Afghanistan was rocked by its deadliest earthquake in decades on Wednesday when a magnitude 5.9 quake struck the country’s east, killing more than 1,000 people and wounding many more.
The earthquake hit in the early hours of the morning near the city of Khost by the Pakistan border; the death toll is expected to rise as many homes in the area were constructed from materials vulnerable to damage.
The humanitarian disaster comes at a difficult time for the Taliban-ruled country, currently facing the challenges of hunger and economic crises.
Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, along with some photos that garnered attention.
Swim coach Andrea Fuentes rescues American swimmer Anita Alvarez from the bottom of the pool after she lost consciousness during the finals at the FINA world Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday, June 22. Alvarez received medical attention beside the pool and was subsequently carried off on a stretcher. Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty ImagesQuinn, a Chow Chow, is photographed at the Westminster Dog Show in Tarrytown, New York, on Monday, June 20. Calla Kessler/The New York Times/ReduxAn image shows at least three officers in the hallway of Robb Elementary at 11:52 a.m, 19 minutes after a gunman entered the school, killing 19 children and two teachers. The Uvalde mayor has criticized the ongoing investigations and claims the elementary school will be demolished.
A man approaches the body of his son, who was reportedly killed by a cluster rocket in the city of Lysychansk, Ukraine, on Saturday, June 18.
Firefighters battle a wildfire in Pumarejo de Tera, Spain, on Saturday, June 18. This is just one of multiple fires occurring as a result of the extreme heat wave hitting the country.
Meanwhile, weekly highlights also captured engaging moments from around the world:
Beachgoers enjoy the hot weather in Bournemouth, England, on Friday, June 17. Hannah McKay/ReutersPeople gather for the sunrise to celebrate the summer solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, on Tuesday, June 21. It marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.A street artist blows bubbles during a performance in Paris on Friday, June 17, amidst a heatwave affecting much of France and Europe. Sefano Rellandini/AFP/Getty ImagesBrian Wentzel holds his 2-year-old son, Bodhi, who is receiving his Covid-19 vaccination at Dayton Children’s Hospital in Ohio, on Tuesday, June 21. The CDC has approved vaccinations for children under 5. Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times/ReduxIndigenous demonstrators drive past burning road blockades in Machachi, Ecuador, on Monday, June 20, rallying against the economic and social policies of President Guillermo Lasso. Johanna Alarcon/ReutersGustavo Petro celebrates in Bogotá after winning Colombia’s presidential election on Sunday, June 19. He will be the country’s first leftist leader. Robert Bonet/NurPhoto/ShutterstockMarine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Rally, departs following discussions with President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential Élysée Palace on Tuesday, June 21. Ludovic Marin/Pool/Reuters
