Yes, it’s time to bust out the champagne and make resolutions you probably won’t keep.
But this year’s different. Cities around the world were hosting some of the most amazing celebrations ever.
Edible confetti raining over London and the pyrotechnics record set by Dubai earned it a place in the Guinness records.
World’s tallest towers lights up
Fireworks exploded from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, in Dubai as the whole city lit up to snatch a world record.
Dubai — a city obsessed with superlatives — organisers pulled off a world record for the biggest fireworks display near the world’s tallest building.
The spectacular show featured 400,000 pyrotechnics over 400 parts of the Dubai shoreline. That’s 100 kilometres (62 miles) of waterfront lighting up.
The Guinness World Records staff later labeled it the largest ever.
The show blew Kuwait’s world record out of the water when last year it set off 77,000 fireworks over 64 minutes. Organisers had been aiming to beat a record set in 2012 by the Kuwait.
Edible confetti falls from sky
Why have a fireworks show that only looks good? Revelers in London stuck out their tongues during Tuesday’s extravaganza and enjoyed ban-ana-flavoured confetti th-at was choreographed to the fireworks. They also saw floating oranges drifting through the night sky and popped them to enjoy a citrusy scent!
Hong Kong rallies for democracy
Hong Kong: Thousands marched in Hong Kong on Wednesday to demand a greater say in choosing their future leaders, expressing fears China will limit long-awaited political reforms, but turnout fell short of expectations.
Organisers said around 30,000 people took part in the annual New Year's Day march for democracy, while police put the figure at 11,100 — less than half their estimate last year. Marchers carried banners reading “Democracy will prevail” as they sang and shouted slogans against the government. — AFP
Pakistan Celebrations didn’t go as planned
slamabad: For thousands of party enthusiasts in Pakistan's capital here, the New Year celebrations did not go as planned as local authorities withdrew NOCs given to hotels for hosting parties to usher in 2014.
Many had paid up to Rs 16,000 per head to join the celebrations. But keeping an eye on the increased security concerns in the federal capital, the local administration suddenly decided to banish all celebrations in the city.
It was an emergency-like situation in some of the top hotels in the city where people, all decked up to celebrate, felt cheated.
Too bad for Environment
TOP: Fumes cover the city of Munich, southern Germany, as fireworks explode to usher in the new year.
Above: Also, a thick blanket of smog was seen covering an eastern section of the Philippine capital Manila (in picture above) on the morning after millions across the nation set off firecrackers and pyrotechnics to welcome in the New Year.
Philippine authorities said more than 260 people had been injured by fireworks or stray bullets in the days leading up to New Years Eve.
500 hurt in Lanka stage crash
Colombo: Dozens of party-goers were hospitalised in Sri Lanka on Wednesday after a stage collapsed at the five-star Colombo Hilton hotel during New Year celebrations, organisers of the festivities said.
At least 30 people were hospitalised with fractures, cuts and burns following the collapse of the outdoor stage, hurling some 700 people to the floor a few feet below, sparking fires and smashing glasses, a spokesman said. There was no immediate comment from the hotel, but event manager Cantaloupe Playground, wh-ich arranged what was billed as the “wonderland new year's eve” party, apologised.
