Our world in photos: August 12

August 12, 2024
Brooklyn Eagle Staff

SAINT-DENIS — One of the perennial champs closing the 2024 show: United States gymnast Simone Biles holds the Olympic flag during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass took part in the handover from one Olympic host city to the next.

Tom Cruise rides a motorbike with the Olympic flag attached during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Ashley Landis/AP

Tom Cruise carries the Olympic flag during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko/AP

Tom Cruise rides a motorbike during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Dita Alangkara/AP

Tom Cruise is lowered into the stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP

SAINT-DENIS — Prepping for a role as Peter Pan? Tom Cruise is lowered on the Stade de France during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Cruise was among several celebrities watching the women’s artistic gymnastics competition, in particular Simone Biles, who won four medals, including for all-around. During the Closing Ceremony, the Olympic flag was then passed from U.S. Olympians past and present as it traversed the city before reaching a beach party, symbolizing the City of Paris’ transfer of the Olympiad to Los Angeles, which will host the Games in 2028.

Other celebrities watching Biles win were Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer, John Travolta, Ariana Grande, and Kendall Jenner.

Fireworks explode during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Petr David Josek/AP

Fireworks signal the end of the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony taking place at the Stade de France, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Luca Bruno/AP

Artists perform during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Ashley Landis/AP

Fireworks ignite during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Kin Cheung/AP

Artist Alain Roche plays a piano during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Ashley Landis/AP

An artist performs during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Dita Alangkara/AP

The Olympic rings are illuminated during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Morry Gash/AP

Participants attend the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Kin Cheung/AP

Flag bearers march during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Photo: Kin Cheung/AP

French swimmer Leon Marchand, left, carries a lantern containing the Olympic flame in the Tuileries garden as the cauldron is slowly extinguished on the final day of the 2024 Summer Olympics ahead of the closing ceremony, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Paris, France. Photo: Vadim Ghirda/AP

SAINT-DENIS — Good-natured and darned plucky for a small island nation competing against continents: British athletes react during the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at the Stade de France, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. During the Closing Ceremony, four-time Olympic gold medalist Léon Marchand of France had the role of extinguishing the Olympic flame in the cauldron gold glass lantern from the Tuileries Gardens, located outside of the Louvre Museum to the Stade de France stadium. During the ceremony, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the Olympic flag from Paris officials.

For this Olympiad, the torch was lit using LED lighting and smoke instead of a traditional flame.

A man runs while flames burn a mini excavator during a fire in northern Athens, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, as hundreds of firefighters tackle a major wildfire raging out of control on fringes of Greek capital. Photo: Michael Varaklas/AP

Firefighters operate near Penteli, northeast of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. Hundreds of firefighters backed by dozens of water-dropping planes and helicopters were battling the flames from first light Monday. Photo: Michael Varaklas/AP

A general view of Athens with the Acropolis hill is seen as fire burns the northern part of the city on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, Hundreds of firefighters are tackling a major wildfire raging out of control on the fringes of the Greek capital. Photo: Petros Giannakouris/AP

ATHENS — Nature’s revenge: A firefighter tries to extinguish the flames on a burning tree in northern Athens, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, as hundreds of firefighters tackle a major wildfire raging out of control on the fringes of the Greek capital. More than 400 firefighters, 110 fire engines and a large number of volunteers were fighting the fire, which broke out around 3 p.m. local time around 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Athens. The 15 firefighting planes and nine helicopters were operating by late afternoon but stopped at sunset, reports the Associated Press.

The flames quickly advanced toward Lake Marathon, an important reservoir supplying Athens with water. People who had not heeded previous warnings to evacuate or who had nowhere to go had to be rescued.

MINNEAPOLIS — Another reason to cherish trees: Cleveland Guardians’ Brayan Rocchio (4) breaks a bat at the plate in the top of the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis, MN, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Cleveland, which currently leads the American League Central (record: 69-49), won that game 5-3.

The Minnesota Twins are 2nd in the American League Central, with a 65-52 record.

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip flee from Hamad City, following an evacuation order by the Israeli army to leave parts of the southern area of Khan Younis, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

HAMAD CITY — Protective evacuation in a persistent warzone: Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip flee from Hamad City, following an evacuation order by the Israeli army to leave parts of the southern area of Khan Younis, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024.

Meanwhile, Palestinians who have been released from Israeli prisons have told the Associated Press that they endured frequent beatings, overcrowding, and withholding of basic rations. In the 10 months since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and the war in Gaza, conditions have worsened, with thousands of Palestinians being detained.

Israeli officials have acknowledged making conditions harder for the prisoners.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Bozeman, Mont., Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Bozeman, Mont., Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Photo: Rick Bowmer/AP

MONTANA — Still never far from beauty queens … Miss Montana USA Shelby Dangerfield arrives at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse before a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump in Bozeman, MT, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. A fifth-generation Montanan, Miss Dangerfield is an accomplished performer with a bachelor in fine arts degree in Musical Theater. She has worked for Disney Cruise Lines in their Broadway Style Production shows, although is now a commercial insurance advisor. She has also volunteered in organizations helping military veterans.

The MISS MONTANA USA and MISS MONTANA TEEN USA pageants are official state preliminary pageants in the MISS USA/MISS UNIVERSE franchise. GOP nominee Donald Trump is a former owner of the Miss USA pageant. However, recent news reports have revealed that the pageant industry has undergone struggles, including decreased viewership and revenue.

JACKSONVILLE — Classic football move — the grab and cling: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (13) gets rid of the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end D.J. Coleman (54) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, FL.

The Jaguars beat the Chiefs 26-13.