AP PHOTOS: Happy New Year! World celebrates 2016
Posted January 01, 2016 6:00 am
As 2015 came to an end, cities around the world were celebrating the start of a new year and bidding goodbye to one marred by terrorist attacks that left people on edge. Despite the rattled nerves, most places pressed on with their holiday revels.
In Dubai, a massive fireworks display kicked off New Year's at the world's tallest building, while a raging fire sent smoke billowing into the air from nearby tower.
In France, Parisians still recovering from deadly attacks in November held scaled-down celebrations.
And in Brussels, Belgium's capital, a holiday terror plot led to the cancellation of festivities altogether.
Tokyo was on a special security alert during Japan's biggest holiday, as millions crammed into trains to leave cities for their hometowns.
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Associated Press photographers and photo editors on Twitter: http://apne.ws/150o6jo
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The headline of this story has been changed to correct the year.
A couple kisses while ringing in the new year at Times Square, early Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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In this photo taken with long exposure, fireworks light the sky above the medieval Mariendom or St. Mary's Cathedral, right, and St. Severi's Church shortly after midnight during the New Year celebrations in Erfurt, central Germany, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
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People enjoy fireworks at the Wenceslas Square during the New Year celebrations in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (Michal Dolezal/CTK via AP) SLOVAKIA OUT
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Fireworks explode over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve fireworks display in Sydney, Australian, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
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Fireworks explode in front of Malaysia's landmark building, Petronas Twin Towers, during the New Year's Eve celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)
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Peoples release balloons to celebrate the New Year with Tokyo Tower in the background in Tokyo, early Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Japan celebrated the start of 2016, the Year of the Monkey in the Japanese Zodiac. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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An armed police officer guards the entrance of Horse Guards prior to the New Year's Eve celebrations in central London, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Security is going to high in the capital this New Year's Eve following the Paris attacks and with Belgium authorities cancelling the New Year's Eve fireworks in Brussels after a terrorism threat. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
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Police officers detain a man in the historic center in Brussels on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. The New Year's Eve fireworks display and all official events are being canceled in Belgium's capital due to threats of an extremist attack. It was not known why the man was detained. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
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A fireworks display is set off from the Taipei 101 skyscraper during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
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Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he arrives to celebrate a new year's eve vespers Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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Revellers photograph a 5-minute video performance displayed on the Arc de Triomphe as part of New Year's Eve celebrations on the Champs Elysees Avenue in Paris, France, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
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Police officers photograph fireworks as they guard Red Square in Moscow, Russia, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Putin is using his New Yearâs message to commemorate both the countryâs current fight in Syria and the battles of World War II seven decades ago. The recorded message was being televised just before midnight Thursday in each of Russiaâs nine time zones. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin)
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Two Egyptian men and a camel stand on a hill overlooking one of the Giza Pyramids during a New Year's Eve fireworks display near Cairo, Egypt at midnight on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
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Buddhists light candles during New Year celebrations at Jogye Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea, early Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Revellers smile during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
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Joel and Francesca Robertson embrace as they get ready to celebrate the Hogmanay, New Year, celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday Dec. 31, 2015. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT
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New York's Times Square glows during New Year's Eve celebrations seen from a New York Police helicopter patrolling the city, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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Fireworks explode over the temple of the Parthenon at the Acropolis hill during the New Year celebrations in Athens, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/ Yorgos Karahalis )
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A worker wears mock spectacles in the shape of 2016 during a countdown event in Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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Fireworks light up the sky in downtown Skopje, Macedonia, during the celebrations of the New Year early Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
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