This Week in Pictures: December 13 – 19, 2016

Big news stories swirled around the world last week and you may have missed some of them so here’s a quick review of the most important.

In the seas near China an unmanned underwater vehicle belonging to the United States was picked up by a Chinese warship. The US demanded the immediate return of the UUV although versions of events between the two sides differed wildly. President Elect Donald Trump tweeted his reaction to the news calling it an “Unpresidented act” much to the amusement of all. The pentagon has reiterated that the UUV must be returned although negotiations as to how that will happen did not reach any conclusion.

In Yemen a suicide bomber said to have originated from within the ranks of the so-called Islamic State detonated in Aden last week killing fifty six soldiers and injuring scores more as the men were waiting to be paid. This was just one of a number of attacks across the region with gunmen killing policemen and at least one tourist in Jordan in the medieval castle at Karak, a popular destination in the country. Security forces killed at least four gunmen following a running gun battle and siege of the castle.

In Syria the carefully coordinated evacuation of civilians and rebel fighters from Eastern Aleppo both began and stopped several times last week as infractions of the delicately balanced deal involving the numerous groups of fighters operating in the area caused an already chaotic situation to become worse. Government forces consolidated their positions across the city last week with the final remnants of resistance trapped and surrounded along with an indeterminate number of civilians attempting to flee.

In sports Andy Murray won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for the third time having had a superb year, climbing to the World No.1 tennis ranking he currently holds, but with another season just around the corner just how long can the famously dour Scot hang on to that glorious position of supremacy? You’ll have to read our daily news pages to find out, but in the meantime here’s a look back at some of the big stories we covered from around the world over the course of the last seven days.

1. GamingZion discusses whether Conor McGregor will fight in Croke Park in 2017.

2. Race Tracks in New Jersey may soon allow Bet365-style internet gambling.

3. Bet365 is allowing members to bet on whether it will snow in London on Christmas day.

4. Sportradar is now attempting to increase sports betting integrity in Norway.

5. Casino gambling in Japan is officially declared legal.

6. Bet365 claims that they’re not breaking Chinese gambling laws.

7. PaddyPower is allowing their members to bet on the upcoming WWE Royal Rumble winner.

The world of fame for fame’s sake was saddened to hear last week of the passing of Zsa Zsa Gabor who died at the age of 99. Having been in some 60 films she will, of course, be more remembered for her larger than life persona and her tendency to get married repeatedly. Claiming to have been married 8 and ½ times (The Spanish Duke, she said, only lasted a few hours and didn’t count) Zsa Zsa Gabor famously said “I’m a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.” RIP ZZ.