Posted on 12/31/2006 10:54:42 AM PST by NormsRevenge
SYDNEY, Australia - Wind-swept revelers gathered around London's Big Ben to watch the fireworks, and thousands of Japanese climbed Mount Fuji and other peaks to watch the first sunrise of the New Year. But the Thai capital sent celebrants home after a series of evening bombs.
Police estimated a million people crammed the shore in Sydney, one of the world's first major cities to greet the New Year, for the fireworks and daylong festivities, some staking their claims to the best view before dawn Sunday and pitching tents in case of rain.
A series of evening bombings in Bangkok, Thailand, left two people dead and 34 injured, and the city canceled its major New Year's celebration at the Central World Plaza shopping mall complex, where a crowd of about 5,000 dispersed calmly.
"No, I'm not scared. I'm from England. There are bomb scares all the time," said Keith Waters, who was with his Thai bride to celebrate the New Year.
Farther west, Philippine police tried to curb New Year casualties by threatening to arrest anyone who set off oversize firecrackers. Television networks were encouraged to show gory footage of fireworks accident victims.
Despite the warning, 284 people were injured by firecrackers and celebratory gunfire in the two weeks ahead of New Year's Day, a 75 percent rise from last year, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
"I have campaigned every day against firecrackers," Duque said. "But this has become a deeply rooted part of our culture."
Many Filipinos believe noisy New Year celebrations drive away evil and misfortune.
In Japan, thousands climbed mountains, some scaling the famed Mount Fuji, to greet the first dawn of the year. Police expected crowds at the summits to reach 15,000.
Japanese — ranging from families with children to elderly couples — usually start climbing during the night so they can reach the top in time for sunrise.
Japanese police anticipated the country's major Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines to receive nearly 95 million visitors over the first three days of the new year, as people offer prayers for peace, health and prosperity in one of the few religious rites in which most Japanese regularly take part.
In Romania and Bulgaria, midnight was to mark a historic milestone, with the two countries becoming the newest members of the European Union. Outdoor parties were taking place in Bucharest and Sofia.
Pope Benedict XVI prayed at a New Year's Eve service in Vatican City that 2007 would bring the world "peace, comfort, justice."
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, however, the threat of gale-force winds canceled an outdoor concert. Glasgow officials said high winds and rain had forced them to cancel traditional Hogmanay New Year's celebrations in the Scottish city, but Edinburgh said it would go ahead with its Hogmanay party nonetheless.
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbor Bridge in the annual display to celebrate the New Year in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 1, 2007. Organizers claimed it to be the largest fireworks display ever seen over the harbor of Australia's largest city in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the bridge's opening on March 2007. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
HaPPy New Year to All our allies around the globe!
Australians crowd into Sydney harbour for keen vantage points to welcome in the New Year and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Harbour Bridge in Sydney. The world has prepared to welcome 2007 with one million people set to throng Sydney harbour for a huge fireworks show marking the start of New Year celebrations from Asia to the Americas.(AFP/David Hancock)
Ya got to get their early for the best spots.
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbor Bridge in the annual display to celebrate the New Year in Sydney, Monday, Jan. 1, 2007. Organizers claimed it to be the largest fireworks display ever seen over the harbor of Australia's largest city in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the bridge's opening on March 2007. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year's celebrations January 1, 2007. The celebrations, costing around A$4 million and including 3,000 kilograms of explosives and pyrotechnics, are called 'A Diamond Night in the Emerald City'. The new year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Harbour Bridge, with celebrations scheduled in March. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA)
Happens before Midnight?
Just the AP getting a little ahead of themselves :-)
Sydney puts on a GREAT show. I hope to see it in person one day.
Same here. One more shot..
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge as New Year's celebrations are combined with the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Harbour bridge in Sydney. Deadly bombings cut short New Year celebrations in Bangkok as millions across Asia welcomed 2007 with parties and fireworks, kicking off a global wave of festivities.(AFP/David Hancock)
Update
new title ,same article with updated info
Revelers worldwide usher in the new year
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061231/ap_on_re_eu/new_year_world
Two girls wear '2007' glasses as revelers begin to gather at Times Square in the afternoon as part of New Year's Eve celebrations in New York December 31, 2006. REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES)
Lebanese warm near the barrel as they watch fireworks during celebration of the beginning of the new year early Monday Jan. 1, 2007, in the tent camp erected by Hezbollah and their allies during the 32th day of an open-ended protest to try and force the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
Lebanese man makes a snapshot of fireworks on his mobile phone during celebration of the beginning of the new year early Monday Jan. 1, 2007, in the tent camp erected by Hezbollah and their allies during the 32th day of an open-ended protest to try and force the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
Happy New Year!
HaPPy New Year as well to you and the crew!
I see we have a Live thread up too.. I'll try and toss a few pics that way as well.. It's still pretty early here..
Fireworks light up the sky over Kap Arkona in north Germany to celebrate the coming of the New Year. The fireworks are traditionally set off at dusk, not at midnight. Deadly bombings cut short New Year celebrations in Bangkok as millions across Asia welcomed 2007 with parties and fireworks, kicking off a global wave of festivities.(AFP/DDP/Jens Koehler)
The 2007 New Year's Eve Ball is tested during a rehearsal for New Year's Eve celebrations at Times Square in New York December 30, 2006 REUTERS/Eric Thayer (UNITED STATES)
A worker inspects a row of roasted pigs displayed along a main street in Manila December 30, 2006, ahead of the new year's celebration. Roasted pigs are a delicacy in the Philippines. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, year 2007 is the Year of the Pig. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES)
Oink Oink ..
Filipinos watch a fireworks display in Manila during New Year's celebrations early Monday Jan. 1, 2007. Superstitious Filipinos believe the noisy New Year's celebrations, largely influenced by Chinese tradition, drive away evil and misfortune. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A girl carries a lamb in central Bucharest December 31, 2006. During New Year celebrations Romanians believe that touching lambs brings good luck in the year to come. Romania is set to join the E.U. on January 1, 2007 along with its neighbour Bulgaria. REUTERS/Mihai Barbu (ROMANIA)
Fireworks explode over the Quadriga on top of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate during New Year celebrations early January 1, 2007. Several hundred thousand people gathered in the German capital to celebrate the New Year. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay (GERMANY)
A boy waves an EU flag in celebration of the New Year and Bulgaria's joining to the European Union, in the capital Sofia, Monday, Jan. 1, 2007. Monday Bulgaria is set to join the EU as a full member along with its neighbor Romania. (AP Photo/Alexandar Mihailov)
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Fireworks explode over the London Eye, on New Year's Day celebrations, by the river Thames in central London, early Monday Jan. 1, 2007. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
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