Sydney kicks off New Year parties with fireworks

	Thousands trapped on Australia beach encircled by fire
	Tourists at risk as heatwave fuels Australia bushfires
	Public health emergency: Bushfire haze choked Sydney for weeks

New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the traditional early family fireworks show, held before the main midnight event, on Dec 31, 2019. (Photo: AFP/PETER PARKS)

Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Australia's largest city for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

Fireworks displays were scrapped in Australia's capital, Canberra, and Sydney's western suburbs due to elevated fire danger and extreme weather conditions but fire authorities said it was safe to go ahead over the water.

Critics wanted Sydney to use the A$6.5 million (US$4.5 million) spent on the display to fight bushfires ringing the city, but officials say the event is worth A$130 million to the economy and cancelling it would not help those impacted by the fires.

"We have committed to harnessing the enormous power of the event to raise more money for drought- and fire-affected communities," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

More than 100,000 fireworks are scheduled to light up the skyline for 12 minutes to about one million spectators who usually throng foreshores and parks.

"Is Sydney seriously still getting fireworks tonight when half our country is on fire," Twitter user @swiftyshaz13 said.

Crowds have been warned to take care as strong winds gusted in the harbour, forcing the cancellation of a boat display that would have blasted water into the sky - just hours before the fireworks were due to start.

CELEBRATIONS AMID UPHEAVAL

As the clock ticks past midnight, major cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas will embrace the celebrations, but in many places the festivities will be marked by turmoil and political upheaval.

After more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, Hong Kong will usher in 2019 with a series of rallies planned for New Year's Eve.

"This year there are no fireworks, but there will probably be teargas somewhere," said 25-year-old IT worker Sam. "For us, it’s not really New Year’s Eve. We have to resist every day."

Thousands in India also planned to greet the new year with protests, angered by a citizenship law they say will discriminate against Muslims and chip away at the country's secular constitution.

In Paris, 250,000 to 300,000 people usually gather on the Champs-Elysees to welcome the New Year, but turnout could suffer amid a gruelling transport strike that has spelt weeks of misery for commuters.

Midnight in London will be marked by the chimes of Big Ben, which has been silent during a long restoration, as traditional fireworks are set off over the Thames for the last new year before Brexit.

It follows a year of political wrangling that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May and culminated in Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging to leave the European Union on Jan 31.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is set to deliver his annual New Year address, 20 years after he was elevated to the presidency by Boris Yeltsin's shock resignation in his 1999 end-of-year speech.

Russia will celebrate the new decade over several time zones, with Muscovites flocking to the centre of the capital for fireworks over the Kremlin.

New Zealanders were among the first to welcome the new year, with fireworks lighting up the night sky over Auckland./.