Russia has launched missile attacks on Ukraine on New Year’s Eve, killing at least one person in Kyiv. Nevertheless, people in the besieged nation are trying to mark the new year.
Ukrainian firefighters receive new year’s gifts at their station in the city of Bakhmut. Photograph: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP/Getty Images
A vendor sells balloons in Hyderabad, in India Photograph: Mahesh Kumar A/AP
People gather at the sea promenade, lit up during sunset on New Year’s Eve in Mumbai Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/AFP/Getty Images
Japan saw out 2022 about half an hour ago. Here, people in the capital Tokyo see in 2023.
People release balloons as they take part in new year celebrations in Tokyo Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
Fireworks have lit up the sky in Australia and New Zealand as new year’s eve celebrations begin.
Fireworks let off in Sydney and Auckland New Year’s Eve celebration – video
Celebrations are starting in Myanmar, where less than three hours of 2022 remain.
People gather to take part in New Year celebrations at a public park in Yangon, where it is shortly after 9pm at the time of posting. Photograph: Sai Aung Main/AFP/Getty Images
Here is a quick look at some images reaching us from New Year’s Eve around the world today.
People hold numeric shaped balloons during celebrations on the eve of New Year in Amritsar on 31 December 2022. Photograph: Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images
Balinese dancers perform as they take part in a cultural parade, during a New Year’s Eve celebration at a main road in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Photograph: Made Nagi/EPA-EFE
Swimmers swim during the traditional Sylvester swim at lake Moossee in Moosseedorf, Switzerland. Photograph: Anthony Anex/EPA-EFE
Sydney celebrates the new year with fireworks over the harbour
So we have reached that part of the day where some of Australia is in 2023, while some is still playing catch-up on the clock.
We had a glimpse of the family fireworks at 9pm local time earlier on but here are some shots of the main display lighting up Sydney in the past half hour.
New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Opera House (L) and Harbour Bridge. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Opera House. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Opera House. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
Happy new year to readers in Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra. Brisbane and Cairns – cue the countdown!
Fireworks explode over Sky Tower in central Auckland, New Zealand, as New Year celebrations begin.
Fireworks explode over Sky Tower in central Auckland as New Year celebrations begin in New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. (Dean Purcel/NZ Herald via AP) Photograph: AP
The time in Seoul, South Korea, is only just coming up to 10pm but already crowds are beginning to gather to celebrate.
New Year’s eve celebrations in central Seoul, South Korea. Photograph: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters
Members of the public gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Gwanghwamun Square. Photograph: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
The sun sets behind Wat Arun or the temple of dawn on New Year’s Eve in Bangkok.
The sun sets behind Wat Arun or the temple of dawn on New Year’s Eve in Bangkok. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
It looks like it was a good turnout as families came out to see the early bird fireworks in Australia this evening.
Here are some more photos from the event.
People watch 9pm fireworks on December 31, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: Roni Bintang/Getty Images
People watch 9pm fireworks at Sydney Botanic Garden during New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: Roni Bintang/Getty Images
Here are some snaps of the family fireworks display taking place in Sydney, Australia.
It is held three hours before midnight so that young children get a chance to join in the festivities before their bed times.
The ‘family fireworks’, which take place three hours before midnight every year ahead of the main show at midnight, fill the sky over the Opera House in Sydney on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney Early fireworks explode over Sydney Opera House during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters
New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney Early fireworks explode over Sydney Opera House. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters
Welcome
It might mark an arbitrary point in the motion of the Earth around the sun, but as the year 2022 turns into 2023 as ever it will result in celebrations, fireworks, broken resolutions and quite a bit of staying up late to see in the new year, wherever you are on the globe.
It is already 2023 in Kiritimati (a big happy new year to all our readers on the islands), with many major cities around the world about the kick off their own celebrations. In the next few hours, the new year will be rung in across the Pacific in places including New Zealand, Australia and Tonga.
I will be bringing you the best photos from around the world and all the latest scenes of celebration as we bid farewell to 2022 and see in the new year.
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