Global New Year's wishes for a tumultuous year..."Wish peace to end the war".

[Anchor]
Countries around the world, which have had a turbulent year due to various conflicts and major disasters, hoped to restore peace and security in 2025.

However, in the Middle East and Ukraine, where gunfire continues, we have had an uneasy New Year's Day.

I'm reporter Jeong Yu-shin on the report.

[Reporter]
Tens of thousands of fireworks embroider the sky over Sydney, Australia, which marks the early New Year.

The railroad union strike was on the verge of cancellation, but it proceeded as scheduled as the dispute was temporarily suspended.

New Year's events were also held in Asian countries such as Hong Kong and Japan.

In Tokyo, Japan, the bells rang in a famous temple, hoping that bad luck would disappear in the new year.

However, in Gaza, the other side of the world, which is in its second winter amid artillery fire, you can't even dream of a New Year's event.

War-weary refugees can't find a place to shelter themselves due to heavy rain overnight.

[Manal Rubard, Gaza refugee woman] We're dead. It's not alive. Why is this happening?]

Israeli media say Hamas has refused to release some of its hostages, delaying the cease-fire negotiations it had hoped would be reached at the end of the year.

[Deborah Jacobi, Jerusalem resident] The hope of the new year is to enjoy real peace. I hope not only Israel, but also Russia and Ukraine.]

The World Health Organization chief, who visited Yemen at the end of the year and narrowly avoided Israeli airstrikes, urged the world to end the conflict.

[Tewardros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General: It was another reminder of the growing threat facing civilians, healthcare workers in war zones around the world. It has to stop now.]

On New Year's Eve, Russia launched airstrikes in Ukraine's capital Kyiv and other places, and citizens celebrated the New Year with anxiety.

Ukraine's military also says it shot down a Russian helicopter using a sea drone west of Crimea.

Ukraine's General Intelligence Service claimed it was the first time it had used a maritime drone to shoot down an aerial target.

This is YTN Jeong Yu-shin.