Omicron dampens worldwide New Year celebrations but Sydney stages dazzling New Year's Eve fireworks display

New Year's Eve fireworks light up the sky over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House on Jan 1, 2022. - AFP

SINGAPORE, Jan 1 (Reuters) - The Omicron coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities around much of the world, as cities from Paris to Kuala Lumpur cancelled civic celebrations, but London threw a last-minute party on television and Cape Town suddenly lifted a longstanding curfew but Australia still has its grand party on show.

The Australian city of Sydney was one place where the New Year charged in with something like full swagger, as spectacular fireworks glittered in the harbour below the Opera House.