Islamic State claims Istanbul attack, gunman remains at large

Cities in Oceania and Asia welcome the new year, with different apporaches to festivities taken depending on the current status of Covid-19 in a territory. Crowds pack Auckland, Wuhan, Pyongyang and Taipei, while Bangkok has fireworks but no crowd - a precursor for New Year's celebrations to follow in other Covid-hit parts of the world.

Britain's Brexit transition period is over; the country has left the EU's Customs Union and Single Market. Friday's public holiday meant little cross-Channel freight traffic and none of the much-feared border queues.

Confetti fluttered on to frontline workers scattered across Times Square after fireworks burst above eerily quiet landmarks from Puerta del Sol to Copacabana beach, as the world ushered in the New Year with muted celebrations and said good riddance to a pandemic-ridden 2020.

Scuba divers plunged underwater at Lotte World Aquarium on Sunday dressed in ‘hanbok’ - traditional Korean clothing - to share New Year’s greetings. Visitors took photos in front of the divers who posed as manta rays and large fish swam around them. The event will be held every weekend until the middle of February.

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Taiwan has called off its largest Lunar New Year lantern festival for the first time, as authorities rush to stem a Covid-19 cluster in one of the few places to survive the pandemic largely unscathed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed criticism over his handling of ongoing protests at Bogazici University and promised to show “no mercy” towards demonstrators.

Cool or cringe? The US ambassador to Vietnam has produced an unusual Lunar New Year message to the country - in the form of a rap. Career diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink rhymed his well wishes to mark Tet, the most important annual holiday for Vietnamese.

Wuhan residents enjoy festive lantern decorations in parks and light shows along the Yangtze River on the eve of Lunar New Year.

Tourists enjoy Istanbul's scenery and children play in parks after heavy snowfalls following weeks of warm weather in Turkey.

Turkish President Erdogan justified his decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention by saying it has been ‘hijacked by a group attempting to normalize homosexuality.' Lawyers say the withdrawal is unconstitutional.

The Islamic State group claims responsibility for seizing the northern town of Palma in Mozambique. It's the latest attack in an escalating Islamist insurgency sweeping the region. Also, tensions erupt between students and the government in South Africa over free higher education. Our correspondents went to find out whether cancelling student debt is a viable option. And we catch up with DR Congo music star Fabregas Le Métis Noir in the lead-up to the release of his first French-language album.