New Year’s Eve 2017 LIVE: Stunning fireworks in Dubai and Sydney – Happy New Year 2018

NEW Year’s Eve celebrations are kicking off around the world with Russia and Turkey the latest to welcome 2018. Here are live updates and the latest news from across the globe as the New Year approaches.

8.30pm: Hogmanay underway in Edinburgh

The fireworks have already begun in Edinburgh as tens of thousands attend the celebrations - despite weather warnings.

Storm Dylan has wreaked havoc across the UK in recent days and there were concerns the event may not be able to go ahead.

Fortunately, the stormy conditions subsided and allowed revellers to enjoy the turn of the year, with organisers in the Scottish capital promising "the best party ever."

Underbelly, which is producing the event for the first time, said there would be live music, DJs, street entertainment and the "ultimate fireworks display" from Edinburgh Castle.

8.00pm: Happy New Year Dubai!

Dubai is welcoming 2018 with a stunning lights and fireworks display centred around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

The 160-storey building was the main feature of the extravagant five-minute display as Dubai became the latest city to welcome the New Year.

7.40pm: Standby for extravagance from the Middle East

We're just moments away from Dubai's firework display, an event which is regularly among the most spectacular offerings across the world.

Other cities set to mark the beginning of 2018 at 8pm GMT include Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Port Louis.

Stay tuned...

7.30pm: Happy New Year Afghanistan!

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New Year’s Eve 2017 LIVE: Stunning fireworks in Dubai and Sydney – Happy New Year 2018
NEW Year’s Eve celebrations are kicking off around the world with Russia and Turkey the latest to welcome 2018. Here are live updates and the latest news from across the globe as the New Year approaches.
By WILL KIRBY
PUBLISHED: 22:00, Sun, Dec 31, 2017 | UPDATED: 22:03, Sun, Dec 31, 2017

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Samoa was the first country to officially welcome the new year, followed shortly by New Zealand and Australia.

About 1.6 million people gathered in Sydney Harbour around 1pm GMT, to watch the breathtaking display of fireworks that ushered in the new year.

The fireworks display was held over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, coupled with a laser lights, music and cheers.

Japan, South Korea and several smaller islands spread across the Pacific were the next nations to flip over the calendars. China, the Philippines and Singapore have joined the jubilation at 4pm GMT.

Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Dubai all followed with some spectacular fireworks displays, before Moscow and Turkish capital Ankara ushered in the new year at 9pm GMT.

Outlying parts of the US, such as Hawaii and Alaska will be among the last places on the planet to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

New Year's Eve 2018 LIVE form around the worldGETTY

New Year's Eve 2018: Live news and updates as the world welcomes 2018 with applause
Which major cities will welcome 2018 first?

11am GMT Auckland, New Zealand
1pm GMT Sydney, Australia
3pm Tokyo
4pm Beijing and Hong Kong
8pm Dubai
11pm Paris, Rome and Brussels
Midnight London
5am New York
8am Los Angeles
Here are all the live updates from around the world in GMT.

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10pm: Two hours to go!

We're just two hours away from the start of 2018 and a number of countries in Eastern Europe have become the latest to kick off the new year.

Greece, Hungary, Finland, Ukraine and Latvia are among the countries in Europe celebrating the beginning of 2018, while South Africa, Egypt and Israel are also enjoying the festivities.

9.15pm: Armed police on the Thames

With less than three hours to go until the fireworks are set off in London, armed police have been spotted patrolling the Thames in a bid to keep the peace.

London's New Year celebrations come after a year marked by two devastating terror attacks in the British capital.

There is no specific threat, according to Metropolitan Police, but revellers have been urged to remain vigilant.

Supt Nick Aldworth said: “The policing plan has been developed and reviewed following the tragic incidents that have occurred through the year.

“We will have the right response of officers at the right locations; this will be a mix of overt and covert officers deployed, as well as dogs, and the use of CCTV and automatic numberplate recognition.

“People can expect to see armed officers in the area, and we will be using vehicle barriers across the event area. Security is paramount for us, and so we ask for patience and cooperation when getting through the check and search points.”

Armed police patrol the Thames
EPA

Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, was the centrepiece of the New Year celebrations
9pm: Happy New Year Russia and Turkey!

Moscow and Ankara are among the latest capitals ushering in the new year.

Hogmanay celebrations are underway in Edinburgh, Scotland
8.30pm: Hogmanay underway in Edinburgh

The fireworks have already begun in Edinburgh as tens of thousands attend the celebrations - despite weather warnings.

Storm Dylan has wreaked havoc across the UK in recent days and there were concerns the event may not be able to go ahead.

Fortunately, the stormy conditions subsided and allowed revellers to enjoy the turn of the year, with organisers in the Scottish capital promising "the best party ever."

Underbelly, which is producing the event for the first time, said there would be live music, DJs, street entertainment and the "ultimate fireworks display" from Edinburgh Castle.

8.00pm: Happy New Year Dubai!

Dubai is welcoming 2018 with a stunning lights and fireworks display centred around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

The 160-storey building was the main feature of the extravagant five-minute display as Dubai became the latest city to welcome the New Year.

SKY NEWS

The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, took centre stage for the New Year display in Dubai
7.45pm: 'We're just getting started'

Donald Trump has wished his 45.5 million followers a Happy New Year as the US President took to Twitter once again to reflect on his first year in the Oval Office.

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
What a year it’s been, and we're just getting started. Together, we are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Happy New Year!!

10:06 PM - Dec 31, 2017
11,699 11,699 Replies 13,327 13,327 Retweets 48,570 48,570 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy
7.40pm: Standby for extravagance from the Middle East

We're just moments away from Dubai's firework display, an event which is regularly among the most spectacular offerings across the world.

Other cities set to mark the beginning of 2018 at 8pm GMT include Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Port Louis.

Stay tuned...

7.30pm: Happy New Year Afghanistan!

AFP

A young family celebrates the new year in New Delhi, India
7.00pm: Happy New Year Pakistan!

6.45pm: Sadiq Khan promises "the best fireworks London has ever seen"

The London Mayor has promised a spectacular fireworks display in the UK capital as thousands of revellers wait to welcome 2018.

Speaking on Sky News, he said organisers anticipate tonight's events will be "a cracker".

Mr Khan added: “It’s going to be a really really good 15 minutes worth of entertainment.

“The first half will feature some of London’s greatest artists, the second half will be women-only artists.”

Sadiq Khan: London's NYE fireworks will be ‘WICKED’
Play Video

6.30pm: Happy New Year India and Sri Lanka!

India, the world's second most populous country, has welcomed 2018 in style.

Millions of people have turned out across the country to celebrate the turn of the year.

Extra police officers are on duty in some of the major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, amid fears of violence.

6.15pm: Happy New Year Nepal!

Nepal is welcoming the new year, just 15 minutes before celebrations begin in neighbouring India.

The country is unusual in that it differs from GMT by a 45-minute increment - unlike other countries which are an hour or sometimes half an hour apart.

5pm: Happy New Year, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam!

Although fireworks have officially been banned by military leaders, Thailand’s prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the ban to be temporarily suspended as millions celebrate the beginning of the new year.

Fireworks can be set off between 11pm on Sunday and 1am on Monday - but anyone planning on putting on their own display must adhere to strict rules.

Will Kirby is taking over live reporting from Sebastian Kettley

4.35pm: Fireworks ban overturned for New Year’s Eve celebrations

Pyrotechnics will temporarily erupt over Bangkok tonight, after the use of fireworks was banned in Thailand by the leaders of its military.

Thailand’s prime minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered officials to temporarily overturn the rule just in time for New Year’s Eve.

Under the special circumstances, fireworks can be fired off between 11pm on Sunday and 1am the next day without permission from authorities – but several strict rules still apply.

Setting off pyrotechnics in violation of the rules could result in a massive fines and possible jail times.

4pm: Happy New Year China, the Philippines, Singapore!

Thousands of colourful fireworks erupted over Victoria Harbour to the sound of Auld Lang Syne as locals and visitors alike cheered on the arrival of 2018.

In Beijing, the city’s central axis, widely known as 'Beijing’s backbone', lit up a 7.8 km-long stretch from Yongding Gate in the south all the way through the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

Despite the tight security surrounding Singapore’s celebrations, thousands of partying locals gathered in Marina Bay and the Civiv District to partake in the public jubilation.

Locals were entertained by a spellbind lights and fireworks show presented by the city-state's Urban Redevelopment Authority.

3.50pm: China, the Philippines and Singapore prepare for New Year’s countdown

Hot on the heels of North Korea, its northern neighbour and close ally China, is preparing to welcome 2018.

Celebrations in China, the Philippines and Singapore will kick off at midnight local time, or 4pm GMT.

In Beijing, the official countdown will take place at the Yongdingmen Gate, a Ming dynasty-era landmark.

In Singapore, locals have been invited to party in Marina Bay and Siloso Beach.

Marina Bay organisers said: “Reflect on the year gone by and celebrate the possibilities that the future holds at the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, Singapore’s annual iconic New Year’s Eve celebration proudly presented by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

“Since its inception in 2005, the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown has become the nation’s largest and most spectacular countdown event attracting more than 300,000 visitors each year.”

3.30pm: Fireworks light up North Korea’s Pyongyang

Revellers in North Korea’s capital waved flags and cheered on their leader Kim Jong-un as the clocks chimed midnight.

In an unusual display ion public cheer, fireworks lit up the night sky over the Juche Tower monument as fervent broadcast announcers ushered in the new year.

State television broadcast from Pyongyang showed thousands of people on the streets filming the lights on their smartphones, hugging their close ones and cheering on the event.

North Korea celebrates the new year a whole 30 minutes ahead of its southern neighbour, after introducing a separate time zone – Pyongyang Time.

3.10pm: Monster storm threatens New Year’s Day celebrations

Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have warned of a 50 percent chance of a geomagnetic storm pummelling the planet tomorrow.

The main concern is that streams of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun could disrupt mobile phones, TVs and even internet connections.

Doug Biesecker from NOAA has said: “The possibility of an extreme CME causing a very powerful geomagnetic storm is real.

“There's considerable uncertainty to how frequent such storms are at the level where we worry about huge impacts on the power grid and the resulting impacts that a lack of electricity would have.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: NEW YEAR’S DAY MONSTER STORM THREAT

3pm: Happy New Year Japan and South Korea!

The clock has struck midnight and the 2018 countdown is over as the two countries officially welcome the new year.

One of the main celebrations observed in Japan, known as Joya no Kane, sees shrines and temples up and down the country ring their bells a total of 108 times.

Other events in the Japanese capital saw revellers release thousands of gallons into the air from Tokyo Park alongside fireworks at Sea Paradise Aquarium in Yokohama.

Meanwhile in South Korea, a beautiful fireworks display of more than 150,000 pyrotechnics lit up Seoul’s’ skyline from Lotte World Tower.

The official celebrations are expected to carry on through into the morning, with thousands of cheerful revellers on the streets.

WATCH: NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS LIVE