- Revelers ready for parties with no pandemic restrictions
- Fireworks displays will be held in some parts for the first time since 2019
- Germany’s Olaf Scholz calls for greater unity in his New Year message
- Natural disasters and conflict will mean muted celebrations in parts of the world, including Ukraine
All updates in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
0000: The United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland have seen in the new year, with huge firework displays in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh — where the annual Hogmanay party is in full swing. Dublin’s display at the North Wall Quay attracted some 16,000 revelers.
In his new year message, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted the country has had a tough 12 months due to political and economic woes and its problems will not “go away” in 2023.
But he believed that the coronation of King Charles III in May will help bring the country together.
It also just became 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 2023, Ukraine is reporting fresh explosions around its capital, Kyiv.
Kyiv city and region officials said on the Telegram messaging app that air defense systems were working.
It was not immediately known whether any 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 are also welcoming the new year.
In his New Year address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that 2022 was not “purely one of war, suffering and worry.” He said the government was “making our country and Europe independent of Russian gas for the long term,” and vowed to keep up help for Ukraine.
Berlin hotels reported a 90% occupancy ahead of the midnight fireworks at the Brandenburg Gate — the first since the pandemic.
President Emmanuel Macron also vowed France’s continued support for Ukraine “until victory.” He called on the French public to keep up their energy-saving efforts but warned that 2023 would be the year that pension reform is implemented.
Around half a million people have gathered in Paris for the first new year fireworks since 2019.
Sweden takes over the rotating EU presidency on Sunday and promised to broker a joint EU response next week to COVID testing for travelers from China amid concern over the country’s explosion of infections.
Midnight in Zagreb was also the moment that Croatia dropped its kuna currency and adopted the euro, becoming the eurozone’s 20th member.
2200: A curfew is in place in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, tonight as it rings in 2023. Russia recently increased its attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which prompted the stay-at-home order.
Ahead of midnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 2023 would be the “year of our victory.”
“Wishing for miracles today? Ukrainians have been creating them for a long time,” he wrote on Telegram and posted a photo of himself and his wife Olena in front of a modestly decorated Christmas tree.
Other nations now ringing in the new year include Egypt, Libya, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
2100: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain have welcomed the new year, along with Moscow, Russia and several east African countries including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia.
Iran marked the beginning of 2023 half an hour earlier.
2000: The United Arab Emirates, including the playground…
Read More: World welcomes New Year 2023 — live updates – DW – 01/01/2023