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Hundreds of thousands of New York revellers packed a frigid Times Square to hail the New Year, joining people around the world eager to say goodbye to 2008.

PARIS - For many around the world watching the new year arrive, 2008 had not been pretty - slumping stocks, disappearing jobs. “I’m looking forward to 2009,” said Randolph King of England, whose retirement fund was gutted in the global financial crisis. “Because it can’t get much worse.”

By JOELLE DIDERICH

Revelers around the world greeted 2009 with and a tinge of optimism Thursday amid hopes they’d seen the last of 2008’s job losses and slumping stocks.

Revelers around the world greeted 2009 with fireworks, bell ringing and a tinge of optimism Thursday — amid hopes they’d seen the last of 2008’s disappearing jobs and slumping stocks.

The actor Kevin Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, have become the latest celebrities to admit they are victims of Bernard Madoff, the Wall Street swindler.

Until mid-2008, Sammy and Idan Ofer were in good shape as Israel Chemicals continued to flourish.

Movies & More reviewer John Gillispie thinks that “WALL·E” is a charming and amusing G-rated movie for children, with some laughs for adults who can tolerate charming and amusing G-rated movies.

The week’s best travel deals, from the Mercury News

“Premium subcompact hatchback”? Isn’t that a classic oxymoron, on the order of “business ethics”, “military intelligence”, or “computer security”? Not, not if the subcompact hatchback in question is a Honda Fit.