The nominations for the prestigious Time Person of the Year 2023 have been announced in a tradition dating back to 1927.
Here are the figures who had a major influence on global affairs over the past 12 months.
In a David and Goliath battle, the powerful American film and television industries remain paralysed by Hollywood's dual actors and screenwriters strikes.
The months-long battle stemmed from a dispute over pay and was the first time the writers and actors unions had simultaneously been on strike in more than 60 years. Among the figures helping take on the studios was actor and former star of The Nanny TV show Fran Drescher, pictured.
Chinese President Xi Jinping began 2023 a few months into an unprecedented third term as his nation's leader.
He has become one of China's most powerful leaders of modern times, but his assertive foreign policy in the Asia Pacific and other regions has raised tensions with the US and its allies, including Australia.
Grammy-award winning singer Taylor Swift is one of the major figures in popular culture and had a big 2023.
Her albums achieved record streaming numbers and Swift's Eras tour is set to become the highest-grossing global tour in history.
Technology boss Sam Altman's shock firing, followed by a prompt return, as chief executive of OpenAI made global headlines.
His controversial sacking prompted hundreds of OpenAI staffers to call for the resignation of the ChatGPT company's board, and threatened to quit themselves.
Donald Trump became the first former or current US President to be indicted in the nation's history, charged in four separate cases with more than 90 charges.
Among the lawyers prosecuting Trump was special counsel Jack Smith leading the criminal case charging him with scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The first-ever live action Barbie film, starring Australia's Margot Robbie and Hollywood heart throb Ryan Gosling, was the third-largest grossing movie of 2923, netting $2.1 billion.
It also triggered an outbreak of pink fashion and accessories across the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has witnessed his planned lightning attack on neighbouring Ukraine degenerate into a long bloody campaign since he launched the invasion early in 2022.
Despite disaster on the battlefield for Russia, Putin has maintained an iron grip on the Kremlin.
It appeared a little shaky in mid 2023 when the Wagner mercenary group launched a brief rebellion but Putin's hold on power was reinforced when a deal was struck. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin later died in a plane crash over Russia.
After being the longest heir in waiting to the British monarchy, King Charles III was crowned in a ceremony dating back centuries in May.
After waiting 74 years, he rushed to make his mark on the monarchy: holding his first overseas visit, reshuffling royal residences and meeting leaders of all religious faiths.
Few people will have gone through 2023 without hearing the words inflation and interest rates at some stage.
And that's largely down to the influence of the the head of the world's most powerful central bank, US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell.
His efforts to juggle the cost of living by raising interest rates without triggering a recession has influenced economies across the world.