Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Where is everyone? - deserted New Year celebrations

Where is everyone? - deserted New Year celebrations

The world experienced perhaps the quietest New Year's Eve in centuries as the coronavirus pandemic forced most of the festivities to take place without an audience.
Sydney, Australia


A 12-minute fireworks show lit up Sydney Harbor behind the city's famous opera house. But the attraction only drew a few dozen people amid a new COVID-19 outbreak in Australia's largest city.

Seoul, South Korea


The South Korean capital was abnormally quiet going into the New Year. Seoul's city government canceled its annual New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony at the Gwanghwamun gate, an event that normally attracts hundreds of thousands of people.

Mumbai, India


The Gateway of India was another historical site that entered 2021 in darkness. The arch-monument normally attracts large crowds of Mumbai residents with fireworks and laser shows. India imposed a night-time curfew to prevent people from gathering ahead of the new year.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates


The fireworks show at the 828-meter-high Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the world's tallest building, in Dubai was once again a sight to behold. Few spectators were present to see the 8-minute display due to strict anti-COVID measures in the Emirati metropolis.

Moscow, Russia


Red Square in Moscow was mostly empty as fireworks exploded near the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower during New Year's celebrations. Though the traditional display remained, bars, restaurants and skating rinks in the Russian capital closed before midnight.

Berlin, Germany


Only police officers, television cameras and stages occupied the area in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate as the German capital rang in the New Year with a crowdless live show. Despite a ban on fireworks sales in the city, residents nonetheless put on their own pyrotechnic displays throughout the city.

Paris, France


A lone police officer watches the Eiffel Tower alight at midnight from the Trocadero in Paris. The city's Champs Elysee avenue, which normally attracts large crowds for New Year's festivities, was also bare due to the French capital's 8:00 p.m. curfew.

London, England


Mounted police officers rode along the River Thames across the London Eye. Fireworks displays at the large Ferris wheel are normally a sight to behold, but the show was canceled due to COVID restrictions in the British capital.

New York City, US


Confetti filled the air in an empty Times Square as the clock struck midnight in New York City. Though the notorious New Year's gathering spot was closed to the public, pop stars including Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez performed as part of the festivities.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
×