New York City ushered in 2023 with a dazzling Saturday night spectacle in iconic Times Square, anchoring New Year's celebrations across the United States.
The new year began in the tiny atoll nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific, then moved across Russia and New Zealand before heading deeper, time zone by time zone, through Asia and Europe and into the Americas.
Yet Russian attacks continued New Year's Eve. At midnight, the streets of the capital, Kyiv, were desolate. The only sign of a new year came from local residents shouting from their balconies,"Happy New Year!" and"Glory to Ukraine!" And only half an hour into 2023, air raid sirens rang across Ukraine's capital, followed by the sound of explosions.
Big Ben chimed as more than 100,000 revelers gathered along the River Thames to watch a spectacular fireworks show around the London Eye. The display featured a drone light display of a crown and Queen Elizabeth II's portrait on a coin hovering in the sky, paying tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch whoPeople record a drone depiction of Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II during New Year's celebrations, in central London, Britain, January 1, 2023.
Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour during New Year's celebrations in Sydney, Australia, January 1, 2023.In Auckland, New Zealand, large crowds gathered below the Sky Tower, where a 10-second countdown to midnight preceded fireworks. The celebrations in New Zealand's largest city returned after COVID-19 forced them to be canceled a year ago.