Detecting language using up to the first 30 seconds. Use `--language` to specify the language Detected language: English [00:00.000 --> 00:14.040] But polluted, we look at how Kazakhstan's finally trying to clean up its act. [00:14.040 --> 00:18.440] So just a few cities in the world left now waiting to tick over to 2012. [00:18.440 --> 00:22.120] The west coast of the United States, places like Los Angeles, gets its turn in an hour [00:22.120 --> 00:23.120] from now. [00:23.120 --> 00:27.280] Hawaii in about three hours from now, then it's basically all done. [00:27.280 --> 00:31.520] But for the last 20 hours, millions of people across the globe have been celebrating the [00:31.520 --> 00:32.720] start of the new year. [00:32.720 --> 00:35.240] The latest to light up, the Big Apple. [00:35.240 --> 00:41.000] There it is, hundreds of thousands of people packed into New York's Times Square, the [00:41.000 --> 00:46.400] crossroads of the world, as they call it, to watch the countdown, joined by Mayor Michael [00:46.400 --> 00:50.640] Bloomberg there and Lady Gaga as well, Pops Nigger, who hit the switch, sending the country's [00:50.640 --> 00:55.120] famous crystal, city's famous crystal ball on its countdown drop. [00:55.120 --> 01:06.880] A few hours earlier in London, famous bongs, chimes of Big Ben marked the arrival of 2012 [01:06.880 --> 01:11.840] for around 250,000 people, quarter of a million on the banks of the River Thames, to watch [01:11.840 --> 01:14.280] a New Year fireworks display there. [01:14.280 --> 01:19.000] Big year for the British capital, hosting the Olympic Games in July and August, very [01:19.000 --> 01:22.920] Olympic themed to those colours there as well. [01:22.920 --> 01:27.720] Just hosting the New Year on the Champs-Elysees in Paris with a little glass of champagne. [01:27.720 --> 01:32.960] The Eiffel Tower had a special display illuminating for the end of 2011. [01:32.960 --> 01:37.980] There were some 60,000 police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel on standby across [01:37.980 --> 01:40.360] France actually. [01:40.360 --> 01:43.760] And world leaders have taken this chance to deliver their New Year messages, here's a [01:43.760 --> 01:46.920] few of them. [01:46.920 --> 01:50.880] World peace and development are facing new opportunities and challenges. [01:50.880 --> 01:55.280] China will continue to adhere to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development [01:55.280 --> 02:00.920] in its foreign policy objectives, adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace and [02:00.920 --> 02:06.240] unswervingly follow the road of peaceful development. [02:06.240 --> 02:11.520] Exactly 20 years ago we celebrated our first New Year in a country called Russia, a name [02:11.520 --> 02:15.640] celebrated for the illustrious deeds of our great ancestors. [02:15.640 --> 02:20.960] It is our duty to preserve it and to build a progressive state. [02:20.960 --> 02:25.640] As 2011 comes to an end and we look ahead to 2012, I want to wish everyone a happy and [02:25.640 --> 02:27.440] healthy New Year. [02:27.440 --> 02:31.880] The last year has been a time of great challenge and great progress for our country. [02:31.880 --> 02:34.920] We ended one war and began to wind down another. [02:34.920 --> 02:39.160] We dealt a crippling blow to Al Qaeda and made America more secure. [02:39.160 --> 02:42.720] There's a man with a fight on his hands in 2012, isn't he? [02:42.720 --> 02:46.240] With the economy still struggling in the United States, it is going to be one tough year for [02:46.240 --> 02:51.200] Barack Obama as he tries to hold on to the White House and ensure he doesn't become a [02:51.200 --> 02:53.200] one-term president. [02:53.200 --> 02:56.840] This from Alan Fisher now in Washington for us. [02:56.840 --> 03:00.720] It will be the battleground for the next US presidential election. [03:00.720 --> 03:04.200] While Americans have spent the past month hunting for bargains, soon they'll be shopping [03:04.200 --> 03:07.000] for a president they hope can deliver what they're after. [03:07.000 --> 03:11.800] In this election, issues like security, immigration and foreign policy have been pushed to the [03:11.800 --> 03:15.240] margins in a famous political phrase from the past. [03:15.240 --> 03:17.320] It's all about the economy, stupid. [03:17.320 --> 03:18.320] Economy is going to be front and center. [03:18.320 --> 03:21.760] It always is in every election, particularly presidential years and particularly when you [03:21.760 --> 03:26.440] have a serious downturn or we're still recovering from the downturn. [03:26.440 --> 03:28.840] It's hard to believe that won't be front and center. [03:28.840 --> 03:33.400] Barack Obama is going into the election with an unemployment rate of more than 8%, a figure [03:33.400 --> 03:36.160] which would normally kill any chance of winning. [03:36.160 --> 03:42.280] The national debt is $15 trillion and growing by around $4 billion a day. [03:42.280 --> 03:47.200] But still his approval rating is 47%, the highest in five months. [03:47.200 --> 03:52.480] This is, as ever, a referendum on the top two candidates who America likes best. [03:52.480 --> 03:56.800] But it's also an ideological battle on the type of government America wants, whether [03:56.800 --> 04:01.840] it favors the Democrat idea of spending more money to create jobs or whether it backs the [04:01.840 --> 04:06.400] Republicans cutting taxes, cutting spending to build a stronger economy. [04:06.400 --> 04:11.440] This is a battle, a crucial vote on the future direction of America and who gets to lead [04:11.440 --> 04:12.440] it. [04:12.440 --> 04:15.880] Throughout the series of Republican debates to select a candidate, issues which have played [04:15.880 --> 04:21.040] big in previous elections, such as immigration and national security, have all had an airing. [04:21.040 --> 04:25.360] But one observer says they are minor considerations as people go to vote. [04:25.360 --> 04:29.240] Americans always care more about what's going on at home than overseas. [04:29.240 --> 04:32.720] The examples throughout history are plentiful. [04:32.720 --> 04:37.520] This year is the same way, especially right now when we're getting out of Iraq as fast [04:37.520 --> 04:41.400] as we can, trying to get out of Afghanistan. [04:41.400 --> 04:43.720] So that's all in the background right now. [04:43.720 --> 04:49.600] The first votes in the 2012 presidential election campaign will be cast on January 3 in Iowa. [04:49.600 --> 04:52.880] The final vote, the general election, is November 6. [04:52.880 --> 04:57.320] The thing about elections here is that a single moment, a single comment can change the entire [04:57.320 --> 04:58.320] landscape. [04:58.320 --> 05:02.720] But this election will be won by the person who can convince Americans better times are [05:02.720 --> 05:06.000] coming and they will have more money in their pocket. [05:06.000 --> 05:09.400] Alan Fisher, Al Jazeera, Washington. [05:09.400 --> 05:11.200] Tough times for the U.S. economy, clearly. [05:11.200 --> 05:12.840] What about Europe, though? [05:12.840 --> 05:20.200] In her end-of-year speech, the German chancellor had this prediction for the year ahead. [05:20.200 --> 05:24.300] Today you can be sure that I will do everything in my power to strengthen the euro, but this [05:24.300 --> 05:27.840] will only work if Europe learns from its mistakes. [05:27.840 --> 05:32.120] One of these is that a common currency can only really be successful if we in Europe [05:32.120 --> 05:34.640] cooperate more than we have done. [05:34.640 --> 05:36.680] Europe is growing together in the crisis. [05:36.680 --> 05:41.200] The path to overcoming this remains long and won't be free from setbacks. [05:41.200 --> 05:46.640] But at the end of it, Europe will emerge stronger from the crisis than it went into it. [05:46.640 --> 05:51.420] The single euro currency was actually launched this day ten years ago, but the debt crisis [05:51.420 --> 05:53.800] has really put its future in doubt. [05:53.800 --> 05:56.400] Estonia is the newest member of the euro. [05:56.400 --> 06:00.720] Charlie Angela is there for us to gauge the economic climate. [06:00.720 --> 06:05.520] The wood is from Switzerland, the felt from Belgium, the strings from Germany. [06:05.520 --> 06:12.320] An Estonian piano takes three months to make and depends on Europe for its parts. [06:12.320 --> 06:18.440] These and other exports of textiles and machinery make Estonia's $19 billion economy Europe's [06:18.440 --> 06:24.320] fastest growing. [06:24.320 --> 06:30.040] Ben Olao manages the factory and runs his fingers over each instrument before it is [06:30.040 --> 06:31.040] shipped. [06:31.040 --> 06:38.520] He says the success of his company and country lies in its size. [06:38.520 --> 06:41.160] We survived the recession because we're small and flexible. [06:41.160 --> 06:46.360] We don't mass produce, so we didn't have any pianos lingering in warehouses that didn't [06:46.360 --> 06:47.360] sell. [06:47.360 --> 06:48.760] But joining the euro was good for us. [06:48.760 --> 06:51.880] It did away with customs fees and border paperwork. [06:51.880 --> 06:57.120] It brought us closer to our European neighbors and helped us break into new markets. [06:57.120 --> 07:00.480] When the euro arrived last year, the mood was festive. [07:00.480 --> 07:05.800] Estonians were excited, but now in the capital Tallinn that mood has changed. [07:05.800 --> 07:07.280] It was a terrible idea. [07:07.280 --> 07:10.800] We were already poor, but by next year we'll be beggars. [07:10.800 --> 07:15.020] Before when I'd paid for electricity and housing, I'd have $30 left. [07:15.020 --> 07:16.020] Now I have nothing. [07:16.020 --> 07:18.800] It was a bad decision. [07:18.800 --> 07:21.760] Europe is now in a financial crisis and the future looks dark. [07:21.760 --> 07:23.840] It's not a good thing. [07:23.840 --> 07:27.600] As the crisis deepens, Estonia is taking precautions. [07:27.600 --> 07:32.320] The finance minister has won awards for his austerity measures, but admits the eurozone [07:32.320 --> 07:35.240] troubles could take his country down. [07:35.240 --> 07:37.280] We have been pulled down anyway. [07:37.280 --> 07:41.160] We are part of the European economy. [07:41.160 --> 07:43.240] Our export markets are there. [07:43.240 --> 07:50.720] We depend very much on the external environment and it doesn't make a difference. [07:50.720 --> 08:01.280] There are only additional obligations being part of the eurozone and there are also merits. [08:01.280 --> 08:05.680] It's unclear what 2012 will hold for Estonians and the rest of the eurozone. [08:05.680 --> 08:10.400] At least this country's debts are low and its financial assets could cushion a fall [08:10.400 --> 08:12.120] back into recession. [08:12.120 --> 08:16.840] But some say that by joining the euro when it did, Estonia really bought the last ticket [08:16.840 --> 08:18.240] onto the Titanic. [08:18.240 --> 08:26.480] Now Nigeria's president has declared an emergency in four states after a series of attacks by [08:26.480 --> 08:28.000] the Islamist group Boko Haram. [08:28.000 --> 08:32.480] The group was behind the recent Christmas Day attacks which killed at least 42 people. [08:32.480 --> 08:37.760] On a national address, President Sgedok Jonathan said the state of emergency is only an interim [08:37.760 --> 08:38.800] measure. [08:38.800 --> 08:42.840] The plan is to restore security in the north where most of the violence has taken place. [08:42.840 --> 08:47.880] The measures include closing parts of Nigeria's borders with Niger, Cameroon and Chad. [08:47.880 --> 08:51.640] Ahmed Idris reports now from the capital Abuja. [08:51.640 --> 08:56.120] This rapidly escalating insurgency launched by the Islamist group Boko Haram has left [08:56.120 --> 09:00.440] dozens dead across the country in attacks carried out on Christmas Day. [09:00.440 --> 09:05.400] Speaking at St. Teresa's church in Abuja where 37 died, President Goodluck Jonathan said [09:05.400 --> 09:09.880] Boko Haram had started as a harmless group but had now grown cancerous. [09:09.880 --> 09:12.160] We will crush the terrorists, he said. [09:12.160 --> 09:17.600] Later he went on television in an address to the nation to declare a state of emergency. [09:17.600 --> 09:24.280] The crisis have assumed a terrorist dimension with vital institutions of government including [09:24.280 --> 09:31.080] the United Nations building and places of worship becoming targets of terrorist attacks. [09:31.080 --> 09:39.520] While the chance for lasting solution is ongoing, it has become imperative to take some decisive [09:39.520 --> 09:45.040] measures necessary to restore normalcy in the country, especially within the affected [09:45.040 --> 09:46.040] communities. [09:46.040 --> 09:50.800] The decision to invoke emergency powers came after briefings from the president's chief [09:50.800 --> 09:52.680] of defense staff. [09:52.680 --> 09:57.000] It involves the closure of international borders along the states of Yoruba and Borno in the [09:57.000 --> 10:02.560] northeast while Plata State in central Nigeria and Niger State have also been declared affected [10:02.560 --> 10:03.560] areas. [10:03.560 --> 10:08.720] Boko Haram, which loosely translates as Western education is forbidden, seeks the implementation [10:08.720 --> 10:11.800] of strict Sharia law across the country. [10:11.800 --> 10:17.040] They are thought to have been involved in a string of attacks across Nigeria in 2011, [10:17.040 --> 10:21.560] including the bombing of the UN in August leaving 21 people dead. [10:21.560 --> 10:26.800] The state of emergency raises fears of an escalation in Africa's most populous nation [10:26.800 --> 10:33.000] which is split between a largely Christian south and Muslim north, Ahmed Idris, Al Jazeera, [10:33.000 --> 10:35.000] Abuja, Nigeria. [10:35.000 --> 10:39.920] There have also been clashes in the east of the country, at least 40 people were killed [10:39.920 --> 10:44.320] in fighting between neighbouring communities in Ebony State. [10:44.320 --> 10:48.280] The crashes appear to be related to a long running land dispute and there's no suggestion [10:48.280 --> 10:52.160] they are linked to the Boko Haram insurgency. [10:52.160 --> 10:56.400] In a moment, the latest from Syria and then a leader to die for. [10:56.400 --> 11:01.240] North Korea's New Year message is typically sycophantic but also acknowledges people are [11:01.240 --> 11:02.240] going hungry. [11:02.240 --> 11:06.720] Plus gadgets or gimmicks, we take a look at some of the new technology which could take [11:06.720 --> 11:24.680] hold in 2012. [11:24.680 --> 11:29.120] Hello it's looking like a mild start to the new year for much of North America. [11:29.120 --> 11:32.760] We have got largely clear skies down into the south, what clabbered do have here in [11:32.760 --> 11:37.520] the process of fizzling away but we've got an area of ice, snow and heavy rain moving [11:37.520 --> 11:41.720] through the northern plains heading across the upper midwest into New England into eastern [11:41.720 --> 11:42.720] parts of Canada. [11:42.720 --> 11:45.640] Still very much in place as we go on through Sunday then. [11:45.640 --> 11:50.200] It will be a cold one for those central areas of Canada, around Ontario into Quebec but [11:50.200 --> 11:54.880] for the United States it's looking largely fine and dry, DC getting up to a respectable [11:54.880 --> 11:58.320] 14 degrees Celcius, should be about 7 degrees at this time of the year. [11:58.320 --> 12:03.320] Kind of values too for Atlanta and for Dallas and indeed for San Francisco. [12:03.320 --> 12:06.920] Some wintry weather up towards the Pacific North West but fine and dry for LA. [12:06.920 --> 12:11.000] Another warm one here, temperatures here at around 25 degrees Celcius, that's the sort [12:11.000 --> 12:13.440] of value we're looking at for Havana. [12:13.440 --> 12:17.280] Not too bad across the Greater Antilles, not too bad in fact across much of the Caribbean. [12:17.280 --> 12:21.840] Central America seeing a rash of showers just across that southwestern corner of the Caribbean [12:21.840 --> 12:22.840] Sea. [12:22.840 --> 12:26.240] Got some milder weather making its way in across the north western areas of Europe but [12:26.240 --> 12:30.040] at least it's mild, we'll see temperatures into double figures there for London and also [12:30.040 --> 12:31.640] for Paris along with Berlin. [12:31.640 --> 12:36.000] We've got some snow making its way over the higher ground just around the Alps, certainly [12:36.000 --> 12:48.080] very disturbing to that eastern side of the Mediterranean with the risk of flooding. [12:48.080 --> 12:54.800] No matter what direction you're taking, you'll find us at your service, all along the way. [12:54.800 --> 13:17.080] QNB, together forward.