Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding Pacific Island Nations were among the first countries to ring in 2019 with fireworks and other celebrations.
In Photos: Ringing in 2019
![Fireworks explode near Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 1, 2019.](https://gdb.voanews.com/c03fba06-a137-4365-ab46-898f9ce24cc5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
5
Fireworks explode near Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jan. 1, 2019.
![An artist performs at a shopping center during the New Year festival in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 31, 2018.](https://gdb.voanews.com/7db789cf-801d-4d1c-ae36-1bbbf6d05777_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
6
An artist performs at a shopping center during the New Year festival in Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 31, 2018.
![A make-up artist creates a Santa Claus shape in a woman's hair, during New Year's preparations in Ahmedabad, India, Dec. 31, 2018.](https://gdb.voanews.com/df66c334-08b7-466c-afbf-8bf2b8ca468d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
7
A make-up artist creates a Santa Claus shape in a woman's hair, during New Year's preparations in Ahmedabad, India, Dec. 31, 2018.
![A Pakistani person rides a camel on a beach during the last sunset of 2018, in Karachi, Dec. 31, 2018.](https://gdb.voanews.com/9e8e72d0-3ddc-4471-b84f-b2fa13cedf05_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
8
A Pakistani person rides a camel on a beach during the last sunset of 2018, in Karachi, Dec. 31, 2018.