DHAKA: The world has begun celebrating the start of a New Year, with revelers in Australia and New Zealand some of the first to usher in 2016.

Crowds counted down the last seconds of 2015 at Auckland’s Sky Tower, which hosted a laser show and fireworks display.

Up to 25,000 people had been expected to turn out for the festivities in New Zealand's largest city, reports the BBC.

The country welcomed 2016 at 1100 GMT, an hour after Samoa and Kiribati.

Fireworks lit up Sydney harbor at midnight (1300 GMT) as the New Year welcomed in many parts of Australia.

About one million people were expected to turn out, and a pre-show for families was held at 9:00pm.

As the New Year sweeps across Asia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and other major cities will kick off their own grand celebrations.

In Egypt, festivities will be staged in front of the pyramids near Cairo, as the government works to revive its tourist industry.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, an extravagant display will illuminate the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, with 400,000 LED lights and 1.6 tons of fireworks set to be used.

When 2016 hits Europe, approximately one million people will countdown at the Brandenburg Gate in Germany’s capital, Berlin.

Despite security fears across the continent, many major public events are going ahead, though with heightened security restrictions.

BDST: 1929 HRS, DEC 31, 2015
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