Our world in photos: January 17
Brooklyn Eagle Staff
January 17, 2025
LONDON — The scantily clad martial art: Rikishis from Japan’s Sumo Kyokai — Daisuke Kitanowaka, right, and Akira Fukutsuumi — pose for a photo call outside of London’s Royal Albert Hall, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, where the UK’s second ever official basho, a sumo tournament, will take place in October of next year. This five-day event in October 2025 will mark the Japan Sumo Association’s first competition in Britain in over three decades. It is a rarity to see sumo competitions outside of Japan.
Sumo is Japan’s national sport and an ancient tradition with religious roots that rest on strength, skill and discipline.
MUMBAI — Hanging loose for the festivities: Indian navy personnel display their skills during Naval Day celebrations in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. The date is significant, paying tribute to the valiant Operation Trident during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The Indian Navy, on Dec. 4, 1971, boldly attacked Pakistan’s main port city, Karachi, in what was considered a major military triumph, reports Business Standard. The war, precipitated by the Bangladesh Independence Movement, was a major victory for India. At the time, Bangladesh was called East Pakistan.
Nowadays, Indian Naval Day honors naval officers who are essential to the nation’s coastal defense and the bravery of those who serve in the Navy and endure significant hardships while defending the nation’s maritime security.
VATICAN — Another day, another round of blessings, and maybe another coffee? Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on Wednesday, Dec.4, 2024. The Pope included greetings for attendees visiting from the Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia, the United States of America, Japan and Singapore. During his weekly General Audience teaching, Pope Francis drew on the First Letter of Peter from the New Testament, focusing on evangelizing the Holy Spirit and the Church body as the Bride of Christ.
Pope Francis will mark his 88th birthday on Dec. 17.
ANGOLA — Wowed by the welcome party: President Joe Biden watches a traditional dance after arriving at Catumbela airport in Angola on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Biden has been fulfilling a pledge to make the United States’ first — and highly anticipated — presidential visit to sub-Saharan Africa on Monday to the cheers of thousands. A key goal of Biden’s three-day visit is to focus on the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment in Angola, which sits on Africa’s southern Atlantic coast, and the landlocked neighboring countries of Zambia and Congo. This development aims to advance the U.S. presence in a region rich in the critical minerals used in battery technology.
Biden’s itinerary included a meeting with Angolan President João Lourenço in the capital, Luanda — where crowds lined the streets for his arrival — and visiting the National Slavery Museum in this nation with Portuguese colonial roots.
TBILISI — Protesting the pushback on progress: A demonstrator launches a firecracker towards the police during a rally to protest against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union in Tbilisi, Georgia, early Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Riot police used water cannons and tear gas to push back the protesters, angering them further. The protesters threw fireworks and built barricades on the Georgian capital’s central boulevard, reports the Associated Press. Nearly 300 protesters have been detained, and 26 people, including three police officers, have been hospitalized with injuries.
Tamar Kordzaia of the Unity National Movement opposition group expressed confidence that the protesters will achieve their goal of calling new elections and joining the EU.
MALLORCA — ‘Hear no failure, see no failure, speak no failure’: Barcelona’s Pau Victor, right, celebrates with Raphinha after scoring his side’s fifth goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and Barcelona at the Son Moix stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Barcelona won 5-1 over Mallorca.
Barcelona is on Spain’s eastern coast of the Balearic Sea. Mallorca is on the Mediterranean Isle of Palma, in the Balearic Islands.
COLORADO — The ‘cowabunga sport’ of winter: Norway’s Adrian Smiseth Sejersted skis during a men’s World Cup downhill training run Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The Beaver Creek Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup takes place Dec. 6-15, “with an exciting dual-weekend of men’s and women’s racing,” according to the event website. A Norwegian World Cup alpine ski racer, Sejersted specializes in Downhill and Super-G speed events.
Super-G stands for super giant slalom, a speed racing discipline.
NEW YORK — A dynamite dunk for the 6’7” player: Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) dunks during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the New York Knicks, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in New York City. The Big Apple’s home team won 121-106. The Magic have ranked third in the East, while the Knicks are 4th. This game may have changed that balance.
The 7-foot-tall Knicks’ Carl-Anthony Towns was the game’s top performer, scoring 23 points and making 15 rebounds in that game.
