An estimated 1.6million people turned up to watch more than 10,000 aerial fireworks, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 pyrotechnic effects on show during this year’s New Year’s Eve display over Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Hundreds of umbrellas and tents began popping up on Sydney’s Blues Point early Wednesday morning as people settled in to wait for the symphonic light display, with huge queues forming overnight to secure a prominent view.

While much of the evening was dedicated to celebrating, floral tributes to Martin Place siege victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson were on display amid the evening’s fireworks.

‘It is in memory of the two young and talented people that we lost because of that siege,’ said Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

‘We remember the trauma the hostages experienced, the bravery of the police and we remember the way Sydney responded as we expected – an inclusive, welcoming, multicultural community,’ he said.

Sydney Harbour will be a beacon of celebration as Australia farewells another year, sending 2014 off with an extra round of fireworks.

In the Chinese capital Beijing, eight hours ahead of London, an event will be held in the Olympic Park designed to highlight the capital’s bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Skaters will perform and Olympic medalist figure skater Zhao Hongbo, Paralympics gold medalist swimmer Yang Yang and pianist Lang Lang will appear.
Japan prepared for ‘osechi ryori’, the country’s biggest traditional holiday on New Year’s Day. At midnight, temple bells will strike 108 times, the number of evils, or temptations, as defined by Buddhism.

There will be fireworks and bonfires around the nation as millions of people flock to neighborhood temples and shrines to pray for health and happiness.
In Rio De Janeiro, two hours behind London and Greenwich Mean Time, more than 1million people are expected to flock on Copacabana beach, where …read more      

Russians hope the New Year brings fresh start for an economy that is sliding into recession. Gavino Garay reports.

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President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will deliver a new year’s day broadcast to the nation at 07:00 hours tomorrow.

The broadcast will be transmitted on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Other television and radio stations in the country are advised to link up with NTA and FRCN to relay the broadcast to their viewers and listeners.

The post Jonathan To Broadcast New Year Message To The Nation appeared first on Channels Television.

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President Goodluck Jonathan has once again assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to ending terrorist activities in the nation’s north-east, promising that the “terrorists will not get away with their atrocities”.

In a New Year broadcast on Thursday, the President said the terrorists would be routed and that the government would give all necessary assistance to security agencies in their counter-terrorism operations.

He said: “As President, I feel the pain of all affected communities and families. I hear their cries and share their sorrow and pain.

“We will not forget; we will not look the other way. We have done a lot of painstaking planning and work to resolve the current security challenge. We will bring justice to the savage terrorists known as Boko Haram.

“They will be defeated.

“We are re-equipping and re-positioning our armed forces to enhance their capacity to win the ongoing war against terror and insurgency,” the president and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces said.

He expressed regrets over the pains and agony that the terrorist group had unleashed on Nigerians and further condemned the acts of terror in the north.

“They have made widows of our mothers and sisters and orphans of our children. They have shut down businesses, desecrated places of worship and brought untold hardship to both men and women. They have violated the culture and peaceful way of life in our country, which took generations to build.”

One Man, One Vote

He further pledged his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the 2015 general elections were free, fair and credible, emphasising that the successful conclusion of the elections would further strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions and place Nigeria even more firmly in the comity of truly democratic nations.

“Given the challenges that have characterised some previous electoral contests in our country, the eyes of the world will certainly be on the conduct and …read more      

Pope Francis presides over vespers prayers and calls for the rebirth of the city of Rome after weeks of corruption scandals. Gavino Garay reports.

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Residents in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai gather near the cities’ major landmarks to ring in the New Year with colorful fireworks and laser light displays. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

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Passengers rescued from the burning Norman Atlantic ferry arrive for an emotional homecoming in Greece and add to criticism of crew when the fire broke out. Jennifer Davis reports.

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French troops in Afghanistan hold a ceremony to mark the end of their mission. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

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Liberia lifts a curfew imposed to curb the Ebola outbreak so that people can attend New Year’s Eve church services. …read more      

Cities welcome 2015 with fireworks, balloons and in one country – new underwear. Jennifer Davis reports.

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