(30 Dec 2025) ASSOCIATED PRESS New York - 30 December 2025 1. Various of organizers counting down and sending ball up pole 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment: "It really is this incredible mix of entertainment and an incredible mix of people from all over the world that come here to celebrate. And we are joined by over a billion people around the world as we count down in unison those final seconds of the year filled with joy and happiness for an amazing