The world ushered in the New Year 2022 with scaled-back celebrations due to new restrictions aimed at slowing soaring Covid-19 cases amid the hope a better new year. New Zealand first welcomed the New Year 2022 with breathtaking fireworks that were launched from the Sky Tower in Auckland.

New Year also dawned in Australia with splendid fireworks display went ahead at Sydney harbour.

Welcoming hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world, the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah New Year’s celebrations dazzled all with a spectacular fireworks display that smashed two Guinness World Records.

The Omicron Coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities around much of the world.

New York City scaling down its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square, as only 15,000 spectators were allowed into the official viewing area instead of the usual 58,000.

Around the globe, events were scaled back or cancelled outright, such as with the traditional fireworks over the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

In London, officials announced the spectacle would come to life on the television screen, as Big Ben rang in the New Year for the first time since 2017 following a restoration.

In Asia, celebrations were mostly abridged or cancelled. In South Korea, a traditional midnight bell-ringing ceremony was cancelled for the second year, while festivities were banned in Tokyo.

China, where the Coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, was on high alert, with the city of Xian under lockdown and New Year events in other cities cancelled.

Source: Radio Pakistan