Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pandemic-weary World Welcomes 2021

VOA News

   The world's 7.8 billion people are bidding a hearty farewell to 2020,
   but without the usual fanfare and public gatherings because of the
   novel coronavirus pandemic.

   The start of 2021 in Russia saw most public events cancelled. However,
   in Kaluga, considered the country's New Year's Eve capital,
   celebrations for tourists were set to continue even though residents
   wanted to see events canceled. The city is 150 kilometers southwest of
   Moscow.

   Turkey greeted the New Year by starting a four-day lockdown, and
   President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said law enforcement would crack down on
   illegal hotel parties.

   Dubai kicked off 2021 with its annual fireworks show near the tallest
   building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, but some saidvirus mitigation
   rules made the event less fun.

   "People come to Dubai because it's open, but there are so many rules,"
   Bashir Shehu, 50, who was visiting from Abuja, Nigeria, with his
   family, told The Associated Press. "We pray that next year we can
   celebrate with some real freedom."

   In India, celebrations to ring in 2021 were toned down because of
   curfews, a ban on beach parties and other travel restrictions. In major
   cities, hotels and bars were shut down at 11 p.m. local time, and AP
   reported that drones were monitoring people's movement in Mumbai, where
   large gatherings were prohibited.

   Japan rang in the new year quietly because of rising cases.

   Tokyo's governor, Yuriko Koike, had asked people not to attend
   countdown ceremonies. "The coronavirus knows no year-end or New Year's
   holidays," she said.

   South Korea, where the government banned gatherings of more than five,
   saw a different New Year's Eve as a traditional bell-ringing in Seoul
   was canceled for the first time since 1953. Beaches where South Koreans
   flock to watch the sun rise were closed, with some outlets announcing
   plans to broadcast it instead. Ski resorts and other tourist spots were
   closed.

.