World Welcomes 2010

Revelers share a kiss as they celebrate the New Year at the stroke of midnight on Times Square, Jan. 1, 2010, in New York.

New York, NY

Revelers celebrate the New Year at the stroke of midnight on Times Square, Jan. 1, 2010, in New York.

Paris

Revellers celebrate New Year's Eve on the Champs Elysees avenue in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009.

New York. N.Y.

Emme Zheng, of Greensboro, N.C., foreground left, and others take part in the New Year's Eve festivities in New York's Times Square Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009.

New York, N.Y.

The crystal-paned ball on the roof of 1 Times Square in New York is raised shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 to signify the start of New Year's festivities in Times Square.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Fireworks light the sky above the Cathedral Square in Vilnius shortly after midnight, greeting the new year Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. Thousands of people celebrated the beginning of the new year in the Lithuanian capital.

Decatur, Ill.

Best friends Samantha Walker, left, and Makenzie Pickett, both 10, blow their noisemakers in a shower of confetti and balloons during the Happy Noon Year event at the Children's Museum of Illinois Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, in Decatur, Ill.

Berlin

People gather in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to see in the new year Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009.

Singapore

Pat's 2010 Predictions — AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

Fireworks light up the skyline of the financial district to usher in the New Year on Jan. 1, 2010, in Singapore.

Sydney, Australia

Fireworks flash over Sydney Harbor during New Year celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. The annual fireworks extravaganza over the city's landmark harbor bridge and opera house are the centerpiece of Australia's celebrations, and generate some of the most striking images from a night of revelry across the globe.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Fireworks explode above downtown Jakarta's Welcome Monument, in Indonesia, early Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.

Hong Kong

Fireworks explode at the Two International Finance Centre buildings over the Victoria Harbor celebrating the 2010 New Year in Hong Kong on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Malaysian people watch fireworks during New Year celebrations in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)

Tokyo

New Year's Celebrations — AP Photo/Koji Sasahara

Crowds celebrate as balloons are released to mark the New Year at the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo, seconds after midnight on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.

Beijing

Confetti flies while Chinese people celebrates New Year outside a shopping mall in Beijing, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.

Taipei, Taiwan

New Year fireworks light the Taipei cityscape from the tallest occupied building in the world, Taipei 101, in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010.

Shimla, India

Skaters arrange themselves to form the year "2010" to welcome the upcoming New Year at an ice skating carnival in Shimla, India, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009.

Jinan, China

Children wear handmade eyeglasses in the shape of "2010" at Dianliu 1st Elementary School in Jinan, east China, on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, to greet the forthcoming New Year.

Giza, Egypt

New Year's decorations are seen on a restaurant window in front of the historical pyramids in Giza, Egypt, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Members of Sao Paulo's Commerce Association release thousands of balloons to celebrate the end of the year in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009.