FLORIDA — One of many examples of a hurricane’s black magic: Small boats rest on a pier after they were unmoored during Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Fort Myers, FL. Milton, which arrived just two weeks after the devastating Hurricane Helene, also flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium and toppled a construction crane.
However, the Associated Press reported that because residents heeded warnings, only a small handful of people in Punta Gorda had to be rescued.
DETROIT — Sometimes the most powerful athleticism is shown in celebratory moves: Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan (38) celebrates with teammate Will Brennan, right, at the end of Game 4 of a baseball American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Detroit. The Guardians won 5-4, but the division series is tied 2-2 in a best-of-five format. The Guardians and Tigers will play the deciding Game 5 on Saturday, Oct. 12, but officials for Major League Baseball have moved the game to an afternoon start because of forecast bad weather later that day.
Both New York’s baseball teams have clinched spots in their respective League Championship series. The American League Yankees will play the winner of the division series — either the Guardians or the Tigers. The National League Mets are awaiting the winner of the Los Angeles-San Diego Padres series in their deciding Game 5 on Friday night.
VATICAN — An alliance to remain in the headlines: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, arrives for a private audience with Pope Francis at The Vatican, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. This marks Zelenskyy’s fourth meeting with the pontiff since the war with Putin’s Russia broke out in February 2022. The most recent meeting between the two leaders took place during the G7 summit this past summer. During Friday’s visit to Rome, Zelenskyy also met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations, where they discussed “state of the war,” humanitarian issues and pathways to “just and stable peace,” reported the Catholic News Agency.
The pope gifted Zelenskyy a bronze relief of a small bird beside a flower with the engraved message “La Pace E’ Un Fiore Fragile” (Peace is a fragile flower).
PITTSBURGH — It takes nothing short of the threat of restoring ‘the Donald’ to power to bring this smile back to the street: Former President Barack Obama greets attendees after speaking at a campaign rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh.
Obama denounced Trump’s machismo, particularly his attacks on Harris. He also admonished men who look to Trump as an example of manhood. CNBC excerpted part of Obama’s speech: “I’m sorry, gentlemen, I’ve noticed this, especially with some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior — the bullying and the putting people down — is a sign of strength. And I am here to tell you: That is not what real strength is. Real strength is about working hard and carrying a heavy load without complaining. Real strength is about taking responsibility for your actions and telling the truth even when it’s inconvenient.”
Obama will be visiting the swing states of Arizona and Nevada next week to campaign for Harris, with Election Day little more than three weeks away.
FLORIDA — Saving his flag, thankful for a floatation device: A man who identified himself as Jesse walks out through floodwaters of the Anclote River after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in New Port Richey, FL. A number of people did not evacuate for a variety of reasons, including financial roadblocks. Some Florida residents in Florida stocked up on food, gas and generators for the stay.
Among those having to be rescued were farm animals. One large pig was stuck in high water at a strip mall. A local farmer named Cindy Evers saved that animal as well as a donkey and some goats.
GERMANY — Highway traffic lights, even in time-lapse photos, can’t hold a candle to Mother Nature: An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glows in the night sky above a road in Lietzen, eastern Germany. The aurora borealis is caused by geomagnetic storms and flares on the sun’s surface, and they have grown more frequent with the sun nearing the peak of its 11-year solar cycle.
The solar flares are blamed for disruptions in radio and GPS signals, although no major issues had been reported as of press time on Friday.
NEPAL — Another of so many reasons to sacrifice the ancestors of dinosaurs: Devotees wait with sacrificial chickens as they prepare to enter Balkumari Temple during the Dashain festival in Thimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. The festival commemorates the slaying of a demon king by the Hindu goddess Durga, marking the victory of good over evil.
Dashain is a time for family reunions, exchange of gifts and blessings, and elaborate pujas (ceremonies).
HAITI — Key assets being unloaded in a troubled area: A worker unloads goats from a boat to the shore in Saint-Marc, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. On Thursday, yet another town was racked with gang violence when gunmen invaded Arcahaie, a town north of Haiti’s capital on Thursday, shooting at people and setting homes on fire.
According to several local radio stations, a 200-member gang that apparently has borrowed its name — Taliban —from a terror group in Afghanistan launched the pre-dawn attack in the northern part of the capital.
LONDON — Handle with care — when a million pounds refers to the cost, not the weight: Gallery employees display a painting by Laurence Stephen Lowry called Senhouse, Maryport at Christie’s auction rooms in London, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, the painting estimated at 700,000-1,000,000 UK pounds will be auctioned in the Modern British and Irish Evening Sale on Oct. 16. Lowry (1887-1976) painted scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England during the mid-20th century. The Senhouse at Marypoint is one well-known building that has since become a museum, according to BBC News.
However, his original oil painting that netted the most at auction was ‘Going to the Match,’ which raised £7.8 million.
PAKISTAN — ‘Hooray, tomorrow is laundry day …’ No, it’s just a celebration of a dismissal: England’s Jamie Smith, center, and teammates celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel, right, during the fourth day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
England stands set to win, “Harry Brook smashed the second-fastest triple century in test history, Joe Root scored a career-best 262 and the tourists declared their first innings at an enormous 823-7 against Pakistan,” reported MySA.