Thu, January 01, 2009
NEW YORK, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- About 1 million people braved the cold weather to usher in 2009 at the New York Times Square on New Year's Eve.
The temperature dropped to 18 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus eight degrees Centigrade) at the square as midnight approached.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Senator Hillary Clinton joined New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in triggering the traditional ball drop, ushering in the new year with a new 12,000-pound (about 544 kilograms) Waterford Crystal ball that was several times larger and heavier than the ball used last year.
Security was heavy as crowds of people poured into central Manhattan for the street party, despite icy temperature and deepening economic woes across the United States.
