World rings in 2022 with fireworks and hopes for a better year

The world is ushering in 2022 with high hopes for better times ahead after another tumultuous and pandemic-ridden year. During the past 12 months, a new US president was inaugurated, Adele dropped a fresh album, the first spectator-free Olympics occurred, and the war in Afghanistan came to a chaotic end, but the pandemic - now entering its third year - still dominated life around the globe. Many New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe were muted or cancelled for the second year in a row because of a surge in coronavirus infections, this time driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant. One of the first countries to see '21 become '22 was New Zealand, with a low-key lights display projected on to Auckland landmarks, including Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge. These replaced the traditional fireworks show due to Covid-19 concerns. While there has not yet been any community spread of Omicron in New Zealand, authorities still wanted to discourage crowds from gathering. Neighbouring Australia, however, went ahead with its celebrations despite an explosion in case numbers. Some fireworks were let off early in the evening to give younger children a preview of the centrepiece of festivities, the renowned fireworks display from Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Hours before celebrations began, Australian health authorities reported a record 32,000 new cases of Covid-19, many of them in Sydney. Because of the surge, crowds were far smaller than in pre-pandemic years, when as many as one million revellers would crowd inner Sydney. The UAE welcomed the New Year with huge fireworks displays, including a dazzling spectacle at the Burj Khalifa , the world's tallest tower. At Expo 2020 , which opened a year late because of Covid-19, celebrations started in the afternoon and were scheduled to continue into New Year's Day. UAE at 50: Why 2021 has been a year like no other Top 6 UAE space moments in 2021, from Hope Probe to first female astronaut 94 notables we lost in 2021: from Prince Philip and Sarah Harding to Dilip Kumar Migration in Europe: how the crisis shifted shape in 2021 A look back at 2021's biggest stories from around the world Across Japan, some people appeared to be shrugging off virus fears, by dining and drinking raucously in the Tokyo city centre and flocking to shops, celebrating not only the holidays but a sense of exhilaration over being freed from recent restrictions. In South Korea’s capital Seoul, the annual New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony was cancelled for the second straight year due to a surge in case numbers. Officials said a recorded video of this year’s bell-ringing ceremony would instead be broadcast online and on television. The ceremony had previously drawn tens of thousands of people. Last year was the first time it had been cancelled since the tradition was established in 1953. In China, the Shanghai government cancelled events including an annual light show along the Huangpu River in the city centre that usually draws hundreds of thousands of spectators. In a televised address, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised China would have a successful 2022 Winter Games. “We will present a grand Olympic Games to the world wholeheartedly,” Mr Xi said on state broadcaster CCTV. “The world looks forward to China, and China is ready.” In Beijing, popular temples were closed or had limited access. The government has called on people to avoid leaving the city if possible and has required tests from travellers arriving from areas where there are infections. But in Thailand, authorities allowed New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks displays to continue, albeit with strict safety measures. They were hoping to slow the spread of the Omicron variant while also softening the blow to the country’s battered tourism sector. In London, lasers and fireworks lit the night skies above the Millennium Bridge and South Bank in a dazzling display. However, midnight passed in Paris without a planned fireworks display or DJ sets, as city officials cancelled events planned on the Champs-Elysees following the advice of a scientific panel that declared mass gatherings would be too risky. In the Netherlands, where outside groupings of more than four people are banned, police dispersed several thousand people who had defiantly gathered at Amsterdam's central Dam Square. People in Madrid queued for hours to get into the main Puerta del Sol square where celebrations went ahead with multiple security checkpoints, mandatory masks and capacity at 60% of normal levels. In the wake of encouraging data, Cape Town abruptly lifted a curfew just in time for the New Year, after South Africa became the first country to declare its Omicron wave had crested - and with no huge surge in deaths. South Africa had first raised the alarm about the new fast-spreading coronavirus variant racing around the world. "I'm just hoping that Cape Town goes back to the old Cape Town that we all knew about," said Michael Mchede, manager of a Hard Rock cafe by the white sands of Camps Bay Beach, who was thrilled to get the place ready to host an unexpected bash. Over in the United States, New York City ushered in the New Year by reviving its annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, after forgoing a public event last year. n Times Square, throngs stretched for blocks to soak in the scaled-back celebration, with many traveling from afar to take part. Confetti lit up by electronic billboards swirled in a light wind on a mild winter night in New York City. Mary Gonzalez stood a few feet behind a crowd, wanting to keep her distance from anyone unwittingly carrying the coronavirus. “I’m happy that 2021 is over because it caused a lot of problems for everybody,” said Ms Gonzalez, who was visiting from Mexico City and wanted to take in an American tradition. “We hope that 2022 is much better than this year.” In India, millions of people rang in the New Year from their homes, with night-time curfews and other restrictions taking the fizz out of celebrations in large cities including New Delhi and Mumbai. Authorities have imposed restrictions to keep revellers away from restaurants, hotels, beaches and bars amid a surge in cases fuelled by Omicron. A year in pop culture: 20 of the biggest viral and celebrity moments of 2021 Fashion highlights of 2021: the best style moments of the year Our 13 favourite television shows of 2021: 'Squid Game' to 'Mare of Easttown' The best-selling smartphones of 2021 A year in motoring: the 11 best cars of 2021 But some places, including Goa, a tourist hotspot, and Hyderabad, an information technology centre, have been spared night curfews thanks to smaller numbers of infections, although other restrictions still apply. Many Indonesians also cancelled traditional festivities for a quieter evening at home after the government banned many New Year’s Eve celebrations. In Jakarta, firework displays, parades and other large gatherings were prohibited, while restaurants and malls were allowed to remain open but with curfews imposed.

World rings in 2022 with fireworks and hopes for a better year

New Year’s Eve muted by spread of Omicron coronavirus variant