This Week in Pictures: December 29, 2015 – January 04, 2016

As there were just so many big news stories in the last seven days perhaps we should revisit some of the biggest of the last week

New Year was celebrated around the world last week as 2015 came to a close and billions marked the start of 2016. Some celebrations in Europe, where security remains on high alert after the terrorist attacks in Paris and elsewhere, were scaled down whilst others were canceled altogether. In Munich, Germany, police sealed off the main railway stations in the early hours after a tip off of a terrorist attack on New Year's Eve gained from the intelligence services. Thankfully no attack transpired.

Saudi Arabia provoked widespread outrage last week when they executed 47 convicted of terror-related crimes and political activism, including the prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr who has been highly critical of the Sunni regime in the country. Protests and demonstrations were held around the region in the wake of the executions with the Saudi embassy in Tehran attacked with Molotov cocktails. Experts predicted further unrest in Shia majority areas of the region following the execution of Nimr al-Nimr.

In Israel a gunman opened fire on a bar in the busy Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv killing two and wounding seven more, four of them seriously, last week. Authorities named 29 year old Arab-Israeli Nashat Milhem as chief suspect after a tip-off from his father and a massive manhunt was launched. Visiting the scene of the attack prime minister Benjamin Netanyaha said his government would “bolster law enforcement efforts” in the wake of the attack and security forces remain on high alert.

In sport Manchester United managed to end their losing streak winning 2-1 over Swansea, but with only one win in 9 games manager Louis van Gaal still has a lot of work to do and his position remains in doubt and with tougher fixtures in English Premier League looming the question is will he manage to give fans of the Red Devils European football to watch next season? You'll have to read our daily news pages to find out, in the meantime here's some of the stories we covered last week.

1. Attorney general Lisa Madigan officially bans FanDuel and DraftKings from operating in Illinois.
2. Despite a push from the province to diversify revenue sources, Finance Minister Joe Ceci decided against permitting Alberta online gambling.
3. Armenian online gambling is in trouble, as Armenia voted in favour of prohibiting advertisements in order to help prevent gambling addiction and to protect consumers.
4. The Las Vegas Review-Journal was officially named the latest Adelson family newspaper, with many believing Sheldon Adelson purchased it for shady reasons.
5. The Kentucky Court fined Amaya USD 870 million for violating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act between 2006 and 2011.
6. 15-year-old Hungarian hockey player sang the national anthem after the sound system was broke.
7. GamingZion presented the early Super Bowl 50 odds before the Wild Card weekend of the 2015 NFL postseason.

Meanwhile in a video message released to the planet Koko the Gorilla, said to be able to understand up to 1,000 words having been learning sign language for 43 years, said “I am gorilla. I am flowers, animals. I am nature. Koko love man. Earth Koko love. But man stupid… stupid! Koko sorry, Koko cry. Time hurry. Fix Earth! Help Earth! Hurry! Protect Earth. Nature watches you. Thank you.” It remains to be seen if anyone heeds this call for conservation from perhaps the worlds most famous ape.