Tonight Taio Cruz performed a medley for the crowds in Times Square. The entertainer sang a medley of his hits for ‘Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.’ One of the dozen acts tonight seen on the streets of New York City, the entertainer had the crowd moving and singing while waiting for Midnight to ring in the New Year 2011.
Looking like he was having a great time, Cruz interacted with the crowd during his performance and wore his stylish trademark sunglasses. The stage, set above the crowd and in perfect angles of the camera not only helped capture the performance of the night but shared the excitement in Times Square.
All aboard the climate controlled Cabana Cruiser for a four hour open bar sailing. Cruise down the Hudson River on a luxury yacht while seeing all the spectacular sights on this special New Year’s Eve night.
Setting sail from Pier 81(World Yacht Marina) at 9:00PM the nicknamed 2011 Firework Cruise sails alongside the Statue of Liberty and uses the skyline of New York City as a scenic backdrop.
A DJ adds a spin to the night’s festivities with ‘record’ hits from the 80’s, 90’s and today’s Top 40’s. The fireworks aglow in the darken sky warmly welcomes in the New Year.
Normally a $200.00 packaged deal, a special last minute discounted deal of only $100.00 allows guests to take part in the merriment. While dancing the night away piles of plates brimming with appetizers will be passed around by attentive cruise staff and later in the night party favors will be streaming from the ship.
Don’t wait, 2011 is almost here so head over to Goldstar.com to have a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday without putting a ‘bang’ in 2010’s budget.
Free travel will be in place for certain periods for revellers keen to see in the new year in central London.
The scheme hopes to reduce delays and congestion as thousands gather to see in 2011 in the City.
Peter Hendy, London Transport Commissioner, said those travelling should expect delays and large crowds.
"The New Year's Eve fireworks display that takes place at the London Eye provides spectacular entertainment and is enormously popular, attracting large crowds that should be prepared for a long wait at the designated viewing areas along the Thames," he said.
"As a result people with young children may wish to consider celebrating nearer to home.
"For those wishing to brave the crowds and long waiting times, public transport will be the best way to get around the capital on New Year's Eve, and I'm pleased we can offer this for free, but I urge revellers to plan their journeys well in advance."
There will be free travel on all journeys between 11.45pm until 4.30am on the Tube, DLR, buses and trams.
Tube, DLR and tram services will run all night on New Year's Eve.
Some selected Tube stations will be closed completely or for periods at a time.
A Saturday night service will operate on night buses and 24-hour routes, subject to road closures in central London.
More than 50 extra routes will be operating through the night to enhance the service.
Free travel will apply on London Overground trains running after 11.45pm until normal last train times between Watford Junction and Euston, and Dalston Junction and West Croydon/Crystal Palace/New Cross route, but services will not run all night.
London River Services will run a normal service however after 2.30pm, London Eye Millenium pier will not be served due to preparation for the fireworks display.
Some routes will operate on New Year's Day, but a normal service will not resume until January 2.
Some Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations will be temporarily suspended for safety reasons at various times on New Year's Eve.
For the latest information on docking station availability, users should check online.
There will be a reduced number of UK coaches departing from Victoria Coach Station with the last coaches leaving at around 10pm.
National Rail will operate modified timetables with additional departures between midnight and 2.45am.
Police around the country are reporting a mostly trouble-free New Year's Eve with arrests being predominantly drinking and disorder related.
Wellington police reported 20 arrests, mainly for disorder offences. One incident involved a 39-year-old woman who fell off Glasgow Wharf into Wellington Harbour. The woman was rescued by two locals and taken to hospital.
Thousands of party-goers descended on the Nelson region overnight. There were 1400 visitors at Maitai Camp and 2000 at Kaiteriteri. A pub concert at Riwaka Hotel attracted around 1700 punters with no problems reported.
Nelson police made 21 arrests, also mainly for disorder. Area commander Inspector Brian McGurk says the strife-free New Year comes down to a high police presence and careful planning.
Nearly 12,000 people celebrated in Cathedral Square in Christchurch. Police reported only a few isolated incidents which they got onto quickly before they got out of hand.
In all there were 69 arrests in the city's CBD, mostly for breaches of the liquor ban and disorder offences.
Head of the New Year's night operation Inspector Derek Erasmus says overall everyone was well-behaved.
"Police have been kept busy across the city tonight, however overall once Cathedral Square cleared it was quieter than the last two years."
In Auckland, police made 42 arrests from seven last night to seven this morning.
No arrests were made in Gisborne where 25,000 people packed into the Rhythm and Vines festival.
A large waterfront crowd in Wanaka resulted in only 13 arrests for minor offences. One driver was charged for exceeding the breath alcohol limit out of 1000 drivers tested.
Traditional hotspots Tauranga and Mount Maunganui are said to be have been relatively peaceful with heavy enforcing of liquor bans preventing major problems.
The second decade of the millennium arrived in relative peace and quiet throughout most of the country and police say it is because widespread liquor bans let them keep drunken troublemakers under tight control.
In Auckland the noisiest part of the New Year's Eve celebration was the $100,000 fireworks display from the top of the Sky Tower in the central city, and from two barges in Waitemata Harbour.
The boom of the fireworks going off was heard on the North Shore and in other parts of Auckland several kilometres from the centre of the city.
Auckland police said it was a relatively quiet night although they conceded the city tended to empty out for New Year, with many people heading for some of the holiday hot spots in the Bay of Plenty and in the Far North.
Details of numbers arrested in Auckland and in the Bay of Plenty were not immediately available although Tauranga police spokeswoman, Jacky James said Mt Maunganui and Tauranga were relatively peaceful.
She said the liquor bans allowed police to kept the troublemakers and drunks out of the areas where people wanted to see the New Year in without the major disorder caused by alcohol.
"They (the liquor bans) are there exactly for that reason so we can police the liquor ban and prevent major disorder.
"We make no apologies for that because it helps prevent problems."
Liquor bans were first introduced in Tauranga in 2004 but amended in 2008 to make the bans permanent 24 hours a day.
In Gisborne the Rhythm and Vines concert attracted about 25,000 people but police reported few incidents.
In the Nelson area 21 people were arrested, including six for disorderly offences and five for being drunk. Three were also arrested for breaching bail conditions, three for assault and two for breaching the liquor ban.
Nelson police said there were also arrests for possession of cannabis and disqualified driving and three drivers were processed for alleged drink driving.
The Maitai Camp in Nelson had about 1400 young people on New Year's Eve. Police said numbers were down from last year but campers and visitors were well behaved and there were no problems.
"We made a point of adopting a high profile, being very visible as we moved around and dealing with the little things before they had a chance of getting out of hand" said Inspector Brian McGurk.
He said careful planning and good organisation produced a quiet night.
In Cathedral Square in Christchurch nearly 12,000 people welcomed in the New Year.
Police said they were pleased with the trouble-free behaviour.
Inspector Derek Erasmus said it was good to see so many families and tourists enjoying the city's night life, the entertainment, and fireworks.
"Overall everyone behaved well, with only a few isolated incidents that police were able to control before they escalated."
There were 69 arrests in the central business district, most for breaches of the liquor ban and disorder.
"Police have been kept busy across the city tonight, however overall once Cathedral Square cleared, it was quieter than the last two years."
Wellington police reported a quiet night in the capital, with 20 arrests, mostly for disorder.
In one of the few Wellington incidents, a 39-year-old woman fell off Glasgow Wharf into Wellington Harbour. She was rescued by two locals, one an employee of Bluebridge Ferry, and was taken to Wellington Hospital.
In Wanaka in Central Otago police said they were also pleased with crowd behaviour.
A large crowd gathered at the waterfront and at pubs and bars in the town but police said it was a family affair and only 13 people were arrested, mostly for minor offences.
Police also stopped more than 1000 motorists but only one was over the legal breath-alcohol limit, said Senior Sergeant Allan Grindell.
"Wanaka is a safe and desirable place to live and visit and this result clearly reinforces this," he said.
Multicoloured starbusts and gigantic sparklers lit the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour in a dazzling fireworks show witnessed by 1.5 million enthusiastic spectators who camped out all day to ring in the new year.
Sydney touted its claim to be the New Year's Eve capital of the world with a spectacular display over the iconic Harbour Bridge using 7 tons of fireworks, its largest since 2000.
''Stunning, beautiful,'' said Cinthya Romo, 32, a Sydney-based interpreter from Chile who watched the 12-minute fireworks show from the Opera House.
''Sydney's best show yet,'' exclaimed George Stamp, who enjoyed the show with his children.
Luxury yachts and smaller boats filled the harbour to party on the water, while others crammed into pubs, clubs and only balconies with a view of the fireworks show.
At the Opera Bar Beach House, hundreds of people paid up to $500 for the view and a party with a beach theme.
''This has got to be the best place to be in the world tonight,'' said guest Marc Wilson, 41.
A few hours earlier, New Zealand and many South Pacific island nations were first to see in new year.
New Zealanders sang and danced their way into 2011, with firework displays and sold-out concerts entertaining revelers.
In Auckland, explosions of red, gold and white burst over the Sky Tower while tens of thousands shouted, danced and sang in the streets below.
In Christchurch, thousands of partiers shrugged off a minor 3.3 earthquake that struck just before 10pm and celebrated in Cathedral Square. The city has rumbled with thousands of aftershocks from a powerful 7.1-magnitude quake that damaged buildings across the city on September 4.
As the clock ticked closer to 2011, cities across Asia readied for midnight events ranging from traditional prayers in Japan to a massive pyrotechnic display in the shape of a dragon in Taiwan. Europeans were looking forward to celebrations that could help them forget their economic worries.
In New York City, nearly a million revelers were expected to cram into the streets around Times Square to watch the traditional midnight ball drop. The 20-inch snowstorm that blanketed the city will be just a memory thanks to work crews and warmer temperatures.
At midnight Thursday - with just 24 hours to go - hundreds of people milled around Times Square as crews finished preparing TV sets for New Year's Eve broadcasts and vendors sold hats and noisemakers.
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Among the tourists were students from Grand Valley State University near Grand Rapids, Michigan, who were scoping out a good location for Friday night and marveling at the preparations.
''For sure, we're going to be here,'' said Ahmed Lachheb, 23, from Sfax, Tunisia.
''I'm going to be here near the closest restroom just in case,'' added Mohamed Azuz, also 23, from Tripoli, Libya.
This year marks the first time Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, officially celebrates the new year with a countdown blowout, complete with a light show and foreign DJs in front of the city's elegant French colonial-style opera house.
Vietnamese typically save their biggest celebrations for Tet, the lunar new year that begins on Feb. 3. But in recent years, the Western influence has started seeping into Vietnamese culture among teens, who have no memory of war or poverty and are eager to find a new reason to party in the Communist country.
At midnight in Taipei, Taiwan, fireworks will form a spiraling dragon climbing up the city's tallest skyscraper.
In Japan, New Year's Eve is generally spent at home with family but those who venture out go to temples to pray for good luck in the new year. At Zojoji, a 600-year-old Buddhist temple in central Tokyo, thousands were expected to release balloons at midnight carrying notes with their hopes for 2011.
In the Philippines, powerful firecrackers have injured at least 245 people in recent days and Health Secretary Enrique Ona urged safety during Friday's celebrations, saying he feared up to 1,000 injuries.
Many Filipinos, influenced by Chinese tradition, believe that noisy New Year's celebrations drive away evil and misfortune. But they have carried that superstition to extremes, exploding huge firecrackers sometimes bigger than dynamite sticks to welcome the new year.
In Europe, many people will be partying simply to forget their economic woes after a year that saw Greece and Ireland needing financial bailouts and others, such as Spain and Portugal, battling speculation that they will need similar aid.
In London, thousands will witness a musical and firework display at the 135-meter high London Eye, located on the southern banks of the Thames River. The Eye, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, lies almost opposite the Big Ben clock tower at Parliament that will chime in 2011.
If not at home or at private parties, Spaniards traditionally gather in their main town squares to eat 12 grapes one by one as the bell in the square marks the countdown to 2011.
In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in her New Year message that Europe is dealing with a major test and must strengthen the euro, even as she celebrated Germany's emergence from the economic crisis, powered by strong exports.
Merkel said in her televised message being broadcast Friday that ``it was a good year for Germany.'
DIG Traffic Karachi has made special arrangements and announced alternate routes of traffic in order to facilitate citizens on New Year’s eve.
All vehicular traffic coming towards Akhter Colony via Expressway and Korangi would not be allowed to enter Khyaban-e-Itehad (SeaView). These vehicles will be allowed to enter Sea View via Korangi Road, Shahr-e-Faisal, Regent Chowk, Club Chowk, Sultanabad, Mai Kolachi, Boat Basin, Bilawal Chowrangi and Ziauddin Chowrangi.
All traffic shall follow one way from Ali Baba China Chowrangi to via Akhtar Colony Light Signal via SeaView, Khyaban-e-Ittehad and Village Restaurant.
No traffic would be allowed towards Two Swords and KPT Underpass except vehicles of local residents.
Clifton Helipad and Khyaban-e-Firdoosi will be closed for any kind of traffic, besides traffic shall not be allowed to proceed to Bilawal Chowrangi.
Heavy traffic will not be permitted to move towards Mai Kolachi from Maripur. It will use Jinnah Bridge from Hub River Road or Shahr-e-Pakistan to reach their destinations.
All heavy traffic coming from Korangi Industrial Area shall use Jam Saddiq Bridge, National Highway and Northern Bypass to reach their desired destinations.
Parking will not be allowed at Main Shahr-e-Faisal, Abdullah Haroon Road, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed Road, Mai Kolachi Road, Korangi Road and MT Khan Road.
Legal action would be taken against plying motorbikes with damaged silencers or without silencers.
All vehicular traffic intending going Sea View from Orangi Town, Baldia Town, Keamri Town, Lyari Town and SITE Town could reach Sea View via State Avenue Road, Maripur Road, Jinnah Bridge, MT Khan Road, Mai Kolachi Road, Boat Basin and Bilawal Chowrangi.
All vehicular to SeaView from Gulberg Town, Liaquatabad Town, Ghulshan-e-Iqbal Town and New Karachi Town could reach SeaView via MA Jinnah Road, Garden Road, Zaib-u-Nisa Street, Avari Light Signal, Sindh Club Chowk, PIDC Chowk, Sultanabad, Mai Kolachi, Boat Basin, and Khyaban-e-Ghalib.
All vehicular traffic coming from Gadap Town, Bin Qasim Town, Landhi Town, Korangi Town, Shah Faisal Town, Jamshaid Town and Sadder Town shall use Shahr-e-Faisal, Mai Kolachi to reach SeaView.
Fireworks light up the sky near the landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpa as the world celebrates the start of 2011. Auckland, New Zealand, was the first major city to celebrate the New Year before Australia, Singapore and China followed suit later today. The iconic towers in Kuala Kumpa were lit up as fireworks went off at midnight - temporarily banishing the misery of extreme weather which has struck countries across the world.
Roads were due to be cordoned off in London as the capital prepared itself for its own fireworks display tonight. Australia has welcomed 2011 with a spectacular fireworks display over Sydney Harbour. Despite losing the Ashes this week, thousands of party-loving Aussies had camped out for hours at parks alongside the Sydney Harbour Bridge to win the best view of today's spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks. As the clock ticked closer to 2011, Europeans were looking forward to celebrations that could help them forget their economic worries. Japan and South Korea both celebrated New Year at 3pm GMT - and India was readying itself for it's celebrations in the next few hours. In New York City, nearly a million revellers were expected to cram into the streets around Times Square to watch the traditional midnight ball drop several hours after the UK has marked the start of 2011. The 20-inch snowstorm that blanketed the city will be just a memory thanks to work crews and warmer temperatures. At least 1.5 million people lined the harbour in Sydney, the first major city where the new year arrives after 2011 hit New Zealand. Celebrations begin with aerial displays by vintage aircraft and a parade of boats around the harbour.
In Christchurch, New Zealand, two minor earthquakes Friday did not shake plans for all-night celebrations. 'There is more reason than ever for people to get together and celebrate the beginning of a New Year,' Christchurch's acting mayor Ngaire Button said, urging residents to celebrate in the central Cathedral Square, where workers were removing loose masonry after the quakes. A powerful 7.1-magnitude quake wrecked thousand of buildings in Christchurch on September 4, but nobody was killed.
This year marks the first time Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, officially celebrates the new year with a countdown blow out, complete with a light show and foreign DJs in front of the city's elegant French colonial-style opera house. Vietnamese in the past paid little attention to the changing of the calendar, instead holding massive celebrations during Tet, the lunar new year that begins on Feb. 3. But in recent years, the Western influence has started seeping into Vietnamese culture with teens, who have no memory of war or poverty and are eager to find a new reason to party in the Communist country. In South Korea, up to 100,000 people went to a bell-ringing ceremony in central Seoul, with officials and citizens striking the large bronze bell hung in the Bosingak bell pavilion 33 times at midnight. Some South Koreans also go to the mountains or beaches on early Saturday to watch the first sunrise of the new year. At midnight in Taipei, Taiwan, fireworks will form a spiraling dragon climbing up the city's tallest skyscraper. Some 50 dancers will beat drums in the freezing cold river in a dance to underscore how people should live with nature in harmony.
In Japan, New Year's Eve is generally spent at home with family but those who venture out go to temples to pray for good luck in the new year. At Zojoji, a 600-year-old Buddhist temple in central Tokyo, thousands were expected to release balloons at midnight carrying notes with their hopes for 2011. In Beijing, about 500 people were expected to gather at the Ancient Bell Museum for the chance to ring in the new year on the 46-ton bell. The city is also trying to start a new tradition, with an orchestra playing a 'Hymn to China' at the China Century Monument just two minutes before midnight. While many Asian countries famed for their firework displays were planning to light up the night skies, Myanmar's military government banned all fireworks for New Year's Eve and said severe action would be taken against anyone selling or using them.
A local news journal, Modern, noted that last year 62 people were given 6 to 12 month prison terms for violating this ruling. The government gave no reason for the ban but in the past has said that it feared "unscrupulous persons" might take advantage of the fireworks to create disturbances. In Europe, many people will be partying simply to forget their economic woes after a year that saw Greece and Ireland needing financial bailouts and others, such as Spain and Portugal, battling speculation that they will need similar aid. If not at home or at private parties, Spaniards traditionally gather in their main town squares to eat 12 grapes one by one as the bell in the square marks the countdown to 2011. In the Irish capital of Dublin, people will flock to the Christchurch cathedral to listen as the bells chime in the new year. In London, thousands will witness a musical and firework display at the 135-meter high London Eye, located on the southern banks of the Thames River. The Eye, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, lies almost opposite the Big Ben clock tower at Parliament that will chime in 2011. In Paris, tens of thousands are expected to pack the Champs Elysees and the area around the Eiffel Tower for dazzling light and firework displays. Fireworks light up the sky near the landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpa as the world celebrates the start of 2011
Spectacular: Fireworks light up the sky near the landmark Petronas Twin Towers during new year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Singapore: Fireworks explode over Marina Bay in front of the Marina Bay Sands casino and resort during a pyrotechnic show
2011: Hong Kong joins in the celebrations - eight hours before the UK
Ready for 12: Revellers in Hong Kong, China, prepare for the New Year
Kicking off the world's celebrations: A curtain of fireworks cascades over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the display that began at 9pm
Fireworks: The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up as the country prepares to take the rest of the world into 2011
Happy New Year! Sydney Bridge is lit up as Australia becomes the first country to welcome 2011
Enthusiastic: Crowds gathered early at the naval base on Garden Island in anticipation of the annual New Year's Eve fireworks display over Sydney Harbour
Fireworks light up the sky near the landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpa as the world celebrates the start of 2011
Spectacular: Fireworks light up the sky near the landmark Petronas Twin Towers during new year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Singapore: Fireworks explode over Marina Bay in front of the Marina Bay Sands casino and resort during a pyrotechnic show
2011: Hong Kong joins in the celebrations - eight hours before the UK
Ready for 12: Revellers in Hong Kong, China, prepare for the New Year
Kicking off the world's celebrations: A curtain of fireworks cascades over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the display that began at 9pm
Fireworks: The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up as the country prepares to take the rest of the world into 2011
Happy New Year! Sydney Bridge is lit up as Australia becomes the first country to welcome 2011
Enthusiastic: Crowds gathered early at the naval base on Garden Island in anticipation of the annual New Year's Eve fireworks display over Sydney Harbour
In Paris, tens of thousands are expected to pack the Champs Elysees and the area around the Eiffel Tower for dazzling light and firework displays.
