Times Square's famous new year countdown goes socially distanced with a touch of glamour

About a dozen people lined up to shred the things they wanted to forget about 2020, including but not limited to the deadly global pandemic that swept the world, at the annual "Good Riddance" event held in New York City's Times Square on Monday (December 28).

'Good riddance' - New York ceremoniously knocks out '2020'

Although the final count was still being tallied over the weekend in several battleground states, Biden’s win in Pennsylvania with its 20 electoral college votes ensured he would prevail.

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China on Monday refused to congratulate Joe Biden for winning the presidential election, saying the outcome still needs to be decided.

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The U.S. unemployment rate didn’t drop below the level it was at when Obama and Biden were elected until a year into their second term.

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Tensions between the world's two largest economies have intensified over the past year, shaking up technology supply chains and trade relations, and stoking fears that a financial war between the two countries could be brewing.

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Will Joe Biden be good or bad for Brexit Britain? Might Washington now favour France and Germany? But What does Joe Biden's win mean for Brexit?

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European allies who regularly clashed with Trump over defense spending and trade were among some of the first to congratulate President-elect Biden.

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Mr Trump was on the green at his golf course in Sterling, Virginia at the time the result was announced.

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People gathered in capitals of Pennsylvania and Michigan claim ballot fraud and condemn media

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President-elect Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump has sparked celebrations all across the United States. Large crowd of people gathered in New York's Time Square waving signs & flags to celebrate Biden's win.

US Election 2020: By how many votes did Joe Biden beat Donald Trump

A plastic bag store stocked with original hand-sculpted items that you would find in any grocery store, all made from discarded, single-use plastics.

A plastic bag store on Times Square; Reminder of our plastic footprint

Images of Lord Ram and 3D portraits of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be beamed across the giant billboards at the iconic Times Square on August 5 to celebrate the temple's groundbreaking ceremony. The organisers have described the commemoration as a one-of-a-kind and historic event.

Times Square in New York is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

President of the American India Public Affairs Committee Jagdish Sewhani on Wednesday said that arrangements were being made to celebrate the historic moment in New York on August 5, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Among the prominent billboards that are being leased for the occasion are the giant Nasdaq screen and the 17,000-square-foot wrap-around LED display screen, considered among the largest continuous exterior displays in the world and the highest-resolution exterior LED screen in Times Square.

Beginning from 8 AM on August 5 till 10 PM, images of the words 'Jai Shri Ram' in Hindi and English, Lord Ram's portraits and videos, 3D portraits of the temple's design and architecture as well as pictures of the laying of the foundation stone by Modi will be displayed across several billboards, which are among the most striking and popular features of Times Square.

Sewhani told PTI that members of the Indian community will also gather at Times Square on August 5 to mark the celebration and distribute sweets.

Sewhani said that the Times Square commemoration is being made possible with the help and support of the community and sponsors.

Prime Minister Modi had announced the formation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust in February. The Trust has invited Modi to lay the foundation stone of the grand Ram Temple.&nbsp;

Images of Lord Ram and 3D portraits of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be beamed across the giant billboards at the iconic Times Square on August 5 to celebrate the temple's groundbreaking ceremony.

Images of Lord Ram and 3D portraits of the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be beamed across the giant billboards at the iconic Times Square on August 5 to celebrate the temple's groundbreaking ceremony. The organisers have described the commemoration as a one-of-a-kind and historic event. Times Square in New York is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. President of the American India Public Affairs Committee Jagdish Sewhani on Wednesday said that arrangements were being made to celebrate the historic moment in New York on August 5, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Among the prominent billboards that are being leased for the occasion are the giant Nasdaq screen and the 17,000-square-foot wrap-around LED display screen, considered among the largest continuous exterior displays in the world and the highest-resolution exterior LED screen in Times Square. Beginning from 8 AM on August 5 till 10 PM, images of the words 'Jai Shri Ram' in Hindi and English, Lord Ram's portraits and videos, 3D portraits of the temple's design and architecture as well as pictures of the laying of the foundation stone by Modi will be displayed across several billboards, which are among the most striking and popular features of Times Square. Sewhani told PTI that members of the Indian community will also gather at Times Square on August 5 to mark the celebration and distribute sweets. Sewhani said that the Times Square commemoration is being made possible with the help and support of the community and sponsors. Prime Minister Modi had announced the formation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust in February. The Trust has invited Modi to lay the foundation stone of the grand Ram Temple.

Lord Ram's images to be displayed at Times Square to celebrate August 5 Ram Temple groundbreaking

April 8 in history: Times Square renamed, first Hispanic woman in space and more

The New Year is here and the whole world welcomed the year 2020. Thousands of people cheered at Times Square in New York. Watch final seconds were people in New York are going to bid adieu to the year 2019 and will bring in the year 2020.

Watch: Times Square ushers in New Year with 'Ball Drop'

A desperate Pakistan already plagued by acute financial crisis has been spending millions of dollars to further its propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir at Times Square in New York.

Huge billboards in New York are often used for political advertising and campaigning. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay reports on how Pakistan used one such space at Times Square to politicise and internationalise the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;

One of the quintessential features of New York's Times Square are the gigantic billboards. Neon, digital signs deck all the buildings and advertisements appear&nbsp;on almost everything from products, movies and with political advertisements also visible on several occasions.&nbsp;

Watch Video:

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One such campaign on&nbsp;Kashmir&nbsp;was spotted on one of the buildings. "Stand with Kashmir", it said.&nbsp;

"This is a motivated, political campaign sponsored by, it would be fair to say, the Pakistan government as they have tweeted about it with this picture saying that they are raising awareness," Upadhyay reported from New York.

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With the extraordinary efforts of PM Imran Khan, Kashmir issue has now become a Global concern. The voice of people of IOJ&amp;K is once again being heard in the highest diplomatic forums. 
“Stand With Kashmir” has been highlighted on Times Square New York, today.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandWithKashmir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StandWithKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/2k8u4PYNp1">pic.twitter.com/2k8u4PYNp1</a>
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/1177110039334653952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Interestingly, real estate in New York, especially at Times Square is extremely expensive and it can reportedly cost anywhere up to $1-4 million per year to advertise on one billboard at Times Square.&nbsp;

WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, meanwhile, reported trucks being stationed in New York, highlighting human rights abuses in Karachi.&nbsp;

"Not just this, across New York City, there have been banners on human rights violations in Pakistan's Balochistan, Karachi," Sibal said in his ground report from New York.

Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi evaded questions on Pakistan's support to terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Right outside the venue of SAARC foreign minister's meeting, Sidhant Sibal asked Qureshi why Pakistan has been supporting Saaed, however, the Pakistan finance minister evaded WION's question.&nbsp;

Amid the advertising slugfest at Times Square, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be addressing the UNGA today. In the week-long visit to the US, while the agenda for PM Modi at the UNGA has been diverse focusing on trade and investment, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has been adamant on just one agenda - Kashmir.

A desperate Pakistan already plagued by acute financial crisis has been spending millions of dollars to further its propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir at Times Square in New York.

A desperate Pakistan already plagued by acute financial crisis has been spending millions of dollars to further its propaganda on Jammu and Kashmir at Times Square in New York. Huge billboards in New York are often used for political advertising and campaigning. WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay reports on how Pakistan used one such space at Times Square to politicise and internationalise the Kashmir issue. One of the quintessential features of New York's Times Square are the gigantic billboards. Neon, digital signs deck all the buildings and advertisements appear on almost everything from products, movies and with political advertisements also visible on several occasions. Watch Video: × One such campaign on Kashmir was spotted on one of the buildings. "Stand with Kashmir", it said. "This is a motivated, political campaign sponsored by, it would be fair to say, the Pakistan government as they have tweeted about it with this picture saying that they are raising awareness," Upadhyay reported from New York. With the extraordinary efforts of PM Imran Khan, Kashmir issue has now become a Global concern. The voice of people of IOJ&K is once again being heard in the highest diplomatic forums. “Stand With Kashmir” has been highlighted on Times Square New York, today.#StandWithKashmir pic.twitter.com/2k8u4PYNp1 — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) September 26, 2019 × Interestingly, real estate in New York, especially at Times Square is extremely expensive and it can reportedly cost anywhere up to $1-4 million per year to advertise on one billboard at Times Square. WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, meanwhile, reported trucks being stationed in New York, highlighting human rights abuses in Karachi. "Not just this, across New York City, there have been banners on human rights violations in Pakistan's Balochistan, Karachi," Sibal said in his ground report from New York. Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi evaded questions on Pakistan's support to terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Right outside the venue of SAARC foreign minister's meeting, Sidhant Sibal asked Qureshi why Pakistan has been supporting Saaed, however, the Pakistan finance minister evaded WION's question. Amid the advertising slugfest at Times Square, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be addressing the UNGA today. In the week-long visit to the US, while the agenda for PM Modi at the UNGA has been diverse focusing on trade and investment, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has been adamant on just one agenda - Kashmir.

Pak endorses billboards on Kashmir at New York's Times Square

In a bid to politicise the Kashmir issue, huge billboards have been put by the Pak government at New York's Times Square. On one of the buildings it said "Stand with Kashmir".

Pak govt endorses billboards on Kashmir at Times Square

People in New York mistaken motorcycle's backfiring for gunshots, creates panic. Watch video to know more.

People in New York mistaken motorcycle's backfiring for gunshots, creates panic

The Walk redux: 'Flying Wallendas' complete tightrope stunt over Times Square blocks

An immigrant from Bangladesh who allegedly expressed support for the Islamic State group was charged Friday with planning an attack on New York's famed tourist destination Times Square.

Ashiqul Alam, 22, sought to buy guns stripped of their serial numbers and ammunition from undercover investigators and surveilled the popular Manhattan district to identify the best place for an attack, according to the charges.

He also planned to have Lasik surgery before undertaking an attack, so that he would not have to wear glasses.

"I want to die fighting, man," Alam told an undercover US agent in January as they travelled to a Pennsylvania shooting range.

Alam, a Bangladeshi national with permanent residency in the United States, was arrested Thursday in Brooklyn as he sought to take delivery of two Glock 19 pistols he intended to use.

Court filings made clear that he had acted alone.

"There is more to this case than just talk and the desire to carry out a terrorist attack” said William Sweeney, a senior FBI official in New York.

"(Alam) took the steps to follow through on his deadly impulse, purchasing weapons to kill New Yorkers, target an elected official and attack police officers," he said.

The charges said an undercover agent first met with Alam in August 2018, but did not say what had brought the two together.

In that and subsequent meetings, Alam, who lived in Queens, expressed admiration for the Islamic State and "spoke approvingly" of the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on the United States, which Alam called a "complete success."

"Now it's up to us," he told the agent.

They discussed using a suicide vest to launch an attack in New York or Washington but then decided to seek an assault rifle or handguns and grenades.

Twice in January the agent accompanied Alam to Times Square where Alam used his phone to record possible locations for an attack in the area.

The emblematic Manhattan plaza, at the heart of New York's theater district, has been the target of attacks in the past.&nbsp;

In 2017 a man named Richard Rojas rammed his car into a crowd, killing a young woman and injuring 22 other people. Rojas was a veteran of the US military and not thought to be linked to jihadist movements.

In 2016, police arrested three men allegedly planning to detonate bombs in Times Square and on the New York subway in the name of Islamic State.

Alam later asked the agent to help him buy an assault rifle or other weapons for the attack, and said he wanted to shoot gay men.

In April, on a trip to a shooting range, Alam told the agent that he had an appointment for vision-correcting Lasik surgery.

"Let's say we are in an attack, right, say that my glasses fall off. &nbsp;What if I accidentally shoot you?" Alam told the agent.

"You know what I mean. Imagine what the news channel would call me the 'Looney Tunes Terrorist' or the 'Blind Terrorist.'"&nbsp;

An immigrant from Bangladesh who allegedly expressed support for the Islamic State group was charged Friday with planning an attack on New York's famed tourist destination Times Square.

An immigrant from Bangladesh who allegedly expressed support for the Islamic State group was charged Friday with planning an attack on New York's famed tourist destination Times Square. Ashiqul Alam, 22, sought to buy guns stripped of their serial numbers and ammunition from undercover investigators and surveilled the popular Manhattan district to identify the best place for an attack, according to the charges. He also planned to have Lasik surgery before undertaking an attack, so that he would not have to wear glasses. "I want to die fighting, man," Alam told an undercover US agent in January as they travelled to a Pennsylvania shooting range. Alam, a Bangladeshi national with permanent residency in the United States, was arrested Thursday in Brooklyn as he sought to take delivery of two Glock 19 pistols he intended to use. Court filings made clear that he had acted alone. "There is more to this case than just talk and the desire to carry out a terrorist attack” said William Sweeney, a senior FBI official in New York. "(Alam) took the steps to follow through on his deadly impulse, purchasing weapons to kill New Yorkers, target an elected official and attack police officers," he said. The charges said an undercover agent first met with Alam in August 2018, but did not say what had brought the two together. In that and subsequent meetings, Alam, who lived in Queens, expressed admiration for the Islamic State and "spoke approvingly" of the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on the United States, which Alam called a "complete success." "Now it's up to us," he told the agent. They discussed using a suicide vest to launch an attack in New York or Washington but then decided to seek an assault rifle or handguns and grenades. Twice in January the agent accompanied Alam to Times Square where Alam used his phone to record possible locations for an attack in the area. The emblematic Manhattan plaza, at the heart of New York's theater district, has been the target of attacks in the past. In 2017 a man named Richard Rojas rammed his car into a crowd, killing a young woman and injuring 22 other people. Rojas was a veteran of the US military and not thought to be linked to jihadist movements. In 2016, police arrested three men allegedly planning to detonate bombs in Times Square and on the New York subway in the name of Islamic State. Alam later asked the agent to help him buy an assault rifle or other weapons for the attack, and said he wanted to shoot gay men. In April, on a trip to a shooting range, Alam told the agent that he had an appointment for vision-correcting Lasik surgery. "Let's say we are in an attack, right, say that my glasses fall off. What if I accidentally shoot you?" Alam told the agent. "You know what I mean. Imagine what the news channel would call me the 'Looney Tunes Terrorist' or the 'Blind Terrorist.'"

Bangladeshi immigrant charged with planning Times Square attack

In pics: Thousands brave rain in New York's Times Square to welcome 2019

Reporters will be the guests of honour at the New Year`s Eve party in New York`s Times Square on Monday, in what organizers said was a celebration of press freedom after an unusually deadly year for journalists at US news outlets.

Two attacks, in particular, weighed on organizers as they discussed in autumn whom to give the honour of initiating the ceremonial ball drop just before midnight, according to Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.

One was<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggis-killing-a-murder-that-shook-2018-186106"> the killing of Jamal Khashoggi</a>, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post and US resident, inside a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey. The other was the mass shooting in June in the newsroom of The Capital, a newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, in which five employees were killed.

"Throughout the year it`s been a big issue," Tompkins said in an interview.&nbsp;

"Times Square itself is the ultimate agora and public space," noting that the area was named after the New York Times and that it was a Times publisher, Adolf Ochs, who began the tradition of the ball drop in 1907.&nbsp;

Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the Times Square Alliance approached his group because of "the perception that the journalism and journalists, in particular, are under threat and their role is being questioned."

Simon, who said he usually spends New Year`s Eve playing Scrabble with his wife in New Hampshire`s White Mountains, will be in the spotlight at the Times Square festivities, joining Mayor Bill de Blasio to launch the ball drop a minute before midnight.

Simon will be joined onstage by an array of journalists from US and international news outlets. The names were still being finalized on Friday, the Times Square Alliance said.

The button-pressing honour has in previous years gone to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, an Iraq War veteran, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and the singer Lady Gaga.

The Times Square Alliance contacted Simon in November, Simon said, several weeks before Time magazine would devote their annual "Person of the Year" issue to several prominent journalists who have faced attacks and hostility.

Among those journalists were Khashoggi, and Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-court-hears-arguments-of-jailed-reuters-reporters-186164"> two Reuters reporters imprisoned by Myanmar</a> for investigating how the country`s security forces killed members of the country`s Muslim Rohingya minority.

US President Donald Trump has become a vociferous critic of parts of the press, routinely chiding reporters and outlets he views as publishing "fake news," calling them "the enemy of the people."

Simon said this was in the background of his discussions with the Times Square Alliance.

"Unavoidably, Trump was the subtext, but not front and centre," he said.&nbsp;

"We wanted to have a unifying message."

Reporters will be the guests of honour at the New Year`s Eve party in New York`s Times Square on Monday, in what organizers said was a celebration of press freedom after an unusually deadly year for journalists at US news outlets.

Reporters will be the guests of honour at the New Year`s Eve party in New York`s Times Square on Monday, in what organizers said was a celebration of press freedom after an unusually deadly year for journalists at US news outlets. Two attacks, in particular, weighed on organizers as they discussed in autumn whom to give the honour of initiating the ceremonial ball drop just before midnight, according to Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance. One was the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post and US resident, inside a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey. The other was the mass shooting in June in the newsroom of The Capital, a newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, in which five employees were killed. "Throughout the year it`s been a big issue," Tompkins said in an interview. "Times Square itself is the ultimate agora and public space," noting that the area was named after the New York Times and that it was a Times publisher, Adolf Ochs, who began the tradition of the ball drop in 1907. Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the Times Square Alliance approached his group because of "the perception that the journalism and journalists, in particular, are under threat and their role is being questioned." Simon, who said he usually spends New Year`s Eve playing Scrabble with his wife in New Hampshire`s White Mountains, will be in the spotlight at the Times Square festivities, joining Mayor Bill de Blasio to launch the ball drop a minute before midnight. Simon will be joined onstage by an array of journalists from US and international news outlets. The names were still being finalized on Friday, the Times Square Alliance said. The button-pressing honour has in previous years gone to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, an Iraq War veteran, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and the singer Lady Gaga. The Times Square Alliance contacted Simon in November, Simon said, several weeks before Time magazine would devote their annual "Person of the Year" issue to several prominent journalists who have faced attacks and hostility. Among those journalists were Khashoggi, and Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, two Reuters reporters imprisoned by Myanmar for investigating how the country`s security forces killed members of the country`s Muslim Rohingya minority. US President Donald Trump has become a vociferous critic of parts of the press, routinely chiding reporters and outlets he views as publishing "fake news," calling them "the enemy of the people." Simon said this was in the background of his discussions with the Times Square Alliance. "Unavoidably, Trump was the subtext, but not front and centre," he said. "We wanted to have a unifying message."

New Year's Eve party in Times Square to cheer for press freedom

Intrepid revelers from around the world endured hours of waiting in a frigid Times Square on Sunday to witness the glittering New Year`s Eve ball make its annual descent at midnight, undeterred and perhaps reassured by a massive police presence.

With New York City in the grip of a bitterly cold Arctic air mass, the experience was made particularly memorable this year for hundreds of thousands of people who braved the bone-chilling conditions to witness a century-old tradition.

In the waning hours of 2017, the mercury had plunged to 10 Fahrenheit, with a &quot;Real Feel&quot; of 7F, according to AccuWeather.com. That made it the city&#39;s second-coldest New Year&#39;s Eve on record after 1917, when the mercury in Times Square dropped to 1F (-17C).

Jaden Hunter, a 13-year-old from southern New Jersey, arrived at around 6 pm, protected by a face mask and geared up for a good time.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,&rdquo; Hunter said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s pretty chilly, but we&rsquo;ve got hand-warmers and all kinds of thermal technology.&rdquo;

About 2 million people were expected in the vicinity of Times Square, the bow-tie-shaped plaza formed by the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan. That was roughly same number as last year, when the temperature at midnight was a comfortable 44F (7C).

Still, the weather was severe enough to test the mettle of even the hardiest of partygoers.

Alejandro Garcia, 32, of Barcelona, Spain, said the only thing that stood between him and leaving early for a warm hotel room was his girlfriend, graduate student Gamma Elias, 28.

&quot;I&#39;m freezing to death out here!&quot; Garcia said, a few hours before midnight, wrapping his arms around Elias. &quot;But she wants to stay.&quot;

Like tens of thousands of others, the couple stood in one of dozens of fenced-in enclosures set up for blocks along the square. After hours of waiting, they were rewarded with a spectacular view of the giant ball as it made its annual, one-minute descent on the southern end of the plaza.

Greg Packer, 54, a retired highway maintenance manager from Huntington, New York, had a prime spot on West 43rd Street after arriving at 7 am.

&ldquo;It feels more like Antarctica than New York. But everybody in the world is here,&rdquo; he marveled, glancing around at the crowds in nearly every direction. &ldquo;And I&rsquo;m here.&rdquo;

The crowds counted down the final hours of 2017 with a lineup of live musical acts including Nick Jonas, Neil Diamond and Andy Grammer.

Mariah Carey returned to the Times Square stage as well, pulling off a smooth performance after the embarrassment of last year`s technical difficulties.

Then came the long-awaited ball drop, a tradition that dates to 1907, three years after New Yorkers started gathering en masse in Times Square to usher in the new year.

SHOW OF FORCE

Thousands of police were on hand, some heavily armed, others undercover. The show of force is part of a beefed-up security plan that follows a spate of attacks in the city and around the world that authorities have labeled as terrorist.

The NYPD provided officers with specialized training to stop any suicide bombers in response to an attempted bombing in a Times Square subway station walkway on Dec. 11.

Police deployed observation teams trained to spot snipers. There were also more explosive-detecting dogs and more officers positioned throughout the area this year.

People hoping to see musical acts and other entertainment up close in Times Square had to pass by heavily armed officers and dogs. They went through a magnetometer to check for weapons, had their bags inspected, then repeated all those steps a second time.

Police cars, dump trucks filled with sand and cement blocks were used to close streets, starting Sunday morning. About 125 parking garages in the area were emptied of all cars and sealed.

Brynn Hansen, 14, from Longmont, Colorado, appeared unfazed by the heightened security and the trying conditions. She said she was living a dream.

&quot;It&#39;s been on my bucket list, and now I can cross it off. It&#39;s exciting to be here.&quot;

In the waning hours of 2017, the mercury had plunged to 10 Fahrenheit.

Intrepid revelers from around the world endured hours of waiting in a frigid Times Square on Sunday to witness the glittering New Year`s Eve ball make its annual descent at midnight, undeterred and perhaps reassured by a massive police presence. With New York City in the grip of a bitterly cold Arctic air mass, the experience was made particularly memorable this year for hundreds of thousands of people who braved the bone-chilling conditions to witness a century-old tradition. In the waning hours of 2017, the mercury had plunged to 10 Fahrenheit, with a "Real Feel" of 7F, according to AccuWeather.com. That made it the city's second-coldest New Year's Eve on record after 1917, when the mercury in Times Square dropped to 1F (-17C). Jaden Hunter, a 13-year-old from southern New Jersey, arrived at around 6 pm, protected by a face mask and geared up for a good time. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Hunter said. “It’s pretty chilly, but we’ve got hand-warmers and all kinds of thermal technology.” About 2 million people were expected in the vicinity of Times Square, the bow-tie-shaped plaza formed by the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan. That was roughly same number as last year, when the temperature at midnight was a comfortable 44F (7C). Still, the weather was severe enough to test the mettle of even the hardiest of partygoers. Alejandro Garcia, 32, of Barcelona, Spain, said the only thing that stood between him and leaving early for a warm hotel room was his girlfriend, graduate student Gamma Elias, 28. "I'm freezing to death out here!" Garcia said, a few hours before midnight, wrapping his arms around Elias. "But she wants to stay." Like tens of thousands of others, the couple stood in one of dozens of fenced-in enclosures set up for blocks along the square. After hours of waiting, they were rewarded with a spectacular view of the giant ball as it made its annual, one-minute descent on the southern end of the plaza. Greg Packer, 54, a retired highway maintenance manager from Huntington, New York, had a prime spot on West 43rd Street after arriving at 7 am. “It feels more like Antarctica than New York. But everybody in the world is here,” he marveled, glancing around at the crowds in nearly every direction. “And I’m here.” The crowds counted down the final hours of 2017 with a lineup of live musical acts including Nick Jonas, Neil Diamond and Andy Grammer. Mariah Carey returned to the Times Square stage as well, pulling off a smooth performance after the embarrassment of last year`s technical difficulties. Then came the long-awaited ball drop, a tradition that dates to 1907, three years after New Yorkers started gathering en masse in Times Square to usher in the new year. SHOW OF FORCE Thousands of police were on hand, some heavily armed, others undercover. The show of force is part of a beefed-up security plan that follows a spate of attacks in the city and around the world that authorities have labeled as terrorist. The NYPD provided officers with specialized training to stop any suicide bombers in response to an attempted bombing in a Times Square subway station walkway on Dec. 11. Police deployed observation teams trained to spot snipers. There were also more explosive-detecting dogs and more officers positioned throughout the area this year. People hoping to see musical acts and other entertainment up close in Times Square had to pass by heavily armed officers and dogs. They went through a magnetometer to check for weapons, had their bags inspected, then repeated all those steps a second time. Police cars, dump trucks filled with sand and cement blocks were used to close streets, starting Sunday morning. About 125 parking garages in the area were emptied of all cars and sealed. Brynn Hansen, 14, from Longmont, Colorado, appeared unfazed by the heightened security and the trying conditions. She said she was living a dream. "It's been on my bucket list, and now I can cross it off. It's exciting to be here."

In frigid Times Square, relief arrives with New Year

New York officials on Tuesday said they charged a Bangladeshi man with terrorism, accusing him of setting off a pipe bomb a day earlier in a crowded Manhattan commuter hub, as investigators in his home country questioned his wife.

Akayed Ullah, 27, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, supporting an act of terrorism, and making a terroristic threat under New York state law, the New York Police Department said, adding U.S. authorities may also bring federal charges.

Investigators in Bangladesh were questioning Ullah&#39;s wife, according to two officials who declined to be identified as they were not permitted to discuss the matter publicly. They did not provide details on the questioning, but said the couple have a six-month-old baby boy.

&quot;We have found his wife and in-laws in Dhaka. We are interviewing them,&quot; one of the police officials told Reuters.

New York police say Ullah set off a pipe bomb in an underground corridor of the subway system that connects Times Square to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at rush hour on Monday morning, injuring himself and three others.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called it an attempted terrorist attack, and U.S. officials said it appeared to be a rare if not unprecedented attempt at suicide bombing on U.S. soil.

Ullah survived with burns and lacerations and was taken to hospital in police custody. The three bystanders sustained minor injuries.

The NYPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were conducting the investigation in conjunction with other agencies through the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and were asking the public for any information about the suspect.

Authorities in Bangladesh began to track down Ullah&#39;s family soon after news of the attack broke and they first found a cousin, said a third official, Mahiuddin Mahmud.

&quot;We learned from his cousin that he had a wife and a baby in Bangladesh,&quot; Mahmud said.

The cousin, Emdad Ullah, told Reuters that Ullah and his family originally lived in the Chittagong region in southern Bangladesh, but had moved to the capital, Dhaka, years ago.

Ullah married a Bangladeshi woman about two years ago and she lived in Dhaka, the cousin said, adding that he was educated in Bangladesh before he moved to the United States.

Bangladesh&#39;s police chief had told Reuters on Monday that Ullah had no criminal record in his home country, which he last visited in September.

Ullah lived with his mother, sister and two brothers in Brooklyn and was a green card holder, said Shameem Ahsan, consul general of Bangladesh in New York.

A U.S. enforcement official familiar with the investigation into Monday&#39;s attack said officers had found evidence that Ullah had watched Islamic State propaganda on the internet.

Immigration reform&nbsp;

Bangladesh strongly condemned the attack.

&quot;A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his or her ethnicity or religion, and must be brought to justice,&quot; the government said in a statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the attack emphasized the need for U.S. immigration reforms.

&quot;America must fix its lax immigration system, which allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country,&quot; he said in a statement.

The president also criticized the visa program that allowed Ullah to enter the United States in 2011 because he had family members already in the country, saying such family visas are &quot;incompatible with national security.&quot;

H.T. Imam, a political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said he believed the attack would have no &quot;negative impact&quot; on relations with the United States.

&quot;The U.S. government is well informed about the Bangladesh government&#39;s attitude regarding terror activities,&quot; Imam said.

The U.S. Supreme Court last week handed a victory to Trump by allowing his latest travel ban, targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries, to go into full effect even as legal challenges continued in lower courts.

The ban covers people from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen seeking to enter the United States. Trump has said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from terrorism by Islamist militants.

Bangladesh is not among the countries impacted by the ban.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called it an attempted terrorist attack

New York officials on Tuesday said they charged a Bangladeshi man with terrorism, accusing him of setting off a pipe bomb a day earlier in a crowded Manhattan commuter hub, as investigators in his home country questioned his wife. Akayed Ullah, 27, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, supporting an act of terrorism, and making a terroristic threat under New York state law, the New York Police Department said, adding U.S. authorities may also bring federal charges. Investigators in Bangladesh were questioning Ullah's wife, according to two officials who declined to be identified as they were not permitted to discuss the matter publicly. They did not provide details on the questioning, but said the couple have a six-month-old baby boy. "We have found his wife and in-laws in Dhaka. We are interviewing them," one of the police officials told Reuters. New York police say Ullah set off a pipe bomb in an underground corridor of the subway system that connects Times Square to the Port Authority Bus Terminal at rush hour on Monday morning, injuring himself and three others. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called it an attempted terrorist attack, and U.S. officials said it appeared to be a rare if not unprecedented attempt at suicide bombing on U.S. soil. Ullah survived with burns and lacerations and was taken to hospital in police custody. The three bystanders sustained minor injuries. The NYPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were conducting the investigation in conjunction with other agencies through the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and were asking the public for any information about the suspect. Authorities in Bangladesh began to track down Ullah's family soon after news of the attack broke and they first found a cousin, said a third official, Mahiuddin Mahmud. "We learned from his cousin that he had a wife and a baby in Bangladesh," Mahmud said. The cousin, Emdad Ullah, told Reuters that Ullah and his family originally lived in the Chittagong region in southern Bangladesh, but had moved to the capital, Dhaka, years ago. Ullah married a Bangladeshi woman about two years ago and she lived in Dhaka, the cousin said, adding that he was educated in Bangladesh before he moved to the United States. Bangladesh's police chief had told Reuters on Monday that Ullah had no criminal record in his home country, which he last visited in September. Ullah lived with his mother, sister and two brothers in Brooklyn and was a green card holder, said Shameem Ahsan, consul general of Bangladesh in New York. A U.S. enforcement official familiar with the investigation into Monday's attack said officers had found evidence that Ullah had watched Islamic State propaganda on the internet. Immigration reform Bangladesh strongly condemned the attack. "A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his or her ethnicity or religion, and must be brought to justice," the government said in a statement. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the attack emphasized the need for U.S. immigration reforms. "America must fix its lax immigration system, which allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country," he said in a statement. The president also criticized the visa program that allowed Ullah to enter the United States in 2011 because he had family members already in the country, saying such family visas are "incompatible with national security." H.T. Imam, a political adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said he believed the attack would have no "negative impact" on relations with the United States. "The U.S. government is well informed about the Bangladesh government's attitude regarding terror activities," Imam said. The U.S. Supreme Court last week handed a victory to Trump by allowing his latest travel ban, targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries, to go into full effect even as legal challenges continued in lower courts. The ban covers people from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen seeking to enter the United States. Trump has said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from terrorism by Islamist militants. Bangladesh is not among the countries impacted by the ban.

New York charges Manhattan bomb suspect with terrorism; Bangladesh questions wife

The Bangladeshi ISIS sympathiser who detonated a homemade pipe bomb in New York City&rsquo;s subway had no criminal record back home, a police official said today, even as Dhaka vowed &ldquo;zero tolerance&rdquo; against terrorism.

Akayed Ullah, 27, set off a crude bomb strapped to his body in the crowded subway passage between New York&rsquo;s Times Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal at rush hour yesterday but the device failed to detonate properly, leaving him and three others injured.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-explosion-suspect-identified-as-bangladesh-had-no-criminal-record-26498" target="_blank">New York explosion suspect identified as Bangladeshi, had no criminal record</a>

&ldquo;Passports to one is issued after verifying his or her past records and the suspect named for the New York attack had no criminal record,&rdquo; the official told PTI.

Ullah, who moved to the US seven years ago, has an address in Brooklyn, an area with most residents from Bangladesh.

He had entered the US through &ldquo;extended-family chain migration,&rdquo; a system President Donald Trump is seeking to end that allows families to sponsor relatives to come to the US.

He last visited Bangladesh in September, Dhaka Tribune reported.

The Bangladesh embassy in Washington condemned the attack in New York reiterating its &ldquo;zero tolerance&rdquo; stance against terrorism.

&ldquo;Government of Bangladesh is committed to its declared policy of &lsquo;zero tolerance&rsquo; against terrorism, and condemns terrorism and violent extremism in all forms or manifestations anywhere in the world, including yesterday&rsquo;s incident in New York City,&rdquo; the embassy said in a statement shortly it became known that the attacker was of Bangladeshi-origin.

&ldquo;A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his or her ethnicity or religion, and must be brought to justice,&rdquo; it added. Bangladesh has been waging a war against homegrown extremism in the wake of numerous attacks by radical groups in recent years.

On July 1, militants stormed a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed. An Indian girl was among those killed in Bangladesh&rsquo;s worst terror attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The secular government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to root out extremism but says international radical groups do not operate inside Bangladesh.

'Passports to one is issued after verifying his or her past records and the suspect named for the New York attack had no criminal record,' a police official said

The Bangladeshi ISIS sympathiser who detonated a homemade pipe bomb in New York City’s subway had no criminal record back home, a police official said today, even as Dhaka vowed “zero tolerance” against terrorism. Akayed Ullah, 27, set off a crude bomb strapped to his body in the crowded subway passage between New York’s Times Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal at rush hour yesterday but the device failed to detonate properly, leaving him and three others injured. Also read: New York explosion suspect identified as Bangladeshi, had no criminal record “Passports to one is issued after verifying his or her past records and the suspect named for the New York attack had no criminal record,” the official told PTI. Ullah, who moved to the US seven years ago, has an address in Brooklyn, an area with most residents from Bangladesh. He had entered the US through “extended-family chain migration,” a system President Donald Trump is seeking to end that allows families to sponsor relatives to come to the US. He last visited Bangladesh in September, Dhaka Tribune reported. The Bangladesh embassy in Washington condemned the attack in New York reiterating its “zero tolerance” stance against terrorism. “Government of Bangladesh is committed to its declared policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism, and condemns terrorism and violent extremism in all forms or manifestations anywhere in the world, including yesterday’s incident in New York City,” the embassy said in a statement shortly it became known that the attacker was of Bangladeshi-origin. “A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his or her ethnicity or religion, and must be brought to justice,” it added. Bangladesh has been waging a war against homegrown extremism in the wake of numerous attacks by radical groups in recent years. On July 1, militants stormed a Dhaka cafe in which 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed. An Indian girl was among those killed in Bangladesh’s worst terror attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The secular government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to root out extremism but says international radical groups do not operate inside Bangladesh.

New York bomber had no criminal record in Bangladesh: Police

The White House said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-explosion-suspect-identified-as-bangladesh-had-no-criminal-record-26498">that President Trump&#39;s immigration</a> reform policy would have prevented the New York blast suspect&#39;s entry in the US.

A 27-year-old pipe bomber of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/live-updates-explosion-in-manhattan-trains-being-evacuated-26474">Bangladeshi decent exploded a device beneath </a>New York&#39;s Times Square on Monday, he had reportedly learned to make the device on the internet at his Brooklyn apartment

President Trump in a statement said America must &quot;fix its lax immigration system&quot;, adding it &quot;allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country.&quot;

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders describing the pipe bomber as a &quot;terrorist&quot;, said: &quot;If President Trump&#39;s policy had been in place, then that attacker would not have been allowed to come in the country.&quot;

Three people were injured in the explosion at the New York subway system with the suspected bomber Akayed Ullah receiving injuries to his torso.

Trump said Akayed Ullah had entered the US through &quot;extended-family chain migration,&quot; which allows a family to sponsor relatives to go to the United States.

&quot;The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed, that the suspect was admitted to the United States after presenting a passport displaying an F43 Family Immigrant Visa in 2011,&quot; Sanders said.

&quot;And so we know that the president&#39;s policy calls for an end to chain migration, which is what this individual came to the United States through,&quot; the press secretary added.

Trump also said the controversial travel ban on eight countries was &quot;one step forward in securing our immigration system.&quot;

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders described the pipe bomber as a 'terrorist'

The White House said today that President Trump's immigration reform policy would have prevented the New York blast suspect's entry in the US. A 27-year-old pipe bomber of Bangladeshi decent exploded a device beneath New York's Times Square on Monday, he had reportedly learned to make the device on the internet at his Brooklyn apartment President Trump in a statement said America must "fix its lax immigration system", adding it "allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country." White House press secretary Sarah Sanders describing the pipe bomber as a "terrorist", said: "If President Trump's policy had been in place, then that attacker would not have been allowed to come in the country." Three people were injured in the explosion at the New York subway system with the suspected bomber Akayed Ullah receiving injuries to his torso. Trump said Akayed Ullah had entered the US through "extended-family chain migration," which allows a family to sponsor relatives to go to the United States. "The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed, that the suspect was admitted to the United States after presenting a passport displaying an F43 Family Immigrant Visa in 2011," Sanders said. "And so we know that the president's policy calls for an end to chain migration, which is what this individual came to the United States through," the press secretary added. Trump also said the controversial travel ban on eight countries was "one step forward in securing our immigration system."

Trump's immigration policy wouldn't have allowed New York attacker to enter US: White House

A Bangladeshi man with a homemade bomb strapped to his body set off an explosion at a New York commuter hub during rush hour on Monday, wounding himself and three others in what New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called an attempted terrorist attack.

The suspect in the incident at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a block from Times Square, was identified as Akayed Ullah, the New York Police Department commissioner said. The suspect had burns and lacerations while three other people, including a police officer, sustained minor injuries.

Ullah is from the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong and is a U.S. resident, said the city&#39;s police chief. He had no criminal record there and last visited Bangladesh on Sept. 8, the chief said.

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<h5>The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso</h5>
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Ullah had a black cab/limousine driver&#39;s license from 2012 to 2015, after which it expired, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission said.

The weapon was based on a pipe bomb and fixed to the suspect with zip ties and velcro, police said. New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a news conference near the site, described the device as &quot;amateur-level.&quot;

De Blasio told the same news conference that the incident, which happened at the start of the city&#39;s rush hour, was &quot;an attempted terrorist attack.&quot;

&quot;As New Yorkers our lives revolve around the subways. When we hear of an attack in the subways, it is incredibly unsettling,&quot; de Blasio said.

New York City was a target, said John Miller, deputy police commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism.

Miller cited the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that killed more than 2,750 people in New York and nearly 3,000 people total; and the World Trade Center bombing of February 26, 1993, which killed six people.

&quot;In the course of the post-9/11 world, as you are aware, there&#39;s also been approximately 26 plots that we can talk about that have been prevented through intelligence, investigation and intervention.&quot;

The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso.

&quot;There was a stampede up the stairs to get out,&quot; said one commuter, Diego Fernandez. &quot;Everybody was scared and running and shouting.&rdquo;

Alicja Wlodkowski, a Pennsylvania resident in New York for the day, was sitting in a restaurant in the bus terminal.

&ldquo;Suddenly, I saw a group of people, like six people, running like nuts. A woman fell. No one even went to stop and help her because the panic was so scary.&quot;

The bus terminal was temporarily shut down and a large swath of midtown Manhattan was closed to traffic. Subway train service returned to normal after earlier disruptions.

WABC reported the suspect was in his 20s and that he has been in the United States for seven years and has an address in New York&#39;s Brooklyn borough. Police shut down the entire block and there was a heavy police presence outside the home.

First reports of the incident began soon after 7 a.m. (1200 GMT). New York in December sees a surge of visitors who come to see elaborate store displays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Broadway shows.

The bus terminal is the busiest in the United States, according to the Port Authority. On a typical weekday, about 220,000 passengers arrive or depart on more than 7,000 buses.

More than 200,000 people use the Times Square station, the city&#39;s busiest, each weekday, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The bus terminal is connected to the Times Square subway station - which serves 10 train lines - through a long, narrow below-ground tunnel that carries thousands of commuters during rush hour. Buskers and other entertainers at entrances to the tunnel often draw crowds.

The incident rippled through American financial markets, briefly weakening equity markets as they were starting trading for the week and giving a modest lift to safe-haven assets such as U.S. Treasuries.

S&amp;P 500 index emini futures dipped in the moments after the initial reports of an explosion, but major stock indexes later opened slightly higher.

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation authority asked law enforcement for heightened security along bus and rail lines as a precaution.

The incident occurred less than two months after an Uzbek immigrant killed eight people by speeding a rental truck down a New York City bike path, in an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility.

In September 2016, a man injured 31 people when he set off a homemade bomb in New York&#39;s Chelsea district.

Akayed Ullah, 27, set off a homemade bomb strapped to his body at the Port Authority Bus Terminal

A Bangladeshi man with a homemade bomb strapped to his body set off an explosion at a New York commuter hub during rush hour on Monday, wounding himself and three others in what New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called an attempted terrorist attack. The suspect in the incident at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a block from Times Square, was identified as Akayed Ullah, the New York Police Department commissioner said. The suspect had burns and lacerations while three other people, including a police officer, sustained minor injuries. Ullah is from the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong and is a U.S. resident, said the city's police chief. He had no criminal record there and last visited Bangladesh on Sept. 8, the chief said. The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso × Ullah had a black cab/limousine driver's license from 2012 to 2015, after which it expired, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission said. The weapon was based on a pipe bomb and fixed to the suspect with zip ties and velcro, police said. New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a news conference near the site, described the device as "amateur-level." De Blasio told the same news conference that the incident, which happened at the start of the city's rush hour, was "an attempted terrorist attack." "As New Yorkers our lives revolve around the subways. When we hear of an attack in the subways, it is incredibly unsettling," de Blasio said. New York City was a target, said John Miller, deputy police commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism. Miller cited the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that killed more than 2,750 people in New York and nearly 3,000 people total; and the World Trade Center bombing of February 26, 1993, which killed six people. "In the course of the post-9/11 world, as you are aware, there's also been approximately 26 plots that we can talk about that have been prevented through intelligence, investigation and intervention." The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso. "There was a stampede up the stairs to get out," said one commuter, Diego Fernandez. "Everybody was scared and running and shouting.” Alicja Wlodkowski, a Pennsylvania resident in New York for the day, was sitting in a restaurant in the bus terminal. “Suddenly, I saw a group of people, like six people, running like nuts. A woman fell. No one even went to stop and help her because the panic was so scary." The bus terminal was temporarily shut down and a large swath of midtown Manhattan was closed to traffic. Subway train service returned to normal after earlier disruptions. WABC reported the suspect was in his 20s and that he has been in the United States for seven years and has an address in New York's Brooklyn borough. Police shut down the entire block and there was a heavy police presence outside the home. First reports of the incident began soon after 7 a.m. (1200 GMT). New York in December sees a surge of visitors who come to see elaborate store displays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Broadway shows. The bus terminal is the busiest in the United States, according to the Port Authority. On a typical weekday, about 220,000 passengers arrive or depart on more than 7,000 buses. More than 200,000 people use the Times Square station, the city's busiest, each weekday, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The bus terminal is connected to the Times Square subway station - which serves 10 train lines - through a long, narrow below-ground tunnel that carries thousands of commuters during rush hour. Buskers and other entertainers at entrances to the tunnel often draw crowds. The incident rippled through American financial markets, briefly weakening equity markets as they were starting trading for the week and giving a modest lift to safe-haven assets such as U.S. Treasuries. S&P 500 index emini futures dipped in the moments after the initial reports of an explosion, but major stock indexes later opened slightly higher. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation authority asked law enforcement for heightened security along bus and rail lines as a precaution. The incident occurred less than two months after an Uzbek immigrant killed eight people by speeding a rental truck down a New York City bike path, in an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. In September 2016, a man injured 31 people when he set off a homemade bomb in New York's Chelsea district.

New York explosion: Suspect identified as Bangladeshi, had no criminal record

Greta Friedman, the woman in white being kissed by a sailor in the iconic photo symbolising end of World War Two, died on Thursday. 
 
Friedman had been suffering from a series of ailments, including pneumonia, her son told NBC. The 92-year-old had been living in an assisted facility for the past two years. 
 
She will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetry in Virginia alongside her late husband, Mischa Elliot Friedman, CBS news reported. 
 
Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt had clicked the picture in New York&#39;s Times Square&nbsp;on August 14, 1945 while revelers were celebrating America&#39;s victory over Japan. Eisenstaedt&#39;s photo, &quot;V-J Day in Times Square,&quot; ran the following week in Life magazine. 
 
&quot;I did not see him approaching, and before I know it I was in this vice grip,&quot; Friedman had told CBS News in 2012. 
 
The sailor in a dark uniform, George Mendonsa, was photographed kissing Friedman, then a dental assistant, with his arms around her and her body bent backwards. 
 
&quot;If she (Friedman) had been dressed in a dark dress, I would never have taken the picture. If the sailor had worn a white uniform, the same,&quot; Eisenstaedt said. 
 
In his book, &quot;Eisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt&quot;, the photographer recalled that he saw a sailor kissing women randomly. He snapped four shots in 10 seconds as the two kissed amid celebrations. 
 
Friedman said of the photo, &quot;It was a wonderful coincidence, a man in a sailor&#39;s uniform and a woman in a white dress ... and a great photographer at the right time.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Greta Friedman was the nurse in white kissed by a sailor in New York's Times Square

Greta Friedman, the woman in white being kissed by a sailor in the iconic photo symbolising end of World War Two, died on Thursday. Friedman had been suffering from a series of ailments, including pneumonia, her son told NBC. The 92-year-old had been living in an assisted facility for the past two years. She will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetry in Virginia alongside her late husband, Mischa Elliot Friedman, CBS news reported. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt had clicked the picture in New York's Times Square on August 14, 1945 while revelers were celebrating America's victory over Japan. Eisenstaedt's photo, "V-J Day in Times Square," ran the following week in Life magazine. "I did not see him approaching, and before I know it I was in this vice grip," Friedman had told CBS News in 2012. The sailor in a dark uniform, George Mendonsa, was photographed kissing Friedman, then a dental assistant, with his arms around her and her body bent backwards. "If she (Friedman) had been dressed in a dark dress, I would never have taken the picture. If the sailor had worn a white uniform, the same," Eisenstaedt said. In his book, "Eisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt", the photographer recalled that he saw a sailor kissing women randomly. He snapped four shots in 10 seconds as the two kissed amid celebrations. Friedman said of the photo, "It was a wonderful coincidence, a man in a sailor's uniform and a woman in a white dress ... and a great photographer at the right time." (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Woman in famous photo symbolising end of WWII dies

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