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| Global new year festivities begin | Global new year festivities begin |
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| Australia welcomes in the new year | |
| Celebrations are beginning around the world to mark the end of 2008 and usher in the new year. | Celebrations are beginning around the world to mark the end of 2008 and usher in the new year. |
| In Australia, huge crowds turned out to watch multi-million dollar fireworks displays in Sydney and Melbourne. | In Australia, huge crowds turned out to watch multi-million dollar fireworks displays in Sydney and Melbourne. |
| Not to be outdone, New Zealand staged a dramatic pyrotechnics show from Auckland's Sky Tower. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYI'll be sailing up and down the Thames on a boat party with close friends and watching the London fireworks above when the clock strikes 12.Toni, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5863&edition=1&ttl=20081231162810">Send us your comments | |
| Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, in the Pacific Ocean became the first inhabited place on Earth to celebrate the new year at 1000 GMT. | Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, in the Pacific Ocean became the first inhabited place on Earth to celebrate the new year at 1000 GMT. |
| In Sydney, a record crowd of up to 1.5 million people watched fireworks explode over the iconic Harbour Bridge. | In Sydney, a record crowd of up to 1.5 million people watched fireworks explode over the iconic Harbour Bridge. |
| The display, featuring thunder, rain and lightning effects, was the largest ever staged in the city. About 5,000kg of fireworks were used. | The display, featuring thunder, rain and lightning effects, was the largest ever staged in the city. About 5,000kg of fireworks were used. |
| Further south, thousands of people lined the banks of Melbourne's Yarra river for a colourful show. | Further south, thousands of people lined the banks of Melbourne's Yarra river for a colourful show. |
| Muted festivities | Muted festivities |
| Organisers of the Sydney festivities said they were hoping it would offer revellers a brief respite from the economic gloom of 2008. | Organisers of the Sydney festivities said they were hoping it would offer revellers a brief respite from the economic gloom of 2008. |
| "There's so much misery around," fireworks director Fortunato Foti told reporters. "If we can get people to forget all that and think just about the fireworks for 15 to 20 minutes, we will have done our job."Tight security was in place in Mumbai, India, following November's attacks | "There's so much misery around," fireworks director Fortunato Foti told reporters. "If we can get people to forget all that and think just about the fireworks for 15 to 20 minutes, we will have done our job."Tight security was in place in Mumbai, India, following November's attacks |
| In the Philippines, President Gloria Arroyo described 2008 as a "tumultuous" year. | In the Philippines, President Gloria Arroyo described 2008 as a "tumultuous" year. |
| "I hope that we can all work together as a global community to weather these storms," she said in a message. | "I hope that we can all work together as a global community to weather these storms," she said in a message. |
| In Malaysia, the government is not sponsoring any new year events because of the economic downturn. | In Malaysia, the government is not sponsoring any new year events because of the economic downturn. |
| Celebrations were also expected to be muted in the Indian city of Mumbai, following November's deadly attacks. | Celebrations were also expected to be muted in the Indian city of Mumbai, following November's deadly attacks. |
| Tight security was planned, with special measures in place along the city's waterfront - where the militants involved in the attacks slipped ashore. | Tight security was planned, with special measures in place along the city's waterfront - where the militants involved in the attacks slipped ashore. |
| But some cities were set to end 2008 in style. More than 250,000 people were expected at a fireworks display in Singapore's Marina Bay. | But some cities were set to end 2008 in style. More than 250,000 people were expected at a fireworks display in Singapore's Marina Bay. |
| And in Hong Kong, half a million people were set to watch a colourful show over the historic harbour. | And in Hong Kong, half a million people were set to watch a colourful show over the historic harbour. |