Best pictures from around the world

Published June 2, 2014
This handout picture received from Britain's Ministry of Defence on May 30, 2014 shows a Lynx Mk8 helicopter firing all 60 of its flares over a the type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon. The picture won the best single news image prize at the Royal Navy's photographic awards. – Photo by AFP
This handout picture received from Britain's Ministry of Defence on May 30, 2014 shows a Lynx Mk8 helicopter firing all 60 of its flares over a the type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon. The picture won the best single news image prize at the Royal Navy's photographic awards. – Photo by AFP
The new experimental aircraft "Solar Impulse 2" takes off, piloted by German test pilot Markus Scherdel, for its first flight at the airbase in Payerne, Switzerland, on June 2, 2014. The aircraft, which was unveiled April 9, 2014 weighs 2.4 tons with a wingspan of 72 meters and more than 17,000 solar cells. The attempt to fly around the world in stages using only solar energy will be made in 2015. – Photo by AFP
The new experimental aircraft "Solar Impulse 2" takes off, piloted by German test pilot Markus Scherdel, for its first flight at the airbase in Payerne, Switzerland, on June 2, 2014. The aircraft, which was unveiled April 9, 2014 weighs 2.4 tons with a wingspan of 72 meters and more than 17,000 solar cells. The attempt to fly around the world in stages using only solar energy will be made in 2015. – Photo by AFP
A Bahraini boy catches a ball as he plays football in the village of Barbar, west of the capital Manama, on May 31, 2014. – Photo by AFP
A Bahraini boy catches a ball as he plays football in the village of Barbar, west of the capital Manama, on May 31, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Afghan refugee boys, play a traditional fighting game, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, June 1, 2014. – Photo by AP
Afghan refugee boys, play a traditional fighting game, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, June 1, 2014. – Photo by AP
A man protects a woman as they face a police officer dispersing protesters who gathered on the central Istoklal avenue near Taksim square in Istanbul, on May 31, 2014. – Photo by AFP
A man protects a woman as they face a police officer dispersing protesters who gathered on the central Istoklal avenue near Taksim square in Istanbul, on May 31, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Competitors paddle the boats during the annual Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong on June 2, 2014. Dragon boat racing dates back over 2,000 years and has now developed into a serious sport on the calendar of many countries around the world. – Photo by AFP
Competitors paddle the boats during the annual Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong on June 2, 2014. Dragon boat racing dates back over 2,000 years and has now developed into a serious sport on the calendar of many countries around the world. – Photo by AFP
France's forward Loic Remy jumps for the ball during a friendly football match between France and Paraguay on June 1, 2014, at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, southern France, ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup football tournament. – Photo by AFP
France's forward Loic Remy jumps for the ball during a friendly football match between France and Paraguay on June 1, 2014, at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice, southern France, ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup football tournament. – Photo by AFP
Visitors look at a video installation, comprising of 106 TV sets, by American artist Susan Hiller in the Abattoirs Museum in Toulouse, southern France, as part of Toulouse's International Art Festival, on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Visitors look at a video installation, comprising of 106 TV sets, by American artist Susan Hiller in the Abattoirs Museum in Toulouse, southern France, as part of Toulouse's International Art Festival, on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Russia's Maria Sharapova returns the ball to Australia's Samantha Stosur during their French tennis Open round of sixteen match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Russia's Maria Sharapova returns the ball to Australia's Samantha Stosur during their French tennis Open round of sixteen match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Participants dance at the end of the Colour Run around Wembley Stadium in London on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Participants dance at the end of the Colour Run around Wembley Stadium in London on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
An Afghan labourer holds a shovel over his shoulders as he works at a chalk factory on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif on May 31, 2014. – Photo by AFP
An Afghan labourer holds a shovel over his shoulders as he works at a chalk factory on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif on May 31, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Children carry portraits of Ukrainian heroes, fighters for the freedom of Ukraine since Kievan Rus times (from the 9th to the 13th centuries) to the present day, to commemorate them during annual Heroes Day in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
Children carry portraits of Ukrainian heroes, fighters for the freedom of Ukraine since Kievan Rus times (from the 9th to the 13th centuries) to the present day, to commemorate them during annual Heroes Day in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on June 1, 2014. – Photo by AFP
An elderly woman wearing a sun visor walks in a market in Seoul on May 30, 2014. Sun visors are a familiar sight during the summer months in South Korea, which places a high importance on UV protection and skin care. – Photo by AFP
An elderly woman wearing a sun visor walks in a market in Seoul on May 30, 2014. Sun visors are a familiar sight during the summer months in South Korea, which places a high importance on UV protection and skin care. – Photo by AFP
German Marten Forkert on For Friendship competes on June 1, 2014 at German Spring and Dressage Derby in Hamburg. – Photo by AFP
German Marten Forkert on For Friendship competes on June 1, 2014 at German Spring and Dressage Derby in Hamburg. – Photo by AFP

Opinion

Editorial

A political resolution
Updated 13 Dec, 2024

A political resolution

It seems that there has been some belated realisation that a power vacuum has been created at expense of civilian leadership.
High price increases
13 Dec, 2024

High price increases

FISCAL stabilisation prescribed by the IMF can be expensive — for the common people — in more ways than one. ...
Beyond HOTA
13 Dec, 2024

Beyond HOTA

IN a welcome demonstration of HOTA’s oversight role, kidney transplant services have been suspended at...
General malfeasance
Updated 12 Dec, 2024

General malfeasance

Will Gen Faiz Hameed's trial prove to be a long overdue comeuppance or just another smokescreen?
Electricity rates
12 Dec, 2024

Electricity rates

THE government is renegotiating power purchase agreements with private power producers to slash their capacity...
Aggression in Syria
12 Dec, 2024

Aggression in Syria

TAKING advantage of the chaos in post-Assad Syria, Israel has proceeded to grab more of the Arab state’s land,...