It is fair to point out that there were no fireworks over the Bosporus, either: after all the bad-tempered haggling, Turks were not in a mood to rejoice.

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But no policy fireworks.

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There were no such offensive fireworks this time.

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The city's university held an academic conference on European issues in February - but no extravaganza, complete with fireworks and carnivals, is planned.

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Yet there is no suggestion that they should avoid fireworks or air guns in future.

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There was no fanfare this time, no handshake line, confetti or fireworks.

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The company is surely saving the real fireworks for Tuesday, but was no doubt hoping that it could also manage to keep its console at the forefront of industry chatter as Microsoft and Sony rolled out their own explosive events.

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Public displays of affection are frowned upon in mainstream society, so at midnight, the only fireworks were in the sky: there was no kissing even among couples.

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Despite fireworks in the art market, art contains no intrinsic value, just canvas on a stretcher or at best bronze or corten steel sculpture with some scrap value.

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Despite all the pre-match talk of the intensity of the teams' rivalry and the potential for fireworks, the first half was a relatively tame affair - no doubt at least partly a result of the steady rain.

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