The week in pictures: August 11 – August 17, 2015

In a surprise move the Chinese central bank made a “one-off depreciation” in the value of the Yuan, last week, dropping it by 1.9% after disappointing export results. With a fall of 8.3% in July and a 5.4% in the producer price index the move is seen as a way to boost exports. Now valued at 6.2298 Yuan to $1 up from 6.1162 earlier in the week, this management of the currencies value is seen as some as a step towards a market driven value for the Yuan.

A series of dramatic explosions in Tianjin killed 112 people on Wednesday at a chemical storage facility. The explosions also injured another 700 with 95 people still unaccounted for. With what is described as “several hundred” tons of Sodium Cyanide on site there has been a wide evacuation. Victims and recovery team members were have been visited by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and investigations continue into the disaster’s cause.

The Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador threatened to erupt last week prompting the government to declare a nationwide state of emergency that suspends some constitutional rights to prevent the spread of panic. The 19,350 foot high volcano sits some 50km south of the capital Quito, home to some 2.2 million people, and any large eruption could melt glaciers causing massive flooding and dangerous mudslides across the effected region.

In sport Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic beat world number one Serena Williams to reach the final of the Rogers Cup which she then went on to win against Romania’s Simona Halep who had to retire hurt in the third set. Does this mark Belinda out as one to watch for the future? You’ll have to read our daily news pages to find out but in the meantime lets take a moment to look back at some of the big stories that hit our headlines and those of publications around the world last week.

1. Barcelona defeated Sevilla in a nine-goal, 120-minute-long thriller in the UEFA Super Cup final.

Tears of joy (Photo: Getty via UEFA)

2. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was heavily criticised by leading physicians after he punished Eva Carneiro for doing her job.

Eva Carneiro (Photo: AP via the Telegraph)

3. Chelsea defensive problems were forecast before the Blues’ trip to Manchester in the second round of the Premier League season.

Sterling did shine (Photo: Daily Mail)

4. Steve Smith was named as the new skipper of the Australia Test cricket team after Michael Clarke announced his retirement.

Captain Smith (Photo: India Today)

5. Betsafe launched new straightforward campaign, in wich online gamblers are confronted with the fact that they will lose.

No BS (Photo: Betfair)

6. Manchester United were considered as strong favourites ahead of their Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge.

Memphis was the man of the game (Photo: Getty Images via bbc sports)

7. Real Madrid added a very talented young Croatian midfielder to their squad by bringing in Mateo Kovacic from Inter.

Ready to put on the new jersey. Literally. (Photo: 刘轩旗)

Meanwhile in Montana police were called to the scene of an attempted car robbery by one Ryan Payne, 31, who was reporting himself. Mr. Payne had become trapped in the vehicles trunk whilst attempting to steal the car and called police after vain efforts to free himself. Police officers retrieved a key for the vehicle from a local business owner and promptly released Mr. Payne so he could be arrested on various charges that may see him once again locked in.