Massive balloons take shape ahead of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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Massive balloons take shape ahead of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

2024-11-28 07:42 Last Updated At：07:51

NEW YORK (AP) — They're up, up and — almost — away.

The massive helium balloons that will float through New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took shape on Wednesday, when they were filled with helium ahead of the big event.

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Floats, including a character from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People help to inflate a Pikachu float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ash Ditaranto tries to disentangle herself from a net after helping to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float of Sinclair's Dina is seen in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Floats are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Ash Ditaranto helps to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A float featuring a character from the Minions movies is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate a float of Sinclair's Dino in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

William Hardin helps to inflate a float of Ronald McDonald in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Bluey in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float featuring a character from the show "One Piece" is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A man looks up at floats being prepared for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People inflate a float of Macy's Stars in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Goku in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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Floats, including a character from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People help to inflate a Pikachu float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ash Ditaranto tries to disentangle herself from a net after helping to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float of Sinclair's Dina is seen in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Floats are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Ash Ditaranto helps to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A float featuring a character from the Minions movies is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate a float of Sinclair's Dino in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

William Hardin helps to inflate a float of Ronald McDonald in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Bluey in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float featuring a character from the show "One Piece" is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A man looks up at floats being prepared for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People inflate a float of Macy's Stars in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Goku in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

“You see these giant balloons come to life and they’re really, really huge," said Stephanie Senkevich, one of dozens of people helping inflate the stars of Thursday's show. “You can see them start on the ground right next to you where you look taller than them. And slowly, slowly, they start to raise right above you.”

This year, 17 giant character balloons and other inflatables will travel from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, alongside floats, performers, marching bands and more.

New balloons for 2025 will feature characters including Minnie Mouse, Goku from ”Dragon Ball” and Spider-Man, joining longtime favorites such as Smokey Bear and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Liverpool shines in Champions League, dumping Real Madrid down the table. Dortmund rises to 4th

2024-11-28 07:49 Last Updated At：07:50

Liverpool is 100% on top of the Champions League after dumping title holder Real Madrid into an almost unbelievable 24th place in the 36-team standings on Wednesday.

No one felt the embarrassment of Madrid’s 2-0 loss at Anfield more than Kylian Mbappé, the superstar added in the offseason by the storied club that also was European champion against Liverpool in the finals of 2022 and 2018.

Mbappé had a penalty saved in the second half and was earlier dumped on his behind by Conor Bradley’s superb tackle in an instant viral moment.

Only Liverpool has started the new Champions League format with five wins and first-year coach Arne Slot's team is two points clear of Inter Milan. Barcelona is third, trailing Liverpool by three points.

Madrid is, remarkably, with three rounds left just one place above being eliminated. The top eight teams at the end of January go direct to the round of 16 in March, and teams placed from ninth to 24th enter a round of two-leg playoffs in February.

“(This) doesn’t change much, because even with a win it was going to be tough to secure a top-eight finish,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. ”It was a fair result."

Monaco missed a chance to go second in the table, giving up a lead playing with 10 men from the 58th minute in a 3-2 loss at home to Benfica. Swiss forward Zeki Amdouni scored the winning goal in the 88th.

Borussia Dortmund, the beaten finalist against Madrid in May, is up to fourth place after beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0. Champions League standout Jamie Gittens now has four goals in five games, curling a rising shot in the 41st to open the scoring in Croatia.

The best comeback was at PSV Eindhoven, where the home team trailed Shakhtar Donetsk by two goals in the 87th minute before a 3-2 win was sealed by United States forward Ricardo Pepi’s goal deep in stoppage time.

US defender Cameron Carter-Vickers scored an embarrassing own goal for Celtic — playing a no-look pass far beyond goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel — in a 1-1 draw with Club Brugge.

“One of those things,” Schmeichel said. “Cam gets pressed and he hasn’t heard me shout that I’m not in (goal).”

Congo teammates Ngal’Ayel Mukau and Silas impressed in wins for Lille and Red Star Belgrade.

Mukau scored twice in 12th-place Lille’s 2-1 win at Bologna and Silas leveled for Red Star in a 5-1 rout of Stuttgart, though he barely celebrated his goal. Silas is on loan with the Serbian champion from Stuttgart.

Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with Juventus was preserved by an excellent save by Emiliano Martinez, the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper, diving low to push away a header from Francisco Conceição.

Liverpool’s stand-in right back Bradley was a standout Wednesday, denying Mbappé at high speed in a signature defensive play in the 32nd.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland defender, deputizing for fit-again Trent Alexander-Arnold, joined the attack in the 52nd to play a key pass returning the ball to Alexis Mac Allister who scored the opening goal.

After Mbappé’s penalty was pushed away by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher in the 61st, Liverpool star Mo Salah missed with his spot-kick in the 70th, before substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the win with a header in the 77th.

Madrid now has lost three of five games after defeats at Lille and at home to AC Milan. The record 15-time European champion has another tough trip next, at fifth-place Atalanta on Dec. 10. On the same date, Liverpool is at 30th-place Girona and looks to be cruising into the round of 16.

“You know how special it is to play against a team that has won the Champions League so many times," Liverpool coach Slot said of Madrid. “They were a pain for Liverpool for many years too.”

Red Star Belgrade and Sturm Graz ended four-game losing runs to get their first points and wins.

Red Star rallied against Stuttgart after the German team led in the fifth minute. The 1991 European Cup winner’s goal to level the game in the 12th was scored by on-loan Silas. He held up his hands as if in apology as part of a low-key celebration.

Sturm Graz won 1-0 against Girona, the Spanish newcomer to European competitions. It was the Austrian champion’s first Champions League game since coach Christian Ilzer left to join Hoffenheim.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Massive balloons take shape ahead of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Massive balloons take shape ahead of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Floats, including a character from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People help to inflate a Pikachu float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ash Ditaranto tries to disentangle herself from a net after helping to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float of Sinclair's Dina is seen in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Floats are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Ash Ditaranto helps to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A float featuring a character from the Minions movies is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate a float of Sinclair's Dino in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

William Hardin helps to inflate a float of Ronald McDonald in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Bluey in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float featuring a character from the show "One Piece" is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A man looks up at floats being prepared for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People inflate a float of Macy's Stars in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Goku in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Floats, including a character from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People help to inflate a Pikachu float for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Ash Ditaranto tries to disentangle herself from a net after helping to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float of Sinclair's Dina is seen in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Floats are inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Ash Ditaranto helps to inflate a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A float featuring a character from the Minions movies is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People watch floats being inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate a float of Sinclair's Dino in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People inflate floats in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

William Hardin helps to inflate a float of Ronald McDonald in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A person inflates a float in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Bluey in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A float featuring a character from the show "One Piece" is inflated in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A man looks up at floats being prepared for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People inflate a float of Macy's Stars in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person inflates a float of Goku in preparation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

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