DHAKA: Revellers across the globe are gathering to welcome in the New Year, while people of the eastern hemisphere including New Zealand and Australia have joined the celebrations.

A giant clock in Auckland's Sky Tower counted down the minutes until midnight (11:00 GMT), when fireworks erupted, reports the BBC.

Up to 1.5m people gathered on the shores of Sydney Harbour and enjoyed the city's famous firework display.

Celebration plans have been muted in Indonesia, however, in the wake of the AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash.

In Brazil, more than one million people will join the crowds on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, while New Yorkers will watch the city lower its trademark crystal ball over Times Square.

Some of the easternmost corners of earth, including Samoa, Kiribati and the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, were the first places to herald the New Year.

BDST: 2023 HRS, DEC 31, 2014