January 1, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 16, 1422

LONDON, Dec 31: 2001 was the year when a single date — Sept 11 — seared itself into the collective consciousness and came to represent, for many, a sea-change in world development.

The images of commercial airliners slamming into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York shocked the globe and triggered far-reaching consequences.

Some were angry and immediate, like the US vow to avenge those who died — others were born of the fear created by such a dramatic and deadly attack.

In October the United States started bombing Afghanistan as part of its strategy to hunt down Osama bin Laden.

The economic effects of Sept 11 were widespread, with companies cutting thousands of jobs, especially in air travel. Swissair and the Belgian flag carrier Sabena went bankrupt and American Airlines and United Airlines both cut 20,000 jobs.

Earlier in the year two allies moved towards the right with George W. Bush taking office as president of the United States and Ariel Sharon becoming Prime Minister of Israel.

ASIA: At the end of a year marked by devastating conflicts and economic gloom, Asian nations prepared to put their troubles behind them and greet 2002 with a defiant smile.

Despite months of warfare and unrest following the Sept 11 strikes on the US, and with financial markets sinking towards recession, revellers were expected to see in the New Year with a heady mix of optimism and carefree hedonism.

In Sydney, where raging bushfires cast a pall of smoke over Christmas celebrations, the city’s traditionally lavish end of year festivities were set to go ahead as authorities continued to fight the blazes which have destroyed dozens of homes.

Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor confirmed a traditional fireworks extravaganza would go ahead despite some opposition, with the premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, endorsing the celebrations.

In Afghanistan, the arrival of 2002 was likely to be greeted with greater optimism than many previous new years.

However, with tensions simmering between India and Pakistan, celebrations across South Asia were overshadowed.

“How can we celebrate?” said Mohammed Anwar Khan, owner of a photographic shop in Islamabad’s main shopping district.

“We cannot even celebrate our lunch nowadays. 2002 will not be a good year for Pakistan.”

Terrorism was on the mind of Chinese President Jiang Zemin in his annual address to a nation, which has had more cause than most to celebrate this year.

Capping 12 months for China, which has seen it gain WTO entry, secure the 2008 Olympics and its first ever berth in the 2002 World Cup, Jiang’s speech also touched on the future of the Chinese Communist Party and moves to reunite Taiwan with the mainland.

But the region’s troubles were forgotten for the night with more than 10,000 revellers expected to take to the streets.—AFP