World rings in New Year

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World rings in New Year

New Year's celebrations from across the globe.

The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up with fireworks on the new year's eve in Australia. Enthusiastic Australians camped out at parks alongside the Sydney Harbour Bridge to get the best view of the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks kicking off celebrations around the world.

The sky above Sydney Harbour lights up at midnight during the fireworks display to celebrate the New Year's Day in Sydney, Australia.

Torch carriers proceed up Edinburgh's Royal Mile to Calton Hill launching the start of Edinburgh's Hogmanay (New Year) celebrations in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hogmanay is the traditional year end celebration with many of the participants dressed in Viking costume for the various street parades and public festivities.

A man is sprayed by artificial snow during New Year's Eve celebrations in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

People gather in in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, holding placards reading "Happy New Year 2011" in anticipation of the clock striking midnight.

People pass by city decorations and a mosque in downtown Grozny, Chechnya, southern Russia. New Year, which is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, is also very popular in predominantly Muslim Russian region of Chechnya.

South Koreans wearing their traditional dresses dance during New Year celebrations in Seoul.

Others donned makeshift 2011 sings to mark the New Year celebrations in Seoul, South Korea.

Dressed in a rabbit, center and traditional dresses outfits, three divers perform with a turtle as part of New Year events at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea. 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. Under the 12-year Chinese cycle where each calendar year is named after one of the 12-key animals in turn.

Children write 2011 on a snow covered field in Shimla, India, as midnight approaches.

Women chat as they offer this year's last prayers at a temple in China town in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan.

Lights fashion Singapore's financial district before massive fireworks display highlighting New Year's celebrations.

Revelers wave during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Hong Kong's Times Square.

Fireworks explode above Singapore's financial district at the stroke of midnight to mark the New Year celebrations.

Fireworks explode over Copacabana beach during New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2010.

An Indian woman in traditional dress dances during festivities to welcome the new year in the village of Narlai, Rajahstan, India.

Chinese people strike the Yongle Bell at a temple to celebrate the New Year, in Beijing, China. Chinese people believe striking the bell at the beginning of the New Year will bring them best wishes.

People dance on a decorated street in Bangalore, India, to celebrate New Year's.

Revelers watch fireworks light up the sky to welcome in the New Year in Manila, Philippines.

Taiwanese dancers perform during a new year's eve ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan. The events marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name, after a revolution led by Sun Yat-sen toppled China's last Qing dynasty.

Pope Benedict XVI visits the nativity scene in St. Peter's square at the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI marked the final hours of 2010 on Friday with public prayer and a word of concern for families struggling with economic troubles. Benedict gave thanks for God's grace and love throughout the year as he presided over a traditional New Year's Eve vespers service in St. Peter's Basilica.

People watch fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2010.

Thousands of people attend the Count Down Party for the New Year at Opera House Square, Ha Noi, Vietnam.

U.S. soldiers sing songs, as they celebrate on New Year's eve at the U.S. base of Camp Phoenix in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Confetti drops on traders and clerks in the Eurodollar options pit of Chicago Board of Trade as world markets closed the year on a whimper.

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The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up with fireworks on the new year's eve in Australia. Enthusiastic Australians camped out at parks alongside the Sydney Harbour Bridge to get the best view of the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks kicking off celebrations around the world.

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