In pictures: World celebrates arrival of 2023

By Jasmine Andersson, Jan 1: New year celebrations are in full flow in many parts of the world where 2023 has already arrived.

The Pacific nation of Kiribati was the first to welcome in the new year, followed by New Zealand an hour later - and thousands gathered in Sydney for the Australian city's renowned fireworks display.

Later, as the new year swept west through Europe and Africa, more cities welcomed 2023 with large crowds, fireworks, concerts and parties.

But there's plenty still to come, with the whole of north and south America set to mark the start of the new year.

REUTERS, In Bangkok, Thailand, fireworks explode over Wat Arun Buddhist temple

REUTERS, A man and a child celebrate together in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

REUTERS, People in Wuhan, China, release balloons as they gather to celebrate amid a rise of Covid-19 cases in the country

BIANCA DE MARCHI/EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK, Sydney's fireworks launched from its Harbour Bridge, Opera House and barges in its famous harbour

GETTY IMAGES, People had gathered early to get a prime spot

REUTERS, London's fireworks display - watched by a crowd of 100,000 - saw a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth in drones

REUTERS, The rain didn't put people off in Edinburgh as tens of thousands of revellers gathered in Princes Street Gardens for the first Hogmanay celebrations in three years

EPA, In Paris, a light and fireworks show was displayed on the Arc de Triomphe as revellers gathered on the Champs-Elysees

REUTERS, In Russia, people gather in central Moscow. The authorities closed the city's famous Red Square, citing Covid restrictions while increasing the police presence in the area

REUTERS, In the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, a family gathers next to a Christmas tree to celebrate the new year before a curfew, amid Russia's attacks on the country

PA MEDIA, Viking re-enactors use flaming torches during the Flamborough Fire Festival, a Viking-themed parade in aid of charities and local community groups near Bridlington, Yorkshire

EPA, On the other side of the world, young people in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo do the same with firecrackers

REUTERS, In Dubai, Burj Khalifa - the tallest building in the world - was the focus of United Arab Emirates's celebrations

REUTERS, Joyful faces in Quezon City, near Manila in the Philippines, as people record the turn of the year

GETTY IMAGES, Locals of Mathare, one of Kenya's poorest settlements, hold a mass to welcome the new year in Nairobi, Kenya

GETTY IMAGES, A woman eats grapes in Madrid, a new year tradition in Spain

REUTERS, People gather to celebrate the clocks turning midnight in Seoul, South Korea

REUTERS, Revellers release balloons as they take part in celebrations in Tokyo, Japan

REUTERS, Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate in Hong Kong

GETTY IMAGES, In Taiwan, fireworks light up the skyline from the Taipei 101 building

EPA, The sky over the temple of Parthenon atop the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece

REUTERS, A person wears festive glasses during celebrations in Times Square, New York, as crowds wait for 2023 to arrive