World Greets 2011 With Fanfare | Oxerjen NEWS |

evelers across the Pacific Islands, Asia, Africa, and Europe have welcomed 2011 with celebrations and fireworks displays, and crowds are already gathering across the Americas to mark the start of the new year there.

Photo: AP.Revelers wave banners and signs during the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Hong Kong’s Times Square, Jan 1, 2011

The tiny Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first to ring in 2011.

London hosted one of Europe’s biggest celebrations, on the banks of London’s River Thames. Around a quarter of a million people gathered to watch fireworks as the famous Big Ben at Parliament chimed in the new year.

But an even larger celebration is getting underway in New York City, where organizers say a million people will crowd into Times Square for the annual drop of a huge, sparkling ball from high above. The Waterford Crystal ball weighs 5,400 kilograms.

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