New Year’s Eve 2012: Celebrations start
bbc.co.uk
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Sydney heralded the new year with a 15-minute multi-million dollar firework display at midnight (13:00 GMT).
Thousands of people in Tokyo released balloons carrying hand-written wishes for the New Year.
In Hong Kong huge crowds turned out to witness the countdown to 2012, which was made in giant illuminated numbers on the side of a skyscraper.
Taiwan celebrated with a jaw-dropping firework spectacle that obscured the world’s second-tallest building, Taipei 101, in a blaze of light and smoke.
The first places to celebrate were Samoa and Tokelau after they jumped across the international dateline.