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Hello, 2015! World Celebrations Ring in the New Year

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Frigid temperatures didn't freeze out New Year's celebrations across the world as millions took to the streets in multiple cities to celebrate the end of 2014 and start of 2015.

From seven tons of fireworks illumating the sky over Sydney Harbor in Australia to striking the bell 108 times in South Korea, to the classic crystal ball dropping before more than a million people in New York's Times Square -- one after the other, iconic cities around the globe welcomed 2015 with great celebration.

"We pause to think about the things that are good, the people we love, the bright lights in our lives and then say, 'Maybe next year we'll do a little bit better,'" Tim Tompkins, with Times Square Alliance, said.

New York's finest were also on high alert to keep the peace in face of recent protests.

It was also a rough end to 2014 in some parts of the country weather wise. In Southern California, deadly winds and choppy water tossed boats onto Catalina Island.

And in the mountains, drivers were caught off guard by icy conditions. Some slid off the roads while others were trapped in their cars.

Beyond the bad weather in the United States, New Year's celerations did bring tragedy in another part of the world. A stampede erupted in downtown Shanghai, China, as a massive crowd stood to watch fireworks.

In the chaos, 35 people were killed and more than 40 people were injured.

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About The Author

Efrem Graham
Efrem
Graham

Efrem Graham is an award-winning journalist who came to CBN News from the ABC-owned and operated station in Toledo, Ohio. His most recent honor came as co-anchor of the newscast that earned the station’s morning news program its first Emmy Award. Efrem was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but his formal television and journalism career was born across the Hudson River in New York City. He began as an NBC Page and quickly landed opportunities to work behind-the-scenes in local news, network news, entertainment, and the network’s Corporate Communications Department. His work earned him the NBC