A candle of hope.

(From Yorkshire Post)

William Green THE world was united in grief last night, remembering the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster, as fears grow that survivors will die from disease and the full death toll will never be known.

New Year revellers across the globe paused to remember nearly 125,000 people known to have died after tidal waves hit South East Asia and eastern Africa on Boxing Day.

About a million people celebrating in Sydney, Australia, observed a one-minute silence, while up to 150,000 party-goers in central London were asked to pause for a two-minute silence.

A three-minute silence will be held across the United Kingdom next Wednesday, the Government also announced.

The Pope planned to hold a New Year's midnight Mass in his private chapel for the victims of the tsunami, while events across South East Asia were cancelled with people urged to pray and attend religious services instead.

The amount raised by the British public for the survivors reached GBP45m yesterday, while the Government offered to help transport the aid paid for by the donations - on top of its own GBP50m pledge.