This Week in Pictures: May 16 – 22, 2017

There were no end to the big news stories breaking around the world over the last seven days so we take a look back at the most salient.

In Iran the reformist and sitting President Hassan Rouhani won what is widely regarded as a massive endorsement for his modernization programs and progressive stances with a landslide victory in elections last week. The defeat of conservative rival Ebrahim Raisi is hoped to allow Mr Rouhani to move forward with removing obstacles to freedom within Iran itself and also to end the international isolation it has suffered since the 1970s, the result a stable footing from which to challenge hardliners.

In North Korea another ballistic missile test was conducted last week with the rocket reaching an altitude of over 2,000km before crashing down into the Sea of Japan and is reputed to have included a successful test of re-entry survivability, an important milestone on the way to constructing a true intercontinental ballistic missile system. Another test was carried out later in the week despite protests from the international community, particularly the United Nations, South Korea and the United States.

In the Middle East President Donald J Trump began his first proper overseas visit with a stop in Saudi Arabia where he encouraged Muslim nations to “drive out” extremists in a speech about Islam. His tour continued with a stop in Jerusalem, before it heads to both the Vatican and NATO later on. With an FBI investigation and other allegations still smoldering back in the US the President was keen to present the image of statesman with both his wife, Melania, and daughter, Ivanka, along to lend support as needed.

In sports Fernando Alonso qualified in fifth place for the Indianapolis 500, to be run on May 28th, keeping his chances of grabbing the triple crown of motorsport alive, although with Scott Dixon of New Zealand taking pole position, the question is can the Formula One racer turn that great grid placement into the win he so craves and needs? 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 over the last seven days.

1. We took a look at 3 of the brightest young prospects competing inside the NFL in 2017.

2. Which country will leave the EU next? Paddy Power is allowing their members to bet on it!

3. A GamingZion reader won the Sound and Vision Battle at Omni Slots and received an incredible free prize.

4. Did you know you can bet on Crossfit? That’s right. Betting. On. Crossfit…

5. We took a look at the most exciting young football talents in Croatia, and broke down the odds in the game between England and Spain.

6. Some massive UFC fights will be taking place in the future, and the best place to bet on the outcomes is Intertops.

7. Looking where to find low-cost online scratch cards? We’ve got the answer.

Meanwhile Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, admitted last week to having worked twice a month as a co-pilot for KLM commercial flights for the last two decades. As a guest pilot, and co-pilots don’t give their names during announcements, he went unnoticed in the role, but will now retrain on the newer Boeing 737s that replaced the Fokker 70s he was familiar with. Describing it as a “relaxing hobby” it was pointed out by some that a co-pilot is nearly as redundant these days as a monarch is.