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BBC 2007-01-01BBC World News.Big celebrations are being held in Romania and Bulgaria to mark their accession to the European Union 17 years after the fall of communism. Concerts and firework displays are being held in the two capitals Bucharest and Sofia to mark the event. The entry of Romania and Bulgaria at midnight local time brought the number of EU member states to 27. These Romanians are optimistic about their country's future in the EU.Tonight there are only the hopes, but the nearest future; we are hoping that European Union accession will fulfill all of our hopes. We're very happy for Romania; let's hope everything is going to be okay. I think it's going to be a great night in our life because we get inside into the community; the Europe is going to help us, is going to be right, and going to be okay. I believe.Russia and Belarus have averted a crisis over Russian gas deliveries by signing a new deal on the issue just before a deadline imposed by Moscow. The deal more than doubles the price Belarus must pay, but stop short of the figure the Russians were originally demanding.The Russian gas monopoly Gazprom had threatened to cut off gas supplies on Monday unless an agreement was reached. For its part, Belarus had warned that it would retaliate by disrupting Russian gas deliveries to Western Europe. Under the deal, Belarus will pay 100 dollars per 1000 cubic metres of gas instead of the 46 dollars it had been paying. Russia had said it wanted 105 dollars. In the last year, Russia has reached agreements on raising gas prices with Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova.New Year's Day has also seen Slovenia become the first former communist country to adopt the Euro as its currency. It's also the first of the ten member states which joined the European Union in 2004 to make the switch. The existing Slovenian currency, the Tolar, will remain in dual use with the Euro for 14 days. To smooth it entry as the 13th country in the Euro zone, Slovenia has been tacking Euro values to oil prices for nearly two years.The Iraqi government has said that the execution of the country's former President Saddam Hussein was about justice, not revenge. A presidential advisor, Hiwa Osman, in an interview with the BBC was referring to video pictures on the internet showing Saddam Hussein’s last moments as he faced the gallows. He seemed responding to taunts by some of those present to the hanging, the official verge to the execution had spoken of a scene of dignity and respect. Mr. Osman told the BBC, government members were not involved in the exchange of insults.Well, I think it was unfortunate that this video came out, I don’t think it was the intention of anyone who is in the government or in the judiciary to have such pictures out because this trial is about justice, is about somebody who committed crimes against the people of Iraq and has received the justice that he denied the people of Iraq.Independent organizations monitoring the number of casualties in Iraq say that the latest American soldier to die there brings the number of US military personnel killed since the invasion in 2003 to 3,000. The Pentagon in Washington has acknowledged the deaths, but has not confirmed the reported total. The White House spokesman said however thatPresident Bush would ensure the sacrifice was not in vain.This is the World News from the BBC.The Thai capital Bangkok has been hit by a second ground of bomb attacks, the two latest blasts including one near a major shopping mall came just as the country passed into the New Year and wounded 7 people. Jonathan Head reports from Bangkok.The first six explosions stricken the early evening in different parts of the capital, killing 2 and injuring several more, that prompted the city authorities to cancel the public New Year celebrations that held in the centre of Bangkok. And it was just as well they did, two more explosions went off at the site where the biggest event was to have been held, just a couple of minutes before midnight. The area had already been cleared. But the blasts caught several foreign tourists including two British men who are now being treated in hospital.Heavy fighting has been taking place around the southern Somali town of Jilib as Ethiopian troops and Somali transitional government forces continue their advance southward against Islamist militia. Reports say the two sides exchanged mortar and rocket fire. A witness told the BBC Somali service the fighting in Jilib died down after nightfall and almost all the residents had left the town.And as New Year celebrations gather pace around the world, one of the first places to enjoy the festivities was Australia where a million revellers throng Sydney Harbour for a spectacular fireworks display from the famous bridge. In the Indian capital Delhi, the festivities included a later light show and world drum beating record was being attempted in Taiwan.BBC World News.Words and Expressions:1. firework [ ♐♋♓☜ ♦☜] A device consisting of a combination of explosives and combustibles,n. 焰火。