The Week in Pictures: January 27- February 2, 2015

Last week was a busy seven days so lets take a moment to look back at some of the stories that hit our headlines and those of publications around the world

Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste was freed by deportation last week after four hundred days behind bars in Egypt having been jailed for perceived associations between the news organization and The Muslim Brotherhood, a banned group in Egypt, that resulted in charges of inventing false news, aiding terrorists and belonging to the Brotherhood itself. A widespread campaign to secure his release and that of his colleagues also jailed began after a trial that included a judge, Mohamed Nagy Shehata, who at one point sarcastically wished the journalists on trial; “Happy World Press Freedom Day”

Shinzo Abe, Japanese Prime Minister, reacted with outrage to the release of video footage purporting to show the beheading by Islamic State of the second Japanese hostage, Kenji Goto, going so far as to call for revenge and promising “to make the terrorists pay the price” in what is an unprecedented public display of anger for such a high ranking government official in the still confrontation-wary Japan. It remains to be seen if the shock and trauma of the killings will sap Japan’s will to involve itself in international affairs or stiffen its resolve.

A peace deal was signed in South Sudan with the President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar signing a deal committing to ending the conflict that has displaced 1.5 million people and caused widespread damage to the country. With a death-toll standing at around 10,000 people, mostly in the ethnic Dinka and Nuer groups, the fighting has lasted some eighteen months now and negotiations on the contentious issues of future government and power sharing have been deferred until mid-February with a final agreement scheduled for the 5th of March, 2015.

In sport Andy Murray lost out in the final of the Australian Open against Novak Djokovic having suffered what tennis great Pat Cash referred to as a “melt down” going from holding steady after the second set to losing 12 of 13 games. The final scores were 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0 and Murray will doubtless not be pleased with his performance, but can he up his game and bounce back from this defeat? You’ll have to read our daily news pages to find out, in the meantime lets look back at what hit our headlines last week.

1. South Korean Government plans to soften the gambling regulations. The casino, which is planned to be built on a “no-man’s land, may offer an attractive gambling spot for gamblers in Asia.

2. We take a look at the Norwegian attitude to gambling and why its rooted in an isolation that no longer exists.

3. We take a look at why the US electoral process means donor corporations can get away with tax avoidance on a massive scale.

4. UK Parliament’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, states that gambling ads should be banned before 9 in the evening.

5. We take a look at the betting tips and interesting information about this year’s Super Bowl

6. British Prime Minister David Cameron fails to wriggle out of a televised debate with smaller party threat so muddies the water by insisting everyone else join in too.

7. Bitcoin brings Cubits and Softswiss together in order to provide progressive use if Bitcoins worldwide.

Meanwhile a three year old child in New Mexico made a superbly good case for stricter gun control laws in the United States when it shot both its parents with a weapon it found in its mother’s purse. The bullet penetrated the father’s buttocks and the pregnant mother’s arm and both are said to be recovering from their injuries. The child was apparently reaching for an iPod when the weapon discharged. State authorities will decide if the parents will face neglect charges with both the 3 year old and his sister being taken into care. Will US gun laws change because of this lamentable occurrence? Read our daily news pages to find out.