Sydney welcomes 2013 with its traditional fireworks

Sydney Harbour, Australia welcomes 2013 with its traditional fireworks [Photo: Edwina Pickles ]

While it is yet to be new year in the rest of the world, it has already dawned in New Zealand and Australia.

The Sydney harbour was the traditional venue of the fireworks which was watched by som e1.6 million people - a gathering larger than the usual gatherings in Paris, London, Berlin and New York, said the City of Sydney.

Seconds before midnight Kylie Minogue pushed the button to launch a countdown and a remix of her song On a Night Like This blared out.

Minogue, who was the creative ambassador for Sydney's New Year's Eve, had designed a firework in the shape of a musical note.

At the end of the show Mr Foti released canon after canon, the bangs following at such short intervals that the colours washed together.

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, issued a new year message heavy on policy detail. She mentioned the economy, health and aged care, climate change, the United Nations Security Council, North Korean missiles, global terrorism and Afghanistan.

Read and see more photos: Sydney Morning Herlad
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Twitter crashes after 16,000 New Year tweets a SECOND lead to meltdown

First Post of 2012

[ via Mail Online ] 1 Jan 2012

Social network Twitter ground to a halt yesterday as it was overloaded with New Year messages. In Britain the site crashed at about 3pm and was out of action for more than an hour.

It coincided with midnight celebrations in Japan when revellers were sending a record 16,197 tweets per second. 

The overload meant no one could post new messages or read existing ones. Instead, frustrated users were greeted with the error message: 'Twitter is over capacity.' 

The site returned to working order but then stopped on several other occasions, prompting speculation that it was being hit by the arrival of New Year in different parts of the world.

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After New Zealand and Australia, New Year 2012 Enters Asia

New Year luminously welcomed in Australia

After being luminously welcomed in New Zealand and Australia, the New Year 2012 enters Asia and has passed over Japan and is now hours away from India and Pakistan.

Sydney's harbour erupted in a blaze of colour and light on the stroke of midnight with a 12-minute pyrotechnic display drawing more than 1.5 million people to crowded foreshores and city landmarks. Sydney spent £4m for the fascinating New Year fireworks display

Shapes of clouds and hearts floated above Australia's biggest city, while glittering lights cascaded off the focal point of the display, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and fireworks launched from barges and rooftops exploded overhead.


Watch the video [euronews/YouTube]

Read more: The Telegraph [ 1 January 2012 ]

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