AMERICA'S most well-known new year celebration - the dropping of a lighted ball at Times Square - welcomed the new year for about a million people.
A mild winter day brought out the crowds as New York celebrated the 100th anniversary of its famous sphere.
The 550kg ball, studded with Waterford crystal and mirrors, descended its flagpole with twice the brightness as last year's, thanks to new energy-saving technology.
At midnight, fireworks lit up the sky over one of the world's most famous intersections, and about two tonnes of confetti rained down.
People around the globe were urged to post messages on a virtual pin board at www.timesquarenyc.org or pin them on a board at a "wishing wall" at Times Square.
Those wishes were shredded and showered down on revellers.
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Times Square revellers cheer the 100th dropping of the 550kg lighted ball. Picture: AP
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