New year revellers begin welcoming 2013

Celebrations are being held around the world to mark the new year, with the city of Auckland in New Zealand holding the first major event of 2013.

More than 1.5 million people gathered around Sydney harbour to watch the city's famous firework display.
Big shows are also planned in many other cities globally.
Celebrations will also be held for the first time in Burma, where large public gatherings were banned by its previous military rulers.

Subdued celebrations In Auckland, the largest city closest to the International Date Line, fireworks exploded over the city's 328m (1,076ft) Sky Tower as midnight struck (11:00 GMT).
Two hours later, the huge crowds around the harbour in the Australian city of Sydney were treated to a typically extravagant fireworks display.
Seven tonnes of fireworks lit up the famous landmarks of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House to a soundtrack co-written by Australian singer Kylie Minogue.
The display is expected to pump $160m (£98.5m) into the local economy, the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney said.
Fireworks lit up the skyline in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, while South Korea ushered in the new year with the traditional ringing 33 times of the 15th century Bosingak bell in the capital Seoul.
As many as 100,000 people were expected around Hong Kong's harbour for the city's biggest ever fireworks display, costing $1.6m (£980,000), the Associated Press reports.
Firework displays were also held in the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai.
Meanwhile, in Burma, tens of thousands were expected to attend the celebrations in the former capital Rangoon, which will feature a fireworks display and performances by the country's entertainers.
Reports say the festivities will be broadcast live on Burmese television.
The celebration is seen as the latest sign of the country's liberalisation under its military-backed civilian government.
-CULLED FROM BBC