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| New year celebrations welcome 2014 | New year celebrations welcome 2014 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Celebrations are taking place around the world to mark the start of 2014. | Celebrations are taking place around the world to mark the start of 2014. |
| People in Auckland, New Zealand, were among the first to celebrate. In Australia, hundreds of thousands gathered for a spectacular firework display around Sydney's Harbour Bridge. | People in Auckland, New Zealand, were among the first to celebrate. In Australia, hundreds of thousands gathered for a spectacular firework display around Sydney's Harbour Bridge. |
| Similar shows took place in cities across the world, with thousands lining London's River Thames. | Similar shows took place in cities across the world, with thousands lining London's River Thames. |
| New York staged its traditional New Year's Eve countdown and ball-drop over a chilly Times Square. | New York staged its traditional New Year's Eve countdown and ball-drop over a chilly Times Square. |
| US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a New York native, pushed the ceremonial button to drop the famous ball on a rooftop over the square. | US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a New York native, pushed the ceremonial button to drop the famous ball on a rooftop over the square. |
| Moscow also celebrated with a spectacular fireworks display over the Kremlin. | Moscow also celebrated with a spectacular fireworks display over the Kremlin. |
| However, there was intense security in Red Square following recent suicide bombings in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. | However, there was intense security in Red Square following recent suicide bombings in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. |
| Dubai - in the same time zone as Moscow - aimed for a world record with a fireworks extravaganza stretching along 30 miles (50km) of seafront. | Dubai - in the same time zone as Moscow - aimed for a world record with a fireworks extravaganza stretching along 30 miles (50km) of seafront. |
| Adjudicators from Guinness World Records were on hand to check proceedings, but it was not clear immediately whether the attempt was successful. | Adjudicators from Guinness World Records were on hand to check proceedings, but it was not clear immediately whether the attempt was successful. |
| The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, was the centrepiece of the display. | The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, was the centrepiece of the display. |
| East Asian cities also rang in the new year, with Beijing, Jakarta and Singapore all hosting celebrations. | East Asian cities also rang in the new year, with Beijing, Jakarta and Singapore all hosting celebrations. |
| In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of spectators watched the fireworks over Victoria Harbour. | In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of spectators watched the fireworks over Victoria Harbour. |
| The Chinese city of Wuhan had called off its display to avoid worsening a smog problem. | The Chinese city of Wuhan had called off its display to avoid worsening a smog problem. |
| In Japan, Shinto priests gathered at shrines. Japanese people traditionally visit shrines and temples to pray for their families at this time. | In Japan, Shinto priests gathered at shrines. Japanese people traditionally visit shrines and temples to pray for their families at this time. |
| In Rome, Pope Francis offered "words of strength, courage and hope'' in his first homily of the new year, at St Peter's Basilica. | In Rome, Pope Francis offered "words of strength, courage and hope'' in his first homily of the new year, at St Peter's Basilica. |
| In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, an estimated 100,000 people sang the national anthem in the city's Independence Square in support of further integration with Europe. | In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, an estimated 100,000 people sang the national anthem in the city's Independence Square in support of further integration with Europe. |
| The square has been the focus of pro-European protests for more than a month after President Viktor Yanukovych ditched a key deal with the EU. | The square has been the focus of pro-European protests for more than a month after President Viktor Yanukovych ditched a key deal with the EU. |
| As midnight struck across western Europe, Berlin and Paris were among the capitals staging spectacular displays. | As midnight struck across western Europe, Berlin and Paris were among the capitals staging spectacular displays. |
| In London - an hour behind - the chimes of Big Ben signalled what was billed as the world's first "multi-sensory" firework show, with peach-flavoured "snow" and edible banana confetti showering crowds packing the banks of the River Thames. | In London - an hour behind - the chimes of Big Ben signalled what was billed as the world's first "multi-sensory" firework show, with peach-flavoured "snow" and edible banana confetti showering crowds packing the banks of the River Thames. |
| In Scotland, where new year festivities are known as Hogmanay, crowds thronging the streets of Edinburgh were dazzled by a more traditional firework display over the ramparts of Edinburgh castle. | In Scotland, where new year festivities are known as Hogmanay, crowds thronging the streets of Edinburgh were dazzled by a more traditional firework display over the ramparts of Edinburgh castle. |
| Meanwhile in Dublin, performers took part in a People's Procession of Light, a torch-lit celebration illuminating its way through the city. | Meanwhile in Dublin, performers took part in a People's Procession of Light, a torch-lit celebration illuminating its way through the city. |
| Cape Town in South Africa staged a free concert with lasers, fireworks and a special tribute to former President Nelson Mandela, who died on 5 December. | Cape Town in South Africa staged a free concert with lasers, fireworks and a special tribute to former President Nelson Mandela, who died on 5 December. |
| In Brazil, organisers of Rio de Janeiro's celebrations estimated that more than one million revellers packed the city's famous Copacabana beach to watch fireworks light up the bay after midnight. | In Brazil, organisers of Rio de Janeiro's celebrations estimated that more than one million revellers packed the city's famous Copacabana beach to watch fireworks light up the bay after midnight. |
| New York will soon mark the new year with the traditional New Year's Eve countdown and ball drop over Times Square. | New York will soon mark the new year with the traditional New Year's Eve countdown and ball drop over Times Square. |