Our world in photos: September 25

September 25, 2024
Brooklyn Eagle Staff

ECUADOR — Nature’s revenge: A resident watches fires burning in a forested area in the Guapulo neighborhood of Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The fire broke out on the outskirts of the Ecuadorian capital, forcing authorities to make road closures as flames spread rapidly through the hills of Guapulo Park, reports the Associated Press. The reservoirs have been diminished, blamed on a severe drought in Quito that has disabled the hydroelectric dams on which Ecuador is heavily dependent.

Firefighters expected to be working into the night to control the blazes but did not expect to be able to extinguish them completely, according to Reuters.

A Lebanese woman who fled the southern villages amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes Monday, settles with her kids on a public beach in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Photo: Mohammed Zaatari/AP

Hezbollah members carry the coffins of Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Kobeisi, seen in the picture left, and Hussein Ezzedine, right, during their funeral procession in Beirut's southern suburb, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Photo: Hassan Ammar/AP

An Israeli firefighters plane uses a fire retardant to extinguish a fire after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an open area near the city of Safed, northern Israel, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Photo: Leo Correa/AP

People look at a damaged house that was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, near Safed, northern Israel, on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Photo: /Leo Correa/AP

Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes in the southern village of Kfar Rouman, seen from Marjayoun, south Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Photo: Hussein Malla/AP

LOS ANGELES — Seemingly irresolvable, Middle East conflict weighs heavily in American cities: A protester waves a Lebanese flag as demonstrators gather to protest against the war on Gaza and Israeli military strikes on Lebanon in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles.

President Joe Biden, speaking on ABC’s “The View” program, warned that “all-out war” is still possible as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, the Associated Press reports. However, he also expressed hope that a way can be found to halt the bloodshed. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in New York on Wednesday to attend the United Nations General Assembly, warned that all-out war would be disastrous for the entire region and continues urging both Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate their intensifying conflict. Without offering specifics yet, Blinken said the U.S. was working on a plan that would allow tens of thousands of people — Israeli and Lebanese — to return to their homes.

The conflict between pro-Israel Americans and those supporting Palestinian causes is impacting the presidential campaign season. Some pro-Palestinian supporters say they’re disillusioned with both candidates’ approaches to U.S. involvement in the Gaza War.

COLOGNE — Joining space race: Astronauts Thomas Pesquet of France and Matthias Maurer of Germany demonstrate their training in lunar surface simulating conditions for future moon missions, like the Artemis lunar exploration program led by NASA, at the opening of the new LUNA facility at the European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. The LUNA facility has 900 tons of ground-up volcanic rock, mined in the Siebengebirge mountain range, similar to that on the moon, and spread over a surface a bit bigger than a basketball court, the Associated Press reports. And movable, ceiling-mounted trolleys will simulate the moon’s low gravity.

The LUNA facility’s construction and opening were delayed, not only by the pandemic but also when protected-species lizards were discovered at the site, forcing relocation.

BEIJING — Back in action, showing her passion: Japan’s Naomi Osaka eyes a ball from Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti during the China Open tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. Osaka credits her partnership with coach Patrick Mouratoglou (who’s also coached Serena Williams) as instrumental in her comeback since winning the China Open title five years ago, according to an online article on the Hologic WTA Tour. Osaka won her first round Wednesday against Bronzetti. (Beijing is 12 hours ahead of the Eastern Time zone.)

The 26-year-old Osaka, whose parents are Japanese (mother) and Haitian (father), was born and raised in Japan. She competes for Japan.

HAVANA — No matter where it accumulates, garbage bears a human signature: Garbage piles up on a corner in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. The trash “mountains” have become a major health hazard, reports CiberCuba but residents have called the government repeatedly without avail. A lack of equipment, fuel, vehicle parts, worker shortage and economic sanctions are being blamed for the trash buildup.

Barron’s reports that more than 30,000 cubic meters — about 1,000, 20-foot shipping containers — accumulate daily on Havana’s streets, according to official data.

ZURICH — Arms, shoulders and trunk far superior to the average athlete: Chantal Haenen of the Netherlands competes in the para-cycling individual time-trial of the Cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. Champion in the T1 Timed Trial was Nathan Clement of Canada, who clocked in at 18:48.16 for the 11.3-kilometer race, which also had a 13-meter elevation gain. Giorgio Farroni of Italy came in second, and Aziz Atakhodjaev of Uzbekistan came in with bronze for that trial race. Champions for the T2 Trials were Felix Barrow of Great Britain, Tim Celen of Belgium and Dennis Connors of the United States.

The races run through Sunday, Sept. 29.

LONDON — Is he blowing the biggest bubble on the field, or is he kissing a balloon? Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku celebrates after scoring his side’s fifth goal during the English League Cup third-round soccer match between Chelsea and Barrow at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. In other matches played on Tuesday, Manchester City won 2-1 against Watford.

The last 32 of the competition is being spread over two midweeks to accommodate the expanded Champions League and Europa League.

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., center, celebrates with teammates after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Los Angeles Dodgers interpreter Will Ireton, right, is unable to reach a batted ball while trying to protect Shohei Ohtani as Ohtani warms up prior to a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP

Members of the San Diego Padres celebrate after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game as Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani stands at the plate, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP

LOS ANGELES — A unified celebratory moment: San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr., center, celebrates with teammates after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. The Padres also turned the first game-ending triple play in the majors in three years, even though the Dodgers ranked ahead of them in the National League West, reports the NY Times sports feature section, The Athletics.

The Padres have seen their best record in more than a quarter-century, surging from a 50-49 record to 91-66, the team’s best record in 26 years.

HOUSTON — Handy, protective celebratory goggles for the ‘victory pour’: Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, center, pours champagne on himself as the team celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to clinch the AL West title after a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Houston.

The Astros have been leading the American League West with a 86-72 record.

SAVANNAH — Definitely adaptable, weirdly resilient in an uneducated world: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump dances after speaking at a campaign event Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Savannah, GA. During that economy-focused speech, Trump vowed to “take other countries’ jobs,” reported several news sources. He also pledged that U.S. companies would be given tax credits for research and development.

Meanwhile, Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris called her opponent’s tariffs “national sales tax,” saying that it could increase the cost of coffee, clothes, electronics, autos and almost anything that gets imported or depends on imported parts, hurting Americans. By contrast, Trump had claimed the tariffs would hurt the countries exporting goods to the U.S.