Blois is a city and the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours. Though of ancient origin, Blois is first distinctly mentioned by Gregory of Tours in the 6th century, the city gained some notability in the 9th century, when it became the seat of a powerful countship known as Blesum castrum. In 1171, Blois was the site of a blood libel against its Jewish community that led to 31 Jews being burned to death, their martyrdom contributed to a prominent and durable school of poetry inspired by Christian persecution. In 1196, Count Louis granted privileges to the townsmen; the counts of the Châtillon line resided at Blois more than their predecessors, the oldest parts of the château were built by them. In 1429, Joan of Arc made Blois her base of operations for the relief of Orléans. Joan of Arc rode the thirty-five miles on Wednesday 29 April to Blois to relieve Orléans. After his captivity in England, Charles of Orléans in 1440 took up his residence in the château, where in 1462 his son, afterwards Louis XII, was born.

In the 16th century Blois was the resort of the French court. The Treaty of Blois, which temporarily halted the Italian Wars, was signed there in 1504–1505; the city's inhabitants included many Calvinists, in 1562 and 1567 it was the scene of struggles between them and the supporters of the Catholic Church. In 1576 and 1588 Henri III, king of France, chose Blois as the meeting-place of the States-General, in 1588 he brought about the murders of Henry, duke of Guise, his brother, archbishop of Reims and cardinal, in the Château, where their deaths were shortly followed by that of the queen-mother, Catherine de' Medici. From 1617 to 1619 Marie de' Medici, wife of King Henri IV, exiled from the court, lived at the château, soon afterwards given by King Louis XIII to his brother Gaston, Duke of Orléans, who lived there till his death in 1660; the bishopric, seated at Blois Cathedral, dates from the end of the 17th century. In 1814 Blois was for a short time the seat of the regency of Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon I.

Blois was occupied during World War II by the German army, which took the city on 18 June 1940. The city was liberated by American soldiers during the last two weeks of August 1944. On both occasions, the city withstood several days of bombing; the Château de Blois, a Renaissance château once occupied by King Louis XII, is located in the centre of the city, an 18th-century stone bridge spans the Loire. As Blois is built on a pair of steep hills and steep pathways run through the city, culminating in long staircases at various points. To the south of the city, the Forêt de Russy is a reminder of the thick woods that once covered the area. La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin is a museum fronting on the Château; as a museum of France, it is the only public museum in Europe which incorporates in one place collections of magic and a site for permanent performing arts, is directly reflects the personality of Robert-Houdin. The Gare de Blois railway station offers direct connections to Paris, Orléans, Tours and several regional destinations.

The A10 motorway connects Blois with Paris, Tours. Blois was the birthplace of: Thubois Stephen, King of England from 1135 to 1154. Louis XII, King of France from 1498 to 1515 Jean Morin and biblical scholar of Protestant parents Denis Papin, physicist and inventor Thomas de Mahy, Marquis de Favras, royalist Jean Marie Pardessus, lawyer Jacques Nicolas Augustin Thierry, historian Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, magician René Guénon, philosopher, social critic, the founder of the Traditionalist School Philippe Ariès, medievalist and historian Albert Ronsin, 20th-century French scholar, historian and curator Philippe Gondet, footballer Claudine Doury, photographer Sonia Bompastor, female footballer Aly Cissokho, footballer of Senegalese descent Bernard Onanga Itoua footballer Nicolas Vogondy, cyclist Corentin Jean, footballer Fabrice Moireau, 21st-century French watercolourist and artist littlebluestriper creator of the Tom/FemBlois phenomenon Blois is twinned with: Waldshut-Tiengen, since 30 June 1963 Weimar, since 18 February 1995 Lewes, United kingdom, since 30 June 1963 Sighişoara, since 18 November 1995 Urbino, since 1 May 2003 Huế, since 23 May 2007 Athos, the count of La Fère has a castle in Blois, in Twenty Years After, The Vicomte de Bragelonne.

Official website Documentary photography of Blois by "Sayf" Jewish Encyclopedia entry INSEE commune file

The 2012–13 Macedonian First League was the 21st season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of Macedonia. Vardar were the defending champions after winning their sixth Macedonian championship at the end of the 2011–12 season. Twelve teams contested the league, comprising ten sides from the 2011–12 season and two promoted from the 2011–12 2. MFL; every team played. The first 22 matchdays consisted of a regular double round-robin schedule; the league standings at this point were be used to determine the games for the last 11 matchdays. As of 2 June 2013Players whose names are written with Italic letters played only during the first half of the season. 2012–13 Macedonian Football Cup 2012–13 Macedonian Second Football League 2012–13 Macedonian Third Football League Football Federation of Macedonia MacedonianFootball.com

The Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong is a branch of the Boys' Brigade. It is a uniform youth organisation founded in 1959 with more than 200 companies. BBHK is divided into four sections: Anchor Lambs: ages 3–5 Pre-junior section: ages 5–8 Junior section: ages 8–11 Company section: ages 11–18 Senior section: ages 16–21 One of the oldest companies in Hong Kong, The 8th Company of the Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong, BB8 for short, is still involved in the programme. Founded in 1969, members and officers meet weekly at CCC Kei Chun Church, situated in Kei Chun Primary School, Mei Foo, it has members in all sections, the age ranges from 5 to 20. Company members, in particular, are encouraged to join church services on Sunday, too, so as to promote further spiritual growth; the 37th Company of the Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong, BB37 for short, is stationed in Choi Yuen Estate, Sheung Shui. It is one of the first companies to allow girls to partake in the Boys' Brigade, is founded in 1980; the 38th Company of the Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong, BB38 for short, is a division founded in 1985, stationed in Sha Tin Methodist College, is supported by Sha Tin Methodist Church.

Members' ages range with both girls and boys participating. Weekly activities include Christian education and badge courses. HKBB50 was a company founded in 1991 by the Hong Kong Baptist Church; the company was formed by 2 major sections: the Junior section. With more than 80 members, the company has a team of NCOs to take command; this company develops Christian education and technical skills. The 80th Company of the Boy's Brigade, Hong Kong, BB80 for short, is founded in September 2001. Stationed at Shatin Baptist Church, it is the company with the most members in Hong Kong, has two meeting days, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Pre-Juniors and Juniors can choose between Saturday or Sunday to go to, while the Company section must attend the meetings at Saturday, it is mandatory that they join church services on Saturday/Sunday. The 135th Company of the Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong or BB135 for short was formed in 2003, it is supported by Yew Chung International School, Hong Kong, Somerset Road 20–22, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon.

Its members take part in badge courses, etc.. The 204th Company of Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong or BB204, was founded in 2005. BB204 is supported by Christian Pun Shek Church; the 268th Company of Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong or BB268, was founded on March 28, 2009. BB268 is supported by Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong Shau Ki Wan Church, 4 Basel Road, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong. Official BBHK Website The 38th Company of the Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong