Farewell 2022: the world passes in 2023

Farewell 2022: the eight billion Earthlings began on Saturday December 31 to leave behind them an eventful year, between inflation and the world coronation of Lionel Messi, before fully entering 2023. For many, New Year’s Day will be an opportunity to drive away memories of COVID, as the virus leaves people’s minds, without disappearing.

For many, New Year’s Day will be a time to drive away the memories of COVID, as the virus fades from people’s minds, but doesn’t fade away.

Untie his purse, too, and put aside months of sobriety forced by the pandemic and inflation records.

In Australia, Sydney was one of the first major cities to ring the bell in 2023, reclaiming its title as “the New Year’s Eve capital of the world” after two years of closures and festivities stifled by the Omicron variant.

Australian borders have since reopened and more than a million people witnessed the launch of more than 100,000 pyrotechnic devices in Sydney Harbor.

By midday, hundreds of people occupied the best places to watch the show. “It was a pretty good year for us, getting rid of COVID is great”commented David Hugh-Paterson, 52, installed in front of the Sydney Opera House.

“If we manage to get everyone on board and approach the coming year with renewed optimism and joy, then we will have succeeded”said the organizer of the fireworks, Fortunato Foti.

Something to contrast with the feeling left by 2022, which saw Queen Elizabeth II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jiang Zemin and Shinzo Abe disappear.

“Big Resignation”

An illumination installed for New Year’s Eve, December 22 in Moscow

Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN

The last days of 2022 also saw the departure of two popes with very different registers: Thursday December 29 that of football, the Brazilian Pelé (82 years old), and Saturday December 31 the former head of the Catholic Church Benedict XVI (95 years old) .

Global warming has not been reversed, nor has the growth of the world population: the milestone of eight billion humans was crossed in November.

This year also rhymed with the “Great Resignation”, a phenomenon of employees leaving their jobs after the pandemic, with a slap in the face at the Oscars ceremony and the ruin of billionaires, carried away by the cryptocurrency crash.

But above all, it will forever be associated with the return of chaos to Europe with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

In more than 300 days, nearly 7,000 civilians have been killed and 10,000 injured, according to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“Zero COVID”

In India, women against the background of the setting sun carry balloons forming the number of the new year.

Photo: AFP/VNA/CVN

“A peaceful sky above our heads”this is the only wish of Muscovites like Irina Shapovalova, 51, a childcare worker.

The national broadcaster VGTRK nevertheless promised “a New Year’s Eve atmosphere, despite the changes in the country and in the world”.

“Moral and historical correctness is on our side”, assured Putin in his vows. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “sure that we will win this war”.

In London, the traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks display, for the first time since the pandemic, is expected to bring together some 100,000 spectators, with tickets for the show.

In Vienna, 1,850 guests were preparing to attend the traditional New Year’s Day concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra, in the golden hall of the Musikverein.

In Asia, COVID has made a resounding comeback in China, while vaccination is allowing the rest of the world to return to a semblance of normal life.

Beijing suddenly abandoned its “zero COVID” policy earlier this month, a reversal immediately followed by an explosion in the number of contaminations. Hospitals, like crematoriums, may be overwhelmed, but rallies are planned everywhere for the transition to 2023.

President Xi Jinping, however, wanted to launch an optimistic note a few hours before the New Year: “The light of hope is before us”.

New year, new president. In Brazil, the first day of January will rhyme with the return to power of former head of state Lula.

AFP/VNA/CVN