Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Thursday 7 Jan 2016

1. Osborne: economy faces 'dangerous cocktail of threats'

The Chancellor is warning today that the UK economy faces a "dangerous cocktail of new threats" in 2016 including slowing global growth, tensions in the Middle East and the UK's first interest rate rise since 2007. In a "clear swipe at the Labour party" he said it would be a mistake to think the crisis was over, says The Guardian.

Osborne makes fresh case for austerity in warning over 'cocktail' of risks

2. China: stock markets suspended after 30 minutes

For the second time this week, China's new "circuit breaker" rule saw trading suspended on the mainland stock markets after just 30 minutes this morning, their shortest ever day. Share prices plunged 7%, automatically suspending trading for the day. The new rule was introduced to try to limit panic buying and selling.

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3. World powers pledge united response to N Korea

The US, South Korea and Japan have promised that they will make a unified response to North Korea's claim to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb - though many analysts remain sceptical that the test actually happened. While a tremor was detected, some say it was not strong enough at 5.2 magnitude to be a hydrogen bomb.

North Korea detains another US citizen

4. Scotland warned to expect more heavy rain

An amber warning has been issued by the Met Office for large parts of Scotland today, with communities still reeling from the effects of flooding. An additional 30-50mm are expected to fall across parts of Grampian, Central, Tayside and Fife regions, causing flooding and transport disruption. It will fall as snow on higher ground.

5. Iran accuses Saudi Arabia of Yemen air strike

Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of bombing its embassy in the Yemen capital Sana'a, as the diplomatic row between the two countries threatens to escalate. Iranian media said Saudi planes had targeted the building on Thursday, although later reports said the damage was nearby. Also on Thursday, Iranian state TV said the country had banned the import of all Saudi goods.

Tehran accuses Saudis of bombing its embassy in Yemen

6. Trump threatens to pull out £700m Scottish investment

Wannabe US president Donald Trump has reacted to the news that MPs will debate barring him from the UK for hate speech by threatening to pull out of an alleged £700m investment in Scotland. More than half a million Britons signed a petition asking for Trump to be banned after he said Muslims should be kept out of the US.

7. Exam timetables altered for Ramadan

Exam boards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have adjusted this year's schedule for GCSE and A-level students to take account of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Popular exams will be held in early June and earlier in the day so hungry and thirsty Muslim pupils are not disadvantaged. The overall exam period has not been moved.

Should GCSE and A-levels be timetabled around Ramadan?

8. Man shot dead on Charlie Hebdo anniversary

A man wearing a fake suicide belt has been shot dead outside a police station in Paris on the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks. The man was seen wielding a knife before he was shot. French president Francois Hollande used the anniversary to announce a "strengthening" of security with 5,000 more police posts.

Paris police shoot man dead on Charlie Hebdo anniversary

9. Lemmy's funeral to be streamed online

The funeral of Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister will be streamed live online, the band says. They are asking fans to get together to watch the event and "raise a glass" to the late singer and bassist at 11pm UK time on Saturday. And fans have started a petition to have a newly-discovered element named Lemmium.

10. Briefing: protests in Cologne after 90 women assaulted

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in Cologne to protest after 90 women complained of being harassed by a group of men of North African and Arab appearance. The women said they had been assaulted at the city's railway station ahead of the New Year's Eve celebrations. Around 1,000 "mostly drunk" North African and Arab men in their mid-20s have been blamed for the attacks, although German police say they have no suspects.

Cologne attacks were coordinated, says German minister