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Wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous, and safe New Year
Praying hard that all the precautions prove adequate as the new year begins.
Let the party start! Sydney kicks off the New Year celebrations with stunning firework displays as the world rings in 2018

[DailyMail] New Zealand became the first major world country to welcome in the start of 2018 as more than 3,000 fireworks were launched into the night sky over Auckland. Sydney then joined in the party with a rainbow waterfall off the Harbour Bridge to celebrate gay marriage, which was recently legalised. Large displays are expected in Japan, South Korea and China before the celebrations move through India and the Middle East, before reaching Russia and Europe then passing over to the Americas.

Ring of steel around London as armed police take to the streets with dogs and vehicle barriers are erected after ISIS threaten to unleash 'New Year's Eve hell' in the capital

[DailyMail] Police officers armed with rifles and sniffer dog units will be patrolling the streets of London tonight as 250,000 people flock to enjoy New Year's Eve fireworks at the city's landmarks.

‘They Won’t Change Our Way of Life’? – London NYE Celebrations Overseen by Rooftop SAS Snipers

[Breitbart] London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will be overseen by rooftop snipers from Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS), according to reports

Scotsman: Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Marred by Bag Checks, Record Armed Police, Anti-Terror ‘Ring of Steel’

[Breitbart] Record numbers of armed police will be on the streets and extra anti-terror barriers deployed amid the tightest ever security operation mounted at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations.

'We WILL protect you': Police ramp up security checks and promise an unprecedented 'ring of steel' across major American cities for New Year's Eve amid looming threat of lone wolf ISIS attacks

[DailyMail] Cities across the United States are ramping up security measures to ensure a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve for millions of revelers amid heightened fears of a terror attack.

Istanbul takes precautions for New Years Eve

[AlAhram] On New Year's Eve, the number of police officers on duty in Istanbul will be doubled to 37,000 and public celebrations will be cancelled or banned in some districts for security reasons, officials have said. Many roads in central Istanbul districts will be closed, while heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter some areas, police have also said.

Egypt beefs up security during Christmas season, which lasts until January 7th

[AlAhram] Police have deployed 230,000 personnel nationwide to secure churches, parks and vital public institutions during Christmas celebrations.

Israel: Police boost forces ahead of New Year’s celebrations

[IsraelTimes] Police are stepping up security measures ahead of New Year’s celebrations to both ensure the festivities go smoothly and crack down on intoxicated drivers. This includes “extra units, special patrol units,” police say, “and border police are patrolling city centers, traffic police and volunteers also involved in preventing drinking and driving.”

WhatsApp down around the world, users say
Included because the timing is interesting,
[IsraelTimes] The WhatsApp messenger application
...through which videos travel fast and wide. It is often used to spread rumours and whip up hysteria, not just by jihad-lovers...
was temporarily down in locations around the world, according to users. Israelis are also reporting the application was not working.
Posted by: trailing wife 2018-01-01
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=504794