This Week in Pictures: April 4 – April 10, 2017

Big news stories came thick and fast last week so in case you missed anything important here’s a look back at some of the headline news of the last seven days.

In Syria US forces inflicted an attack on an airbase to the South East of Homs last week following a chemical weapons attack on civilians that was said to have been launched from the site. US President Donald Trump ordered the strike, consisting of 59 cruise missiles fired from two US destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean, which was criticized by Russia whose forces have been on the ground in Syria in support of the government forces with the threat of escalation ever present in the region’s war zone.

In Stockholm a rejected asylum seeker from Uzbekistan was arrested on suspicion of being behind the wheel of the truck that had been driven into shoppers on Friday killing four people including an 11 year old girl. 39 year old Rakhmat Akilov claimed “I’m pleased with what I’ve done” and said the attack was in retaliation for western military action against the forces of ISIS. Last week also saw police in Oslo discover and make safe an explosive device causing Norway to raise it’s terror threat level significantly.

In Egypt two attacks against Coptic Churches on Palm Sunday left at least 44 dead last week with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi responding by announcing a three-month long state of emergency. So-called Islamic State claimed to have been responsible for the church attacks in Tanta, where 27 died, and Alexandria, where a policeman prevented the bomber actually entering the church causing the attacker to prematurely detonate his explosives outside, killing 17 including numerous policemen.

In Sport Spaniard Sergio Garcia won his first major title with a superb win in the Masters last week beating out Englishman Justin Rose in a play-off at the 18th for the coveted Green Jacket. Holing a birdie after Rose only managed a bogey Garcia joined Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal as Spanish winners of the trophy, the question is which major will he win next? You’ll have to read our daily news pages to find out, but in the meantime here’s some of the big stories we covered last week.

1. We took a look at the current betting odds for the winner of the 2017 Stanley Cup.

2. GamingZion discusses the news that skill-based gambling games will soon be available inside Las Vegas.

3. We took a look at the betting lines for the main and co-main event of UFC 211.

4. The best site for betting on the Premier League in the US is discussed.

5. We discuss the news of Rob Manfred calling for talks on legalized MLB betting.

6. The Pennsylvania State House approved to bill to legalize airport gambling.

7. GamingZion took a look at the best site for betting on cricket inside the United States.

Meanwhile a Premier Inn hotel in Belfast found it necessary to place a sign in the lift asking patrons to cease practicing their dance moves within its confines after several instances in which the elevator stopped working due to rhythmic disturbance. With the World Irish Dance Championships being held down the road at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall the hotel went to the effort of posting a notice warning that competitors might become trapped until an engineer could be found should they ignore the anti-dance notice.