January 01, 2009	Thursday	Muharram 03, 1430

SYDNEY, Dec 31: A record crowd of up to 1.5 million Australians and tourists kicked off global New Year celebrations at Sydney’s biggest-ever fireworks display by the city’s famous Opera House on Thursday.

Sydney was the first major world city to see in the New Year, although New Zealand staged a dramatic fireworks display from Auckland’s Sky Tower two hours earlier and 2009 officially kicked in on Kiribati, or Christmas Island, in the Pacific Ocean, at 1000GMT.

Not everyone was in the mood for such lavish celebrations -- India was set for a subdued New Year’s eve after the deadly attacks in Mumbai in November.

Several Arab states cancelled planned celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who suffered a fifth day of Israeli bombardment on Wednesday.

Egypt, Jordan, Dubai and Syria cancelled festivities, including concerts by renowned Arab singers, with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al Maktoum giving the order “as a sign of solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people...,” his office said.

Tight security was planned in Mumbai. Police were keeping an especially close watch on traditional boat parties along the city’s waterfront. Joint police commissioner K.L. Prasad said partygoers on boats would not be allowed to return to shore once celebrations had begun. “It may create a sense of fear among the crowd if they see somebody alighting from the boat.”

The resort state of Goa banned its famous beach parties and extra paramilitary troops were deployed to ensure security.

“There are no New Year functions at the hotel due to Muharram,” said Jamil Khawar, a spokesman for the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. In Karachi, luxury hotels did not plan events because of Muharram, but people gathered on the Arabian Sea beaches with hundreds of paramilitary police on watch.Apart from the carnage wrought by militant violence, the global financial meltdown also dampened spirits.

In Tokyo, sacked workers were camping out in Hibiya Park during the holidays after companies — including leading carmakers — cut tens of thousands of jobs. Anti-poverty activists offered a soup kitchen and put on a concert to entertain temporary workers who had lost their corporate housing.

“This year ended with the realisation of a growing economic and social crisis which from now on affects the entire world: a crisis which calls for more restraint and solidarity to help those people and families who have got into serious difficulties,” said Pope Benedict XVI in his message.

In Hong Kong, the Times Square shopping mall had prepared “cheering sticks” printed with phrases of blessings in Chinese characters for its countdown event, such as “everyone’s got a job” and “a blooming stock market”. At midnight, several skyscrapers let off a coordinated volley of fireworks over the Victoria Harbour, where hundreds of boats had gathered to watch the short spectacle.

China’s main festivities will come later in the month with a week-long holiday for the traditional Chinese lunar year celebrations.

More than 250,000 people crowded Singapore’s Marina Bay area for a fireworks show.--AFP