Our world in photos: January 23
Brooklyn Eagle Staff
January 23, 2025
BERLIN — ‘Damn, they’re cute! But which one is it?’: One of the newly-born twin panda bear cubs looks out of the enclosure during the official presentation of their names at the Zoo in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Germany’s new panda twins, both females born on Aug. 22, have two sets of names: Meng Hao and Meng Tian, meaning “beautiful dreams” and “sweet dreams,” respectively. The pandas have also answered to the very Berlin names of Leni and Lotti — tributes to Berlin native Marlene Dietrich and the German capital’s Charlottenburg district, reports the Associated Press.
The zoo director reports that the twins are growing quickly, adding about 3.5 ounces daily. Each now weighs just over 13 lbs.
SYRIA — The power of social media — even amid armed conflict involving a seized fighter plane, rebel wingman takes a selfie: Syrian opposition fighters stand atop a seized Syrian Air Force fighter plane at the Hama military airport, Syria, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Jordan have closed their border crossings with Syria, except for one leading from Beirut to Damascus, reports the Associated Press. Jordan’s government cited security concerns from within Syria as its reasons. An Israeli air strike reportedly damaged the border crossing in northern Lebanon that had just reopened. Israel pledged to reinforce the border crossing at Golan Heights, which it has controlled since the 1967 war.
Readers who have visited the region know that one can see both Lebanon and Syria from the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee, which played a prominent role in the New Testament Gospels.
HAMA — Rebels who take over in provincial Syrian territory use president’s image for target practice: An image of Syrian President Bashar Assad, riddled with bullets, is seen Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, on the facade of the provincial government office in the aftermath of the opposition’s takeover of Hama, Syria, the day before. The rebels seized Hama, the second major city taken from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in just over a week of fighting. Another uprising has also emerged in the southern Daraa province, with rebels there claiming to have taken a major military base and announcing that their “destination is Damascus,” according to CNN.
The foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq and Syria have issued a joint statement saying that the insurgents’ uprising is causing great danger to their respective countries.
BEIJING — Good camera work captures the ‘blur’ of speed skaters: Kim Gilli of South Korea leads during the heats of the Women’s 1,000-meter at the ISU World Tour Short Track Speed Skating held at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The third installment of the ISU Short Track World Tour is underway in Beijing through Dec. 8, 2024.
The following weekend, South Korea will host the next segment.
From the business end, ISU Figure Skating’s website reports that Short Track has been rebranded with the following: “new team names and suit designs, redesigned venue dressings and on-site entertainment, upgraded TV, streaming and social media coverage, and a new prize — a bespoke, specially designed helmet — for the ISU Crystal Globe winners.”
GAZA — In war zones, everything is in short supply, except for misery: Palestinian girls struggle as they get donated food at a distribution center in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. Earlier this week, an Israeli air strike bombed a food distribution center at the Nuseirat refugee camp. A long line of people waited for a scarce supply of flour at Khan Younis.
One spokesperson appealed to several UN agencies to supply food for the displaced person, adding that the one bag of flour being rationed won’t last even a month.
ADELAIDE — Just like in baseball’s outfield, you have cleats and leaping catches, but no gloves here: Australia’s Nathan Lyon leaps to take a catch of India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy during the day one of the second cricket test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. The Down Under’s team wrapped up strongly at 86/1 with Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschange at the crease; however, they still trail by 94 runs in the second Test against India, with the score 86/1 Australia v. 180 for India.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was the top scorer for India with 42 runs.
MANHATTAN — ‘Year after year, I come to bring holiday cheer, and I still can’t get a cab’: Tommy Liberto, known as Mr. Christmas Tree, crosses Seventh Avenue while visiting New York for the tenth year from Bel Air, Md., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Mr. Christmas Tree also has a social media page on which, as of Friday, he shared his adventures of having to replace the decorative lights.
In movie fiction, another person who traveled as a Christmas tree — in this case, overseas from Ireland — was a leprechaun named Og. He followed a guy named Finian to the U.S. to retrieve a pot of gold that the latter had commandeered and buried near Fort Knox to see if it would generate money. The film: “Finian’s Rainbow” was released in 1968.
TEXAS — ‘Foul?? I was just trying to cover up his tats and the green hair …’ San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, bottom, is fouled by Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, top, as he drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. The Bulls won 139-124. The 21-year-old Sochan is 6’8” and plays Power Forward, one of the four major positions in regulation basketball.
The Power Forward — usually the team’s second-tallest player, is expected to be adept at rebounds. That player also protects the rim for his team and against the opposing team’s Power Forward.
