In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the Middle East situation goes up a notch, US inflation comes in higher than expected, Chesapeake and Southwestern look to create a monster, China makes more solar panels than everyone combined and Bitcoin booms. In RETAIL & RESTAURANT NEWS, we look at the Christmas winners and losers, John Lewis gets a new chief, Very does well and retail wages rise. In AUTOMOTIVE NEWS, Hertz offloads a third of its EV fleet, Asian battery makers face a Trump-shaped threat and the FCA looks into car financing that could become the next PPI. In MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, US companies start the year with layoffs, recruiter Robert Walters sheds jobs amd Airbus's orders take off. AND FINALLY, I bring you a unique golf swing...