The world bids adieu to 2022 and looks to 2023 with cautious optimism amid significant challenges facing the global economy, including soaring inflation; an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine that has disrupted the international energy industry; elevated numbers of excess deaths around the world since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; and continued efforts from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to wage an undeclared war with the United States and to dominate the world.
As the year came to a close, the British monarchy saw a shift as Charles III acceded to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September. People around the world joined in watching the soccer World Cup in Qatar in November. The month closed with the death of the former CCP leader Jiang Zemin, who was responsible for launching a nationwide persecution of Falun Gong practitioners beginning in 1999. The year ended with the December disclosure of the “Twitter Files” which revealed to the international community how government agencies influenced Twitter to censor and steer discussions on various issues, ranging from the 2020 elections to COVID-19.
On New Year’s Eve, many people gathered in large crowds to witness fireworks and light displays in a gesture of farewell to 2022 and welcome to 2023. Most countries have, since the start of 2022, loosened many restrictions, opening the world to post-COVID normality. Here are some photos of how celebrations unfolded around the world:
Fireworks explode over Sky Tower in central Auckland as New Year celebrations begin in New Zealand, on Jan. 1, 2023. Dean Purcel/NZ Herald via AP
Fireworks light up over Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2023. Roni Bintang/Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebration in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2023. Roni Bintang/Getty Images
People celebrate as fireworks light up the skyline from the Taipei 101 building during New Year's celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 1, 2023. Gene Wang/Getty Images
Revelers fly balloons during a New Year celebration in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei Province, on Jan. 1, 2023. STR/AFP via Getty Images
Revelers release balloons to celebrate the New Year on pedestrian street Jianghan Road in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31, 2022. Getty Images
People celebrate the new year with fireworks on a beach in Houhai, in Sanya in China's southern Hainan province on Jan. 1, 2023. Hector Rectamal/AFP via Getty Images
A couple take a photo as revellers fire off firecrackers to celebrate the New Year early at a ski resort in Chongli, Hebei province, China, on Jan. 1, 2023. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
Revelers watch a fireworks and laser show as they celebrate the New Year next to Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2023. Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images
Revellers take photos during a fireworks and laser show as they celebrate the New Year next to Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2023. Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images
People gather in front of the torii gate of Oarai Isosaki shrine to watch the sunrise on New Year's Day in Oarai of Ibaraki Prefecture on Jan. 1, 2023. Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images
People gather in front of the torii gate of Oarai Isosaki shrine to watch the sunrise on New Year's Day in Oarai of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on Jan. 1, 2023. Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images
People gather to celebrate New Years during the annual bell-tolling ceremony at the Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 1, 2023. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Members of the public look at the first sunrise of the year during New Year's celebrations at a park in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 1, 2023. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
People attend a fireworks display ceremony during celebrations for the new year on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang early on Jan. 1, 2023. Kim Won Jin/AFP via Getty Images
People attend a fireworks display ceremony during celebrations for the new year on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang early on Jan. 1, 2023. Kim Won Jin/AFP via Getty Images
People take a selfie during a fireworks display on New Years Eve from the King Taksin Bridge in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 1, 2023.Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images
Fireworks show over Wat Arun Buddhist temple on the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 1, 2023. Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images
People attend countdown event to celebrate New Year at Central World Department Store in downtown in Bangkok, Thailand, on Dec. 31, 2022. Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty Images
People gather to listen to music and watch a firework display before the countdown to 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Dec. 31, 2022. Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images
A couple kisses during the countdown to 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam on Dec. 31, 2022. Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images
Revelers attend New Year celebrations next to the Selamat Datang (Welcome) Monument at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta on Jan. 1, 2023. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images
People light fireworks during New Year's Eve celebrations in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Dec. 31, 2022. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Fireworks explode over buildings during New Year's celebrations in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Jan. 1, 2023. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Fireworks explode over buildings during New Year's celebrations in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Jan. 1, 2023. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
Fireworks in the sky next to the lit-up Lotus Tower during New Year celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky as people react while they celebrate after counting down to the new year at Miracle Center Cathedral in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 1, 2023. Badru Katumba/AFP via Getty Images
People look at fireworks launching from the building of Old Mutual Tower to celebrate the new year in Nairobi, Kenya, on Jan. 1, 2023. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images
New Year's Eve fireworks light the landmark Burj Khalifa tower at midnight in the Gulf emirate of Dubai on Dec. 31, 2022. Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light the sky during a light and drone show to celebrate the New Year in Al Wathba, near Abu Dhabi, on Dec. 31, 2022. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky above the Boulevard World entertainment area in the Saudi capital Riyadh amid New Year's celebrations early on Jan. 1, 2023. Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images
People watch fireworks as they celebrate the New Year in Kuwait City early on Jan. 1, 2023. Yasser al-Zayyat/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky in Iraq's southern city of Nasiriyah amid New Year's celebrations, early on Jan. 1, 2023. Asaad Niazi/AFP via Getty Images
People gather near a Christmas tree decorated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in a Kyiv square on New Year's Eve in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 31, 2022. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
People walk in the Red Square prior to its closure for celebrations on the New Year's Eve, with the St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Spasskaya Tower, right, in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 31, 2022. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP photo
Fireworks explode in the sky during New Year celebrations in Sarajevo, Bosnia/Herzegovina, early on Jan. 1, 2023. Elvis Barukcic/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the London skyline over Big Ben and the London Eye just after midnight in London, England, on Jan. 1, 2023. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
New Years' Eve fireworks are seen over the London skyline from Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station in London, England, on Jan. 1, 2023. Rob Pinney/Getty Images
Fireworks and a drone show paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II light up the London skyline to celebrate the New Year on in London, England, on Jan. 1, 2023. Carl Court/Getty Images
Fireworks explode next to the Arc de Triomphe with "2023" projected on the building, at the Avenue des Champs-Elysees during New Year celebrations in Paris, early on Jan. 1, 2023. Julien de Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
People gather on the Champs-Elysees as they wait for the New Year's Eve fireworks in Paris on Dec. 31, 2022. Julien de Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks explode over Berlin's landmark, the Brandenburg Gate, during a New Year's light and music show before midnight to welcome the year 2023 on Jan. 1, 2023. Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images
Visitors celebrate the new year at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, on Jan. 1, 2023. Adam Berry/Getty Images
Hundreds of tourists and citizens attend a water and laser show to celebrate the New Year 2023 on the main square in Graz, Austria, on Dec. 31, 2022. Erwin Scheriau/APA/AFP via Getty Images
Hundreds of tourists and citizens attend a water and laser show to celebrate the New Year 2023 on the main square in Graz, Austria, on Dec. 31, 2022. Erwin Scheriau/APA/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks are seen early on New Year's day in front of the Alps mountains' Northern Range (Nordkette) near Innsbruck, Austria, early on Jan. 1, 2023. Christof Stache/AFP via Getty Images
A couple kisses as fireworks are shot as part of celebrations for the New Year in downtown Rome, with the ancient Colosseum in the background, on Jan. 1, 2023. Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks explode over the Acropolis during New Year celebrations in Athens early on Jan. 1, 2023. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images
People celebrate as the traditional New Year's fireworks light up the sky at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 1, 2023. Pedro Prado/AFP via Getty Images
People celebrate as the traditional New Year's fireworks light up the sky at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Jan. 1, 2023. Pedro Prado/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks explode during New Year celebrations, at the Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dec. 31, 2022. Aline Massuca/Reuters
Onlookers watch as confetti fills the air to mark the beginning of the new year, in Times Square, New York City, on Jan. 1, 2023. Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images
Onlookers cheer as confetti fills the air to mark the beginning of the new year, in Times Square, New York City, on Jan. 1, 2023. Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images
A couple kisses at Times Square during New Year celebrations in New York City, on Jan. 1, 2023. David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
A couple kisses during "Nashville's Big Bash" to celebrate the new year, at Bicentennial Capitol Mall in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 1, 2023. Seth Herald/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks are set blaze as a 6-foot illuminated boot descends from a flagpole in downtown Prescott, Ariz., during the 12th annual New Year's Even Boot Drop. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
