New Year, new beginnings

In South Korea, celebrations were cut back as the country observed a period of national mourning following the Sunday crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan that killed 179 people.

Muted start

In regions affected by conflict, the celebrations marking the arrival of 2025 were subdued.

"The year 2024 was one of the worst years for all Palestinian people. It was a year of hunger, displacement, suffering and poverty," said Nour Abu Obaid, a displaced woman from northern Gaza.