2023 has been welcomed in across the globe.
There was a fabulous firework display before a huge crowd in Sydney and tens of thousands of spectators greeted the new year in Korea.
There were Oshogatsu celebrations for the Japanese New Year, symbolizing renewal, and bidding farewell to problems of the previous year. Buddhist temples struck their gongs 108 times; each ring representing one of the 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome.
In Denmark people shattered their unused dinnerware against doors of their families and friends to ward off bad spirits.
Scotland’s Hogmanay is one of the most rousing celebrations in the world. Edinburgh witnessed street entertainment, fire festivals, concerts and “first-footing.” Where the first person who crosses the threshold of a person’s home should bring a gift of luck. Traditionally, this gift was a piece of coal for the fire or shortbread.
London saw over 100 000 people watch a fabulous firework display from the banks of the Thames and the traditional New York City crystal ball was lowered at midnight to the rapturous welcome of the tens of thousands of onlookers in Times Square.
The city authorities of Gdansk and Gdynia did not organise any public celebrations this year, however there was a star-studded event in the Polish mountain resort of Zakopane which was broadcast on national tv.
As world rings in new year, war grinds on in Ukraine
Russia launched another wave of missile attacks hitting cities across Ukraine in the run-up to the new year.
The mayor of the capital, Kyiv – Vitaly Klitschko – said there had been several blasts in the capital, causing at least one death. A hotel has also been damaged.
The attacks happened two days after Russia conducted one of the largest air strikes since the start of the war. Most of the Russian missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air-defence units
Source: PAP/BBC
Daniel Obajtek, CEO of PKN Orlen, has said that Orlen’s long-term contract for Russian oil which expires in January, will not be extend. As a result, about 90 percent. of crude oil will come from outside Russia.
PKN Orlen spokeswoman Edyta Olkowicz confirmed that Orlen “would not extend the long-term contract, which expires in January 2023. PKN Orlen stopped Russian oil imports by sea at the beginning of Russia’s armed attack on Ukraine, and many leading European producers followed suit.
Currently, 70 percent of the crude oil for all refineries of the Orlen Group in Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania comes from directions other than Russia. In 2015 almost 100% of the crude oil for the Orlen Group was Russian.
Source: PAP
The head of the church in Poland, abp. Wojciech Polak is celebrating a commemorative mass at St John’s Cathedral in Warsaw today for Pope Benedict 16th who died in Rome yesterday.
Before the mass, he said that ‘’The richness of Benedict’s thoughts and the depth of his theological reflection spring to mind, but above all the humility and simplicity with which he led the Church and a testimony of true love for every human being.
Abp Polak went on to say that during Benedict’s official visit to Poland in 2006, he went to the German concentration camp at Auschwitz. In the context of the war in Ukraine and the barbaric invasion by Russia, it is worth recalling that Benedict himself, visiting Auschwitz as a German, cried out to God to help people come to their senses and understand that violence does not build peace, it only breeds further violence – multiplying destruction that ultimately causes everyone to lose.
Source: Niedziela
And finally, for all of you who would like to start the new year doing something healthy, the 2023 Sopot Beach Run takes place today.
This year it is one meter longer than last year and is 2023m in length. In an upbeat move, all runners will be issued with sunglasses. The run starts at the main square by the pier in Sopot and the starting pistol will go off at 2pm sharp.
https://www.facebook.com/events/533626328645331
Today’s weather will be unseasonably warm with temperatures reaching 13 degrees Celsius 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Skies should remain clear with a brisk, south-westerly wind. Tomorrow should stay warm but expect heavy rain later tonight.
On behalf of the whole English news team here at Radio Gdansk – let me wish you a happy and peaceful 2023.
Adam Gosiewski
