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In pictures: World welcomes 2013

From Sydney to the West Bank and from the Vatican to Myanmar, New Year was ushered in enthusiastically.

Fireworks lighted up the sky from The Sydney Harbour Bridge at midnight during New Years Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, December 31.
Published On 1 Jan 2013
Tens of thousands of people lined Hong Kong(***)s Victoria Harbour to view a $1.6m fireworks display, said to be the biggest ever in the city.
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After nearly five decades under military rule that discouraged or banned big public gatherings, about 90,000 people witnessed Myanmar(***)s first New Year(***)s Eve countdown in a field in the largest city of Yangon.
People gathered to celebrate the New Year at Imjingak in Paju near Panmunjom, which borders South and North Korea.
Two revellers kissed each other as they celebrated the new year during a count-down event at the Summer Palace in Beijing.
Indians lighted candles to welcome the New Year across cities like Allahabad. Celebrations in the country were muted following the recent gang rape of a young woman that triggered mass protests.
Egyptian activists held candles as they took part in a rally on the second anniversary of the attack on the All Saints Church (al-Qiddissine) in the city of Alexandria.
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Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI visited the Nativity at St Peter(***)s Square in the Vatican. He said that despite all the death and injustice, goodness prevails.
Palestinians waved their flag as they celebrated New Year(***)s Eve in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Spanish inhabitants of Campello, a town near the southeastern city of Alicante, posed with a banner reading "Happy New Year 2013" as they welcomed the New Year.
Tens of thousands of people gathered to celebrate the New Year in front of St Basil cathedral at Red Square in Moscow.