Exploding fireworks sprayed from the sails of the Sydney Opera House and the Australian city’s harbour bridge at midnight as the world ushered in a new year.

Keenly-awaited Xbox One consoles launched in more than a dozen countries as day dawned in respective time zones.

From the glittering new year’s ball dropping in New York’s Times Square to joyous fireworks in London and cheers in a once-isolated Asian country, the world did its best to ring in 2013 with hope for renewal after a year of economic uncertainty, searing violence and natural disasters.

SYDNEY’S Harbour Bridge exploded in a spectacular blaze of New Year fireworks yesterday as people around the globe began welcoming 2011 with a glittering array of parties.

POPE Benedict XVI canonised Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop, at a Mass in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican yesterday in front of tens of thousands of cheering pilgrims.

REVELLERS worldwide met the new year with spectacular fireworks displays and joyful parties against a backdrop of tightened security.

Young Roman Catholic pilgrims attended religious classes throughout Sydney today, a quiet recovery after a Mass and pop concert thronged by more than 100,000 people the night before.

An overloaded cabin cruiser on a night-time joyride in Sydney’s famous harbour collided with a fishing trawler, killing five young people and injuring nine.

The Olympic flame reached Australia today for the next leg of the troubled torch relay, and was whisked away to a secret location to avoid potential trouble from anti-China protesters.

LIGHTHOUSE chiefs are continuing a search for an engineering firm prepared to rebuild a famous, century-old footbridge in west Cork.

ORGANISERS behind a campaign that saw Sydney impose a one-hour blackout to focus attention on global warming hailed it as a success for taking the equivalent of nearly 50,000 cars off the road.

A public memorial service for “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin began early today with an emotional tribute from Hollywood actor Russell Crowe.

The only empty seat at Steve Irwin’s personal stadium at Zoo Australia tomorrow will be the one set aside for the late and hugely popular Crocodile Hunter, who will be bid farewell at a public memorial service to be broadcast around the world.

A SIGN of the times... Cork County Council has commenced work on a project on the outskirts of Midleton to build a pedestrian bridge (that mimics the Sydney harbour bridge) over the Owenacurra river, south of the Midleton bypass.

Australia’s hottest celebrity couple, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, jetted out of Sydney today, likely bound for a secluded honeymoon getaway on the golden sands of the South Pacific.

Nicole Kidman has married country singer Keith Urban, shunning Hollywood glitz for a fairytale ceremony in her hometown of Sydney attended by close family and just a smattering of A-list stars.

Nicole Kidman married country singer Keith Urban today, shunning Hollywood glitz for a fairytale ceremony at a clifftop chapel in her hometown of Sydney attended by close family and just a smattering of A-list stars.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard today said he had information that the deadly blasts in London had killed 52 people.

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber brought his BMW-Williams car across the Sydney Harbour Bridge today.

Mark Webber will warm up for the first grand prix of the season by blasting his Williams Formula One car across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The star of Crocodile Dundee has injured his back moving furniture.

A bid has been lodged with the International Olympic Committee to include golf in the 2008 Games.

David Beckham is the star sports chiefs want to kick off next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.