Global markets were again being properly knocked around this morning after the latest turmoil in China led to another shortened trading day – this time the shortest ever – on the Chinese exchanges.
Apparently an economic “circuit breaker” was to blame.
Meanwhile, oil continues its search for a bottom.
but of course the barrel might be half-full…
And the pound continues to slide.
In the UK, Chancellor George Osborne warned about, well, everything..
While the only hope for many people of getting on the property ladder, the National Lottery, saw no-one win its record jackpot which rolls over to Saturday.
Neither did the US Powerball. Coincidence? Or a short-term interest grab?
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WORLD
North Korea’s desperate plea for attention yesterday seemed to count for naught this morning, with a serious bombing in Libya, a knife-wielding man shot by police in Paris and tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia heightening further after Iran accused the Saudis of launching an air strike against its embassy in Yemen.
But wait…
President Obama talks to the nation about guns tonight.
Donald Trump threatened to pull his investments out of the UK after the British parliament said it is to debate a petition banning him from the country.
https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/684622432980856832
Meanwhile, things are heating up in the countdown to Iowa (Feb 1st) between Trump and who now seems to be the coalescing candidate, Ted Cruz.
In Britain, Jeremy Corbyn’s reshuffle took on something of the air of a playground spat as Labour MPs started blocking each other on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/elashton/status/684806020791681024
https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/685016200678666241
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BUSINESS
With M&S ironically one of the few FTSE100 companies in positive territory early this morning, their boss called it quits.
Now you can “Netflix and Chill” in 130 countries.
The first passenger drone – otherwise known, I guess, as a helicopter – made its debut at CES.
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SPORTS
A wee bit of history was made in the GAA last night.
https://twitter.com/AllisonMorris1/status/685043213913165824
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CULTURE
Not quite what it says on the tin..
Why do some cats look like Hitler? Admit it, you’ve always wanted to know.
Fat-shaming squirrels is a thing now?
https://twitter.com/rossbalham/status/685020785350733824
Dear God, you’d think it was a slow news day or something… ah wait, that was yesterday..
The Overnight Note 