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Added on the 24/12/2019 09:49:19 - Copyright : BANG Showbiz
New York (US), Dec 28 (EFE), (Camera: Jorge Fuentelsaz).- The Times Square Ball Drop is a News Year’s institution in New York City but in this year of pandemic, people will be more eager than ever to see this huge sphere, which comprises 2,688 crystal triangles, 32,256 LED lights capable of illuminating a palette of over 16 million colors and weighs over five metric tons, come to a rest to mark the start of 2021.The ball will spend the final 60 seconds of 2020 descending a 24 meter pole atop One Times Square tower while the last 10 seconds of the year are traditionally sung out by onlookers, many of whom seal the end of the year with a kiss. “We all want 2020 to pass as fast as possible, five, four, three, two, it’s here, yes!” Jeffrey Straus, who will oversee the drop of the 3.6 meter-wide ball at 11:59pm on 31 December, tells Efe with a smile. Straus adds that six technicians will be in charge of making sure everything goes to plan, as it has done since 1907, save for a two-year break between 1942-43 during World War II. FOOTAGE OF TIMES SQUARE BALL AND NEW YEAR'S EVE PREPARATIONS.SOUNDBITES OF JEFFREY STRAUS, PRESIDENT OF COUNTDOWN ENTERTAINMENT; AND TOM HARRIS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TIMES SQUARE ALLIANCE.
New York, Dec 28 (EFE), (Camera: Jorge Fuentelsaz).- The Times Square Ball Drop is an annual institution in New York City but in this year of pandemic, people will be more eager than ever to see this huge sphere come to rest to mark the start of 2021.The ball will spend the final 60 seconds of 2020 descending a 24-meter pole atop One Times Square tower while the last 10 seconds of the year are traditionally sung out by onlookers, many of whom seal the end of the year with a kiss.This year, the construction comprises 2,688 crystal triangles, 32,256 LED lights capable of illuminating a palette of over 16 million colors and weighs over five metric tons.“We all want 2020 to pass as fast as possible, five, four, three, two, it’s here, yes!” Jeffrey Straus, the president of Countdown Entertainment and the person who will oversee the drop of the 3.6 meter-wide ball at 11:59 pm on 31 December, tells Efe with a smile.Straus adds that six technicians will be in charge of making sure everything goes to plan, as it has done since 1907, save for a two-year break between 1942-43 during World War II.FOOTAGE OF TIMES SQUARE BALL AND NEW YEAR'S EVE PREPARATIONS.SOUNDBITES OF JEFFREY STRAUS, PRESIDENT OF COUNTDOWN ENTERTAINMENT; AND TOM HARRIS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TIMES SQUARE ALLIANCE.
Madrid (Spain), Dec 15 (EFE), (Camera: Tato Pérez).- For the first time the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid will be completely empty when the clock of the Casa de Correos announces the arrival of 2021 since authorities have announced they will ban the access in a bid to prevent coronavirus infections.FOOTAGE OF THE CLOCK TOWER OF THE CASA DE CORREOS AT PUERTA DEL SOL AND WATCHMAKER JESÚS LÓPEZ.
UPI reports Ohio State University found nearly 40% of US residents plan to attend gatherings of ten or more people this holiday season. Despite concerns over the spread of COVID-19, one-third of respondents said they wouldn't ask attendees at holiday parties with family or friends to wear masks. The data showed that just over 25% indicated that they wouldn't practice social distancing, either. Figures from Johns Hopkins University report nearly 10.5 million people nationally have been sickened by the virus. More than 240,000 have died from it.
Madrid, Dec 16 (EFE), (Camera: Ángel Herrera).- Preparations for the Spanish tradition of the Campanadas on New Year’s Eve have started in Puerta del Sol, Madrid. SOUNDBITES OF PUERTA DEL SOL’S WATCHMAKER JESÚS LÓPEZ TERRADOS:“When the 31st gets closer, the preparations are basically the same as we normally do during the week: make the weights working, lubricating, cleaning, taking care of everything and double check that everything is working; and also test the ball system, which is independent of the watch, cleaning it, lubricating it and testing it.”
Adele's '21' is ranked as the greatest album of all time ahead of the release of her new album, '25.' Rollo Ross reports.
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