Month in Pictures

BIDEN SAYS AFGHANISTAN EXIT MARKS THE END OF US NATIONBUILDING

Facing sharp criticism over the tumultuous US withdrawal from Afghanistan, President Joe Biden said it was the best available option to end both the United States’ longest war and decades of fruitless efforts to remake other countries through military force.

SPACEX CAPSULE WITH WORLD’S FIRST ALL-CIVILIAN ORBITAL CREW SPLASHES DOWN OFF FLORIDA

The quartet of newly minted citizen astronauts comprising the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission safely splashed down in the Atlantic off Florida’s coast, completing a three-day flight of the first all-civilian crew ever launched into Earth orbit.

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ALMOST 50 SHOPS A DAY DISAPPEARED FROM BRITISH HIGH STREETS

More than 8,700 chain stores closed in British High Streets, shopping centre and retail parks in the first six months of this year, research suggests.

POPE STARTS PILGRIMAGE TO HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA

Pope Francis’ 34th journey abroad, which also marks 54 countries visited around the world, aims to be “a pilgrimage to the heart of Europe”.

LIBYA’S ES SIDER AND RAS LANUF PORTS BLOCKED BY PROTEST

Protesters blocked oil exports at the Libyan ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, although some engineers said production at fields that supply the terminals was unaffected.

MELBOURNE DROPS COVID-ZERO PLANS

Australian authorities extended the lockdown in Melbourne by three weeks, as they shift their focus to rapid vaccination drives and move away from a suppression strategy to bring cases down to zero.

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AFRICAN UNION URGES WEALTHY COUNTRIES TO DONATE VACCINES

The top health official of the African Union said Rich nations would do better to send vaccines to Africa to help fight the global Covid-19 pandemic rather than hoarding them for third-dose booster shots.

LAVA SHOOTS UP FROM VOLCANO ON LA PALMA IN SPANISH CANARY ISLANDS

A volcano erupted on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma sending fountains of lava and a plume of smoke and ash into the air from the Cumbre Vieja national park in the south of the island.

BIDEN CALLS FOR UNITY ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11

US President Joe Biden called for national unity as the country prepared to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed 2,977 people, calling it America’s greatest strength in the face of adversity.

VATICAN TO REQUIRE COVID-19 HEALTH PASS

A health certificate showing proof of immunity from Covid-19 immunity will be required to enter the Vatican as of October 1.

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WHO EXPECTS 236,000 MORE COVID DEATHS IN EUROPE BY DECEMBER

The head of WHO in Europe expressed concern over an increase in Covid-19 transmission rates across Europe combined with low levels of vaccination in some countries, warning that tens of thousands may be at risk in the coming months.

DEATH ANNIVERSARY MOTHER TERESA IN KOLKATA

A visitor offers a kiss to a picture poster of Mother Teresa at Mother House on Mother Teresa’s 24th death anniversary in Kolkata, India.