World welcomes 2014: In pictures

Countries are ushering in 2014, with firework displays erupting first in cities in the Asia-Pacific region and then sweeping across the world.

Confetti was dropped on revellers at midnight during celebrations in Times Square, New York.

Auckland in New Zealand was the first major city to see in 2014 with a firework display.

Australia's biggest city Sydney put on its traditionally spectacular show over the Harbour Bridge.

These revellers in Coin, near Malaga in southern Spain, saw the new year in dressed as fairies and hippies.

Fireworks lit up Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Canada.

Copacabana Beach was the perfect place to watch fireworks over Rio de Janeiro.

The London Eye on the banks of the River Thames was lit up.

Fireworks illuminated Edinburgh Castle where thousands celebrated "Hogmanay".

Dublin held a People's Procession of Light, a torch-lit celebration illuminating its way through the city.

In Malaysia, fireworks exploded near Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Twin Towers.

Singapore welcomed in the new year with an eight-minute display lighting up the city's skyline.

Fireworks lit up Juche Tower and the Taedong River in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.

Revellers in Mumbai had to dodge firecrackers as New Year celebrations got under way.

The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, was illuminated as Dubai aimed for a world record-breaking fireworks display.

These revellers in Red Square, Moscow, launched a sky lantern to mark the new year.

However, there was tight security in Moscow after bomb blasts in Russia's southern city of Volgograd.