An estimated 200 people took to the North Sea off the coast of North Tyneside to welcome in the new year.

BBC: North Sea dippers see in new year at Whitley Bay

Derry City Council is asking people to come to Queen's Quay on New Year's Eve to welcome in 2013, the official start of the city's year as UK City of Culture.

BBC: Londonderry City of Culture fireworks display for New Year

And so I want to welcome you all to the new school year, although I know that many of you already have been in school for a while.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama��s Third Annual Back to School Speech

Investors put out the welcome mat for homebuilders in the first half of the year, pushing up their share prices despite the worst pace of new-home sales since the Great Depression on expectations of a long-awaited rebound after the 2008 and 2009 slump.

FORBES: 6 Rallying Homebuilder Stocks