“Don’t change your way of life”, said Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle.
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“We can not let that rule”, she said.
Belgian officials are battling terror on two fronts – with police on Thursday holding five people over an alleged New Year’s attack plot in Brussels as well as arresting a tenth suspect over the Paris attacks.
Two others were arrested earlier this week, prompting authorities to call off the city’s traditional December 31 fireworks display, which a year ago drew a crowd of around 100,000.
New Year’s Eve is Japan’s biggest holiday, and millions of people crammed into trains to flee the cities for their hometowns to slurp down bowls of noodles, symbolizing longevity, while watching the annual “Red and White” song competition on television. As midnight approaches, families bundle up for visits to neighborhood temples, where the ritual ringing of huge bronze bells reverberates through the chill. Thousands of people, including North Korean refugees, are expected to gather at a town near the border with rival North Korea to watch one of the ceremonies and wish for peaceful Korean unification.
Past year nearly 85 tonnes – or 15 double-decker buses worth – of rubbish was deposited on the capital’s steets following the celebrations.
Sydney’s lavish display of fireworks was its “biggest and best” ever New Year’s Eve celebrations.
In China, near Beijing’s Forbidden City, a spectacular New Year’s show was staged.
In Dubai, a massive fireworks display kicked off New Year’s at the world’s tallest building, while a raging fire sent smoke billowing into the air from nearby tower.
Turkish police detained two IS suspects allegedly planning attacks in the centre of the capital Ankara.
Major cities around the world have heighten security measures at New Year celebrations, with authorities wary of possible terror attacks.
“We will be working closely with our partners at British Transport Police who will have additional armed officers in and around central London transport hubs throughout New Year’s Eve”.
Fireworks explode in Marina Bay against the skyline of Singapore during New Year’s Day celebrations January 1, 2016.
In the United States, authorities said they had arrested and charged a 25-year-old American Muslim convert over an alleged attempt to launch a New Year’s Eve attack in upstate NY in the name of ISIL. Suicide vests and explosives were found during police raids. About 11,000 police, soldiers, and firefighters will patrol Paris, part of a total of 60,000 law-enforcement officers dispatched throughout the country Thursday night.
National Police spokesman Maj.
Metropolitan Police spokeswoman Superintendent Jo Edwards said: “New Year’s Eve is a major celebration in the diary and the Met has been working with colleagues to ensure celebrations run smoothly and the event is safe and enjoyable for everyone who attends”. Barges set offshore hold the fireworks.
Festivities went ahead in Dubai despite a fire at the city’s Address Hotel.
New Zealand counted down the seconds to midnight with a giant digital clock on Auckland’s Sky Tower as it become the first nation with a sizeable population to welcome in the new year. Fireworks also will be on display in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the country of seven emirates.
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“Alternatively you can see in the New Year at one of the hundreds of other celebrations taking place in restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs across the capital”.
