While floods and tornadoes in the U.S. have killed at least 49, in France the unseasonably warm weather has strawberries, asparagus and mimosas all flourishing on the French Riviera.
Madrid will limit the number of people at Puerta del Sol square, Brussels scrapped celebrations following threats and Moscow police will for the first time close off Red Square. Other cities are going ahead with normal New Year's Eve festivities.
While there weren't as many major political scandals in Costa Rica in 2015 as in years past, there still was plenty of material for Ticos to do what they seem to do best – celebrate the absurd with satire and memes made viral on social media.
Each New Year's Eve, Peruvians take delight in ritually torching dolls of their politicians, sportsmen or celebrities -- but environment officials say the tradition is a health hazard.
Venezuela's highest court on Wednesday effectively blocked the two-thirds majority that the opposition won in this month's landmark legislative elections by suspending the inauguration of three incoming lawmakers.
On Wednesday, Ethan Couch, aka the "affluenza" teen, won a three-day delay from deportation from Mexico where he was detained weeks after fleeing probation imposed for a deadly drunk-driving crash in Texas.
Comedian Bill Cosby has been charged with sexual assault in Pennsylvania over an incident that took place in 2004 -- the first criminal charges filed against the actor after dozens of women claimed abuse.
A member of the U.S. House of Representatives arrived in Costa Rica on Tuesday to assess the Cuban migrant crisis, while a New Jersey mayor said he would put up a six-figure sum to help the migrants pay their way north.
