[captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] >> this is dw news live from berlin. the world has begun to ring in the new year with countries across several time zones already grading 2016. -- greeting 2016. take a look at the iconic bridge on the city's harbor. a spectacle in hong kong around the city's historic sites. it will be low-key this year.

authorities have canceled major celebrations because of security fears. troops are out across major cities. in a new year's address, chancellor angela merkel thanks the many germans that helped welcome the one million asylum seekers that arrived in germany in 2015. welcome to the show and happy new year. particularly if it is already arrived in your part of the world. countries have begun marking the start of 2016 the past few hours. australia, new zealand, china, south korea, and nations in the middle east have counted in the new year. the celebrations have been impressive. >> sydney in australia put on the most spectacular of the displays.

around one million partygoers crowded on the harbor bridge near the famous opera house. then came tokyo. grading the new year more modestly. hong kong lit up its famous victoria harbour with fireworks shooting off the tops of skyscrapers. the theme this year is love and joy. in beijing, more celebration in the historic for bidden city. revelers in taiwan's capital lit up one of the world's tallest buildings.

taipei 101 tower. near the royal palace. phil: while the new year is celebrated across much of the world, a major fire has broken out in a 63 story high-rise hotel and apartment complex in dubai. authorities say 16 people were injured and all of the guest had been evacuated. the fire is 90% under control. earlier, it engulfed nearly the whole building where it houses a luxury hotel. the world's tallest building,

tens of thousands of people have gathered for a spectacular fireworks display. security across europe has been heightened in preparation for new year's elevations. authorities have decided the risk of an attack is too great in brussels. police have arrested people in connection with a plot to attack brussels on new year's eve. >> it was supposed to be an exceptional evening. fears of the terror attack put an end in brussels. risk analysis meant there was no choice but to cancel all public events scheduled for the night. this is the second block down in two months. i would like to ask that the investigation speed up and everybody should be rounded up.

two men arrested on wednesday have appeared briefly. they are suspected of plotting to carry out attacks tonight. six other arrests were also made in connection with the terror plot. belgian police have arrested a total of 10 suspects they believe are linked to the november 13 paris attacks. festivities have been muted. many opting to celebrate indoors. france has been in a state of emergency since the november 13 attacks. and a strong military presence is evident on the streets of paris. 100,000 security personnel have been deployed for new year's eve. >> we are here to reassure and protect people. they need to be able to continue their daily lives as normal.

>> they did not let it spoil the mood. phil: for germany, 2015 has been a year of challenges. chancellor angela merkel has been adamant that her country can master the challenge, telling germans, we can do it. a message she will drive home in her new year's address. here is a preview in this report. >> 2015 was a turbulent year. the refugee crisis. the conflict in the ukraine. the greek debt drama and the german chancellor challenged as never before. she campaigned to keep the euro afloat. she tried to wage peace in the ukraine. she opened the door to refugees. a position she upholds.

>> there is no doubt the arrival of so many people will demand a great deal from us. it will require time, strength, and money. >> more than one million people have sought refuge this year alone. a majority of germans are critical of her open-door policy. >> now we actually have to do it. >> i don't think that we should let everyone in. i fully support this. i think jesus would have done the same thing. >> without the contributions of thousands of volunteers, the effort could have turned into a disaster. peoplehing, and services like staging christmas parties for children.

>> i think the countless volunteers for their readiness for action. >> the terrorism shook europe this year. germany stands in steadfast support. >> our soldiers risk life and limb for our security and our freedom. >> the first german soldiers are already on their way. >> we live in especially challenging times. this much is true. it we will manage because germany is a strong nation. phil: celebrating with fireworks is a big tradition.

what happens if you have one million refugees, many in conflict zones? authorities are worried about how they will cope. >> refugees are getting handouts to help with the traditionally loud new year's eve celebration. they are concerned about how children will react to the fireworks. >> i can easily imagine that coming from a war zone, it might not react positively. you might really get frightened. i am worried the children will get scared. >> a number of states have banned fireworks and firecrackers in the refugee centers. the city has witnessed the ill effects of fireworks can have on refugees.

>> unfortunately, there was a large fireworks display close by that we were not informed about. everyone living here panicked and went indoors. >> this refugee center is also handing out flyers. their experience of war and violence have left its mark. phil: the self-proclaimed islamic state has claimed responsibility for an attack in southern russia. the jihadist monitoring group attacked what was a gathering of russian intelligence agencies. a winter storm has covered istanbul in snow. traffic jams and flight cancellations.

snowfall led to school closures and ferry services levels been canceled. cleanup operations have begun in britain. storms swept over large parts of the country. extensive flooding in both. it can cost 4 billion euros. major storms in the north sea have also been making their mark. more than 400 employees in the oil fields. the accident killed one person on wednesday. >> fierce winter storms blast across the north steep -- the north sea. a freak wave struck a platform.

heading in the direction of conoco phillips and b.p. rigs. the barge eventually missed the rigs. emergency measures had to be taken. >> the situation has become a lot worse for us. it has been decided to totally remove all staff. there will be no people left. >> bp says it takes 24 hours. phil: one of america's best-known entertainers has appeared in court. over the last year, dozens of women have come forward with

allegations that bill cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them. for the most part, he maintained his innocence. >> bill cosby arrives with his lawyers in a suburb of philadelphia. there, he was arraigned before a district judge. he is to remain free pending bail. a few hours earlier, montgomery county prosecutor kevin steele announced the first criminal charges against the once beloved comedian and sitcom star. >> we're here to announce charges that have just been filed against william henry cosby. these stem from an assault that took place on an evening in early of 2004. >> in a deposition, he admitted urging andrea to take pills and drink wine in his home north of

philadelphia. it's not clear what kind of pills he gave her. they say the drug made it impossible for her to repel cosby's advances. the comedian is best known for the cosby show about an upper-middle-class african-american family. it aired for eight seasons beginning in the 80's. so far, 50 women have come forward to accuse cosby of sexual misconduct and assault. he has repeatedly denied the allegations and responded with defamation lawsuits against seven of the women. the 78-year-old could face up to a decade in prison. phil: we leave you with images of fireworks from sydney, australia.

>> in northwest spain, where the romans believe the world ended, they reach the end. this degrom trail has been traveled by millions in history going back more than 1000 years. people come here from all around the world. their goal is the tomb of james, the disciple of christ. the cathedrals great treasure beyond price.

it is legend that claims st. james lies buried there. the story first appears in the 12th century book, lending the legend a little authority. james preached in spain but without success. he was beheaded in jerusalem. they placed his body in a boat and transported it with the aid of an angel to spain. in the course of time, his grave was forgotten. bright starlight is said to have shown the way to the tomb's rediscovery. the timing was auspicious. they were beginning the process of expelling the moors from spain. james was dubbed the slayer of moore's and supposedly led the christian forces into battle. the legend of saint james attracted doubts from an early age but pilgrims are undaunted.

their faith made santa iago the third most important site in christendom. it rises aloft with restraint. music maidstone. it casts a powerful stone. near the top, a sarcophagus intimates the price was holding the pilgrims have come to see. over it is the saint himself portrayed as a pilgrim cloak, staff, and hat. the mother of james, the appearance is unforgotten. they stand on the two west towers.

everywhere, there are symbols of santiago. the star whose light aided the discovery in the shell that suggests a pilgrim has indeed visited santiago. they recall a christian duty to love god in one's neighbor. the north front dates from the 18th century. the ground plan of the cathedral is a built on an east-west axis. construction began in 1077 to replace an older church that had been left in ruins. a baroque exterior conceals the reminisce interior. countless pilgrims have been coming here for more than 1000 years.

recently, the number has risen to 6 million a year. they bring prayers and money. on that, the cathedral in the city of santiago lives. the west front has an elusive quality. it has an astounding sense of distance even as it entices the pilgrims to enter the basilica. beyond the facade lies a name. with perfect justice, this church is magnificently constructed. the length, breadth, and height are in flawless proportion. before we enter, we must pass the report, completed in 1188 by

master matteo. they are among the greatest achievements of the middle ages. on the center column, st. james is entertained. they are true to life and the animated expressions herald the approach of the gothic view of man. it reflects the understanding of the universe. christ is the center of the cosmos. he is the source of all things and with him all things return. he succeeded masterfully in representing both truth and the beauty of this perception as many theology and's required -- theology anans required.

the cathedral was opened dan knight. and on the gallery, the pilgrims spend the nights in prayer and song. the cathedral is locked up at night. the baroque high altar is a majestic golden should be to the apostle. the altar is dominated by the figure of st. james. he presides with a somewhat detached air.

they remain apparent despite the over painting and baroque guard. above is st. james as a pilgrim. and at the very top, james the slayer of moore's is writing his legendary white battle steed.

pilgrims sometimes make the journey in a holy year. for whenever the feast day of st. james, the 25th of july falls upon a sunday. only on these occasions is the sacred portal. they date from the romanesque era and are the work of master matteo and his workshop. it wasn't until the 17th century they were placed here. passing behind the altar statute and kissing or touching his shoulder has been an essential ritual since the earliest days. even so, the accounts left by medieval pilgrims say little of it. it may be they were unable or unwilling to express personal with feelings -- to express

personal feelings. the pilgrim mass is attended by visitors from all around the globe. on high feast days, they competed spectacularly with the swinging of an immense sense. it takes eight men to set the sensors free. the ritual is first mentioned, and the outside sensor seems to be desirable to praise god and mask the owner of the children's host.

suspended on a 30 meter cable, they swing ever faster to and fro across the transit. and when the great sensor is brought to a stop, the cathedral is filled with applause. st. james seems to be aware that humanity likes to grasp the sacred through the senses for pleasure. it this is what makes st. james of human and his cathedral such

a friendly place. every pilgrimage implies the return journey home as well. after every vision, we must come down from the mountain. st. james was well aware of this in his own life. what remains are images, tears of joy. that is what it stands for. even if it is built on a legend.

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. this week on "wealth track," mapping the changing language scape, michael hartnet, explains the themes that are transforming the globe and how to change those. >> announcer: new york life along with mainstay family of mutual funds offers investment and retirement solutions so you can offer your retirements keep good going. >> additional funding provided by luma sales, ito