Emperor Akihito (C), Empress Michiko and Crown Prince Naruhito (L) wave to well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo January 2, 2002. Emperor Akihito and other imperial family members offered the annual New Year's greeting to the public from the palace balcony. [Crown Princess Masako, who gave birth last month to her first child, was absent.] 

New year revellers celebrate after withdrawing Euro banknotes out of a cash machine two hours before the official launch of the new currency in Vienna December 31, 2001. The physical form of the Euro will officially replace the currencies of the twelve Euro zone countries from midnight. 

South Korean soccer fans celebrate the new year and upcoming FIFA World Cup 2002 in Seoul January 1, 2002. [South Korea and Japan will co-host the FIFA World Cup event, beginning May 31.] 

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat greets his supporters during a rally in the West Bank City of Ramallah, December 31, 2001. [Arafat lit a torch in downtown Ramallah hours before the start of the new year. Israel's killing of six Palestinians in the Gaza Strip drew threats of revenge on Monday from militants defying President Yasser Arafat's call to halt attacks on Israelis.] 

French President Jacques Chirac presents his New Year wishes for 2002 in a televised address to the nation from the Elysee Palace in Paris, 31 December 2001. [The new year marks the introduction of the Euro currency in France and the 12 nation Euro zone countries and an end to the 641 year old Franc.] 

Michael Bloomberg signs his oath of office document after he was officially sworn in as the 108th mayor of the City of New York by City Clerk Victor L. Robles (L), in New York's Municipal Building December 31, 2001. [Bloomberg will take over from Rudolph Giuliani in celebrations in Times Square just after the New Year is welcomed in tonight.] 

Michael Bloomberg (R) pays 15 cents after he was officially sworn in as the 108th mayor of the City of New York by City Clerk Victor L. Robles (L), in New York's Municipal Building December 31, 2001.[ Bloomberg was required to pay the fee, which he paid in 15 pennies, as it was mandated by the city charter in 1898. Bloomberg will take over from Rudolph Giuliani in celebrations in Times Square just after the New Year is welcomed in tonight.] 

Michael Bloomberg (R) is officially sworn in as the 108th mayor of the City of New York by City Clerk Victor L. Robles, in New York's Municipal Building December 31, 2001. [Bloomberg will take over from Rudolph Giuliani in celebrations in Times Square just after the New Year is welcomed in tonight.] 

New Year's eve revellers Audie Stewart from Hayes, Kansas (L) and Lauren Wilson from Galiten, Tennessee celebrate with 2002 glasses in New York's Times Square December 31, 2001. [An estimated 500,000 people are expected to pack Times Square under heavy security to watch the 95th annual "ball drop" marking the end of 2001 and the beginning of 2002.] 

-COMBO PHOTO- Mexican legislators, pictured in this combo of photos, yawn during marathon negotiations on the 2002 federal budget and a controversial fiscal reform package at the nation's lower house in Mexico City, December 31, 2001. [Congress has until midnight of today to pass next year's budget, the second for the Conservative National Action Party (PAN) of President Vicente Fox. The Mexican economy has been hard hit by the economic slowdown in the United States, the final for about 85 percent of Mexico's exported goods.] 

Mexican legislator Miguel Bortolini yawns during marathon negotiations on the 2002 federal budget and a controversial fiscal reform package at the nation's lower house in Mexico City, December 31, 2001. [Congress has until midnight of today to pass next year's budget, the second for the Conservative National Action Party (PAN) of President Vicente Fox. The Mexican economy has been hard hit by the economic slowdown in the United States, the final for about 85 percent of Mexico's exported goods.] 

A Bank of Ireland clerk, in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, sorts out euro coins ahead of the euro changeover which will take place tomorrow in the Republic of Ireland December 31, 2001. European leaders on Monday hailed the dawn of a new era when the euro single currency enters the pockets of more than 300 million citizens in 12 countries from midnight. 

Travelex Director of European retail operations Simon Phillips does final checks of Euro notes December 31, 2001. The euro will replace the national currencies in 12 member states of the European Union, from midnight tonight in the biggest monetary changeover in history. 

Relatives of fire victims hold pictures of loved ones while they wait to identify the bodies outside a morgue in Lima, December 31, 2001. [At least 282 died and 134 were injured in the blaze on December 29, which was sparked when a fireworks explosion went out of control. The fire broke out as the shopping center was packed with customers buying fireworks for end-of-year celebrations.] 

Afghan children gather at the playground of the government run orphanage in Kabul December 31, 2001. [Officials say some 1000 orphans, whose parents have died during the long years of civil war, live in Kabul and countless thousands are scattered throughout Afghanistan.] 

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat salutes his supporters during a rally in the West Bank City of Ramallah December 31, 2001. [Thousands of Palestinians expressed their solidarity with Yasser Arafat on the 37 anniversary of his movement Fatah's foundation.] 

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat gestures during a rally in the West Bank City of Ramallah December 31,2001. [Thousands of Palestinians expresses solidarity with their leader Yasser Arafat on the 37 anniversary of his movement Fatah's foundation.] 

Belgian children Bram Degraeve (R) and Leyla Karali present their euro banknotes they received as prizes for winning in the "Euro Super Star" children's quiz competition during the press conference to introduce the euro banknotes and coins in Frankfurt, December 31, 2001. [Wim Duisenberg] held the news conference as his final appearance before the euro banknotes and coins go into circulation and he awarded prizes to the 24 first-prize winners of the "Be a Euro Super Star" children's quiz competition. The 24 children, two from each country taking part in the euro currency, are the first people who got officially the new banknotes launched by the ECB. 

Pensioner Silvino Sanz Revuelta, 86, holds up a one Euro coin in Escalona del Prado, central Spain, on the eve of the introduction of euro notes and coins in 12 European countries December 31, 2001. Spain assumes the six-month European Union presidency on Tuesday, the same day euro notes and coins enter circulation in 12 of the 15 EU nations. 

A 2000 square meters flag depicting the symbol of the euro hangs from a European Union building in Brussels December 31, 2001. The single currency will become legal tender for more than 300 million people in 12 of the 15 EU states on January 1, 2002. 

A man slides past a giant euro logo, made up of balloons, during the inauguration of a 2000 square meters flag depicting the symbol of the euro on a European Union building in Brussels December 31, 2001. The single currency will become legal tender for more than 300 million people in 12 of the 15 EU states on January 1, 2002. 

European Commission President Romano Prodi (L) and European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pedro Solbes Mira (R) push on a model of a euro coin to inaugurate a 2000 square meters flag depicting the symbol of the euro on a European Union building in Brussels December 31, 2001. The sign is meant to encourage people to feel proud of the single currency, which will become legal tender for more than 300 million people in 12 of the 15 EU states on January 1, 2002. 

-PHOTO TAKEN DEC01- Argentine Eduardo Camano, a member of the Lower Chamber of Congress, is in line to become temporary president after the next assembly of both houses accepts the resignation of [President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, who stepped down late December 30. Rodriguez Saa resigned following angry spontaneous protests in the city which ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police.] Photo taken December, 2001. 

A lone demonstrator runs past a line of riot police while banging a pot lid around the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, December 31, 2001. [Interim President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa resigned late December 30, only a week after he was sworn in, after angry spontaneous protests in the city ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and police.] 

A Shinto musician (C), assisted by his colleagues, washes his hands in a symbolic purification ceremony before a ceremony to end the year of 2001 and prepare for the new year of 2002 at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, December 31, 2001. Some two million people are expected to visit the shrine during the first three days in the new year to pray for long life and happiness. 

Shinto priests arrive for a ceremony to end the year of 2001 and prepare for the new year of 2002 at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, December 31, 2001. Some two million people are expected to visit the shrine during the first three days in the new year to pray for long life and happiness. 

Shinto priests arrive for a ceremony to end the year of 2001 and prepare for the new year of 2002 at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, December 31, 2001. Some two million people are expected to visit the shrine during the first three days in the new year to pray for long life and happiness. 

Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour in the first of two pyrotechnic shows to begin celebrations for the New Year December 31, 2002. [Hundreds of thousands of people have lined Sydney's waterfront to watch the spectacular three million dollar (US$1.5 million) fireworks display at midnight to bring in the New Year.] 

A protester sticks a "unity flag" with the shape of Korean peninsula on his mask during an anti-American protest in Seoul December 31, 2001. [Relations between two Koreas improved with last year's historic June 15 summit between the two Korean leaders and raised hopes for reconciliation but North's Kim Jong-il has held back on a promised return visit to Seoul in apparent anger at a decision by George Bush to review U.S.- North Korean ties. The flag reads, "Implement the united proclamation of two Korean leaders" and "Pulverize United States' machinations for war against North Korea".] 

Chef Giulio Buonomo shows off a "euro" pizza, prepared with tomatoes, cheese, basil and a Euro symbol icing, at his restaurant in central Naples, December 31, 2001. In the biggest currency swap in history more than 300 million people in 12 European countries will start to use the euro as their day. 

Chinese drum players dressed in Qing dynasty costume perform during the drum beating ceremony at Beijing's Drum Tower to celebrate the approach of the New Year on December 31, 2001. New Year's Eve in Beijing has seen the rebirth of an ancient Chinese tradition, the sounding of the drums at the city's Drum Tower. Until the drums were silenced in 1924, the instruments had been used to signal the time for the people of Beijing for hundreds of years. 

A Chinese Child drum player dressed in Qing dynasty costume stands in front of her instrument before the drum beating ceremony at Beijing's Drum Tower to celebrate the approach of the New Year on December 31, 2001. New Year's Eve in Beijing has seen the rebirth of an ancient Chinese tradition, the sounding of the drums at the city's Drum Tower. Until the drums were silenced in 1924, the instruments had been used to signal the time for the people of Beijing for hundreds of years. 

A Filipino boy nicknamed Rolly Boy Garcia blows a paper horn to attract customers to his street stall in Manila December 31, 2001. The government has urged Filipinos to use paper horns instead of firing guns or lighting firecrackers to welcome in the New Year because of accidents in previous years. The boy sells the paper horns for 50 pesos ($1). 

- FILE PHOTO JAN01 - Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, a top Pakistan militant leader seen in this January 2001 file photograph, has been detained by Pakistani authorities, a security source said on December 31, 2001. [Saeed's Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, which has been fighting India's rule in the disputed Kashmir region, has been blamed by India for a suicide attack on its parliament earlier this month.] 

A firemen sits with a resident outside her home on the edge of burning bushland as winds move the fires towards houses in the lower Blue Mountains town of Blaxland December 31, 2001.[ More than 100 summer bushfires continue to burn out of control on Sydney's outskirts as thousands of weary firefighters across the state of New South Wales battle blazes for a fourth day. Some 150 houses and thousands of hectares have been destroyed, but there have been no deaths or serious injuries.] 

Argentine interim President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa announces his resignation during a nationally televised speech from his hometown San Luis, north of Buenos Aires, December 30, 2001. [Rodriguez Saa become the country's second leader in just over a week to quit after violent street protests amid a grinding recession. Rodriguez Saa said his resignation had been due to hold office until elections in March but blamed his departure on a lack of support from his own Peronist Party.] 

Didi, a four-year-old tiger decorated with a crown roars at visitors who visited the Rusaifah Zoo during the New Years's vacations on the last day of the year, December 31, 2001. [The new year's holiday and tradition dates back to ancient Bablyon 4,000 years ago. At that time it was celebrated with the first new moon, which marked the first day of spring in late March. During the Roman era, the calender was modified to be synchronised with the sun instead of the moon, and in 46BC Julius Caesar established a permanent calendar where the new year would begin on the 1st of January.] 

Fireworks light up Berlin's landmark the Victory column during New Year
celebrations late December 31, 2001. About one million revellers will
welcome the New Year around the Victory column and the Brandenburg
Gate, police said. REUTERS/Alexandra Winkler REUTERS

AX 

Boston Bruins goaltender Byron Dafoe makes a stick save on a shot by
the Dallas Stars during first period action at the American Airlines
Center in Dallas, December 31, 2001. REUTERS/Jeff Mitchell

JM/HK 

Wim Duisenberg, President of the European Central Bank (ECB) is seen
among the prize winners of the "Euro Super Star" children's quiz
competition during a news conference to introduce the euro banknotes
and coins in Frankfurt, December 31, 2001. Wim Duisenberg held the news
conference as his final appearance before the euor banknotes and coins
go into circulation and he awarded prizes to the 24 first-prize winners
of the "Be a Euro Super Star" children's quiz competition. The 24
children, two from each country taking part in the euo currency, are
the first people who got officially the new banknotes launched by the
ECB. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

KP 

Indian activists from the Pakistan-India People's Forum hold candles
during a anti-war rally in Calcutta late December 31, 2001. The rally
was held by the front to promote a world free of violence and terrorism
at the eve of the New Year. REUTERS/Sucheta Das

JSG 

Chicago Black Hawks' Tony Amonte (10) collides with Ottawa Senators'
Curtis Leschyshyn (7) during first period NHL action in Ottawa,
December 31, 2001. REUTERS/Jim Young

JY/ME 

Chicago Black Hawks' goalie Jocelyn Thibault (L) makes a save off
Ottawa Senators' Chris Herperger during first period NHL action in
Ottawa, December 31, 2001. REUTERS/Jim Young

JY/ME 

Chicago Bulls head coach Bill Cartwright (C) sends his team back to the
floor after a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the
Milwaukee Bucks in Chicago, December 31, 2001. Chicago won the game,
90-83. At left is Marcus Fizer and at right is Greg Anthony.
REUTERS/Sue Ogrocki

SUE/ME 

Chicago Bulls forward Marcus Fizer (L) is fouled from behind by
Milwaukee Bucks forward Anthony Mason (R) in the fourth quarter in
Chicago, December 31, 2001. Chicago won the game, 90-83. REUTERS/Sue
Ogrocki

SUE 

Milwaukee Bucks guard Sam Cassell (L) is fouled by Chicago Bulls center
Brad Miller (R) in the fourth quarter in Chicago, December 31, 2001.
Chicago won the game, 90-83. REUTERS/Sue Ogrocki

SUE/ME 

Brazilian Maria Zeferina Baldai crosses the finish line to win the 77th
International Sao Silvestre street race in Sao Paulo December 31, 2001.
Baldaniu's time was 52 minutes and 12 seconds. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

PW 

Chicago Bulls head coach Bill Cartwright gestures from the bench during
the second quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Chicago,
December 31, 2001. Cartwright was named head coach December 28, 2001,
and coached the team to a win over Cleveland in his first game as head
coach, December 29, 2001. REUTERS/Sue Ogrocki

SUE/ME 

Athelts run in the 77th International Sao Silvestre street race in Sao
Paulo December 31, 2001. Around 17,000 runners participated this year.
REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

PW 

Milwaukee Bucks guard Rafer Alston (C) cuts through the defense of
Chicago Bulls guard Kevin Ollie (L) and forward Marcus Fizer (R) for a
driving layup in the first quarter in Chicago, December 31, 2001.
REUTERS/Sue Ogrocki

SUE/ME 

Brazilian Maria Zeferina Baldai holds up a trophy on the podium after
she won the 77th International Sao Silvestre street race in Sao Paulo
December 31, 2001. Baldaniu's time was 52 minutes and 12 seconds.
REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

PW/ME 

Milwaukee Bucks guard Sam Cassell (rear) gets a pass past the reach of
Chicago Bulls guard Greg Anthony (front) in the first quarter in
Chicago, December 31, 2001. REUTERS/Sue Ogrocki

SUE/ME 

Tesfaye Ragassa of Ethiopia reacts on the podium after he won the 77th
International Sao Silvestre street race in Sao Paulo, December 31,
2001. Ragassa's time was 44 minutes and 15 seconds. REUTERS/Paulo
Whitaker

PW/ME 

Tesfaye Ragassa of Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the 77th
International Sao Silvestre street race in Sao Paulo, December 31,
2001. Ragassa's time was 44 minutes and 15 seconds. REUTERS/Paulo
Whitaker

PW/ME 

Thousands of South Koreans celebrate the new year and upcoming FIFA
World Cup 2002 at an event being broadcast throughout the country in
Seoul December 31, 2001. South Korea and Japan will co-host the FIFA
World Cup beginning May 31. REUTERS/Lee Jae-won

LJW/ 

Thousands of South Koreans celebrate the new year and upcoming FIFA
World Cup 2002 at an event being broadcast throughout the country in
Seoul December 31, 2001. South Korea and Japan will co-host the FIFA
World Cup beginning May 31. REUTERS/Lee Jae-won

LJW/ 

Tottenham Hotspur's Teddy Sheringham is sent off by referee Mike Riley
during their English premier league match at White Hart Lane December
22, 2001. REUTERS/Russell Boyce NO INTERNET/ONLINE USAGE WITHOUT FAPL

LICENCE. FOR DETAILS SEE FAPLWEB.COM REUTERS 

Czech rider Josef Machacek is covered in mud as he drives his quad
during the fourth stage of the Arras Madrid Dakar Rally in Madrid on
December 31, 2001. The race ends in the African city of Dakar on
January 13 after completing 14 stages through 5 countries over almost
10 000 kilometres. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan

DB 

Spanish driver Fernando Gil jumps during the fourth stage of the Arras
Madrid Dakar Rally in Madrid on December 31, 2001. Gil is placed second
after Belgian De Mevius on the overall standings of the race which ends
in the African city of Dakar on January 13 after completing 14 stages
through 5 countries over almost 10 000 kilometres. REUTERS/Desmond
Boylan

DB