pagoda during the New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations.<\/p>\n

\"Fireworks
Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Myanmar\u2019s landmark Shwedagon pagoda during the New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations at the Kandawgyi Park in Yangon, Myanmar.<\/span> Photograph: Nyein Chan Naing\/EPA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 7.32pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6.58pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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In Berlin, revellers are preparing to welcome in 2017 at a show at the Brandenburg Gate.<\/p>\n

\"Visitors
Visitors watch a show at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin as they prepare to welcome in 2017.<\/span> Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch\/Reuters<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 7.17pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6.31pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Indonesia welcomes in the new year with a fireworks display at the Selamat Datang monument in Jakarta.<\/p>\n

\"People
People watch fireworks explode around the Selamat Datang monument during New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia.<\/span> Photograph: Beawiharta\/Reuters<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 7.07pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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6.03pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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An elderly lady waits for customers to snap up her New Year\u2019s Eve party hats and masks in Yangon, Myanmar. A process of reform has been under way in the country, also known as Burma, since November 2010, when military rule was replaced by a new army-backed civilian government<\/p>\n

\"An
An elderly woman waits for customers as she sells fancy hats and masks for New Year\u2019s celebration at the Inya Lake park in Yangon, Myanmar.<\/span> Photograph: Nyein Chan Naing\/EPA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 6.12pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5.53pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Celebrations are in full swing in Taipei, Taiwan, where the tourist board estimates more than 1m people have travelled to the city to marvel at the spectacle of thousands of fireworks exploding from the famous 101 skyscraper<\/p>\n

\"Fireworks
Countdown to the new year in Taipei.<\/span> Photograph: Billy H.C. Kwok\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 6.13pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5.42pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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On New Year\u2019s Eve last year<\/a>, about 100 women in Cologne\u2019s central square and other German cities were sexually assaulted. A year on and Cologne police have deployed 1,500 officers – 10 times the number of officers compared to last year. Extra security guards are also on duty to ensure the area is safe for New Year\u2019s Eve party-goers<\/p>\n

\"Security
Security guards and extra police patrol the central square in Cologne a year on from the mass sexual assaults on women in the western German city.<\/span> Photograph: Maja Hitij\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 5.46pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5.25pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

Paramedics struggling to cope with level of emergency calls hours before midnight<\/h2>\n
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The Press Association is reporting that paramedics are dealing with a high level of emergency calls on New Year\u2019s Eve:<\/p>\n

Paramedics were struggling to reach patients in parts of the south-east on New Year\u2019s Eve amid a high level of 999 calls.<\/p>\n

South East Coast ambulance service NHS foundation trust (Secamb) said 999 callers in Kent in particular were being hit by delays in crews reaching them due to the high demand.<\/p>\n

Managers said they were focusing on responding to life-threatening 999 calls as they urged people to think carefully about whether they really needed an ambulance.<\/p>\n

Secamb\u2019s on-call gold incident commander Richard Webber said: \u201cWe are already receiving a high volume of emergency 999 calls, especially across Kent and are struggling to reach many of these in a timely manner. Our staff are already working extremely hard but this does mean that for certain emergencies, some patients can expect to wait longer for an ambulance as we focus our efforts on responding to calls which are deemed life-threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the festive period, Secamb saw a 10% rise in demand compared to last year. From 7pm on Christmas Eve to 11pm on Boxing Day it responded to 4,840 emergency calls.<\/p>\n

Last year, between 10pm on New Year\u2019s Eve and 4am on 1 January, the trust handled 1,135 calls \u2013 an average of more than three 999 calls a minute \u2013 and this year is expected to be even higher.<\/p>\n

Webber urged people to only dial 999 in a \u201cserious emergency\u201d and asked them to consider other options, including the NHS 111 service.<\/p>\n

Partly in response to high call levels, it emerged this week that Secamb\u2019s specialist critical care paramedics are being brought into the overall cover plan system to make them available to respond to all types of call.<\/p>\n

The change, revealed in a leaked memo, provoked criticism among CCPs who fear lives could be endangered by them being tied up with non-urgent calls instead of dealing with life-threatening emergencies as they have done previously.<\/p>\n

Secamb managers have defended the move, saying that with high demand and poor response times it could not continue the current model of not sending CCPs to certain categories of patient.<\/p>\n

The change will run until the end of March 2017 when it will be reviewed.<\/p>\n

Secamb, which covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex and north-east Hampshire, was put into special measures in September after the Care Quality Commission ranked it inadequate. The change is part of its recovery plan.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 5.37pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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5.02pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fears that selfie sticks would become pass\u00e9 in 2017 appear totally unfounded as new year partygoers in Hong Kong capture the turn of the year.<\/p>\n

\"New
New Year\u2019s Eve celebration in Hong Kong.<\/span> Photograph: Jerome Favre\/EPA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 5.05pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4.49pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Swedes see in 1 January with a ny\u00e5rst\u00e5rta, or new year\u2019s cake. Here\u2019s a trifle cake inspired by Pok\u00e9mon Go. One of many being baked up and down the country this evening. Looks good …<\/p>\n

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\u00c5rets ny\u00e5rst\u00e5rta \u00e4r klar. Tryffelt\u00e5rta \u00e1 la PokemonGo. #pokemongo<\/a> #HAPPYNEWYEAR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hW9lYGDH6y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sarah Bernhardt (@sanasilb) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 4.58pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4.45pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Having completed the important diplomatic work<\/a> of saluting his \u201cmany enemies and those who have fought me and lost so badly they just don\u2019t know what to do\u201d, President-elect Donald Trump will see in the New Year with 800 guests at an \u201celegant and sophisticated<\/a>\u201d party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.<\/p>\n

\"Quincy
Quincy Jones.<\/span> Photograph: Interscope Records<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rather in the vein of a planned inauguration in which big names<\/a> and smaller names \u2013 such as those of individual Rockettes<\/a> and members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir \u2013 have declined to perform, in the last case preferring not to be seen to endorse \u201ctyranny and fascism\u201d<\/a>, the calibre of celebrities on the guest list seems uncertain at best.<\/p>\n

As of Saturday morning, ageing Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone, who reportedly turned down Trump\u2019s offer of a job<\/a> with the National Endowment for the Arts, was still due to attend. The legendary music producer Quincy Jones, however, was not.<\/p>\n

In a call with reporters on Friday, incoming White House spokesman Sean Spicer mentioned the two stars as guests. Later, a spokesman for Jones \u2013 a Clinton donor \u2013 said<\/a> he did not know how Spicer got that idea, as Jones would be seeing in 2017 with his family in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Ongoing concerns about potential conflicts of interest between President Trump and Businessman Trump have also infringed on the party. Politico reported on Friday<\/a> that Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks rejected suggestions that the sale of tickets, at between $525 and $575 a head, constituted the sale of access<\/a> to the president-elect and his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe transition is not concerned about the appearance of a conflict,\u201d Hicks said, on the same call as Spicer. \u201cThis is an annual celebratory event at the private club, like others that have continued to occur since the election. \u201cAdditionally, the president cannot and does not have a conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some beg to differ<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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4.37pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Koreans celebrate their day of birth but also mark growing a year older from 1 January.<\/p>\n

\"A
A woman prays during a ceremony to celebrate the new year at a temple in Seoul, South Korea.<\/span> Photograph: Kim Hong-ji\/Reuters<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 4.44pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4.22pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Feliz A\u00f1o Nuevo (Happy New Year!) from Hong Kong:<\/p>\n

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\u00a1Feliz A\u00f1o Nuevo desde Hong Kong! pic.twitter.com\/Vc5PIepAdf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Consulmex Hong Kong (@ConsulMexHko) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 4.44pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4.07pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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I am handing over to my colleague Marc Walker, who will be continuing this live blog. I would like to thank all those who have sent in their photographs and tweets, and for everyone who has commented under this article.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll sign off with one of my favourite pictures of the celebrations so far. Happy New Year, everyone.<\/p>\n

\"Balloons
Balloons float over visitors during a New Year\u2019s Eve celebration at a Tokyo hotel.<\/span> Photograph: Koji Sasahara\/AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 4.21pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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4.03pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Beckie in Japan has just tweeted me with these lovely shots.<\/p>\n

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@guardian<\/a> @Nicola_Slawson<\/a> In Takarazuka, near Osaka in Japan. Just been to the local shrine to wish in the new year! pic.twitter.com\/GUVLzNCdvM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Beckie Senior (@BeckieSenior) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3.56pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo editor fail of the day goes to the Daily Express who have confused the real city of Paris for the Paris Las Vegas hotel in their article about security measures in France for tonight\u2019s celebrations. Oops.<\/p>\n

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Paris vs Paris Las Vegas Hotel @dailyexpressuk<\/a> #fail<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/mmFTNT9ByX<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/qD2SM9ZjSM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nicola Slawson (@Nicola_Slawson) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3.52pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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It will be midnight in Hong Kong shortly.<\/p>\n

Strictly Come Dancing pro, Neil Jones, is there and will be enjoying the fireworks from a rooftop.<\/p>\n

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I can’t wait to spend New Year’s Eve with friends watching fireworks from a rooftop in Hong Kong\ud83e\udd17\ud83c\udf7e<\/p>\n

\u2014 Neil Jones (@Mr_NJones) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

A reader, Ian, is also in Hong Kong waiting for the fireworks.<\/p>\n

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@Nicola_Slawson<\/a> celebrating in Hong Kong for the first time, should be an epic firework display across the harbour! pic.twitter.com\/xZPdtBrhbJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ian (@numb15) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Meanwhile in Beijing …<\/p>\n

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@Nicola_Slawson<\/a> Here in Beijing, I’m deciding what to do with my lucky punnet of Brussels Sprouts – eat now, or save for next year? Thinks.. pic.twitter.com\/g6kff4CtXb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andrew Benton (@thangnangman) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Updated at 4.07pm GMT<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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3.35pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the best way to celebrate NYE?<\/p>\n

With pie and Prosecco. D\u2019oh!<\/p>\n

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How do you prep for NYE back in London after spending Xmas in Cumbria? Pies + Prosecco of course pic.twitter.com\/ZrsSRVDrhm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Stephen Holmes (@swearstoomuch) December 31, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3.22pm GMT<\/span><\/p>\n

Queen may miss New Year’s Day church service<\/h2>\n
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It sounds like the Queen may have to spend at least one more day in bed as she is still recovering from her heavy cold.<\/p>\n

The monarch has not been seen in public for 11 days since she and Prince Philip sustained heavy colds, forcing them to cancel the traditional train journey to their north Norfolk estate for Christmas.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace was forced to issue a statement confirming the Queen was still alive after a tweet from a fake BBC News account claimed she had died.<\/p>\n