Australia and New Zealand kick off celebrations with fireworks and light show

New Year celebrations around the world have been called off as coronavirus casts gloom over festivities for a second year, but Australia and New Zealand were determined to enjoy the night and there were even signs North Korea was preparing fireworks.

New Zealand began the celebrations after easing its crowd limits on public gatherings just in time for New Year's Eve, holding a light display in Auckland.

Festivities will ripple across the globe in line with time zones, with many countries including Britain facing a patchwork of restrictions which threaten to dampen spirits.