- Revelers are ready to party without pandemic restrictions
- Fireworks displays will be held in some parts for the first time since 2019
- German Olaf Schultz calls for more unity in his New Year’s message
- Natural disasters and conflicts will mean muted celebrations in parts of the world, including Ukraine
All updates are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
0000: In the New Year, the UK and Republic of Ireland have seen huge firework displays in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh – with the annual Hogmanay party in full swing. The Dublin Show on North Wall Quay attracted around 16,000 revelers.
In his New Year message, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted that the country has had a difficult 12 months due to political and economic problems and that its problems will not “go away” in 2023.
But he believes the coronation of King Charles III in May will help unite the country.
It has also become 2023 in Iceland, Portugal and Spain’s Canary Islands.
In Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Senegal are among the countries ringing in the new year.
2306: An hour into the year 2023, Ukraine reported new explosions around its capital, Kyiv.
Officials in Kyiv city and region said on messaging app Telegram that the air defense systems are operational.
It was not immediately known if targets were hit.
2300: It’s officially 2023 in Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Stockholm, Belgrade, and Warsaw, among other European capitals.
Several African countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana and Angola, also welcome the new year.
In his New Year’s address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that 2022 was not “just war, suffering and anxiety.” He said the government was “working to make our country and Europe independent of Russian gas for the long term,” and vowed to continue providing assistance to Ukraine.
Berlin hotels reported 90% occupancy ahead of the midnight fireworks at the Brandenburg Gate – the first since the pandemic.
President Emmanuel Macron also pledged France’s continued support for Ukraine “until victory”. He called on the French people to continue their efforts to save energy, but warned that 2023 will be the year in which the pension reform is implemented.
Nearly half a million people gathered in Paris for the first New Year’s fireworks since 2019.
Sweden takes over the European Union’s rotating presidency on Sunday and promised to broker a joint EU response next week for COVID testing for travelers from China amid fears of an outbreak of infections in the country.
Midnight in Zagreb was the moment Croatia abandoned its currency, the kuna, and adopted the euro, becoming the 20th member of the eurozone.
2200: A curfew has been imposed in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, tonight as 2023 begins. Russia has recently increased its attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, prompting stay-at-home orders.
Before midnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 2023 would be “the year of our victory”.
“I wish for miracles today? Ukrainians have been doing them for a long time,” he wrote on Telegram, posting a photo of himself and his wife Olena in front of a modestly decorated Christmas tree.
Other countries now ringing in the new year include Egypt, Libya, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
2100: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain welcomed the new year along with Moscow, Russia and several East African countries including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.
Iran celebrated the beginning of the year 2023 half an hour ago.
2000: The United Arab Emirates, including Dubai’s rich stadium, has welcomed 2023. Dubai is home to the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, which puts on a stunning fireworks display.
1900: India entered the new year. People gathered with friends and family to celebrate in Mumbai.
1800: Croatia is set to adopt the euro as its currency and join the Schengen Area in 2023.
Croatia, which joined the European Union in 2013, will abandon the kuna currency and join the bloc’s free movement zone at midnight local time (2300 GMT).
Meanwhile, dozens of cities in the western Balkans canceled New Year’s fireworks due to concerns about the harmful effects of noise and gases on animals and humans.
The capital, Zagreb, replaced the fireworks display with confetti, visual effects and music, and the southwestern port city of Rijeka aimed to redirect fireworks funds to animal welfare associations.
The town of Vucine in southwestern Croatia holds New Year’s celebrations at noon, a tradition that goes back just over 20 years.
1700: 2023 will be the year of the rabbit, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
The Lunar New Year begins on January 22nd.
It is now past midnight in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, which celebrate the Solar and Lunar New Year.
1500: Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s address that his country “stands on the right side of history.”
He said that “the world is not at peace,” but Beijing will “unswervingly advocate peace and development.”
The Chinese leader said the country is entering a “new phase” in its management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese authorities canceled the country’s COVID-free policy earlier in December.
Meanwhile, celebrations are taking place at the Great Wall of China in Beijing.
In Shanghai, authorities said traffic would stop along the Bund on the waterfront to allow pedestrians to congregate.
But they said there would be no official activities there. The Bund was the site of a deadly stampede on New Year’s Eve in 2014. About 36 people died after hundreds of thousands gathered to celebrate there.
Shanghai Disneyland will also hold a New Year’s fireworks show.
1300: The Australian city of Sydney hosted an unforgettable night with a dazzling fireworks display at midnight.
Organizers expected a crowd of more than a million people to congregate in the port area of the city, after two years of pandemic restrictions and muted celebrations.
“We’ve had a fairly difficult couple of years; we’re absolutely delighted this year to be able to welcome back,” said Big City Events Producer Stephen Gilbey. Sydney Morning Herald.
1100: The nations of Samoa and New Zealand celebrated the countdown to 2023. In Auckland, large crowds gathered under the Sky Tower, as the countdown to midnight gave way to a fireworks display.
An hour ago, the Line Islands in the atoll of Kiribati were among the first places on the planet to welcome in the New Year.
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lo, mm, kb / dj (Reuters, AP, dpa)
