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| New Year celebrations: Global festivities welcome 2017 | New Year celebrations: Global festivities welcome 2017 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Fireworks have lit up the skies over some of the world's most iconic landmarks as people across the globe gather to welcome the new year. | |
| From Sydney to Moscow, Paris to New York, crowds said goodbye to 2016, a tumultuous year in global politics. | From Sydney to Moscow, Paris to New York, crowds said goodbye to 2016, a tumultuous year in global politics. |
| Many cities stepped up security for New Year's Eve celebrations, after a year in which attackers drove lorries into crowds in Nice and Berlin. | Many cities stepped up security for New Year's Eve celebrations, after a year in which attackers drove lorries into crowds in Nice and Berlin. |
| Thousands of extra police have been on duty in London and other cities. | Thousands of extra police have been on duty in London and other cities. |
| But it did not stop tens of thousands lining the River Thames to watch a fireworks display with one very clear message after the country voted to leave the European Union: "London is open." | But it did not stop tens of thousands lining the River Thames to watch a fireworks display with one very clear message after the country voted to leave the European Union: "London is open." |
| It also failed to dampen spirits in Paris, where about 500,000 people poured into the Champs-Elysees, where the Arc de Triomphe was lit up with a colourful countdown and the word "welcome" in dozens of languages. | It also failed to dampen spirits in Paris, where about 500,000 people poured into the Champs-Elysees, where the Arc de Triomphe was lit up with a colourful countdown and the word "welcome" in dozens of languages. |
| Revellers in Berlin were undeterred by the recent terror attack at a Christmas market, gathering for a series of concerts before a midnight fireworks display. | Revellers in Berlin were undeterred by the recent terror attack at a Christmas market, gathering for a series of concerts before a midnight fireworks display. |
| Some 2,000 police watched over the around two million people enjoying a fireworks display on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach which had been shortened this year due to a severe economic crisis. | Some 2,000 police watched over the around two million people enjoying a fireworks display on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach which had been shortened this year due to a severe economic crisis. |
| But the 17,000 police officers on duty in the Turkish city of Istanbul were unable to prevent an attack on a nightclub less than two hours into 2017, which left at least 39 dead. | But the 17,000 police officers on duty in the Turkish city of Istanbul were unable to prevent an attack on a nightclub less than two hours into 2017, which left at least 39 dead. |
| Pacific islands including Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were the first to enter 2017 at 10:00 GMT, followed an hour later by Auckland, where fireworks erupted from the 328m (1,080ft) tall Sky Tower in the city centre. | Pacific islands including Samoa, Tonga and Kiribati were the first to enter 2017 at 10:00 GMT, followed an hour later by Auckland, where fireworks erupted from the 328m (1,080ft) tall Sky Tower in the city centre. |
| The iconic midnight fireworks display at Sydney Harbour in Australia paid tribute to Prince and David Bowie, two music superstars who died in 2016. | The iconic midnight fireworks display at Sydney Harbour in Australia paid tribute to Prince and David Bowie, two music superstars who died in 2016. |
| Seven tonnes of fireworks were set off in two displays watched by about one and a half million people. | Seven tonnes of fireworks were set off in two displays watched by about one and a half million people. |
| On Friday a man in Sydney was charged in connection with threats made against Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations. | On Friday a man in Sydney was charged in connection with threats made against Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations. |
| Police said he was charged with a "crimes act offence, but not a terrorist offence" and there was no continuing threat to the community. | Police said he was charged with a "crimes act offence, but not a terrorist offence" and there was no continuing threat to the community. |
| Israel has also warned its citizens travelling in India to avoid crowds, saying there is a risk of imminent "terrorist attacks". | Israel has also warned its citizens travelling in India to avoid crowds, saying there is a risk of imminent "terrorist attacks". |
| 'Many enemies' | 'Many enemies' |
| Meanwhile, US President-elect Donald Trump tweeted new year greetings, including to his "many enemies". | |
| Mr Trump will be sworn in as US president on 20 January. | Mr Trump will be sworn in as US president on 20 January. |
| A "leap second" was added to the countdown just before midnight in countries in the GMT timezone, such as the UK, to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation. | A "leap second" was added to the countdown just before midnight in countries in the GMT timezone, such as the UK, to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation. |
| The extra second occurred just before clocks struck midnight and a time of 23:59:60 GMT was recorded, delaying 2017 momentarily. | The extra second occurred just before clocks struck midnight and a time of 23:59:60 GMT was recorded, delaying 2017 momentarily. |
| This is required because standard time lags behind atomic clocks. | This is required because standard time lags behind atomic clocks. |