Rain fails to dampen spirits as Singapore welcomes 2016
Excited party-goers filled the Marina Bay area in anticipation of the nation's largest countdown celebration and they were not disappointed.
Despite intermittent rain since afternoon, the grey overcast sky cleared just in time for the magic hour.
As the initial sparks illuminated the city in shades of gold, red and green, the sea of revellers gasped in unison, as many whipped out their cameras to capture the moment.
Adam Lambert treats Marina Bay crowd to extended New Year show
The crowd at the Marina Bay floating platform was treated to a mini Adam Lambert concert as they welcomed 2016.
Mediacorp's Celebrate 2016 countdown show on New Year's Eve saw over 10,000 people in attendance as an eight-minute-long fireworks spectacular filled the night sky.
Decked out in tropics-friendly sandals and sporting perfectly coiffed hair, 33-year-old Lambert peppered his set with hit songs Ghost Town and Lonely Night before the live countdown portion of the show.
Fire engulfs Dubai hotel near world's tallest building
A fire engulfed The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates hours before a large fireworks display was set to start nearby from the Burj Khalifa tower, the world's largest building, a Reuters witness said.
At least 16 people were injured in the blaze, the emirate's government said later.
Meanwhile, Dubai's New Year celebrations proceeded on the dot at midnight with a massive fireworks display from the Burj Khalifa - even as the fire continued to rage.
Obama becomes one of Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
They didn't leave the White House grounds and coffee was drunk in a staff dining room, but comedian Jerry Seinfeld took US President Barack Obama out for short spin in the latest episode of his popular web series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.
In his latest pop culture venture, Obama filmed a special guest spot for the series streamed on Crackle. Each 20-minute episode features Seinfeld chatting informally with a different comedian.
Obama has "gotten off just enough funny lines to get on this show," Seinfeld said in the episode that hit the web late on Wednesday.
Robert Redford death reports are 'sick hoax', publicist says
Robert Redford is alive and well, his publicist said on Thursday, calling reports on Twitter that the Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid actor had died "a sick hoax".
Twitter briefly erupted with RIP tributes after a tweet purporting to come from Britain's Sky News said the 79-year-old actor had died after falling off a golf buggy in the Southern California beach city of Santa Monica.
The fake news feed where the post appeared, Sky Breaking News, in the past has spread other celebrity death reports that proved untrue.
