This Week in Pictures: October 10th-17th, 2016

With numerous big stories breaking around the world last week we take a moment to look back over some of the most significant.

In the United States, following another week of revelations concerning inappropriate sexual behavior and comments by the Republican candidate for President from nine different women, Donald Trump watched his polling numbers slump against rival Hillary Clinton and placed blame not upon his own actions but at the doorstep of the media, tweeting; “The election is absolutely being rigged by the dishonest and distorted media pushing Crooked Hillary – but also at many polling places – SAD.”

In Sweden the Nobel Prize Committee announced the winner of this year’s prize for Literature giving it to self-proclaimed “song-and-dance-man” Bob Dylan, considered by many to be the “voice of a generation”, although notably not by Bob himself. The committee cited him for “having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition” over the course of his career, now extending into its seventh decade. No public statement was made by Bob Dylan at the news.

In Thailand the popular King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who had ruled the country for seventy years died at the age of eighty eight, with the entire country entering a month long period of mourning for this popular leader often seen as a source of stability in a country with frequent military coups. The less popular Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn will ascend to the throne, although he has deferred this for a year to observe a twelve month period of mourning, the same as as all other civil servants in the country.

In sports Marc Marquez became the youngest rider in Moto Grand Prix history to win three world Championships after securing this year’s title at Motegi on the weekend. Winning the Japanese Moto GP almost three seconds ahead of anyone else put the 23 year old Spaniard an unassailable 77 points ahead of main rival Valentino Rossi. The only question now is can he make it four titles? You’ll have to read our daily news pages to find out, but in the meantime here’s the big stories we covered last week.

1. We looked into the chances of Usain Bolt joining Manchester United.

(photo: foxsports.com.au)

2. GamingZion looks back at how Fedor Emelianenko became the most feared man in MMA.

(photo: fightland.com)

3. We discuss the breaking news that Ronda Rousey is returning to fight at UFC 207.

(photo: usatoday.com)

4. GamingZion looks at the betting lines for the 2016 World Series.

5. The gambling tax in Sweden was raised to 15-20%.

6. Mackenzie Dern wins her second MMA fight with a submission of the year candidate.

(photo: halfguarded.com)

7. We look at whether you should bet on article 50 being triggered when the Prime Minister says it will or not.

Meanwhile the British Pound, Sterling, continued its downward spiral as a result of the Brexit vote hitting a 168 year low after a steep drop last week. This places it as the most devalued currency in the world ahead of even the Argentinian Peso which has been troubled since President Mauricio Macri removed most currency controls to fend off shrinkage in the economy. The Pound’s value now stands some 15% lower than the start of the year and numerous economists felt it could well drop further.