[ti:The World Says ‘Hello’ to 2019, ‘Goodbye’ to an Unsettling Year] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.01]People around the world are saying goodbye [00:03.45]to what many considered to be a troubling year. [00:08.10]Here's a look at how people [00:10.91]are celebrating the end of 2018 [00:13.95]and the beginning of 2019. [00:17.39]The Pacific island nation of Kiribati [00:20.99]was the first in the world to ring in the new year. [00:25.63]In the capital Tarawa, many celebrated [00:30.11]with church services and mostly quiet private events. [00:35.45]In Auckland, New Zealand, [00:38.73]tens of thousands of people [00:41.26]gathered around the 328-meter Sky Tower [00:45.76]to watch a fireworks show. [00:48.92]In other places, huge crowds gathered on beaches [00:53.91]and streets as fireworks went off above city centers and seaports. [01:01.23]An estimated one million people crowded the Sydney Harbor, [01:07.75] as Australia's largest city began the new year [01:12.07]with a memorable fireworks celebration. [01:15.18]More than 1 billion people around the world [01:19.24]were expected to watch the fireworks on television. [01:24.26]This year's fireworks show was one of the most complex in Australia's history. [01:31.46]Thousands of South Koreans were expected [01:35.75]to fill the streets of the capital Seoul [01:38.91]for a traditional bell ringing ceremony near City Hall. [01:43.11]And North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected [01:47.81]to give his yearly address on New Year's Day. [01:51.82]In his New Year's speech last year, Kim spoke of talks [01:57.56]with South Korea to reduce tensions and said the North [02:01.90]would be willing to take part in South Korea's Winter Olympics. [02:07.77]New Year's Eve is not celebrated widely in mainland China. [02:14.21]The lunar New Year in February is a more important holiday. [02:20.17]But countdown events were being held in major cities. [02:25.33]Beijing held an event with important guests [02:29.46]at the main site of the 2008 Summer Olympics. [02:34.25]The event looked ahead to the 2022 Winter Games, [02:39.14]which will also be held in the Chinese capital. [02:43.28]In Hong Kong, the city's tallest building was brightly lit. [02:49.31]There also was a show of fireworks, [02:52.47]music and lights over Victoria Harbor. [02:56.81]About 300,000 people were expected to gather along the port. [03:03.80]Hundreds of Thais traveled to a Buddhist religious center [03:09.84]near the capital Bangkok to lie inside coffins [03:13.79]for traditional funeral rituals. [03:16.97]Those who take part believe the ceremony removes bad luck [03:22.36]and permits them to be born again for a fresh start in the new year. [03:29.04]Famous musicians and people from all over the world [03:33.87]will gather in Times Square in New York City to welcome 2019. [03:40.00]Watchers are expected to start gathering early in the afternoon Monday. [03:47.50]The celebration will take place under strict security, [03:52.26]as people wait for the traditional midnight crystal ball drop. [03:57.93]I'm Jonathan Evans. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM