Celebrations For New Year Held Around The World Amid Concern Over ...

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Latest updates as fireworks and parties make a comeback around the world following a year of lockdowns and new variants

• Times Square crowds return, NYC hails new mayor and Miley Cyrus battles wardrobe malfunction
• UK has warmest New Year’s Eve on record as temperatures top 15C
• Australia cautiously rings in 2022 with fireworks but fewer crowds
• 24C in Spain, 15C in the Alps: oddly warm end to 2021 in parts of Europe
• What are your New Year’s Eve plans?

 Updated 1 Jan 2022Graham Russell (now) Tom Ambrose, Martin Belam and Harry Taylor (earlier)Sat 1 Jan 2022 07.11 GMTFirst published on Fri 31 Dec 2021 11.08 GMTShareKey events

• 1 Jan 2022The UK begins New Year's celebrations to mark 2022
• 31 Dec 2021Sydney enters new year with fireworks over Sydney harbour
• 31 Dec 2021Light show marks arrival of 2022 in New Zealand

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Graham Russell (now) Tom Ambrose, Martin Belam and Harry Taylor (earlier)Sat 1 Jan 2022 07.11 GMTFirst published on Fri 31 Dec 2021 11.08 GMTShareShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureKey events

• 1 Jan 2022The UK begins New Year's celebrations to mark 2022
• 31 Dec 2021Sydney enters new year with fireworks over Sydney harbour
• 31 Dec 2021Light show marks arrival of 2022 in New Zealand

Show key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this feature

We are now closing our live coverage of New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world but you can keep abreast of the latest events and shows in our news wrap here. Thanks for reading and a happy new year to you all.

New Year’s Eve: Times Square crowds return, NYC hails new mayor and Miley Cyrus battles wardrobe malfunctionRead more

In the UK, it has been a night of New Year’s honours, with the work of more than 1,000 people celebrated.

Among them is an intriguing one for former Bond actor Daniel Craig. Alexandra Topping reports: “In a move that may raise eyebrows in Whitehall circles, the actor Daniel Craig receives the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for outstanding contribution to film. It is the same award given to the fictional character he is best-known for playing, and one normally reserved for professional diplomats and intelligence officers.”

The champ is here! @NYCMayor Eric Adams has been sworn in as your 110th mayor, New York City! pic.twitter.com/9COCEq09jG

— City of New York (@nycgov) January 1, 2022

Not to be outdone by Miley Cyrus, Andy Cohen on CNN’s broadcast has enjoyed delivering some parting shots at outgoing NYC mayor Bill de Blasio. It featured the phrase “sayonara, sucker” but the full rant, and Anderson Cooper’s efforts to calm him down, are below.

WOW Andy Cohen just ripped into Bill DeBlasio live on CNN pic.twitter.com/LmtoV4ShLE

— Kevin Tober (@KevinTober94) January 1, 2022

Guys- I had a ball tonight! Happy New Year! #CNNNYE

— Andy Cohen (@Andy) January 1, 2022

Aw

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Heavy falls reported in Times Square

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Outgoing NYC mayor Bill de Blasio saves the last dance on stage for wife Chirlane McCray as Ryan Seacret’s show wraps up.

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the miley nye show is an instant classic and has to be an annual event

— David Mack (@davidmackau) January 1, 2022

The aforementioned TV ratings battle in the US may just have hotted up with the news of a couple of wardrobe malfunctions during Miley Cyrus’s performance in Miami. She appears to have spotted her top slipping just in time to turn around and head to the back of the stage and put on a red blazer, though the eagle eyed appear to have seen more than intended.

Welp, 2022 starts with Miley Cyrus losing her top while singing live on national TV. #HAPPYNEWYEAR2022 #MileysNewYearsEveParty pic.twitter.com/yHg9OvLejK

— Brad P (@TheBradParker) January 1, 2022

A mere 15,000 people attended Times Square tonight. It did look a little sparse but the joy was there, with people in masks, er, kissing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! pic.twitter.com/n2P4xJm2sq

— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) January 1, 2022

OK a quick glass of champagne and we’re straight into the oath of office for newly minted NYC mayor Eric Adams, the 110th to hold the office.

And there we have it! Embraces galore in Times Square to the classic Sinatra soundtrack. I’ll bring you some images soon.

Just minutes to go ...

LIVE FROM TIMES SQUARE: Times Square #NewYearsEve 2022 is just kicking off. Stay tuned for performances, special guests, our countdown to the #BallDrop and more! https://t.co/92RB96OQJg https://t.co/xUYdvfyLNx

— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) December 31, 2021

Associated Press journalists have been speaking to people in the crowd at Times Square, some of whom have come a fair way to soak up the atmosphere.

Mary Gonzalez, keeping a safe distance from the crowds, is visiting from Mexico city. “I’m happy that 2021 is over because it caused a lot of problems for everybody,” said Gonzalez. “We hope that 2022 is much better than this year.”

Nursing student Ashley Ochoa and her boyfriend, Jose Avelar, travelled from the central valley of California. “Covid did hold a lot of stuff back for me,” Ochoa said, “but I mean, I’m here today, so that’s what I’m thankful for.”

Lynn Cafarchio, a New York City tour guide whose job disappeared at one point as tourism dollars evaporated, said: “I look back and I see it as a sort of a stressful year, but it wasn’t a terrible year.”

“We’re standing here glad that 2021 will soon be over,” she said, “but really positive about next year.”

The battle for the New Year’s Eve ratings is well and truly under way in the US. Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen are hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, while on ABC, there is Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. And on NBC, Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson are broadcasting live from Miami.

There have been some casualties though as a result of the pandemic, the New York Times reports, with Fox ditching its Toast and Roast how, and LL Cool J pulling out of the ABC’s offering.

Mayor-elect @ericadamsfornyc joined us to share his wish for 2022. His inauguration will be taking place tonight right after the Ball Drop. pic.twitter.com/Ta5thvnZJq

— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) January 1, 2022

There's no such thing as too much confetti. Especially when it's @PlanetFitness purple and yellow confetti! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/PBxlK4WoP0

— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) January 1, 2022

We have Ashanti and Ja Rule performing in Times Square. We’re getting closer.

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An alarming message but a sadly important one in some parts of the world:

Celebratory gunfire is no joke. Each year, innocent bystanders pay the price for this highly irresponsible and dangerous practice.Remember, what goes up must come down. This #NYE, say NO to celebratory gunfire, and pass it on! pic.twitter.com/PwJLSp2ujI

— Moms Demand Action (@MomsDemand) January 1, 2022

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