really be what they want to be and raise their cars to be. totally paid for mines. this is live from berlin the world is ringing in the new year and now london is doing the same these are live pictures from the british capital london is the

latest twenty eight thousand and saying goodbye to twenty seventeen the city's mayor has promised one of the most spectacular display the fireworks so let's see if we can hold him to his award.

please. please. please you're watching the live. one day and more than one hundred thousand people paid for tickets to watch this display all along the banks of the river tames and big undergoing major renovation was turned back on to the midnight hour please please please

please. please please please please please please please please. please. please please please please please please please please please

please. show. and while come to the program you just saw london ring in the new year and just an hour ago germany did the same berlin ers were treated to a remarkable fireworks display and as always the main celebrations took place in

the center of the city at the brandenburg gate tens of thousands of travelers gathered there to take part in the festivities but there were parties all over the city this is the only day in the year where berliners are allowed to let off fireworks and they always make sure that they make the most of it. our correspondent rebecca ritter's was branding brigade when the clock struck midnight here's what she had to say about the festivities. i look maybe i was up for another yeah but the party just beginning here in central. italy a million revelers have joined in this year's festivities and right here at the foot of the brandenburg gate. despite something here you can sense this here this is said to days have gone off without a hitch and despite all the out moving can seem to night the mood here is brenly and people just want to have fun. german chancellor angela merkel has used

her new year's address to urge the country to pull together she says she was aware of fears that a rift was opening up in german society and that people were becoming divided over a range of issues she also outlined the key challenges facing the country this year . it was a difficult political year for chancellor angela merkel at the very beginning of her speech she addressed the social atmosphere in germany and the tensions all files i think i know from many conversations and encounters this year that a lot of you are concerned about the cohesion of germany it has been a long time since the differences of opinion about this have been so stark some have even spoken of a rift running through our society like. merkel mentioned the worries over whether the government would be able to organize and direct immigration into germany but she also spoke of the fears and doubts of people living in the countryside who feel left behind those are her obligations as for foreign policy she look to europe and

says she is expecting decisive years ahead for the european union. plans and all of this germany's future is inseparable from the future of europe the twenty seven countries of europe must be motivated most strongly than ever to hold together as a community this will be the crucial issue of the coming is and this will be a matter of whether we europeans represent our values and is low balance in digital world assertively and in a spirit of solidarity both internally and externally. but european policymakers are also waiting for germany to form a new federal government for chancellor macko that will be the most pressing task in the coming months. to iran now we're anti-government protesters have again gathered across the country defying a warning of a crackdown by the authorities tens of thousands of iranians have been taking part in protests in cities over the last four days some demonstrations turned violent

and at least two protesters were shot dead in western iran more than two hundred were arrested and the government has restricted access to social media apps it alleges was inciting violence. president hassan rouhani earlier broke his silence on the demonstrations he says there was space for criticism but the protesters must remain peaceful. one point must be made clear to everyone we are a free nation and according to the constitution and the rights of the people citizens are completely free to criticize or even to protest. matador however we should also be mindful that criticizing and protesting should be done constructively so that it will result in improvements for the country and yes people have economic problems and social issues. arose. earlier we spoke to a.f.p.

correspondent eric randolph in tehran we asked him whether president rouhani will now try to close ranks with the hardliners in his regime some of whom had welcomed the outbreak of these protests that is something that you know that's how upset the hardliners economy is. running for a long time and. there are some rumors that they hope to start this will prove to us. somewhat shocked by how quickly. grew out. and we have seen already. more truth more moderate hardline factions. referring to the council revolutionaries some of those also have. their on the jets more economic grievances everybody agrees that it's wanted to make sure the there is separate from people who are pushing for wider disorder. violence against the

system itself. that was a peak correspondent eric randolph in tehran speaking to us earlier to sports now the second round of the tour to ski is one of the most prestigious cross-country skiing events in the world and it took place on sunday in lends a high to switzerland in the women's ten kilometer classic norwegian. posted the best time beating out her compatriot heidi vang and saviors cent of the united states meanwhile in the men's fifteen kilometer classic colonia set the fastest time ahead of alexey pole to run in kazakhstan and the region martin fruits and be . tennis fans know that the new year brings the first major tournament of the season the australian open and germany's angerly kerber won that tournament in twenty sixteen but her star has fallen dramatically since then here in germany newcomer you legere guess has taken over the number one spot in the country and she

nearly broke into the world top ten this year alexander's verite is already there on the men's side and he has his sights set on his first grand slam title here is more on the stars of german tennis. it was a year to forget. she started twenty seventeen as it was number one but down the rankings after dismount performances on the way out is alexander germany's shooting star one five titles and defeated roger federer and novak djokovic his grand slam performances when a spectacular that he finished twenty seventeen as what number four. looking at his ranking you expect to see him always reach semifinals he has to show the second xi it's always tough. for you here twenty seventeen was a tennis year to remember she even received praise from idol steffi after becoming germany's number one female player following a slow start to the year this one too tied for first silverware since twenty eleven

. this was an eventful year for me there were some close defeats and some very big ones i lost games at the french open and wimbledon despite having match point but i came away stronger i want to tournaments it's great when you can achieve that after such a long season. the pressure is on foot to. become world number one luke . best. isn't under quite so much pressure she has the chance to stop the new year with a bang on january. in auckland. now from sports to those of us who wish we did a little bit more of it it's always about way after the christmas holidays with a fantastic holiday meals we often welcome in the new year with resolutions for self-improvement and physical fitness usually tops the list in los angeles bollywood dance classes are one novel way to get leaner and fitter especially after

the holiday season. hollywood turns to bollywood for physical inspiration bollywood dance has become the latest for. miss craze to hit a leg beauty consultant shalini vote here a describe the attraction. during india's got a dance called bongo which is really all the rage right now and you're seeing it everywhere and it's probably the most fun dance that you can do. the head of one dance company offering bollywood classes explain what's involved. in a lot of drama and sweat and do a lot of bouncing around and jumping and turning and torah ling and twisting and singing along with the music just what the doctor ordered. from all of us. in the world thank you for watching now with some images of new year's fireworks as countries around the world twenty eighteen we start in

australia with the magnificent display sydney harbor enjoy a happy new year. old

told.