London — Revelers thronged the streets of major world cities from Bangkok to Paris early today, welcoming a New Year they hope will usher in greater security and an end to 2001's economic woes.
In Europe, where cold weather left many late-night party goers shivering, 12 countries used midnight to adopt the euro as their common currency, with lavish public ceremonies in cities such as Brussels and Frankfurt.
In Australia, an estimated 1 million revelers ignored a shroud of acrid smoke over Sydney to throng the harbor for a New Year's fireworks celebration billed as one of the world's largest pyrotechnic displays.
The festivities came as authorities continued to battle some of the most destructive bush fires the country has seen in decades.
Around the world, many people used the annual celebration to hope for less tragedy than they saw in the year 2001, especially the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the warfare it touched off in Afghanistan.
In Tokyo, Buddhist priests in black robes rang temple bells and clasped their hands in prayer at midnight.
In England, the archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, said the deadly suicide hijackings had left people around the world feeling "weak and pretty powerless." But he also said the "heroic deeds" by the rescuers such as firefighters at the World Trade Center had shown everyone that "facing death, many spoke words of love."
In Hong Kong, thousands of people got together for the countdown to the new year listening to live music in Times Square. "I just want to enjoy the music. I don't worry about what will happen in 2002," said 20-year-old secretary Cathay Chan.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat used his year-end speech Monday to promise his disheartened people a state in 2002.
Arafat said he stood by his decision to enforce a truce with Israel, but warned in a TV interview that "patience has limits."
"We will continue until we have our independent state," Arafat said. A Palestinian state is "not only a condition for peace but also one of its fundamental bases for security and stability in the region," Arafat said.
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