This Week in Pictures: January 05 – January 11, 2016

With so many massive news stories breaking around the world last week perhaps we should take a moment to look back at some of the biggest

In China stock market fluctuations last week triggered the newly installed “circuit breakers” stopping trading after shares fell too far too fast. Unfortunately rather than calming investors this merely led to more panic and trading was suspended again on Thursday after just 29 minutes of the trading day, the shortest in its history. The knock-on effects were felt on markets around the world, with large losses in value recorded, and within hours the circuit-breakers were themselves suspended from use.

In Los Angeles, California, a funeral was held for Ian Fraser Kilmister more commonly known as Lemmy, the front man for rock legends Motorhead. The 70 year old had passed away on December 28th just days after learning he had an “extremely aggressive” cancer. The funeral was streamed live on the internet and featured tributes from both Slash and Dave Grohl as well as Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo. The service ended with Lemmy’s bass being plugged in and feedback being produced.

In Cologne last week the police chief who had presided over the New Year’s Eve security arrangements that saw over 100 women sexually assaulted, robbed or raped in the city center on the 31st , Wolfgang Albers, was fired. With growing concerns of a cover-up concerning the nature of the assailants, many of them have been said to have been migrants, following a four day delay in coverage of the attacks, many in Germany have begun to call into question Angela Merkel’s open door policy on immigration.

In sport Zinedine Zidane’s stewardship of Real Madrid got off to a superb start last week despite the pressure of Barca’s 4-0 win over Granada, as they destroyed Deportivo de La Coruna 5-0 with Gareth Bale scoring a hat-trick and Karim Benzema scoring his 100th league goal for the club. Does this signal the start of a glorious reign for Zidane? You’ll have to read our daily news pages to find out, but in the meantime lets look back at some of the big stories we covered from around the world last week.
1. Poker Professional Ike Haxton has left PokerStars due to their controversial changes to the VIP program.

2. Betfair Sportsbook offered great gambling markets for all their customers, including the possibility to bet on virtual sports.

3. A Royal Panda player started the New Year with a $122,289 mobile casino win.

4. GamingZion aimed to collect the best football managers, who used to be successful as football players as well before they became managers.

5. Californian legislators were heading towards a legalized and regulated online fantasy sports market.

6. Gamingzion aimed to collect the most interesting winter transfer rumours about the world of football, which were most likely to happen.

7. Lionel Messi was the favourite to win both the FIFA Ballon d’Or and the Puskás Award.

Meanwhile in Bay City, Michigan, William Cornelius Jr, aged 25, made use of the public address system in Walmart to propose to his girl friend Sheri Moore, last week, purchasing a $29.62 engagement ring at the time. CCTV footage shows shoppers applauding as Sheri agrees. Unfortunately the couple were then arrested but a few short hours later suspected of shop lifting in a local mall, with police discovering an edible thong and a sex toy, reputedly stolen, about Cornelius’ person.