Indonesia sharia stronghold bans New Year's festivities
Islamic police in Indonesia's sharia stronghold seized thousands of firecrackers and cardboard trumpets after the city administration banned New Year's Eve celebrations for the first time, an official said Tuesday.
New Year on ice as weather stalls Antarctic air-sea rescue
An icebound Russian research vessel prepared to ring in the New Year in remote Antarctica Tuesday as blizzards hampered a helicopter rescue planned after several icebreaking attempts failed.
Royal baby birth doctor knighted, Beckham snubbed
The gynaecologist who helped deliver the first child of Prince William and his wife Kate was given a knighthood and veteran actress Angela Lansbury was made a dame in Britain's New Year Honours List released Tuesday.
Fireworks injure 160 as Philippines readies for New Year
More than 160 people have been injured by fireworks in the Philippines as they prepared to welcome the New Year, the government said Saturday.
January 1 to 5 - rest days in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan residents can relax and enjoy their New Year holiday from January 1 to 5 in 2014.
US aims lucky 'Year of the Horse' greenbacks at Chinese
The US Treasury is selling red "hong bao" envelopes with "lucky" dollars bearing auspicious serial numbers to mark the Chinese Year of the Horse next year.
Cutting or damaging conifer trees punishable by law in Kazakhstan
Cutting of 7 or more conifer trees in Kazakhstan is a criminal offense in Kazakhstan.
Almaty to light this year's Christmas Tree on December 1
This year's lighting of the main New Year Tree of Almaty city will take place on December 1.
China holiday retail sales jump 15%: government
China on Saturday said retail sales jumped nearly 15 percent on-year during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, as consumers splurged on jewellery, clothes and food.
Year of Snake sees serpent sales soar in Hong Kong
As Hong Kong prepares to usher in the Year of the Snake, an increasing number of the reptiles are slithering their way into local households, with sales of the uncuddly pet rocketing.
Google maps New Year's resolutions around the world
Google is letting people peg their New Year's resolutions to an online map and see what promises others around the world have set out to keep in 2013.
Kazakhstan residents made 93 million calls on New Year night
Kazakhstan cellular operators gave statistics of phone calls and messages on New Year days.
Record 40,000 Dutch in New Year North Sea dip
A record 40,000 people braved icy temperatures on the Netherlands's North Sea coast Tuesday to take a cold plunge, setting a new record for the traditional New Year's Day dip.
60 dead in New Year's stampede in Ivory Coast
The Ivory Coast on Wednesday began three days of national mourning after a stampede among crowds gathered for celebratory New Year's Eve fireworks in Abidjan left at least 60 dead and dozens injured.
Venezuela frets over ill Chavez as 2013 begins
Somber Venezuelans began 2013 fretting over their ubiquitous and garrulous leader Hugo Chavez, wondering what the future holds as the president wages a tough battle with cancer in a Havana hospital.
Syria ushers in New Year with more violence
Syrians woke up to air strikes near Damascus on New Year's Day and the closure of Aleppo airport after repeated rebel attacks, casting doubts on efforts to end the 21-month conflict.
Globe greets 2013 in rolling New Year's party
A million people crammed into New York's Times Square on Tuesday to greet the New Year in a global party that kicked off in Australia before rolling around the world in a non-stop chain of firework displays.
World to welcome in New Year with a bang
Sydney will Monday kick off a wave of dazzling firework displays welcoming in 2013 from Dubai to Paris and London, with long-isolated Yangon joining the global pyrotechnics for the first time.
Tour de France champ Wiggins knighted in New Year honours
Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins led a parade of Olympic champions whose achievements in a remarkable summer of sport in Britain were recognised in the New Year Honours list on Saturday.
One third Kazakhstan companies spend up to 500 thousand tenge on New Year staff parties
According to 31 percent of the polled representatives of Kazakhstan companies, their New Year staff party costs from 300 to 500 thousand tenge.