Our world in photos: December 6
Brooklyn Eagle Staff
December 6, 2024
WASHINGTON — A dream postponed, a struggle continues: With tears streaming down her face, a supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris applauds as she delivers a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. During her speech, Harris emphasized the importance of accepting the election result, calling it “a fundamental principle of American democracy,” along with loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, conscience and God. However, she also stressed the importance of continuing to fight for each other’s rights. “My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris said, according to NPR. “The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and for the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best — that is a fight I will never give up.”
Harris declared, “Every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld.”
CUBA — Nature’s revenge — walking the streets post-hurricane: Children wade through a flooded street after the passing of Hurricane Rafael in Batabano, Cuba, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Rafael, at that point a fierce Category 3 hurricane, barreled across the Caribbean island nation, knocking out the country’s power grid, tearing down trees and damaging infrastructure, the Associated Press reported. As of press time, there had been no fatalities but massive property damage, both personal and municipal. One man returning from his job as a security guard found his home collapsed about 45 miles west of Havana. Huge trees and fallen telephone lines on the ground blocked traffic. One group found an innovative approach to limiting food spoilage: opening an impromptu soup kitchen.
Hurricane Rafael, which also caused electrical outages in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, as of Thursday was a Category 2 Hurricane headed WNW at about 9 mph toward Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula.
INDIA — Hallmarks of a festival here — the river and bright colors: Hindu devotees gather by the river Brahmaputra and offer prayers during Chhath Puja festival in Guwahati, northeastern Assam state, India, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Chhath, celebrated in parts of northern India about six days after Diwali, the Festival of Lights, honors the Sun God and his sister, Chhathi Maiya. The festival has special significance to the people of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and other areas. The festival, which involves rigorous fasting and prayers for health and well-being, also honors the harmony of humans and nature, according to The Times of India.
As part of a recent trend, Muslim women have also adopted the observances of the Chhath Puja festival, either on their own or joining Hindu women, in praying for children or cures for their husbands or other family members.
BUDAPEST — European alliances continue to grow: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron at a plenary session during the European Political Community (EPC) Summit at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. The European Political Community unites almost 50 nations across the continent except for Russia and Belarus. This week’s elections in the United States became a central concern — and for some, a cause for celebration at the one-day summit. The election’s impact could have a long-term reverberation in Europe, particularly regarding the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, on migration and climate change.
The string of geopolitical conflicts “is putting peace, stability and prosperity at risk in our region,” said the summit invitation letter to the leaders of the European Political Community, who were weighing the possibility of a second Trump Presidency in the United States, and worries about raised tariffs hurting alliances between the U.S. and member nations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the summit that the United States and European Union “are more than just allies. We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. Let us work together on a transatlantic partnership that continues to deliver for our citizens.”
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s a fight, front row spectator recoils: Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and Orlando Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (3) fight for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. The Pacers beat the Magic 118-111 in a suspenseful game where Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 points, and four teammates each had 17, reports the AP. Six of nine Pacers scored in double digits. During the last minute of the game and ahead by two points, the Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton sank a 3, and Mathurin made two foul shots.
The Pacers have won three of the last four games, with the victories being attributed to sharing the ball more as a team and Halliburton’s own progress in recovering from a back injury. The Pacers are guests of the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Nov. 8.
VALENCIA — Nature’s revenge — mud adds brutal finality to the household damage: Dolores Merchan, 67, looks down on her mud-splattered belongings from the house where she has lived all her life with her husband and three children, and which has been severely affected by the floods in Masanasa, Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Many families are also searching for missing loved ones more than a week after the floods ravaged eastern Spain. Many people in the region east of Valencia were caught off guard in the flash flooding of Oct. 29-30; 211 of the 217 reported deaths were from that region.
One man, who had stayed in touch while going out to safeguard his motorbike, lost contact. The Spanish government has reported that as of Tuesday, Nov. 5, there were 89 missing people.
CALIFORNIA — Nature’s revenge — the fires just don’t stop: A firefighter prepares to douse flames while battling the Mountain Fire on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Santa Paula, Calif. The wildfire, which started Wednesday morning, had no containment by the close of the day. More than 10,000 residents remained under evacuation orders as the Mountain Fire continued to threaten some 3,500 structures in suburban neighborhoods, ranches and agricultural areas, the AP reported. Firefighting crews in water-dropping helicopters worked to protect homes on hillsides that sit along the fire’s northeast edge near the city of Santa Paula, home to more than 30,000 people.
Wildfires have popped up across the U.S. continent where rain has been scarce, according to a Weather Channel map. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for parts of New York City, where winds of up to 30 mph gusts and warm temperatures could increase the risk of brush fires.
JERUSALEM — Vigorous protests, with impact felt globally: Israelis light a bonfire during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his residence in Jerusalem, a day after he dismissed his defense minister Yoav Gallant, replacing him with loyalist Israel Katz, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Tuesday’s dismissal of the popular defense minister took Israeli citizens by surprise at a time when the country is embroiled in multiple wars, most notably the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The public respected Gallant for his no-nonsense but pragmatic approach in attempting to negotiate a cease-fire and release of hostages. Israel as citizens accused Netanyahu of exploiting the U.S. elections to stay in power.
The Israeli police were deployed to use water cannons against the protesters Tuesday night, hours after Gen. Gallant was fired.
