:00:29. > :00:31.Fireworks and festivities welcome in 2017.
:00:32. > :00:34.In Australia, there was a spectacular display of fireworks
:00:35. > :00:37.Security is stepped up for New Year celebrations in major
:00:38. > :00:46.In London, thousands of extra police are deployed.
:00:47. > :00:54.Sydney, Australia, one of the first cities to welcome in 2017.
:00:55. > :01:03.The Harbour Bridge the focus of their spectacular display.
:01:04. > :01:11.Soon after, it was Hong Kong's turn and this was their party.
:01:12. > :01:19.In London, they're preparing for tonight's celebrations.
:01:20. > :01:24.The Met Police says it is not had any specific intelligence
:01:25. > :01:26.to point to an attack, but they've looked at
:01:27. > :01:32.what happened in Berlin and Nice and adjusted their plans.
:01:33. > :01:34.There'll be more than 3000 visible police officers present tonight.
:01:35. > :01:37.As in the past, there will be officers with firearms,
:01:38. > :01:40.but the key thing is to strike the balance, and none of us wants
:01:41. > :01:44.to disrupt the enjoyment all of us want to have on New Year's Eve.
:01:45. > :01:47.We can't allow the bad guys to spoil our way of life.
:01:48. > :01:49.In other European cities, including Berlin, security
:01:50. > :01:57.In her New Year's Eve address, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
:01:58. > :01:58.acknowledged the threat her country faces.
:01:59. > :02:02.TRANSLATION: The biggest test, without a doubt,
:02:03. > :02:04.is Islamist terrorism, which has had Germany
:02:05. > :02:10.In 2016 it attacked us in Wurzburg, Asbach and just a few days ago
:02:11. > :02:15.in the Christmas market here in Berlin.
:02:16. > :02:17.Other political leaders sending New Year messages
:02:18. > :02:33.Around the world, millions of people are getting ready
:02:34. > :02:56.to celebrate their New Year's Eve, welcoming in 2017 in style.
:02:57. > :03:03.Our correspondent is in Edinburgh. Things are well underway here. The
:03:04. > :03:09.gates opened at 9pm and thousands of people have been streaming and ever
:03:10. > :03:15.since. The event tonight as a sell-out. Some 75,000 people will be
:03:16. > :03:19.seeing in the 2017 when it comes. They're partying is going to be
:03:20. > :03:25.beamed around the world to something like 1 billion people. The live
:03:26. > :03:28.music has already started and spirits are quite high. Public
:03:29. > :03:34.safety is paramount in public events like this and other Hogmanay events
:03:35. > :03:38.are rendered the UK have had to review the policing arrangements.
:03:39. > :03:41.That is no different in Edinburgh. Police Scotland to have said that
:03:42. > :03:45.they are taking a proportionate view. They want people to have fun
:03:46. > :03:51.but they want to make sure that they are safe at the same time. There are
:03:52. > :03:55.hundreds of security guards on duty as well so very much hoping that
:03:56. > :03:59.everything goes to plan tonight. The big build-up is towards the giant
:04:00. > :04:12.fireworks display, which is happening from the battlements of
:04:13. > :04:14.Edinburgh Castle at are told that we will be able to see the firework
:04:15. > :04:17.display for 30 miles around. The weather is good, spirits are high
:04:18. > :04:27.and we are in for a pretty spectacular night.
:04:28. > :04:31.So, Islamic State has claimed is responsible for a blast.
:04:32. > :04:57.For a Raaqys, 2016 ended in bloodshed and grief. -- Iraqis.
:04:58. > :05:02.There were two bombs. One in a car park. And another when a crowd had
:05:03. > :05:10.formed around the first. Fathers and sisters and mothers and brothers.
:05:11. > :05:14.TRANSLATION: When we heard the explosion we found many people
:05:15. > :05:19.killed and wounded, whom we rescued and sent to hospital. Why does this
:05:20. > :05:27.happen in Iraq? Why to the Iraqi people? To the north, the battle to
:05:28. > :05:31.take Mosul, Iraq's second city, from so-called Islamic State, continues.
:05:32. > :05:38.It is a long slog. And for many residents, the only way is out.
:05:39. > :05:42.Three more months, Iraq's government says, the action may take. Maybe
:05:43. > :05:49.next year will be better. But many Iraqis giving up. They flee their
:05:50. > :06:04.battered city with nothing but bags and suitcases.
:06:05. > :06:16.Here, Hull becomes the second UK City of Culture tomorrow. : Paterson
:06:17. > :06:21.reports. Hull, city of Culture 2017. Many were surprised when it was
:06:22. > :06:30.chosen. Tomorrow it's year in the spotlight begins. Last-minute
:06:31. > :06:35.preparations continue. It's great. One of its most famous residences
:06:36. > :06:39.very excited. We always thought culture was rugby and fish and
:06:40. > :06:44.chips. Now it is more. It is art, it is history, it is a wonderful
:06:45. > :06:49.feeling, its new buildings, a new confidence. People are proud. Hull
:06:50. > :06:55.is promising at least one cultural event every day of 2017, with ?32
:06:56. > :07:01.million being spent. What are you hoping the city of Culture will
:07:02. > :07:05.achieve for Hull? I want nationally and internationally people to see
:07:06. > :07:09.this is a fantastic city with great stories, great people and a lot to
:07:10. > :07:15.offer. Because every city deserves its moment in the limelight. 2017 is
:07:16. > :07:19.ours. It all starts tomorrow afternoon. Buildings will be used as
:07:20. > :07:28.giant screens to retail the city's history. With one... People here
:07:29. > :07:33.have recreated famous movie scenes. Later in the evening there will be a
:07:34. > :07:38.giant fireworks display. That is what is going to be set off. Those
:07:39. > :07:43.are bigger than those that will be used in London. For the soundtrack,
:07:44. > :07:49.every single song is by an act from Hull. It is hoped that in 2017 a
:07:50. > :07:55.million people will visit Hull. This has caused a problem. The city only
:07:56. > :08:01.has a thousand hotel rooms. So a campaign has encouraged locals into
:08:02. > :08:04.the bed-and-breakfast trade. I feel like an unpaid ambassador, I can
:08:05. > :08:09.welcome people into our home and help them to understand a bit more
:08:10. > :08:14.about the city. I feel they will leave with a positive perception
:08:15. > :08:19.after they have stayed here. And other bonus. The BBC has decided
:08:20. > :08:25.that every time the TV weather map appears in 2017, Hull will be
:08:26. > :08:33.honoured. The City of Culture has literally been put on the map. In
:08:34. > :08:38.today's football, Premier League leaders Chelsea beat Stoke City 4-2
:08:39. > :08:42.for their 13th win in a row. Liverpool and Manchester City had
:08:43. > :08:45.the chance to close the gap in the late kick-off.
:08:46. > :08:49.Patrick Geary reports. This is a night to remember old acquaintances.
:08:50. > :08:56.Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola met many times on German touchlines.
:08:57. > :08:59.They are two of the Premier League's so-called super managers, charged
:09:00. > :09:08.with invigorating teams and players, like Adam Lallana, picking out
:09:09. > :09:12.Wijnaldum. Through the first-half, the pressing came from the men in
:09:13. > :09:17.red. The only thing missing, precision. Those in offered little.
:09:18. > :09:24.Manchester City took the best part of an hour to muster anything. That
:09:25. > :09:29.was Sergio Aguero's first shot of the match. It sparked a mini surge.
:09:30. > :09:36.David Silva gave and filled its first truly nervous moment. But this
:09:37. > :09:41.was an anti-climax. -- Anfield. This win sets up Liverpool's New Year's
:09:42. > :09:48.chines. -- talents. Much more throughout the
:09:49. > :09:49.evening on the BBC News Channel. Now it is time for the