An ice sculpture with large numbers signifying the arrival of 1998 is erected by staff of the Dorchester Hotel in London December 31. Vast crowds are expected to crowd into Trafalgar Square and other landmarks and pubs around Britain to ring in the new year. 

The Michelin Man hot air balloon floats above the site of the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena December 31. The 140 foot tall balloon made its maiden flight December 31 to promote Michelin's float in the 109th annual tournament of Roses parade which will take place January 1 in Pasadena and will be seen by a worldwide audience of 350 million. The Rose Bowl football game between Michigan and Washington will be played in the afternoon of January 1. 

A Palestinian Sheikh chats with armed Israeli soldiers as they watch people shop for Ramadan outside the walls of the holy city of Jerusalem, December 31, on the second day of the holy month during which Moslems fast from dawn to dusk. Ramadan dinners, which bring together families and friends, include a wide variety of traditional dishes. 

Spain's King Juan Carlos (front) is followed by his daugther Spanish Infanta Elena as they ski in the Pyrenees resort of Baqueira-Beret on December 31. The Spanish Royal family spend their traditional Christmas holidays in this ski resort. 

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe leans forward to kiss a friend in the Pyrenees resort of Baqueira-Beret on December 31. The Spanish Royal family spend their traditional Christmas holidays in this ski resort. 

Ukrainian midfielder Sergiy Kandaurov trains for the first time on December 31 with his new team Benfica. [He was transferred to the Portuguese side from Israel's Maccabi Haifa on a three-and-a-half year contract and is expected to make his debut against league leaders Porto on January 3.] 

A unemployed man protest at the Frenes les Montauban motorway toll booth , December 31. The protestors were demanding 3000 francs financial aid from the Socialist government for the unemployed. 

A young couple opens a bottle of Russian champagne on Red Square a few hours before midnight, December 31. Although Red Square is the country's best-known site, most Russians spend New Year's Eve at home with friends. 

Some 500 unemployed people, supported by the Labour Union (CGT), march through the streets of Marseille December 31. The protestors were demanding more financial aid and end of year benefits from the Socialist government. 

Spain's Queen Sofia followed by tourists as she skies in the Pyrenees resort of Baqueira-Beret on December 31. The Spanish Royal family spend their traditional Christmas holidays in this ski resort. 

Spain's Infanta Elena waves from a ski lift as she is sitting beside her father King Juan Carlos in the Pyrenees resort of Baqueira-Beret on December 31. The Spanish Royal family spend their traditional Christmas holidays in this ski resort. 

Palestinians shop for Ramadan outside the walls of the holy city of Jerusalem, December 31, on the second day of the holy month during which Moslems fast from dawn to dusk. Ramadan dinners, which bring together families and friends, include a wide variety of traditional dishes. 

US President Bill Clinton pets his puppy Buddy December 31 after their morning walk on the beach at Hilton Head, South Carolina. The President will attend the "Renaissance Weekend", a family get-together. The first family will travel to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on New Year's Day for three more days of vacation at a private home, before returning to Washington on January 4, 1998. 

US President Bill Clinton hugs his puppy Buddy December 31 after their morning walk on the beach at Hilton Head, South Carolina. The President will attend the "Renaissance Weekend", a family get-together. The first family will travel to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands on New Year's Day for three more days of vacation at a private home, before returning to Washington on January 4, 1998. 

Kevin Uliassi's balloon The J. Renee, is inflated in a rock quarry in Loves Park, Illinois December 31 prior to take-off. [Uliassi launched his balloon hours after U.S. rival Steve Fossett launched his craft from a St. Louis stadium.] Both adveturers are attempting one of aviation's most elusive records - a nonstop balloon trip around the world. 

A woman buys tomatoes in the market in the Bach-djerrah quarter of Algiers, on the second day of the Ramadan moslem religious feast month December 31. Moslem extremists argue that the period is most propitious for what they term the "holy" struggle. 

Communal police patrol the market in the Bach-djerrah quarter of Algiers, as locals shop on the second day of the Ramadan moslem religious feast month December 31. Moslem extremists argue that the period is most propitious for what they term the "holy" struggle. 

General view of the Dome of the Rock mosque and the old city of Jerusalem December 31. [Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper said on December 31 that Israel's chief army rabbi urged blowing up the familiar gold-topped shrine after its capture by Israeli troops in 1967. Former General Uzi Narkiss, under whose command Israel captured the site, told the newspaper he rejected the proposal. Narkiss gave the interview in May on condition nothing be published until after his death. He died two weeks ago]. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (C) looks at empty chicken cages during his visit to Cheung Sha Wan chicken wholesale market December 31, after all the chickens inside were slaughtered. More than 1,000 government workers have worked around the clock since Monday to kill the territory's 1.3 million chickens thought to have infected humans with a deadly "bird flu" virus. 

US President Bill Clinton tees off on the first tee at the Arthur Hills Golf Corse in Hilton Head, South Carolina December 31. President Clinton is in Hilton Head for the Renaissance weekend before heading to the Virgin Islands tomorrow. 

A chicken vendor re-paints rusty cages at his stall inside a Hong Kong market December 31, after all his chickens were slaughtered. The decision to slaughter all the chickens in the territory was taken after health experts said the deadly "bird flu" virus was probably transmitted directly from chickens to human. The government asked chicken vendors to clean up their stalls before renewing their licenses. 

A chicken vendor paints placards before participating in a demonstration outside Hong Kong's biggest wholesale market December 31, to demand compensation from the government for slaughtering their chickens. More than 1,000 government workers have been working around the clock since Monday to kill 1.3 million chickens thought possibly to have infected humans with the deadly "bird flu" virus. 

US President Bill Clinton chats with an unidentified fellow dog owner, while walking his chocolate Labrador puppy Buddy (L) on the beach in Hilton Head South Carolina December 31. President Clinton is in Hilton Head for the Renaissance weekend before heading to the Virgin Islands tomorrow. 

Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto listens to a question by a reporter during a news conference for the New Year at the premier's official residence in Tokyo. (Picture taken 26DEC97) 

Shinto priests at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine make their way to a year-end rite in preparation for the New Year December 31. Millions of people will visit the shrine during the beginning of the new year to pray for their health and prosperity. 

Fireworks light up Sydney's Harbour Bridge as the New Year is welcomed in Sydney with a two million dollar ($1.3 million) display December 31. An estimated 500,000 people flocked to the city's foreshore to watch the spectacular show where more than 20,000 fireworks, equivalent to two shipping containers were detonated. 

A giant smile on the Sydney Harbour Bridge can be seen as fireworks shoot from the top December 31 as part of celebrations to mark the New Year. More than 20,000 fireworks at a cost of A$2 million (US$1.3 million) made up the display, with an estimated crowd of 500,000 watching from boats or the foreshores of the harbour. 

- FILE PHOTO 9MAR93 - Michael Kennedy was killed in a skiing accident in Colorado December 31, the Summit County, Colorado sheriff's office said. The 39-year-old Kennedy hit a tree while skiing on Aspen Mountain. Kennedy was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. [Kennedy is shown arriving at a benefit dinner in honour of his slain father Robert Kennedy, in New York in March,1993].
? QUALITY DOCUMENT 

A giant smile lights up Sydney's Harbour Bridge as the New Year is welcomed into Sydney with a two million dollar ($1.3 million) fireworks display December 31. An estimated 500,000 people flocked to the city's foreshore to watch the spectacular show where more than 20,000 fireworks, equivalent to two shipping containers were detonated. 

Fireworks light up Sydney's Blues Point Tower apartment building as the New Year is welcomed into Sydney with a two million dollar (US$1.3million) display December 31. An estimated 500,000 people flocked to the city's foreshore to watch the spectacular show where more than 20,000 fireworks, equivalent to two shipping containers were detonated. 

- FILE PHOTO 3NOV97 - A villager paddles his canoe past a wharf where container ships usually dock on the Fly River near the township of Kiunga in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea. The river, the largest in the country, was unable to accommodate the ships due to the unusually low water levels resulting from the severe drought gripping the nation. Government officials said on Wednesday that 70 people were confirmed dead in the worst drought in 50 years and that recent rain had offered only slight relief. Most of the dead fell victim to water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery. 

Attention PHOTOBASE 3000 users. As of January 5 1998, please remember to connect to Pix_98 Photobase server and integrate it into your base directory. Thank you. Reuters Paris. REUTERS 

A policeman threatens to disperse hundreds of opposition supporters protesting outside the county hall after they allegedly found a car full of fake ballots marked in favor of the ruling KANU party December 30. Tensions have run high in some parts of the country after both the opposition and ruling party have accused the Electoral Commission of vote-rigging. 

Indonesians perform the first evening prayer marking the start of the fasting month "Ramadan" in the mainly Moslem country at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in capital Jakarta December 30. Moslems around the world observe the fasting month ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, which in Indonesia falls on January 30-31. During the fasting month, Moslems are forbidden to eat, drink and have sex during daylight. 

A South Korean bank employee accepts a bundle of badly-needed foreign currency notes from a bank security guard in Seoul December 31. South Korea limped into the last day of its terrible financial year on Wednesday having barely averted a debt catastrophe, after the IMF dispatched $2 billion and international bankers came through with pledges of support. 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (R) talks to chicken vendors, after he received a petition from them at Hong Kong's Cheung Sha Wan chicken wholesale market December 31. The vendors demanded compensation from the government after all their chickens and other poultry were slaughtered. An estimated 20,000 chicken farm owners and vendors are facing hardships as a result of the deadly "bird flu" epidemic. 

Cars, trucks and motorbikes line up in front of the chateau de Versailles after their technical checks December 31. The 1998 Paris/Dakar rally will get under way from Versailles January 1. 

French union activists for the General Labour confederation (CGT) demonstrate in front of the Employers Organisation (CNPF) headquarters December 31. The action was in support of some 200 unemployed persons who occupied a welfare centre in central Paris December 30, and other such actions throughout the country, demanding more financial aid from the Socialist government for the unemployed. 

Opposition leader Mwai Kibaki, the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, attends his last rally in Nairobi December 28. [Kibaki and another key opposition leader Raila Odinga said December 31 they would reject an election victory by President Moi and that Kenya was edging towands civil strife]. 

Election officials count presidential votes within Ngong constituency, some 40 kilometres from Nairobi December 31. Tensions have run high in some parts of the country after both the opposition and ruling party have accused the Electoral Commission of vote-rigging. 

Cars, trucks and motorbikes line up in front of the chateau de Versailles after their technical checks December 31. The 1998 Paris/Dakar rally will get under way from Versailles January 1. 

Opposition leader Raila Odinga listens to speakers at an opposition rally held in Mombasa July 26. [Odinga and other key opposition leader Mwai Kibaki said December 31 they would reject an election victory by President Moi and that Kenya was edging towands civil strife.] 

President Daniel Arap Moi waves to supporters December 28 during his final rally of the presidential campaign. [Key opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki said today they would reject an election victory by President Moi and that Kenya was edging towands civil strife.] 

Balloonist Steve Fossett waves to well wishers at Busch Stadium before launching his "Solo Spirit" December 31. Adventurer Fossett launched his "Solo Spirit" balloon into crystal-clear winter skies in his third attempt at one of aviation's most elusive records - a nonstop balloon trip around the world. 

Millionaire Steve Fossett lifts off in his hot air balloon, "Solo Spirit," from Busch Stadium December 31. Fossett is making his third attempt for one of aviation's most elusive records - a non-stop balloon trip around the world. [One of Fossett's U.S. rivals in the race to be the first to fly a balloon around the world, 34-year-old engineer and professional balloonist Kevin Uliassi, was also scheduled to launch his craft from a rock quarry pit in Rockford, Illinois]. 

Policemen escort a large group of hostages from the inside of the Sorocaba Detention Center after they were set free by inmates in Sorocaba December 31. The women and children were a part of the group of more than 600 hostages that were being held by inmates of the prison for four days. Riot police seized control of the prison on Wednesday ending a tense three-day standoff without firing a single shot. 

French ski world champion Luc Alphand (L) signs an autograph to a fan as he arrives at the chateau de Versailles to take part in the 1998 Paris/Dakar rally, December 31 . The 1998 Paris/Dakar rally will get under way from Versailles January 1. 

Inmates tie a prisoner to a propane tank and threaten to blow him up at the Sorocaba Detention Center, 50 miles(80 Km) west from Sao Paulo, December 31. Riot police later entered and seized control of the prison where inmates held about 650 hostages, ending a tense three-day standoff without firing a single shot, authorities said. 

Two women hostages and their children are escorted by police after being released by inmates at Sorocaba Detention Center, 50 miles (80 Km) west from Sao Paulo, December 31. Inmates released nineteen women and 30 children from among their estimated 600 hostages, as the three-day stand off at the prision appeared to be ending. 

Philadelphia Flyer forward John LeClair (R) gets a rough ride from Vancouver Canuck defenseman Mattias Ohlund during the first period of their NHL game at General Motors Place in Vancouver December 31.

SPORT NHL 

Cosmonauts aboard the Russian Mir space station wave as an inflatable bottle of champagne floats below them December 31. As the orbiting cosmonauts raised the plastic bottle of champagne to toast the New Year, Russian space officials expressed relief that the most difficult year in the Mir space station's history had ended safely. (L-R) Flight engineer Pavel Vinogradov, U.S. astronaut David Wolf and Mir flight director Vladimir Solovyov.

SPACE RUSSIA 

An Air France Concorde arrives in Havana December 31, bringing about 100 British and other foreign tourists on the first flight by a Concorde to the communist-ruled island. The tourists, on a holiday organized by a British firm and a Cuban tour operator, flew in from London and Paris with a stop-over in Barbados.

CUBA CONCORDE 

Antoine Rigaudeau (C), French born guard currently with Kinder Bologna and playing on the Eurostars "West" team, eyes the basket as he passes Nadav Henefeld (L), Israeli born forward currently with Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and playing on the Eurostars "East" team, December 30. East beat West 129-107 in the second annual Eurostars game played in a different European country at the end of the year under the auspices of FIBA.

SPORT EUROSTARS 

FILE PHOTO 31DEC97 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin (C)and his wife Naina (3R) offer a toast with his family (L-R) daughter Elena, grandson Boris, daughter Tatyana, son-in-law Valery Okulov and granddaughter Masha in this December 31,1997 file picture. In a broadcast on national television on Friday Yeltsin announced his shock resignation after eight years as leader of the world's largest country and handed over his duties to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

WAW/AA 

A policeman checks the polling card of a voter outside a polling booth in northern Jaffna town during the local government elections January 29. Voters started trickling out to polling booths in Sri Lanka's former north Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Jaffna on Thursday after staying home earlier in the day for fear of rebel attacks. Most shops were closed and there was little traffic in Jaffna, which has been put under tight security for the local goverment elections, the first such polls in the north for 17 years.

SRILANKA ELECTIONS 

An election official marks the finger of a voter at a polling booth in northern Jaffna town during local goverment elections Janauary 29. Voters started trickling out to polling booths in Sri Lanka's former northern Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Jaffna on Thursday after staying home earlier in the day for fear of rebel attacks. Most shops were closed and there was little trafic in Jaffna, which has been put under tight security for the local goverment elections, the first such polls in the north for 17 years.

SRILANKA ELECTIONS 

A Sri Lankan policeman frisks a voter outside a polling booth in northern Jaffna town during the local government elections January 29. Voters started trickling out to polling booths in Sri Lanka's former northern Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Jaffna on Thursday after staying home earlier in the day for fear of rebel attacks. But most shops were closed and there was little trafic in Jaffna, which has been put under tight security for the local government elections, the first such poll in the north for 17 years.

SRILANKA ELECTIONS 

A Sri Lankan soldier stands alert near political posters during polling for local goverment elections in the northern town of Jaffna January 29. Voters started trickling out to polling booths in Sri Lanka's former northern Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Jaffna on Thursday after staying home earlier in the day for fear of rebel attacks. But most shops were closed and there was little traffic in Jaffna, which has been put under tight security for the local government elections, the first such polls in the north for 17 years.

SRILANKA ELECTIONS 

A Tamil woman casts her vote at a polling booth in the northern town Jaffna during local government elections January 29. Voters started trickling out to polling booths in Sri Lanka's former northern Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Jaffna on Thursday after staying home earlier in the day for fear of rebel attacks. But most shops were closed and there was little traffic in Jaffna, which has been put under tight security for the local government elections, the first such polls in the north for 17 years.

SRILANKA ELECTIONS 

Protestors wave placards and shout anti-rebel slogans outside the Australian Embassy in Colombo January 29, calling for the outlawing of the Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Australia. Hundreds of protestors also gathered in front of the French and British missions to file similar demands.

SRILANKA LTTE