:00:00. > :00:08.Celebrations are under way around the world to welcome in a new year.
:00:09. > :00:17.New Zealand and Australia are among the first to see in 2017.
:00:18. > :00:21.Many cities have increased security with concrete barriers and thousands
:00:22. > :00:29.The key thing is to strike the balance and none of us wants
:00:30. > :00:32.to disrupt the enjoyment all of us want to have on New Year's Eve.
:00:33. > :00:35.We can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life.
:00:36. > :00:39.In Iraq, 28 are killed and more than 50 people wounded
:00:40. > :00:46.And, Liverpool keep up the pressure on Chelsea in the race for the
:00:47. > :01:16.As countries around the world celebrate the start of a new year,
:01:17. > :01:19.many cities have modified security plans following the lorry
:01:20. > :01:26.Concrete barriers have been placed in central London to stop any
:01:27. > :01:29.potential attack and thousands of extra police are on duty as our
:01:30. > :01:40.Sydney, Australia, one of the first major cities to welcome in 2017.
:01:41. > :01:51.The Harbour Bridge the focus of their spectacular display.
:01:52. > :01:58.Soon after, it was Hong Kong's turn and this was their party.
:01:59. > :02:06.In London, they're preparing for tonight's celebrations.
:02:07. > :02:09.The Met Police says it has not had any specific intelligence
:02:10. > :02:11.to point to an attack, but they've looked at
:02:12. > :02:13.what happened in Berlin and Nice and adjusted their plans.
:02:14. > :02:17.As in the past, there'll be officers with firearms,
:02:18. > :02:21.but the key thing is to strike the balance, and none of us wants
:02:22. > :02:25.to disrupt the enjoyment all of us want to have on New Year's Eve.
:02:26. > :02:28.We can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life.
:02:29. > :02:31.In other European cities, including Berlin, security
:02:32. > :02:38.In her New Year's Eve address, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
:02:39. > :02:40.acknowledged the threat her country faces.
:02:41. > :02:44.TRANSLATION: The biggest test, without a doubt,
:02:45. > :02:48.is Islamist terrorism, which has had Germany
:02:49. > :02:55.In 2016, it attacked us in Wurzburg, Asbach and just a few days ago
:02:56. > :02:59.in the Christmas market here in Berlin.
:03:00. > :03:02.Other political leaders sending New Year messages
:03:03. > :03:10.A happy new year to my many enemies and those who have fought me
:03:11. > :03:13.and lost so badly they just don't know what to do.
:03:14. > :03:23.This is how 2017 was welcomed Dubai-style.
:03:24. > :03:26.A lavish display with fireworks shooting from the sides
:03:27. > :03:31.of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper.
:03:32. > :03:33.Millions of others don't have too much longer to wait
:03:34. > :03:43.Our correspondent Andrew Black is in Princes Street
:03:44. > :03:45.in Edinburgh for us, where the party has
:03:46. > :03:54.We can see the crowds starting to build there. That's right. Things
:03:55. > :03:57.are already under way with the celebrations, the crowd in good
:03:58. > :04:02.spirits, as you can probably tell. You probably can hear the lightning
:04:03. > :04:08.Seeds, one of the main headline bands on the stage. This event is a
:04:09. > :04:13.sellout, that means like something like 75,000 people are going to be
:04:14. > :04:17.in the Prince's Street area to see in 2017. Public safety is a big
:04:18. > :04:21.consideration at these events, like all other New Year's events around
:04:22. > :04:25.the UK, as we have been hearing. Police Scotland say they want to
:04:26. > :04:30.treat things proportionally and don't want to stop people having a
:04:31. > :04:33.good time but they also want to make sure people are safe as well,
:04:34. > :04:39.everything's gone according to plan, so far. The big build-up now is
:04:40. > :04:43.towards the gigantic fireworks display we are going to see from
:04:44. > :04:45.Edinburgh Castle at ammed night, apparently we will be able to see
:04:46. > :04:49.that from 30 miles outside Edinburgh. The weather is pretty
:04:50. > :04:53.good. It was raining earlier on. It's nice and dry. Very unusual for
:04:54. > :04:58.this time of year in Scotland, but as you can see, the crowds are in
:04:59. > :05:01.pretty good spirits, it's been a good night so far and I think
:05:02. > :05:02.there's still plenty of fun to come. Long may it continue, Andrew, thank
:05:03. > :05:05.you very much. Our correspondent Jonathan Blake
:05:06. > :05:13.is in central London for us. Any sign that the security measures
:05:14. > :05:17.have put people off there? No, not so far. The crowds are really
:05:18. > :05:22.building here on the embankment in central London now. 100,000 or so
:05:23. > :05:28.people are expected to fill the viewing areas here and on the
:05:29. > :05:31.bridges across the River Thames as the countdown to midnight begins.
:05:32. > :05:35.The extra police on duty in central London tonight, many of them are
:05:36. > :05:38.armed, a part of the security operation, there have been road
:05:39. > :05:42.closures in place throughout the afternoon and extra barriers are up.
:05:43. > :05:47.The fireworks display itself is of course the main attraction. It
:05:48. > :05:51.starts as Big Ben chimes midnight. The London eye will be the centre
:05:52. > :05:56.piece of that. There are Lee barges on the Thames and there will be
:05:57. > :05:59.12,000 fireworks in total creating 50,000 individual explosions all set
:06:00. > :06:03.synchronised to a specially chosen soundtrack which we are told will
:06:04. > :06:07.reflect some of the music artist who is died in 2016, so expect David
:06:08. > :06:12.Bowie, and Prince to feature, among others. London now has established
:06:13. > :06:15.itself as one of the premier fireworks displays on New Year's Eve
:06:16. > :06:18.and there isn't long to wait for the crowds who are patiently trying to
:06:19. > :06:19.keep themselves warm here on the banks of the Thames. Thank you very
:06:20. > :06:23.much. So-called Islamic State has said it
:06:24. > :06:26.carried out two bombings at a busy market in the Iraqi capital,
:06:27. > :06:28.Baghdad, this morning, More than 50 other
:06:29. > :06:35.people were wounded. A third blast happened later
:06:36. > :06:37.in the east of the city. Our correspondent
:06:38. > :06:39.Jonny Dymond reports. For Iraqis, 2016 ends as it began -
:06:40. > :06:47.with bloodshed and grief. Just one of the shoppers and traders
:06:48. > :06:54.slaughtered on a Saturday morning. There were two bombs,
:06:55. > :07:00.one in a car parts shop, then another when a crowd had formed
:07:01. > :07:03.around the first. Fathers, and sisters,
:07:04. > :07:11.and mothers, and brothers. TRANSLATION: When we heard
:07:12. > :07:16.the explosion, we found many people killed and wounded,
:07:17. > :07:18.whom we rescued and Why does this happen in Iraq,
:07:19. > :07:24.why to the Iraqi people? To the north, the battle to take
:07:25. > :07:28.Mosul, Iraq's second city, from so-called
:07:29. > :07:32.Islamic State continues. It's a long slog, and for many
:07:33. > :07:38.residents the only way is out. Three more months, Iraq's government
:07:39. > :07:43.says, the action might take. Maybe next year will be better,
:07:44. > :07:48.but many Iraqis are giving up, as they flee their battered city
:07:49. > :07:51.with nothing but bags and suitcases. The Prime Minister, Theresa May,
:07:52. > :08:04.has delivered her New Year message, saying 2017 will be "a year
:08:05. > :08:07.of opportunity and unity". She acknowledged that the EU
:08:08. > :08:15.referendum had laid bare divisions in the country but sought
:08:16. > :08:18.to reassure those who voted Remain that she would fight
:08:19. > :08:20.for their interests during The United Nations Security Council
:08:21. > :08:24.has unanimously welcomed efforts to end the fighting
:08:25. > :08:31.in Syria's civil war. The resolution also calls for rapid
:08:32. > :08:33.access for the delivery Russia and Turkey have
:08:34. > :08:36.helped broker a truce. It's the third ceasefire this year
:08:37. > :08:39.as part of efforts to end nearly six Hull becomes the second ever UK City
:08:40. > :08:47.of Culture tomorrow. The year-long programme will include
:08:48. > :08:50.the Royal Shakespeare Company taking up residence and the Humber Bridge
:08:51. > :08:54.being turned into Organisers say perceptions of Hull
:08:55. > :08:59.will be changed forever. Our arts correspondent
:09:00. > :09:02.Colin Paterson has more. Many were surprised
:09:03. > :09:06.when it was chosen. Tomorrow, its year in
:09:07. > :09:09.the spotlight begins. And last minute
:09:10. > :09:11.preparations continue. Five million just been
:09:12. > :09:23.in print, tt's great. Five million just been
:09:24. > :09:25.in print, it's great. One of its most famous
:09:26. > :09:27.residents is very excited. We always thought culture
:09:28. > :09:29.was rugby and fish and chips! Now we're seeing it's more -
:09:30. > :09:32.it's art, it's history. It's a wonderful feeling,
:09:33. > :09:33.it's new buildings. It's a new confidence that people
:09:34. > :09:37.in Hull are proud to say, Hull is promising at least one
:09:38. > :09:41.cultural event every day of 2017, What are you hoping the City
:09:42. > :09:47.of Culture will achieve for Hull? I want, nationally
:09:48. > :09:50.and internationally, people to see that this
:09:51. > :09:52.is a fantastic city with great stories, great people,
:09:53. > :09:59.and a lot to offer. Because every city deserves
:10:00. > :10:01.its moment in the limelight. Buildings will be used as giant
:10:02. > :10:10.screens to retell the city's history, with one turning
:10:11. > :10:13.Hollywood into Hullywood. People here have recreated
:10:14. > :10:16.famous movie scenes. And later in the evening
:10:17. > :10:20.there's going to be a giant And those are bigger than those that
:10:21. > :10:29.were used in London's As for the soundtrack, every single
:10:30. > :10:34.song is by an act from Hull. It's hoped that in 2017,
:10:35. > :10:37.one million people will visit Hull. So a campaign has encouraged locals
:10:38. > :10:49.into the bed-and-breakfast trade. So I can welcome people
:10:50. > :10:55.into our home, and really help them to understand a bit more
:10:56. > :10:57.about the city. They might come with a negative
:10:58. > :11:00.perception, but I really feel they will leave with a much more
:11:01. > :11:02.positive perception And another bonus -
:11:03. > :11:08.the BBC has decided that every time the TV weather map appears in 2017,
:11:09. > :11:12.Hull will be on it. The City of Culture has literally
:11:13. > :11:14.been put on the map. With all the sport here's Ollie
:11:15. > :11:26.Foster at the BBC Sport Centre. Chelsea have finished the year six
:11:27. > :11:29.points clear at the top They beat Stoke 4-2 and have matched
:11:30. > :11:33.Arsenal's record set 14 years ago of 13 wins in a row
:11:34. > :11:38.in a single season. It was 2-2 with 25 minutes
:11:39. > :11:44.to go at Stamford Bridge. But a second goal from Willian
:11:45. > :11:46.helped secure the points. Liverpool are still second
:11:47. > :11:49.in the table after they beat third-placed Manchester
:11:50. > :11:51.City at Anfield. Georginio Winaldurn scored
:11:52. > :11:55.the only goal of the match. City are now ten points off
:11:56. > :11:58.the top of the table. In the other games, Andre Grey
:11:59. > :12:00.scored a hat trick for Burnley as they beat struggling
:12:01. > :12:04.Sunderland 4-1. Champions Leicester had a much
:12:05. > :12:07.needed win against West Ham. Hal Robson-Kanu scored a brilliant
:12:08. > :12:10.winner for West Brom as they beat Swansea went down 3-0
:12:11. > :12:22.at home to Bournemouth. Swansea are managerless at the
:12:23. > :12:26.moment after they sacked the American Bob Bradley last Tuesday
:12:27. > :12:30.but Paul Clement is set to become their third manager of the season.
:12:31. > :12:32.He's currently the assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich
:12:33. > :12:35.and was previously at Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Real Madrid.
:12:36. > :12:39.He was sacked by Derby earlier this year with the club fifth
:12:40. > :12:48.He is expected to take over in the next 48 hours.
:12:49. > :12:50.The Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says today's old firm
:12:51. > :12:52.match was a great advert for Scottish football.
:12:53. > :12:54.They beat Rangers 2-1 at Ibrox to move 19 points
:12:55. > :13:01.Here's our sports correspondent Andy Swiss.
:13:02. > :13:08.He remains -- it remains one of football's fiercest and noisiest
:13:09. > :13:16.rifleries, amid the noise a minute's silence in memory of the 66 fan who
:13:17. > :13:20.is died in a crush at Ibrox in 1971. After that reflection, time for the
:13:21. > :13:24.action. Celtic, the runaway league leaders, but thanks to Kenny
:13:25. > :13:29.Miller's perfect timing, it was Rangers that seized the initiative.
:13:30. > :13:35.Celtic soon responded, though. And in thunderous fashion. A blistering
:13:36. > :13:39.volley levelling it up at the break. And just after it, Celtic should
:13:40. > :13:44.have been ahead. Denied by the bar. Sinclair the side netting. Would it
:13:45. > :13:49.be one of those days? With barely 20 minutes left, finally
:13:50. > :13:53.their pressure paid off. For Sinclair, this time unmissable,
:13:54. > :13:58.Celtic seemingly unstoppable. Rangers did nearly equalise. Miller
:13:59. > :14:03.agonisingly close. But Celtic are now 19 points clear. It might not
:14:04. > :14:05.even be January, but the title is already surely theirs.
:14:06. > :14:08.Andy Swiss, BBC News. Four other results in
:14:09. > :14:16.the Scottish Premiership today, Hamilton against Motherwell
:14:17. > :14:18.and Partick Kilmarnock were draws. In today's only match in the Aviva
:14:19. > :14:21.Rugby Union Premiership Exeter beat Bath to jump above them into third
:14:22. > :14:24.place in the table. They staged a stunning second half
:14:25. > :14:26.comeback at the Rec. They were 11-0 down at half-time
:14:27. > :14:31.but two tries from James Short in the final ten minutes saw them
:14:32. > :14:38.grab an unlikely win 17-11. In the Pro 12, Leinster are up
:14:39. > :14:47.to second after beating Ulster 22-7. There were also wins
:14:48. > :14:50.for the leaders Munster, That's your New Year's Eve sport.
:14:51. > :14:59.Thank you very much. You can see more on all of today's
:15:00. > :15:02.stories on the BBC News Channel. That's all from me and the team
:15:03. > :15:05.here, wishing you, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing,
:15:06. > :15:09.a very happy new year.