New Year's Day

Communion in prayer, kindness of the heart and cooperation in good deeds can work wonders, turning fear into courage and hope, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said as he delivered the New Year's blessing service, the Akathist of our Lord Jesus Christ, at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Some 2,500 partygoers attended an illegal New Year rave in northwestern France, violently clashing with police who failed to stop it and sparking concern the underground event could spread the coronavirus, authorities said on Jan. 1. 

The president of Turkey made phone calls with the leaders of several countries on Jan. 1 to wish them a Happy New Year, said the country's Communications Directorate.

Filiation teams at the forefront of the fight against the novel coronavirus in Turkey were on duty as they greeted the new year.

Filiation staff in the northwestern Kırklareli province were among them, tracking the virus' spread and conducting PCR tests while far from their families and loved ones on New Year's Eve.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared a picture of fireworks exploding over the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill during New Year's day celebrations, in a New Year's message on Twitter.

The image, shot by Petros Giannakouris of the Associated Press, was one of four depicting New Year's celebrations around the world.

Britain on Jan. 1 began a new year and life outside Europe, after leaving the bloc's single market trading rules to go it alone for the first time in nearly half a century.

Brexit, which has dominated politics on both sides of the Channel since 2016, became reality an hour before midnight, ending the U.K.'s 48-year obligation to follow Brussels' rules.

From Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Acropolis, fireworks burst in skies above eerily deserted landmarks as the world ushered in the New Year with muted celebrations and said good riddance to a pandemic-ridden 2020.

Turkey is under a nationwide curfew spanning the traditional New Year's holiday that has started on Dec. 31 until early Jan. 4 as part of measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The curfew has begun on Thursday at 9 p.m. and end at 5 a.m. local time on Monday.

Restrictions are being placed on New Year festivities around the world as many countries struggle to curb new spikes in coronavirus cases.

Fireworks displays and other public gatherings have been cancelled from Sydney to New York.

Festivities are being particularly muted in Europe, amid fears over a new more contagious strain of the disease.

Prime Minister Florin Citu promises Romanians, on New Year's Eve, that he and his team will "do everything" for the economy to recover in 2021. "We cannot do this alone. Only with you," the Prime Minister said in a message posted on his Facebook page on Thursday. As this year ends and a new one is beginning, he wanted to thanks Romanians for being "together" as a team in 2020.