In Pictures: Celebrations of a different kind on New Year’s Eve

31 December 2020, 21:04

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year celebrations begin in Sydney, Australia
Virus Outbreak Australia New Year. Picture: PA

Pandemic restrictions are limiting crowds in many places around the world as people bid farewell to 2020.

This New Year’s Eve is being celebrated like no other, with pandemic restrictions limiting crowds in many places.

From New York’s Times Square to Sydney Harbour, big public blowouts are being turned into TV-only shows and digital events. But New Zealand, Taiwan and other places with successes against the virus are celebrating like usual.

Virus Outbreak Japan New Years Eve
People wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus visit Sensoji temple on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo (Hiro Komae/AP)
Virus Outbreak New Years
People pose for photographs while wearing protective masksin an empty Times Square (Frank Franklin II/AP)
North Korea New Year
Dancers perform during celebrations to mark the New Year, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang (Jon Chol Jin/AP)
Virus Outbreak New Year’s Eve
In Seattle, the Space Needle’s usual in-person fireworks display on New Year’s Eve will instead be a virtual display streamed on the internet (Ted S Warren/AP)
Virus Outbreak South Korea New Years Eve
Visitors wearing face masks walk near a New Year banner at a shopping district in Seoul, South Korea (Lee Jin-man/AP)
Virus Outbreak Vietnam New Years Eve
People ride scooters in front of a banner welcoming New Year 2021 in Vung Tau city, Vietnam (Hau Dinh/AP)
Virus Outbreak Myanmar New Years Eve
People cross the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay, Myanmar, during the last sunset of the year (Aung Shine Oo/AP)
Virus Outbreak New Zealand New Year
Fireworks explode over Hagley Park in Christchurch, New Zealand (Ernest Kung/AP)
Virus Outbreak Australia New Year
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as New Year celebrations begin in Sydney, Australia. Authorities advised revellers to watch the fireworks on television (Mark Baker/AP)
Virus Outbreak Germany New Years Eve
Germany is entering 2021 in lockdown (Michael Sohn/AP)
Virus Outbreak Brazil – New Years Eve
Offerings in honuor of the Goddess of the Sea Yemanja sit on Praia Vermelha beach to mark the end of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Bruna Prado/AP)
Taiwan New Year
Fireworks detonate from the Taipei 101 building during the New Year’s celebrations in Taiwan (Chiang Ying-ying/AP)
Dubai New Year
Dubai celebrates the new year in Philippines by reflecting their national flag on the Burj Khalifa (Kamran Jebreili/AP)
Virus Outbreak Poland New Year’s Eve
A balloon vendor waits for customers in usually bustling Warsaw’s Castle Square (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Malcolm X Speaking at Rally

Malcolm X's family files $100m wrongful death lawsuit against CIA, FBI and NYPD over assassination of civil rights icon

Torrents of water have hit the streets of Portugal's Algarve region

Five minute downpour submerges streets of Algarve as flash flooding continues to devastate Europe

Recent flooding in Spain has been blamed by many on climate change

UN climate summit 'no longer fit for purpose', activists say after Cop29 host says oil is 'gift from God'

From the world's richest man to a 'vaccine sceptic': Trump picks his radical right-wing cabinet.

From the world's richest man to a 'vaccine sceptic': Trump picks his radical right-wing cabinet

Footage of the turbulence onboard the flight has been posted online

Horror moment screaming air passengers lifted out of seats in extreme turbulence as plane forced to turn back

Residents are moved out of the nursing home where least 10 people have died in a fire in Zaragoza, Spain, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ferran Mallol )

At least ten dead and more injured in fire at Spanish nursing home

Trump continues to name his cabinet

Trump’s controversial Cabinet - Anti-vax RFK Jr nominated as health chief as defence figures ‘alarmed’ by Gabbard

Portrait Of Shel Talmy

Music producer Shel Talmy, who worked with The Who and David Bowie, dies aged 87

France and Israel fans clash with police in Paris despite ramped up police presence following Amsterdam unrest

France and Israel fans clash amid ramped up police presence in Paris for UEFA Nations League game

Basem Naim, a Hamas leader

Hamas prepared for 'immediate' ceasefire in Gaza but claims Israel has not offered any 'serious proposals' in months

Donald Trump with Matt Gaetz

Trump's pick for US attorney-general faced sex-trafficking investigation by department he's now set to lead

TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-DISPLACED

Ukraine-style visa scheme for Gaza families proposed by Labour MP

President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Donald Trump names ‘reckless’ Matt Gaetz attorney general as president-elect holds historic meeting with Joe Biden

President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump and Biden 'both really enjoyed seeing each other', claims President-elect after historic meeting at White House

President Trump Speaks at America First Agenda Summit

Who has Trump picked to be in his cabinet so far and who is in the running?

Two women - who were part of a global monkey torture network - have been jailed

Two women jailed after being part of 'sickening and sadistic' monkey torture network