Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, as part of his military duties, pilots a Royal Air Force (RAF) Sea King helicopter which was sent out in the early morning hours to an as of yet unsuccessful search for a Blackpool, England man swept out to sea there.
North Korea North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un makes a rare New Year broadcast, calling for an improved economy and a reunified Korea.
United States The U.S. House of Representatives approves the "fiscal cliff" deal, with Republican Speaker of the House John Bohener breaking with his party to vote "yes". Before the vote took place, congressional members were unsure whether or not the deal would be approved after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced his opposition to the deal, and other House Republicans raised concerns about it.
The U.S. Senate bipartisanly approves a deal to avert general tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff".
New Year's Similar to numbers in previous years, 1193 empty parked cars are set on fire during New Year's Eve 'celebrations' across France.
Celebratory gunfire Celebratory gunfire kills a four-year-old boy and more than 400 others are injured by powerful firecrackers in typically rowdy New Year celebrations in the Philippines.
Sacramento Two people are killed and three wounded in a shooting in Sacramento during the New Year's Eve celebrations.
United Kingdom United Kingdom assumes presidency of G8 group. Next G8 summit is to be held on the shores of Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June 2013.
Luanda Ten people are killed and 120 injured in a stampede in Luanda, Angola, as they tried to enter an overcrowded Estádio da Cidadela for a New Year's Eve vigil.
Colliding head-on A head-on collision between a bus and a minibus occurred in Thiès, Senegal, killing at least 18 people and leaving another 16 wounded.
Shell Royal Dutch Shell's drilling rig "Kulluk" drifts aground near Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, after breaking loose from the anchor handling tug "Aiviq".
2013 Houphouët-Boigny stampede 2013 Houphouët-Boigny stampede: At least 60 people are killed and more than 200 injured in a stampede during a New Year's fireworks celebration near the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
American American 1950s pop singer Patti Page, best known for the "Tennessee Waltz" and "(How Much Is That) Doggie In The Window" dies in Encinitas, California.
Nigeria Nigeria's military kill 13 members of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram and lose one soldier in a gun battle in Maiduguri.
Ambush Gunmen kill five female teachers and two other people in an ambush on a van carrying workers home from their jobs at a community center in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.
Aleppo International Airport Fierce clashes erupt near the Aleppo International Airport in the battle of Aleppo in Syria, with unconfirmed reports it has been temporarily closed.