Our world in photos: December 6
Brooklyn Eagle Staff
December 6, 2024
AZERBAIJAN — Welcoming gate for the U.N.’s 29th ‘Conference of Parties’ to study climate change: Attendees arrive for the day at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the opening day on Wednesday, more than two dozen world leaders delivered remarks at the annual climate conference Wednesday, with many hard-hit nations offering details of their firsthand experience with the catastrophic weather that has accompanied climate change. Negotiators at the summit are trying to draft an agreement on the amount of money that developed countries will pledge to help as the world adapts to climate change and, in particular, for developing nations transitioning to clean energy. One contentious issue was that climate-polluting nations should contribute to a fund that would help mitigate the pollution and its consequences.
Detracting from the talks’ progress was Argentina’s withdrawal from the summit, reports the Associated Press and, originally, Climactica. The order to withdraw came from Argentine President Javier Milei, known to be a climate skeptic.
WASHINGTON — Everything boils down to party loyalty, particularly a lame duck’s nominations for judgeships: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., seated at right, confers with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., left, the ranking member, as the panel convenes to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees in the closing weeks of the 118th Congress and before Donald Trump takes office, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. According to the United States Courts website, 17 pending judicial nominees have advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, eight are waiting for votes from the committee, and six are waiting for committee hearings.
The U.S. Courts’ Judicial Vacancies page showed on Nov. 14 that the U.S. Court of Appeals has two vacancies and 44 in U.S. District Courts (federal courts). The same chart shows two nominees pending for the U.S. Court of Appeals and 14 for the district (which includes territorial) courts.
DUBAI — The dance of the missed putt: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after missing a shot on the 18th green during the first round of the World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. McIlroy also had other mishaps: he leaked his approach right, failed to find the green with his third shot and narrowly missed his birdie attempt, the Associated Press reported. However, McIlroy, currently ranked #3, had a good run, making six birdies and then rolling in a 50-foot ball on the par-3 17th when he rolled in a 50-footer. As of Thursday, he was poised to take the lead.
McIlroy was already an overwhelming favorite to win the European tour’s season-long Race to Dubai title. He was tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton after the first round of the season-ending World Tour Championship.
URUGUAY — Furtive communication between doubles partners, used often to foil lip readers: Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, right, talks to teammate Federico Coria (of Argentina) during a men’s doubles tennis match against Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos at the 2024 Uruguay Open in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. But the Forlán/Coria team lost 6-1, 6-2 to Arias/Zeballos in the first round of the ATP’s second-tier challenger tour. Forlán (age 45) and Coria (32) were granted wild-card entries to play doubles in the tournament.
Forlán is a former soccer star who retired from that sport in 2019. He has been trying to launch new successes in professional tennis after testing out amateur playing.
MANHATTAN — A dancer’s stock and trade — the exquisite leap: Paul Taylor Dance Company dress rehearsal performance of Ulysses Dove’s “Vespers” at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in New York. Memories of his grandmother’s house of worship are said to have inspired Ulysses Dove as he choreographed “Vespers,” which is described on the Ailey website as “a dramatic work full of raw energy and profound grace.” Although he originally pursued a medical career, Dove (1947-1996) soon switched to dance, earning a degree in this discipline from Bennington College. He then joined the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and it was Ailey himself who urged him to become a choreographer. Dove died at age 49.
The Paul Taylor Dance Company, established 70 years ago in 1954, has focused on “multidisciplinary collaborations, passionate expression, and thrilling athleticism,” according to its website.
HOUSTON — Grieving father of a fallen first responder: Houston Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz comforts Marcelo Garcia Jr., father of fallen Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia III, during a presentation to the family at his funeral service at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Houston. The funeral took place exactly a week after Garcia died while fighting a fire in a warehouse that collapsed on him, according to Houston TV station ABC-13. Hundreds of firefighters from around Texas joined in the procession to the cathedral to pay tribute. Garcia was remembered as a man everyone could count on. The Houston native became a firefighter a decade ago and served most of his career at Station 8.
The condition of the warehouse that burned is still under investigation, according to ABC-13. It had been declared a “dangerous commercial building” earlier this year, but inspectors mitigated that description to “nuisance property.” It was supposed to be cleaned up a day before the deadly fire.
LIMA — Portable drone shields needed at controversial economic summit: A security detail member of Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong holds a drone shield during a welcoming ceremony at the Palace of Justice on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. In addition to bringing in world leaders, including outgoing President Joe Biden, the summit also attracted hundreds of Peruvian citizens who were protesting their government’s failure to tackle rising crime. APEC was founded in 1989 to ensure that goods, services, investment and people move easily across borders. The United States was one of 12 charter members; there are now 21 member nations.
A drone shield is an AI-operated counter-drone device that blocks communications between a drone and its target.
ORLANDO — Keeping the ball in play: Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, center, dives between Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) and forward Jonathan Isaac (1) to save the ball from going out of bounds during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. The Magic beat the Indiana Pacers 94-90 to remain undefeated at home and now has a 6-0 home record for this season, according to the Associated Press. The Orlando Magic have also won 13 consecutive home games.
During Wednesday’s game, Franz Wagner scored 29 points, and Jalen Suggs hit two free throws with 9.8 seconds left.
