Recapping the biggest news stories of 2021
In the Loop wraps up with a look back at the big events of 2021.
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You've done it Auckland! All 3 DHBs reach 90% jab target, what next?
After 10 months, Auckland's DHBs have all reached a historic milestone.
NZ-led task force seizes giant supply of drugs in the Indian Ocean
The task force seized 975kg of heroin, 523kg of meth and 4244kg of hash in November.
Camels barred from Saudi Arabia's beauty contest over Botox use
Saudi authorities have conducted their biggest-ever crackdown on camel beauty pageants.
Pregnant women in Israel protest country's unfair travel exemptions
Pregnancy joins pageantry as one of the few exemptions to Israel's travel ban.
Omicron kicks hurting tourism industry while it's still down
From Japan to Israel, Germany to France, Omicron gives tourism a devastating déjà vu.
The show must go on: Israeli beauty pageant given special travel pass
Israel allows the world's most beautiful to sidestep border restrictions.
Live: New variant in UK and likely Germany, Italy; NZ deems nine countries 'very high-risk'
South African scientists first raised alarm about the new variant this week.
Explainer: New 'Omicron' Covid variant, 'most concerning so far'
The new variant has a large number of mutations, which could help it spread faster.
Miss Universe refuses to let pageant get political
Reigning Miss Universe says she won't boycott this year's contest in Israel.
Mideast migrants stuck on EU doorstep
Thousands from the Middle East have been trying to cross into the EU in recent months.
TikTok Travel: 10 most popular cities revealed
How many of these iconic destinations have you visited?
Lavatory Luxury: Israel Archaeologists unearth rare find
An ancient lavatory has been discovered in the Holy City.
Touching story of love and loss wins international photo awards
Heartbreaking image of father and son wins international photo awards.
Saudi Arabia to launch outrageous theme park on oil rig
Where some see an old oil rig, others see an innovative tourism opportunity.
Research: Un-vaxed may get Covid every 16 months
New research shows people who don't get vaccinated may get reinfected every 16 months.
'Fake news': Trump's rant a day after Powell's death
Trump attacked Powell's record on Iraq and called him a 'Republican in name only'.
'Shameful milestone': 10,000 children killed or maimed in Yemen war
'Shameful milestone': Equivalent of four children killed or maimed every day.
Pro tips and travel advice from a seasoned Lonely Planet author
Travel vicariously across the world with established travel writer, Brett Atkinson.
Stripping for the sea: 300 pose nude for Dead Sea art installation
About 300 participants have stripped for an art installation about the Dead Sea.
Iraqis do not forgive Colin Powell
For many Iraqis, Powell is remembered for making the case for war against their country.
Petition calls for help Afghans facing 'systematic murder and execution'
"They were brave and took a risk to support us".
'The world must wake up': UN chief outlines crisis that needs fixing
Guterres speaks of hope in face of 'cascade of crises'.
US admits drone strike in Kabul only killed civilians
The Pentagon earlier said the strike had targeted an ISIS militant.
Government considering 'phase two' Afghanistan evacuation plans
Cabinet to go over proposals next week, Herald understands.
Death and suffering in Iraq a painful legacy of 9/11 attacks
By the time the US withdrew in 2011, tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians were dead.
How 9/11 turned America into a half-crazed, fading power
New York Times: We thought we knew what had been lost on 9/11. We had no idea.
World marks 20th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
Victims' relatives and four US presidents paid their respects at Ground Zero.
20 years after 9/11, the War on Terror grinds on with no end in sight
New York Times: The war waxes and wanes, largely in the shadows and out of the headlines.
From 9/11's ashes, a new world took shape. It did not last
9/11 meant a chance to reshape the post-Cold War world. The US squandered it.
Israel was a leader in the Covid vaccination race - so why are cases soaring there?
ANALYSIS: Israel reopened earlier this year. It's now recording 10,000 cases a day.
'Didn't think I'd see him alive:' Palestinian teen abused by Israeli settlers
Tareq Zubeidi was abducted and beaten by a group of Israeli settlers.
Massive manhunt for six prisoners after Shawshank-style escape
Six Palestinian prisoners have dug out of prison, just like the Shawshank Redemption.
Osama bin Laden's best friend: 'How is it possible this boy turned into a monster?'
Two decades after 9/11, Khaled Batarfi talks about the boy he knew.