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Sydney New Year's Fireworks Threatened with Cancellation

Fireworks light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during new year celebrations on Sydney Harbour, Australia, January 1, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
Fireworks light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during new year celebrations on Sydney Harbour, Australia, January 1, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
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Sydney New Year's Fireworks Threatened with Cancellation

Fireworks light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during new year celebrations on Sydney Harbour, Australia, January 1, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
Fireworks light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during new year celebrations on Sydney Harbour, Australia, January 1, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

Sydney New Year's fireworks, one of the world's most spectacular celebrations of the calendar change, face being scrapped because of industrial action by train workers, police said Friday.

Up to 250,000 people are expected to come into Sydney to see the show, and they need to return home afterwards, said New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb.

"If trains are not available and people cannot leave the city, I have very large concerns of the risk that will create to the public," she told reporters.

"So I have not ruled out that we will recommend to the government that we cancel the fireworks."

The state's premier, Chris Minns, has rejected unions' "exorbitant" pay rise demands, with a hearing scheduled next week in the country's industrial relations tribunal.

According to AFP, the state rail, tram and bus union's secretary, Toby Warnes, said it had no plan to inconvenience people, accusing the state government of "scaring the people of New South Wales because it wants to pursue a particular industrial strategy.”

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Forum in Riyadh Explores Opportunities to Advance Global Digital Influence Industry

The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)
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Forum in Riyadh Explores Opportunities to Advance Global Digital Influence Industry

The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)
The forum is the largest of its kind in the Kingdom. (SPA)

Over 1,500 influencers gathered in Riyadh to explore opportunities for advancing the global digital influence industry during the Impact Makers Forum, which continued into its second and final day.
The event brought together international influencers with a combined audience exceeding one billion followers and featured in-depth discussions and panel sessions about the future of digital influence.
The forum attracted over 30,000 visitors, solidifying its position as a premier platform for sharing expertise and highlighting successful experiences across various fields of influence. It also gave international influencers the opportunity to explore Saudi Arabia’s landmarks and flagship projects through specially organized tours during their stay.
Participants emphasized the need to strengthen the private sector’s role in shaping influence both locally and globally. They called for fostering innovation and collaboration to achieve sustainable impact across all domains.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of incorporating social and humanitarian dimensions into influencers’ messaging on social media and other new media platforms. Speakers stressed the significance of supporting community and charitable initiatives, such as providing aid in crises, drawing attention to humanitarian issues, engaging in volunteer activities, and raising awareness about critical national and global concerns.
Eng. Rakan Alfaizi, CEO of One Group, highlighted the growth of Saudi Arabia’s media sector, which he said encourages more collaboration between private and public sectors to create sustainable influence.
Discussions throughout the forum explored innovative ways to balance real-life and virtual spaces, particularly to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive social media engagement on younger and emerging generations.
In a panel discussion titled “Balancing Life and Influence in Social Media,” Adwa AlDakheel emphasized the importance of organizing energy to prioritize quality over quantity in accomplishments, explaining that success stems from passion and dedication to one’s field.
Abdullah Al-Hussein stressed the need to separate work and life, allocate specific time for each, and manage time effectively to maintain balance.
The ImpaQ forum launched on Wednesday in Diriyah, attracting leading global influencers, experts, and content creators. The event, the largest of its kind in Saudi Arabia, spanned over 23,000 square meters and provided spaces for innovation, sharing impactful experiences, and creative workshops.