Editing 2021 (section)

===August===
* [[August 3]]
** The oil tanker ''[[Asphalt Princess]]'' is [[August 2021 Gulf of Oman incident|hijacked]] off the coast of the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-08-03|title=MV Asphalt Princess: Ship hijacked off UAE ordered to sail to Iran|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58078506|access-date=2021-08-03|archive-date=August 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803224937/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58078506|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[2021 Greece wildfires|Wildfires in Greece]] begin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/07/uk-sends-firefighters-to-greece-to-help-the-battle-against-wildfires|title=UK sends firefighters to Greece to help the battle against wildfires|date=7 August 2021|website=The Guardian|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081219/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/07/uk-sends-firefighters-to-greece-to-help-the-battle-against-wildfires|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 4]]
** [[2020 Summer Olympics]]: Belarusian sprinter [[Krystsina Tsimanouskaya]] is given [[political asylum]] in Poland through a [[humanitarian visa]] after attempts by the [[Belarus Olympic Committee]] to [[Belarus 2020 Summer Olympics scandal|repatriate her against her will]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-08-04|title=Belarus sprinter leaves Tokyo on flight to Vienna after seeking refuge|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/04/belarus-sprinter-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-poland|access-date=2021-08-04|website=The Guardian|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810194436/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/04/belarus-sprinter-krystsina-tsimanouskaya-poland|url-status=live}}</ref>
** COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpasses 200 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-08-04|title=Covid cases surpass 200 million around the globe as delta variant spreads|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/covid-cases-surpass-200-million-around-globe-delta-variant-spreads-n1275980|access-date=2021-08-06|website=NBC|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081219/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/covid-cases-surpass-200-million-around-globe-delta-variant-spreads-n1275980|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 5]] – [[Tigray War]]: The Tigray Defense Forces seize the [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] of [[Lalibela]].<ref>{{cite web|date=5 August 2021|title=Lalibela: Ethiopia's Tigray rebels take Unesco world heritage town|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58101912|access-date=6 August 2021|publisher=BBC|archive-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826110245/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58101912|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 9]] – The [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] releases the first part of its [[IPCC Sixth Assessment Report|Sixth Assessment Report]], which concludes that the effects of human-caused [[climate change]] are now "widespread, rapid, and intensifying".<ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Climate change: IPCC report is 'code red for humanity'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705|access-date=9 August 2021|publisher=BBC|archive-date=December 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202044211/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Major climate changes inevitable and irreversible – IPCC's starkest warning yet|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/09/humans-have-caused-unprecedented-and-irreversible-change-to-climate-scientists-warn|access-date=9 August 2021|work=The Guardian|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811133927/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/09/humans-have-caused-unprecedented-and-irreversible-change-to-climate-scientists-warn|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying – IPCC|url=https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/|access-date=9 August 2021|publisher=IPCC|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811070140/https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 12]] – The [[2021 Zambian general election]] is held.<ref>{{cite news |title=Celebrations as Zambian opposition candidate leads in count |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/early-election-results-show-zambian-opposition-leader-ahead/2021/08/14/0baba694-fcec-11eb-911c-524bc8b68f17_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |author=Farai Mutsaka |date=14 August 2021 |access-date=14 August 2021 }} {{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_zambians-await-vote-results-after-massive-turnout/6209546.html |title= Zambians Await Vote Results After Massive Turnout |date= 13 August 2021 |access-date= 14 August 2021 |work= [[Voice of America|VOA]] |author= Peter Clottey |archive-date= August 14, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210814214506/https://www.voanews.com/africa/zambians-await-vote-results-after-massive-turnout |url-status= live }}</ref>
* [[August 14]] – [[2021 Haiti earthquake|A 7.2-magnitude earthquake]] strikes Haiti, killing more than 2,500 people.<ref>{{cite web|date=14 August 2021|title=High casualties feared as 7.2-magnitude earthquake strikes near Haiti|url=https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-haiti-7dd9920a35433df7d1f18ad2599d94f1|access-date=19 August 2021|publisher=APnews|archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081219/https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-haiti-7dd9920a35433df7d1f18ad2599d94f1|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport; Image 4 of 16.jpg|thumb|UK coalition forces assist a child during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul]]
* [[August 15]] – [[2021 Taliban offensive]]: The Taliban [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|capture Kabul]]; the [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghan government]] surrenders to the Taliban.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Latifi|first=Ali M.|title='At the gates': Taliban ready to take Afghan capital|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/15/taliban-enter-kabul-from-all-sides|access-date=2021-08-15|website=Al Jazeera|archive-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815081408/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/15/taliban-enter-kabul-from-all-sides|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 24]]–[[September 5]] – The [[2020 Summer Paralympics]] were held in [[Tokyo]], Japan. They were originally scheduled for 25 August–6 September 2020, but were postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-16|title=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics briefing: two more weeks of glory and despair|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/16/tokyo-2020-paralympics-briefing-intercalated-email|access-date=2021-08-30|website=The Guardian|archive-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830184224/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/aug/16/tokyo-2020-paralympics-briefing-intercalated-email|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 26]] – [[2021 Kabul airport attack]]: At least 182 people are killed, including 13 U.S. service members, in a suicide bomb attack at Kabul airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Afghanistan live news: explosion outside Kabul airport amid 'most hectic, dangerous phase' of evacuations {{!}} Afghanistan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/aug/26/afghanistan-live-news-updates-evacuation-refugees-taliban-kabul-airport-latest|access-date=2021-08-26|website=The Guardian|date=August 26, 2021 |archive-date=September 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926081219/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/aug/26/afghanistan-live-news-updates-evacuation-refugees-taliban-kabul-airport-latest|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=26 August 2021|title=Civilians and US troops among dozens killed in Kabul|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-58279900|access-date=26 August 2021|publisher=BBC|archive-date=August 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820090407/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-58279900|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 27]] – The United States launches an [[airstrike]] that it claims killed the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|Islamic State]] member who was believed to have planned the [[2021 Kabul airport attack|Kabul airport bombings]].<ref>{{cite web |title=US airstrike targets Islamic State member in Afghanistan |url=https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-evacuations-kabul-islamic-state-group-7f146c8ae5d9e9ab225025527e421226 |website=AP News |date=27 August 2021 |publisher=[[AP News]] |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406181112/https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-evacuations-kabul-islamic-state-group-7f146c8ae5d9e9ab225025527e421226 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the U.S. Defense Department later acknowledged that the strike instead killed ten civilians, including seven children, and that no terrorists were killed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pentagon reverses itself, says Kabul aistrike was "tragic mistake"|url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-09-17/pentagon-reverses-itself-calls-deadly-kabul-strike-an-error|date=17 September 2021|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=May 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528181617/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-09-17/pentagon-reverses-itself-calls-deadly-kabul-strike-an-error|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 29]] – [[Hurricane Ida]] strikes [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, USA, after having caused devastation in [[Venezuela]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2021-hurricane-ida-facts|title=2021 Hurricane Ida: Facts, FAQs, and how to help|date=23 September 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116035437/https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2021-hurricane-ida-facts|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[August 30]]
** The [[UN Environment Programme]] announces that [[leaded petrol]] in road vehicles has been phased out globally, a hundred years after its introduction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Highly polluting leaded petrol now eradicated from the world, says UN |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58388810 |website=BBC News |date=31 August 2021 |access-date=31 August 2021 |archive-date=September 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901102025/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-58388810 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Inside the 20-year campaign to rid the world of leaded fuel|url=https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/inside-20-year-campaign-rid-world-leaded-fuel|website=UN Environment Programme|date=30 August 2021|access-date=30 August 2021|archive-date=September 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901205923/https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/inside-20-year-campaign-rid-world-leaded-fuel|url-status=live}}</ref>
** The United States withdraws its last remaining troops from [[Kabul International Airport|Hamid Karzai International Airport]], [[Kabul]], ending 20 years of [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|operations in Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web |title=After 20 years, last US flight departs Kabul, leaving Afghanistan to its fate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/30/pentagon-kabul-drone-strike-islamic-state |website=The Guardian |date=31 August 2021 |access-date=31 August 2021 |archive-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831081622/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/30/pentagon-kabul-drone-strike-islamic-state |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan: Last US military flight departs ending America's longest war |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58390085 |website=BBC News |date=31 August 2021 |access-date=31 August 2021 |archive-date=August 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831083251/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58390085 |url-status=live }}</ref>