Our world in photos: January 23
Brooklyn Eagle Staff
January 23, 2025
BUDAPEST — An energetic reaction after swimming almost a mile: Artemis Vasilaki of Greece reacts after competing in the Women’s 1500m Freestyle Heats on day four of the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. However, she did not win the gold, which instead went to Isabel Gose, 22, of Germany, who swam 15.24.69. This is Germany’s first gold medal in these championships as she outdistanced herself in this particular freestyle race from Simona Quadarella of Italy, the two-time World 1500m freestyle champion, denying the Italian swimmer the top medal.
Also winning a medal was Jillian Cox of the USA, who has now added an individual bronze to the team gold she won on the Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay earlier this week.
AUSTRIA — Gathering at the peak for the long run down: An athlete, at left, competes in the men’s 10 km sprint competition at the Biathlon World Cup in Hochfilzen, Austria, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. This winter sport biathlon combines two sports: freestyle cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Winning the first day was Norwegian Johannes Thingnes Boe, according to the website for the IBU World Cup Triathlon. Even though he had committed a shooting error, he outpaced his flawless compatriot, Sturla Holm Laegreid, with a lead of 4.2 seconds.
Frenchman Fabien Claude completed the podium in third place (+6.8 sec./flawless).
SYRIA — No chance of democracy or freedom anywhere when those bearing arms are allowed to wear masks: A man holding a boy walks by a masked fighter as they arrive at the Umayyad mosque for Friday prayers in Damascus, Syria, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. Meanwhile, the Kurds, who are among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world, are a U.S. ally now worried about what the future holds for them. This is particularly because they comprise a minority in each country and have often suffered persecution.
The Kurds have some 30 million people concentrated in a territory straddling Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria — where they have created an autonomous enclave. The Kurds have not fully sided with the Assad government or with the rebels seeking to topple him.
MIAMI — ‘We should have spent more time on real estate …’: Alon Alexander, 37, right, and his twin brother, Oren, left, attend their bond hearing at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building after being charged with multiple state and federal crimes, including sex trafficking and rape, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Miami. A judge in Miami granted bail on Friday to the twins, but they won’t be released from custody while facing a separate federal sex trafficking case with another brother, the Associated Press reported.
Circuit Judge Lody Jean granted a $3 million bond to Oren Alexander, 37, and a $2 million bond to Alon Alexander. Securing the bonds is their father’s home in Bal Harbour, Florida.
SOUTH AFRICA — Nice closeup of the bat and protective gear: Pakistan’s Saim Ayub plays a shot during the second T20 International cricket match between South Africa and Pakistan, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, which is 7 hours ahead of New York. South Africa won by seven wickets, with a game to go, scheduled to be played on Saturday, Dec. 14, reports cricbuzz.com.
The game is similar to baseball (which is based on cricket) in that there are innings, fielders and umpires. However, the bats are flatter, and the fielding team within an inning also bowls the ball that’s in action, to prevent a runner from scoring.
CALIFORNIA — Need a hug? Put on a helmet and grab a football: Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, middle, is tackled against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.
On the business end of football, the 49ers, who lost to the Rams 6-12, have indicated that the team will part ways with its linebacker, De’Vondre Campbell Sr., after he walked off the field in the third quarter of that game, saying he didn’t want to play.
GLASGOW — Rule number one — no hands on the ball, rule number two … we’re not sure: Tottenham’s Archie Gray, rear, challenges Rangers’ Hamza Igamane during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Glasgow Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur at Ibrox stadium in Glasgow, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.
The New York Times described the game as “an entertaining Europa League draw,” with the closing score at 1-1. The Rangers had the better of first-half chances, reported Ed Mackey for The Athletic (the Times’ sports section). Tottenham’s Fraser Foster made two major saves during the game.
NEW YORK — ‘I’m spending my entire first-year salary on tickets to fill these seats with kids …’: New York Mets’ Juan Soto poses for photographs at Citi Field, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in New York. Juan Soto worked to establish a rapport with the Mets, which wound up offering him a 15-year, $765 million contract. Soto made his famous subway-series switch from the Yankees to the Mets after the latter team reportedly offered the best deal.
That deal included a major perk: a free suite for family members — a point of negotiation that the Yankees did not make on the grounds that the 27-World-Series-champs have never done so with any high-priced players, the Yankees’ Brian Cashman told the New York Times in defending his decision.
