How the world celebrated the new year

News websites such as the BBC, Channel NewsAsia and CNN are reporting how the world celebrated the new year. From BBC News:

In Moscow, revellers welcomed the new year in Red Square without their favourite tipple, after the authorities banned alcohol from the historic plaza.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Germany celebrated in chilly temperatures around Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

Despite the unrest in France, half-a-million people thronged the streets of Paris to welcome the new year around the Eiffel Tower and in the Champs-Elysees.

From CNN:

In parts of Asia, the threat of terrorism loomed large, and a bombing at a market in Indonesia killed eight people and wounded 45.

Hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq got a special show from "American Idol" singer Diana DeGarmo and other entertainers at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands crammed into New York's Times Square to watch the famous electrified Waterford crystal ball drop during the last minute of 2005. As confetti rained down, the crowd stretching more than 10 blocks up Broadway and the surrounding streets began a mass performance of "Auld Lang Syne."

From Channel News Asia:

Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians were gathering in Kuala Lumpur for New Year's Eve celebrations, which will range from concerts to elaborate fireworks displays, although heavy evening rains threatened to spoil events.

In the Philippines, hospitals braced for a spate of casualties as revellers traditionally set off firecrackers and fire guns into the air at midnight. Two people died and more than 130 were injured in the run-up.

Not everyone was preparing to greet the New Year with mass parties -- police in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka raided university dormitories Saturday, detaining more than 100 people ahead of planned parties.

Tag: new year