art 4 logic: Happy New Year from Syndey, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Manila

Δευτέρα 31 Δεκεμβρίου 2012

Happy New Year from Syndey, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Manila

Syndey

Myanmar

Hong Kong

In a field in increasingly democratic Myanmar's largest city, Yangon, about 90,000 people experienced the country's first public New Year countdown, after almost five decades under military regimes that discouraged or banned big public gatherings.

'This is very exciting and also our first experience in celebrating the New Year at a big countdown gathering. We feel like we are in a different world,' said Yu Thawda, a university student who came with three of her friends.

In austerity-hit Europe, the mood was more restrained - if hopeful. In Athens, fireworks over the ancient Acropolis will usher in 2013 - projected to be a sixth straight year of recession amid the country's worst economic crisis since World War II.

Still, In his televised New Year's Eve message, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras promised Greeks that the worst of the crisis is past, and declared 2013 a 'year of hope' that will see the beginning of the country's rebirth.

Celebrating New Year's Eve with a vespers service in in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI said that despite all the death and injustice in the world, goodness prevails.

Thrilling: Taiwan welcomes in the New Year with a fireworks display on the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei

Bold: The tallest skyscraper in Taiwan was a fitting choice for this spectacular firework display

In his homily, Benedict said taking time to meditate in prolonged reflection and prayer can help 'find healing from the inevitable wounds of daily life.'

In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of people lined the Victoria Harbor to view this year's 12.5 million Hong Kong dollar ($1.6 million) fireworks display, said to be the biggest ever in the southern Chinese city.

One day after dancing in the snow to celebrate the first anniversary of leader Kim Jong Un's ascension to supreme commander, North Koreans marked the arrival of the new year, marked as 'Juche 102' on North Korean calendars.

Cannons boomed at midnight in Pyongyang as people crowded the streets of the capital to watch a fireworks show over the Taedong River.

Fireworks explode in front of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre over the Victoria Harbour as celebrating the 2013 New Year in Hong Kong

Hong Kong went off with a bang to celebrate New Year with this spectacular fireworks display

Exciting: Fireworks explode near Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur

A man watches fireworks explode during New Year celebrations in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Juche means self-reliance, the North Korean ideology of independence promoted by national founder Kim Il Sung, who was born 102 years ago. His grandson now rules North Korea.

In New Delhi, the festive mood was marred by the death Saturday of a young rape victim.

Hotels, clubs and residents' associations in the Indian capital decided to cancel planned festivities and asked people to light candles to express their solidarity with the victim whose plight sparked public rallies for women's safety.