The Friday Round-Up, Week 1

Hello, and welcome to this week's edition of The Friday Round-Up: your bite size news update.

The crisis in Egypt has dominated this week's news with daily reports on the tens of thousands of protesters who have descended on Tahrir Square, the majority demonstrating against President Hosni Mubarak's dictatorship. Today has been coined the 'day of departure' in response to demands from anti-government protesters that Mubarak must leave, but the president remains adamant he will not step down.

The largest number of anti-Mubarak demonstrators since Tuesday have filled Tahrir Square today. Pro-government protesters are being kept away from the square by soldiers after clashes between the two groups earlier this week led to the 1,500 injured and three killed in central Cairo in some of the most significant scenes of violence since demonstrations began.

In other news, the House of Commons have passed plans to overhaul the NHS with their Health and Social Care Bill, which will disband all "primary care trusts and strategic health authorities," according to the BBC. The Prime Minister insists privitisation is not taking place and that the changes will cut "bureaucracy and waste."

Australia was hit by category five cyclone Yasi on Wednesday. The storm with winds of up to 170 mph (280 kph) ripped into the Queensland coastline, cutting off power to more than 10,000 homes. One man has died.

The three Pakistan cricket team members accused of 'spot-fixing' are faced with corruption charges, the Crown Prosecution Service has ruled.

That's all from this week's edition of The Friday Round-up, your brief run through the latest week's news.

Be sure to check the blog next week for another news update.

IB