New York
After a round-the-globe series of partying stretching from Sydney to
San Francisco, the world ushered in the year 2008 on Tuesday amid
appeals for peace but worries about violence in trouble spots
ranging from Pakistan to Iraq to Kenya.
The day also saw the usual tally of casualties from a night of
revelry, but also some hopeful signs, such as six babies born in
Iraq, and moments of colour when high culture merged with sports as
the Vienna Philharmonic donned football scarves at its annual New
Years day concert.
In Rome, Pope Benedict XVI appealed for world peace in his New Years
message from St Peter's Basilica, expressing concern about the
"great division and sharp conflicts which cast dark shadows" on
humanity's future.
The pope appealed to the faithful to pray for peace for "our
families, nations and for the whole world," the pope said.
True peace was not just a human accomplishment or the fruit of
political agreements, but was rather a "spiritual gift" for which
"believers must implore God tirelessly", Benedict said.
In his speech, the pope highlighted the role of the family on what
he said was the 25th anniversary of the Holy See's adoption of the
Charter of the Rights of the Family (1983-2008).
"I invite every man and woman to have a more lively sense of
belonging to one human family," the pope urged. Such a conviction
was "essential for the establishment of true and lasting peace".
In conflict-torn Iraq, six families were celebrating the birth of
babies in the early hours of 2008. Four girls and two boys were
reported born in the cities of Baghdad, Basra and Arbil.
Independent Iraqi broadcaster al-Sharqiya had earlier vowed to give
"worthy" prizes to the families of the first 30 babies born on Jan
1.
Iraqis celebrated the New Year at midnight in their homes and
neighbourhoods defying security concerns, in the first New Years Eve
celebrations since the US-led invasion in 2003. Youths set off
fireworks and people danced on Palestine Street in Baghdad.
In Vienna, a bit of humour crept into the annual New Years concert
by the famous Vienna Philharmonic, conducted this year by Frenchman
Georges Pretre, 83.
During a fast-paced "Sport Polka", the orchestra suddenly donned
Austrian football scarves and at the end of the piece Pretre blew a
referee's whistle - all in a nod to the forthcoming European
Football Championships to be co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.
The black-tie and silk-gowned audience of Austria's cultural elite
roared their approval.
But the day after also had its reports of deaths and violence from
the night of revelry.
In France, dozens of cars were set alight in France's eastern Alsace
region during the New Year celebrations overnight Tuesday. In the
city of Strasbourg alone, 50 vehicles were set alight, French radio
in Strasbourg reported.
Sociologists refer to such events on New Year's Eve as a "French
speciality". However, Strasbourg city administration has been
accused of suppressing reports of arson in an attempt to limit
damage to the city's image.
In Vienna, a flat was set afire by unknown New Year's revellers who
were firing rockets from bottles. Fire services rescued 20 people,
including a baby, from several flats in the building. Ten people
suffered smoke poisoning. A pet cat was burned to death.
In the Nordic region, fireworks caused minor fires and injured
several people in Sweden, Denmark and Norway during New Year
celebrations, police and rescue services reported.
In Denmark, some 50 people were arrested early Tuesday as a New
Year's party went out of hand in central Copenhagen, police said.
Police intervened when some of the 500 revellers, mainly youths,
broke in to a local store in the district of Norrebro. A bonfire was
also lit on the street and some stones were thrown at police.
In neighbouring Sweden, a 16-year-old youth sustained severe
injuries due to an exploding firework in the southern town of
Karlskrona, local radio reported.
In Germany, two people were hit by a train and killed in Germany
early Tuesday in one of a series of accidents that marred New Year
celebrations on a cold, foggy night.
The woman, 25, and man, 20, were walking across a railway line in
dense fog at 4 a.m. in the western city of Essen when they were
struck. Police said they may have been taking a short cut.
In Troisdorf, near Cologne, a drunk driver slewed into a crowd of
young people celebrating on the street early Tuesday and killed a
woman, 21. The driver, who was suspected of drug use too, was
injured.
Elsewhere, ice on roads caused accidents and several Germans lost
fingers in accidents with explosives on the only night of the year
when fireworks can legally be used in Germany.
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