Our world in photos: August 16

August 16, 2024
Brooklyn Eagle Staff

LAS VEGAS — This upcoming election holds the potential for a new day for representation: A supporter wearing earrings that read “Unapologetically Black” listens during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Las Vegas. The earrings are a creation of the women’s entrepreneurial 3 Woke Girlz, founded about six years ago and based in Maryland.

The group’s website states that “3 Woke Girlz, created by a Queen and her two beautifully-melanated daughters, is a stark reminder to Black girls and women that they are beautiful, confident, smart, and excellence personified through bold statement accessories.”

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrive to speak about their administration's efforts to lower prescription drug costs during an event at Prince George's Community College in Largo, Md., Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

President Joe Biden, left, and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrive to speak about the administration's efforts to lower costs during an event at Prince George's Community College in Largo, Md., Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Photo: Susan Walsh/AP

LARGO — Passing the torch, and one torch is affordable health care: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris finish speaking about their administration’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs during an event at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Md., Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. This issue will undoubtedly have center stage at the Democratic National Convention, which begins this coming Monday, Aug. 19, and runs through Aug. 22.

President Biden, on Friday, Aug. 16, sent a blast-test to supporters touting the Inflation Reduction Act that lowered health care costs and is soliciting personal testimony from constituents who have benefited.

Palestinian women weep on a truck as she evacuates a school that had been her shelter, in eastern Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, after the Israeli military dropped leaflets asking civilians to evacuate from the area, saying forces plan to respond to rocket fire that targeted Israel. Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

Palestinians evacuate a school that had been their shelter, in eastern Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, after the Israeli military dropped leaflets asking civilians to evacuate from the area and northern Khan Younis, saying forces plan to respond to rocket fire that targeted Israel. Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

GAZA — Continuing to care for and find comfort in creatures, even amid war: A Palestinian girl carries her cat as she evacuates a school that had been her shelter, in eastern Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, after the Israeli military dropped leaflets asking civilians to evacuate from the area, saying forces plan to respond to rocket fire that targeted Israel. Meanwhile, mediators convening in Qatar to find an agreement that would end the Israel-Hamas war expressed hope for an imminent deal Friday, saying two days of talks had concluded. They plan to reconvene next week in Cairo, Egypt, to seal the agreement.

While stating that the mediators’ efforts are appreciated, Israel expressed only tepid hope that this deal will work.

Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, smiles while watching traditional dancers perform during a welcoming ceremony at the Delia Zapata National Arts Center in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Photo: Ivan Valencia/AP

Prince Harry greets a traditional Carnival dancer during a welcoming ceremony at the Delia Zapata National Arts Center in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Photo: Ivan Valencia/AP

BOGOTA — The Duke and Duchess of Sussex capture the spotlight wherever they go, even if it’s unofficial: Prince Harry and Meghan attend a welcoming ceremony, accompanied by Colombia’s Vice President Francia Márquez, left, at the Delia Zapata National Arts Center, in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Márquez, a human rights activist and Colombia’s first Black vice president had told reporters prior to the formal reception ceremony that the royals’ visit seeks to “build bridges and open doors” and to raise awareness and address a “problem that concerns all of humanity today: cyberbullying,” especially because of its impact on children. Márquez herself acknowledged being the victim of “12,000 racist attacks” last year.

On Sunday, Prince Harry and Meghan are scheduled to visit Cali, one of the most important cities in the Colombian Pacific, where they will attend a forum on “Afro women and power.”

CARACAS — Elections that pull at the fabric of a nation: Leticia Torrealba sheds tears as she speaks in Caracas, Venezuela, on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, about the detention of her 16-year-old son Adrian. He was detained and put in custody during a government crackdown in response to anti-government protests that erupted throughout Venezuela after President Nicolas Maduro was declared winner amid allegations of fraud. Torrealba said her son had not participated in the protests and was walking along a street when security forces picked him up.

A large crowd of demonstrators gathered at a square in eastern Caracas last week to pray, sing and demand the freedom of political prisoners in Venezuela.

MANHATTAN — A modern narcissist needs not a lake but merely wax and a selfie: Andy Cohen takes a selfie with his wax figure during the unveiling at Madame Tussauds on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in New York. Cohen is an American radio and television talk show host, producer, and writer. He is executive producer of The Real Housewives franchise and Bravo’s late-night talk show, Watch What Happens Live!

Madame Tussauds’ website indicates that Andy Cohen’s figure is among several that are new to the celebrity museum. Other recent additions include American singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, singer/songwriter Harry Styles, esteemed Yoga Guru Swami (Baba) Ramdev, and entertainer Billy Porter.

LAS VEGAS — ‘Taking photographs of me? Keep your distance, unless you’re my mother’: Robert Telles waits in the courtroom during a break in proceedings during his murder trial for the death of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Telles has pleaded not guilty.

A jury impaneled for the case watched security video of a man believed to be Telles loitering around Jeff German’s home. Prosecutors said that the reporter’s articles were critical of Telles, as a county office he managed was in turmoil. They also raised allegations of an inappropriate relationship between Telles and a subordinate employee, as well as his loss in a primary election, as being possible motives for the killing.

Prosecutors are seeking life in prison rather than the death penalty for Telles.

ST. PETERSBURG — There’s joyous dancing in Russia? People dance during a round dance flashmob at the Palace Square in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.

Notice that one of the dancers (clad in red, center right) is carrying the flag of the former Union of Soviet Social Republics (USSR), while others carry Russia’s current white, blue and red standard.

ARGENTINA — Ironic juxtaposition — the load he carries is raw material for world’s most potent ‘pick-me-up’: Producer Hugo Sand hauls on his shoulders a bag of harvested yerba mate during a protest at the iconic Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. The harvesters are protesting Argentine President Javier Milei’s proposal to scrap price controls and subsidies, a policy change that would negatively affect a range of markets, including yerba mate.

Native to South America, yerba mate is a plant species of the holly genus Ilex. Yerba mate got its name from the French botanist Augustin Saint-Hilaire. The leaves of the plant, which contain caffeine, can be steeped in hot water to make a beverage known as mate.

Workers prepare for next week's Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP

CHICAGO — They’re sticking with the blue theme this year: Jaime Harrison, Democratic National Committee chair, watches as preparations are made before the upcoming Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, in Chicago. The Democratic National Convention Committee on Friday, Aug. 16, announced the first-ever Creator Platform to be built directly on the convention floor, giving content creators a front-row seat to history. The Creator Platform will function similarly to the Network Platforms that the major television networks use. Space on the Creator Platform has been designated for its producers “to capture 360-degree content of the convention hall, conduct interviews with delegates and other Democratic voices on the convention floor, and share the convention experience with their audiences,” according to the DNC website.

This year’s convention arena is also union-built: The Chicago Federation of Labor is highlighting members of organized labor who are building the convention, including decorators from USW Local 17U and IBEW Local 134 electricians.