This Week in Pictures: August 09 – August 16, 2016

Last week saw a plethora of big news stories breaking around the world and so we take a few moments to look back over some of the most important.  

In Crimea, the former region of Ukraine annexed by Russia in March 2014, there were heightened tensions last week with two Russians killed in what was called the “thwarting” of attacks by Ukranian saboteurs and the deployment of S-400 Surface-to-Air missiles to the area by the Kremlin. The S-400 “Triumph” is one of the most capable air defense systems in the world able to track over 300 aircraft at ranges in excess of 150km. The Russians have previously used the system to defend forces in Syria.

In the United States an Imam and his assistant were shot dead after leaving a mosque in New York. Imam Maulama Akonjee and Thara Uddin members of the Bangladeshi community were both shot in the head in the borough of Queens on Saturday as they walked away from the al-Furqan Jame mosque. Mayor Bill De Blasio said the instance was evidence that “Our Muslim communities are in the perpetual crosshairs of bigotry.” Attacks on US Mosques are a their highest level since records began.

In Japan the cultural phenomena that is SMAP announced that they would split up at the end of the year after 25 years together. The Japanese boyband who have legions of fans that have made them one of the biggest names across Asia have sold over 35m records and will now disband despite denials issued earlier this year. SMAP, standing for “Sports Music Assemble People”, formed in 1988 with members, now all household names, having appeared in popular films, soap operas and television commercials.

In sports the Rio 2016 Olympics produced some stunning performances from competitors around the world and by the close of play on Sunday the medal table had the USA with 26 golds in first place, Great Britain in second on 15 golds just a few silver medals ahead of China in third, but there’s still loads more competition to come, so stay up to date with our daily news pages, and check out some of the big news stories we covered from around the world over the last seven days.

1. GamingZion revealed the basic facts and figures behind the diving competition at Rio 2016 Olympics.

2. GamingZion took a look at the Slovenian team in handball at the Rio Olympics as it was announced to make a historic success.

3. History has been made by Fehaid Al-Deehani, a sharpshooter from Kuwait, competing for the Independent Olympic Team.

4. GamingZion analyzed Michael Conlan’s chances of winning gold at the 2016 Olympics.(and then the judges happened)

5. Female wrestler Adeline Gray broke a major gender stereotype, and headed to win gold in Rio.

6. Olympian for the seventh time: Oksana Chusovitina, the oldest Olympic gymnast.

7. GamingZion revealed the way the marathon runner Michalis Kalomiris qualified for Rio 2016 Olympics.

Meanwhile in China a man awaiting the birth of his first child has accidentally been given an operation for Haemorrhoids by confused staff. Reportedly thinking he was about to be asked to assist with his wife’s delivery he was ushered into a room and asked to both drop his trousers and lie on an operating table. Unwilling to object and possibly highlight his own ignorance of the birthing process he went along with it and had haemorrhoids he was unaware of removed. His child was born healthy.