This article was published by the Daily Mail:

The end of 2022 is underway as revellers on the other side of the world begin ringing in the New Year.  

South Korea is among the latest countries to enter 2023 with its first bell-tolling ceremony in the capital for three years due to the Covid pandemic. 

Cho Gue-sung, a footballer from the country's World Cup Qatar team, was among 10 honorary citizens to headline the event at the Bosingak Pavilion in central Seoul, which was spread over a much larger area this year to avoid overcrowding.

Elsewhere in the city, buddhist followers at temples attached name cards with wishes to specially erected fences, as is tradition, before lighting candles and saying prayers in front of walls made of lotus lanterns. 

It came after New Zealand was among the first countries to enter 2023 with a stunning light show and fireworks display over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Sky Tower respectively. 

The country, led by Jacinda Ardern, was forced to cancel much of its celebrations last year due to its tough Covid-19 restrictions. It welcomed the new year with a five-minute fireworks display starting at the stroke of midnight. 

Its westerly neighbour Australia entered 2023 two hours later with a dazzling firework display on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. It followed an earlier fireworks display that was 'inspired by the land, sea and sky'.

More than a million spectators were expected to gather along the waterfront in Sydney to bring in the new year, when more than 7,000 fireworks were launched from the Harbour Bridge. Around 2,000 were also set off from the iconic Opera House nearby. 

There were reports of chaos as crowds pushed through a gate at The Rocks for NYE celebrations in Sydney. NSW Police and security were said to be almost powerless to do anything but let them through over fears people could be crushed.

China and Japan will be among the next group of countries to leave 2022 behind over the next couple of hours. 

The former has decided to go ahead with celebrations despite a fresh wave of coronavirus cases that has seen travel restrictions placed on its citizens overseas, including in the UK and US.   

There will be events along the Great Wall in Beijing while people will also be permitted to gather along the Bund waterfront in Shanghai. The Disneyland in Shanghai will also be putting on a fireworks display.   

Japan, however, has cancelled its popular New Year's countdown on the world-famous street crossing of Shibuya, in Tokyo, for the third year in row. 

While it did not specifically cite Covid-19 as the factor this year, saying it was due to 'various circumstances', it is believed organisers feared a spike in cases due to the large number of people who would have gathered there.

Hong Kong will enter the new year at 3.45pm GMT time and is going big this year after the announcement of the lifting of all Covid restrictions for inbound travellers upon arrival. 

The countdown celebrations organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will feature cultural and sporting performances and a 10-minute pyrotechnic and multimedia light show against the backdrop of the iconic Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong skyline. 

It comes as hundreds of thousands of revellers are set to attend huge New Year's Eve events across Britain tonight, as many return for the first time in three years following Covid restrictions.

Hordes of people will flock to central London to watch the capital's fireworks, with viewing areas designated along the Victoria Embankment, Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and elsewhere. 

Mayor Sadiq Khan will present the event, which is the largest fireworks display in the UK, from 8pm, before Big Ben rings in the new year with its iconic bongs at midnight. 

The display is ticketed and has long sold out. Pedestrian areas will begin to be restricted from midday today, alongside road closures. Anyone using public transport is also advised to check their route before travelling. 

Mr Khan tweeted yesterday: 'Cannot wait for our iconic NYE fireworks tomorrow! 

'Although tickets are sold out, you can still watch the display live on BBC One tomorrow night.'

The display will be shown on BBC One during its airing of a special NYE concert fronted by the UK Eurovision star Sam Ryder. 

Elsewhere, thousands of people will also attend Edinburgh's traditional Hogmanay celebrations as they return for the first time in three years.

The event was cancelled as a result of Covid-19 restrictions for the last two years.

All events hosted in the Scottish capital to mark the traditional Hogmanay celebrations were sold out, organisers confirmed.

Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening with the night afore party, headlined by pop superstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor with special guests Altered Images.

The Pet Shop Boys will headline the concert in the gardens in Princes Street Gardens while those attending the annual street party will be treated to DJ sets.

Fireworks will lift off every hour between 9pm and 11pm, counting down to the traditional midnight display.