31/12/2016 BBC Weekend News

Celebrations are under way around the world to welcome in a new year.

New Zealand and Australia are among the first to see in 2017.

Many cities have increased security with concrete barriers and thousands

The key thing is to strike the balance and none of us wants

to disrupt the enjoyment all of us want to have on New Year's Eve.

We can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life.

In Iraq, 28 are killed and more than 50 people wounded

And, Liverpool keep up the pressure on Chelsea in the race for the

As countries around the world celebrate the start of a new year,

many cities have modified security plans following the lorry

Concrete barriers have been placed in central London to stop any

potential attack and thousands of extra police are on duty as our

Sydney, Australia, one of the first major cities to welcome in 2017.

The Harbour Bridge the focus of their spectacular display.

Soon after, it was Hong Kong's turn and this was their party.

In London, they're preparing for tonight's celebrations.

The Met Police says it has not had any specific intelligence

to point to an attack, but they've looked at

what happened in Berlin and Nice and adjusted their plans.

As in the past, there'll be officers with firearms,

but the key thing is to strike the balance, and none of us wants

to disrupt the enjoyment all of us want to have on New Year's Eve.

We can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life.

In other European cities, including Berlin, security

In her New Year's Eve address, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel

acknowledged the threat her country faces.

TRANSLATION: The biggest test, without a doubt,

is Islamist terrorism, which has had Germany

In 2016, it attacked us in Wurzburg, Asbach and just a few days ago

in the Christmas market here in Berlin.

Other political leaders sending New Year messages

A happy new year to my many enemies and those who have fought me

and lost so badly they just don't know what to do.

This is how 2017 was welcomed Dubai-style.

A lavish display with fireworks shooting from the sides

of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper.

Millions of others don't have too much longer to wait

Our correspondent Andrew Black is in Princes Street

in Edinburgh for us, where the party has

We can see the crowds starting to build there. That's right. Things

are already under way with the celebrations, the crowd in good

spirits, as you can probably tell. You probably can hear the lightning

Seeds, one of the main headline bands on the stage. This event is a

sellout, that means like something like 75,000 people are going to be

in the Prince's Street area to see in 2017. Public safety is a big

consideration at these events, like all other New Year's events around

the UK, as we have been hearing. Police Scotland say they want to

treat things proportionally and don't want to stop people having a

good time but they also want to make sure people are safe as well,

everything's gone according to plan, so far. The big build-up now is

towards the gigantic fireworks display we are going to see from

Edinburgh Castle at ammed night, apparently we will be able to see

that from 30 miles outside Edinburgh. The weather is pretty

good. It was raining earlier on. It's nice and dry. Very unusual for

this time of year in Scotland, but as you can see, the crowds are in

pretty good spirits, it's been a good night so far and I think

there's still plenty of fun to come. Long may it continue, Andrew, thank

you very much. Our correspondent Jonathan Blake

is in central London for us. Any sign that the security measures

have put people off there? No, not so far. The crowds are really

building here on the embankment in central London now. 100,000 or so

people are expected to fill the viewing areas here and on the

bridges across the River Thames as the countdown to midnight begins.

The extra police on duty in central London tonight, many of them are

armed, a part of the security operation, there have been road

closures in place throughout the afternoon and extra barriers are up.

The fireworks display itself is of course the main attraction. It

starts as Big Ben chimes midnight. The London eye will be the centre

piece of that. There are Lee barges on the Thames and there will be

12,000 fireworks in total creating 50,000 individual explosions all set

synchronised to a specially chosen soundtrack which we are told will

reflect some of the music artist who is died in 2016, so expect David

Bowie, and Prince to feature, among others. London now has established

itself as one of the premier fireworks displays on New Year's Eve

and there isn't long to wait for the crowds who are patiently trying to

keep themselves warm here on the banks of the Thames. Thank you very

much. So-called Islamic State has said it

carried out two bombings at a busy market in the Iraqi capital,

Baghdad, this morning, More than 50 other

people were wounded. A third blast happened later

in the east of the city. Our correspondent

Jonny Dymond reports. For Iraqis, 2016 ends as it began -

with bloodshed and grief. Just one of the shoppers and traders

slaughtered on a Saturday morning. There were two bombs,

one in a car parts shop, then another when a crowd had formed

around the first. Fathers, and sisters,

and mothers, and brothers. TRANSLATION: When we heard

the explosion, we found many people killed and wounded,

whom we rescued and Why does this happen in Iraq,

why to the Iraqi people? To the north, the battle to take

Mosul, Iraq's second city, from so-called

Islamic State continues. It's a long slog, and for many

residents the only way is out. Three more months, Iraq's government

says, the action might take. Maybe next year will be better,

but many Iraqis are giving up, as they flee their battered city

with nothing but bags and suitcases. The Prime Minister, Theresa May,

has delivered her New Year message, saying 2017 will be "a year

of opportunity and unity". She acknowledged that the EU

referendum had laid bare divisions in the country but sought

to reassure those who voted Remain that she would fight

for their interests during The United Nations Security Council

has unanimously welcomed efforts to end the fighting

in Syria's civil war. The resolution also calls for rapid

access for the delivery Russia and Turkey have

helped broker a truce. It's the third ceasefire this year

as part of efforts to end nearly six Hull becomes the second ever UK City

of Culture tomorrow. The year-long programme will include

the Royal Shakespeare Company taking up residence and the Humber Bridge

being turned into Organisers say perceptions of Hull

will be changed forever. Our arts correspondent

Colin Paterson has more. Many were surprised

when it was chosen. Tomorrow, its year in

the spotlight begins. And last minute

preparations continue. Five million just been

in print, tt's great. Five million just been

in print, it's great. One of its most famous

residents is very excited. We always thought culture

was rugby and fish and chips! Now we're seeing it's more -

it's art, it's history. It's a wonderful feeling,

it's new buildings. It's a new confidence that people

in Hull are proud to say, Hull is promising at least one

cultural event every day of 2017, What are you hoping the City

of Culture will achieve for Hull? I want, nationally

and internationally, people to see that this

is a fantastic city with great stories, great people,

and a lot to offer. Because every city deserves

its moment in the limelight. Buildings will be used as giant

screens to retell the city's history, with one turning

Hollywood into Hullywood. People here have recreated

famous movie scenes. And later in the evening

there's going to be a giant And those are bigger than those that

were used in London's As for the soundtrack, every single

song is by an act from Hull. It's hoped that in 2017,

one million people will visit Hull. So a campaign has encouraged locals

into the bed-and-breakfast trade. So I can welcome people

into our home, and really help them to understand a bit more

about the city. They might come with a negative

perception, but I really feel they will leave with a much more

positive perception And another bonus -

the BBC has decided that every time the TV weather map appears in 2017,

Hull will be on it. The City of Culture has literally

been put on the map. With all the sport here's Ollie

Foster at the BBC Sport Centre. Chelsea have finished the year six

points clear at the top They beat Stoke 4-2 and have matched

Arsenal's record set 14 years ago of 13 wins in a row

in a single season. It was 2-2 with 25 minutes

to go at Stamford Bridge. But a second goal from Willian

helped secure the points. Liverpool are still second

in the table after they beat third-placed Manchester

City at Anfield. Georginio Winaldurn scored

the only goal of the match. City are now ten points off

the top of the table. In the other games, Andre Grey

scored a hat trick for Burnley as they beat struggling

Sunderland 4-1. Champions Leicester had a much

needed win against West Ham. Hal Robson-Kanu scored a brilliant

winner for West Brom as they beat Swansea went down 3-0

at home to Bournemouth. Swansea are managerless at the

moment after they sacked the American Bob Bradley last Tuesday

but Paul Clement is set to become their third manager of the season.

He's currently the assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich

and was previously at Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Real Madrid.

He was sacked by Derby earlier this year with the club fifth

He is expected to take over in the next 48 hours.

The Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says today's old firm

match was a great advert for Scottish football.

They beat Rangers 2-1 at Ibrox to move 19 points

Here's our sports correspondent Andy Swiss.

He remains -- it remains one of football's fiercest and noisiest

rifleries, amid the noise a minute's silence in memory of the 66 fan who

is died in a crush at Ibrox in 1971. After that reflection, time for the

action. Celtic, the runaway league leaders, but thanks to Kenny

Miller's perfect timing, it was Rangers that seized the initiative.

Celtic soon responded, though. And in thunderous fashion. A blistering

volley levelling it up at the break. And just after it, Celtic should

have been ahead. Denied by the bar. Sinclair the side netting. Would it

be one of those days? With barely 20 minutes left, finally

their pressure paid off. For Sinclair, this time unmissable,

Celtic seemingly unstoppable. Rangers did nearly equalise. Miller

agonisingly close. But Celtic are now 19 points clear. It might not

even be January, but the title is already surely theirs.

Andy Swiss, BBC News. Four other results in

the Scottish Premiership today, Hamilton against Motherwell

and Partick Kilmarnock were draws. In today's only match in the Aviva

Rugby Union Premiership Exeter beat Bath to jump above them into third

place in the table. They staged a stunning second half

comeback at the Rec. They were 11-0 down at half-time

but two tries from James Short in the final ten minutes saw them

grab an unlikely win 17-11. In the Pro 12, Leinster are up

to second after beating Ulster 22-7. There were also wins

for the leaders Munster, That's your New Year's Eve sport.

Thank you very much. You can see more on all of today's

stories on the BBC News Channel. That's all from me and the team

here, wishing you, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing,

a very happy new year.