Fireworks

Restrictions are being placed on New Year festivities around the world as many countries struggle to curb new spikes in coronavirus cases.

Fireworks displays and other public gatherings have been cancelled from Sydney to New York.

Festivities are being particularly muted in Europe, amid fears over a new more contagious strain of the disease.

This New Year's Eve is being celebrated like no other, with pandemic restrictions limiting crowds and many people bidding farewell to a year they'd prefer to forget.

One person was killed and more than 160 were injured in fireworks incidents during the Christmas and New Year holidays in the Philippines, DPA reported.

Billions around the world cheered in 2020 after a tumultuous year dominated by demonstrations calling for political upheaval and action on climate change.

Strike-hit Paris welcomed the New Year with a huge fireworks display while London's Big Ben rang out after a long restoration, as crisis clouded celebrations elsewhere at the end of a year of upheaval around the world.

Midnight fireworks over Skopje during a New Year's Eve celebrations in North Macedonia's capital on January 1, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/Georgi Licovski.

Fireworks shower the skies over the Macedonian capital, Skopje, at midnight during a New Year's Eve celebration on Janurary 1, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/Georgi Licovski.

Hundreds of people turned out in Istanbul to watch the spectacular and glittering fireworks at the Bosphorus strait for the New Year celebrations.

Large crowds thronged Sydney harbor on Dec. 31 to watch Australia's famous New Year's Eve fireworks, even as smoke from deadly wildfires turned skies in nearby coastal towns blood-red.

To prevent air pollution and increase safety, many Slovenian cities are canceling the traditional New Year's fireworks.

Local authorities have announced that there will be audio and video performances at midnight instead of fireworks. Other cities have announced they will replace fireworks with biodegradable candy.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in southern Athens will be ringing in the New Year in tremendous style with a spectacular fireworks show and dancing fountains at the Canal. British DJ, radio show host, and founder/managing director of Acid Jazz Records will also be spinning the decks in a big outdoor party with an intro/outro set by the trumpet-jamming Johny Matto at the Agora.

Three people have been indicted to stand trial after their arrest on Sunday on charges of soccer-related violence and possession of explosive devices, flares and firecrackers during a amateur soccer game in the central Greek town of Agrinio.