In a conference call with reporters, Obama administrator officials said that 2.1 million people have signed up for private coverage through the federal healthcare.gov website, or one of websites ran by 14 states through the district of Columbia that was through December 28th. Another 3.9 million people were found eligible for the Medicaid or Children Health Insurance Programs in October and November. Those numbers have not yet been updated. Officials also said they are working to insure that those using their new coverage for the first time will have smooth transition in the coming days and weeks. CVS and Walgreens Pharmacy have already said they will help those who have not yet received ID cards. Julie Rovner, NPR News, Washington.

 

Across a large swath of the world, it is already 2014, that is the sound of celebrations in Berlin as the final second of 2014 tick down, hundreds of thousands of people gathering at Brandenburg Gate. Outdoor organizers say it is one of the biggest outdoor New Year’s Eve events. Also massive firework displays in Hong Kong and Taipei and Dubai, Organizers set off nearly half a million fireworks in six minutes display they try to set new world record there. Meanwhile the ball was dropped at New York’s Time Square that is expected to attract a million people tonight. Sarah Gonzalez in member station WNYC reports.

 

US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is said to lead the final 60-second countdown. It will be the first time in the decade that New York City mayor does not attend the event. Outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he is spending time with his family and mayor-elected Bill de Blasio will be busy being sworn into office just after this stroke of midnight where at Time Square one ton of confetti will drop from the crystal ball. Over a billion people from around the world are expected to watch a broadcast of the ball drop. For NPR News, I am Sarah Gonzalez in New York.

 

Finest year as good as 2013 on Wall Street to NNNN all the way back more than 15 years. All three the major US stock market indexes are more than 25% of the final trading gain of the year came to a close. Economist Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics says the gain was broad base in relatively steady throughout the year. 

 

This is doing well a big multinational cooperation whose stock traded there doing fabulously well. They are very profitable. Their margin is about to wide they ever been. And of course, several boards are helping a lot well. The fed being trying to support economy to very aggressive actions keeping interest rates zero and pumping public liquidity and of course there is a lot responding is going to stock market. 

 

On Wall Street today, the Dow was up 72 points end the year 16,576. The S&P 500 gain seven points.

 

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Anti-government rebels in South Sudan are reportedly taking control of nearly all of strategic city there. The announcement coming even as there is war that would respective size in the conflict have agreed to hold talks for the first time. US envoy in the region meets today with the country’s president their forth meeting in the eight days. They also spoke by phone with former vice president is accused by the government of having tried to carry out a coup. Earlier today, there was heavy fighting at the city of Bor with rebels now largely in control there.

 

The January first lifting of final restriction on migration for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens has provoked a bitter battle with European Union. Teri Schultz reports the day they have been waiting with tribulation by those EU governments fear it will be a huge in flocks of poor migrations. 

 

Nine EU nations including Britain, France and Germany maintain restrictions for seven years on Citizens from Bulgarian and Romanian, the EU’s poorest nations. But the transition period ends January 1st and now Bulgarians and Romanians have the same rights as other EU nationals to living and working anywhere in the block. Britain even sought support from fellow EU governments to impose new rules, such as requiring member states to reach a certain level of GDP before their nationals will be allowed them move. That effort failed and EU officials accused Britain of spreading hysteria. But the British government has gone ahead with tightening rules on wealthier benefits for immigrants arriving January 1st or after. For NPR News, I am Teri Schultz.

 

A craft brewer in Montana has filed a suit against the world’s largest beer-maker Anheuser-Busch allegedly the company stole its catch phrase. Big Sky Brewing says in 2004 it used the slogan “Hold my beer and watch this”. It was recently shown up in YouTube video Bud Light’s on the beer’s official website.