Briefsfromshittu

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Humanitarian aid blocked as Aleppo civilians starve

Russia and Syria are preventing essential humanitarian aid from reaching starving, sick civilians in east Aleppo, according to the United Nations.

Around 200,000 people desperate for food and medical equipment remain trapped by fierce fighting in the rebel-held district of Syria's second city where surgeons are reported to be operating in basements without anaesthetic.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said the Russian and Syrian governments have declined requests for a ceasefire to allow aid to get through and to allow for the emergency evacuation of 400 people desperate for medical treatment.

President Bashar al Assad and Moscow have instead offered to discuss the opening of four safe corridors through which civilians and surrendering rebels could escape and the UN has urged Al Nusra militants to leave to help broker a ceasefire.

Since Saturday it is estimated 30,000 people have used unauthorised escape routes to flee eastern districts of Aleppo which have been under siege for four months as Syrian and Russian forces continue their push to retake the city.

Regime forces captured another six rebel-held eastern districts over the weekend.

Government forces have overrun the northern area and, while southern areas are still under rebel control, civilians there are cut off and caught in the crossfire.

Many have reportedly fled to safer ground in areas under government control or a Kurdish-controlled enclave between the city's two sectors.

The UN, the Syrian Red Crescent and Russia have been administering aid to those who have made it to west Aleppo.

Fawwaz al Ashaari stayed on in the Sakhur neighbourhood of east Aleppo through the loss of his eldest son and his home.

As the fighting got closer his family joined a mass exodus to government territory across the front lines.

They are among hundreds of refugees sheltered in three concrete blocks that make up a reception centre in the government-held town of JIbreen about 10km (six miles) north of the city.

"I can't lose any more," he said while recovering in a temporary shelter, his back propped up against his battered black suitcase, adding he now had a single wish.

"The rest of my children only want to live in safety. They have seen death several times. I want them to know life."

Aleppo is seen as a vital strategic prize for the Syrian government as it is the last city still holding out against the Assad regime and it controls trade and military supply routes to Turkey.

Chateau Peckham? Changing weather could make UK big wine exporter

Changing weather patterns could see Britain become a major wine producer and exporter by the turn of the century, according to a study.

An increase in rainfall and temperature look set to transform parts of the UK into perfect growing environments for a number of grape varieties.

It could mean ideal conditions for sauvignon blanc and chardonnay in unlikely areas such as Peckham in south London and Milton Keynes.

By 2100, Britain's wines may be able to compete on the same level as those from famous French regions such as Burgundy and Beaujolais, according to the study.

University College London researchers looked at the conditions needed for certain grape varieties alongside the expected changes in climate in the next 85 years.

Their work was based on the theory that temperatures will go up by at least 2.2C by 2100 and rainfall will increase by 5.6%.

This left the Black Country looking set to be the centre for a number of grape types including chardonnay, riesling, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc.

The area between Newcastle and Edinburgh could be the best place for pinot grigio; Malbec could suit the Thames Estuary area while the Severn Pocket would be a good spot for merlot.

Professor Mark Maslin, one of the researchers, said climate is "critical" to grape cultivation.

He added: "This study could signal how we think long-term about British wine production and redraw the future wine map of the world.

"However, exactly where would be best for particular grapes will depend on site, slope, aspect, soil and drainage as wine-making is as much an art as it is a science."

Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief executive Miles Beale said: "English wine is a fast-growing industry with bold ambitions to boost production.

"In the last 10 years the area of planted vines in the UK has more than doubled and is set to grow by a further 50% by 2020, so it comes as no surprise that the study by UCL is predicting a creep of vines spreading their way across the UK over the next 85 years.

"For an acre of land planted for agricultural use in Britain it is estimated the return is around £300. The return on your investment if you plant grapes is around £3,000 per acre and if you turn those grapes into wine the return is £30,000 per acre.

"Vineyards are great news for rural communities and their economies, providing more and better job opportunities.

"They look set to become an enduring feature in modern day farming in the UK."

Bank of England examining meat-free options for new fiver after outcry

The Bank of England has said it is looking for "potential solutions" after an outcry over the use of animal fat in the making of the new £5 note.

It said it was aware of some concerns about traces of the derivative, known as tallow, in the note since it was introduced into circulation in September - and was treating them with "utmost seriousness".

The new fiver is the first polymer - or plastic - note to be issued by the Bank of England.

Featuring Sir Winston Churchill on its design, it was hailed as a safer and stronger type of note in a high-profile launch by Bank governor Mark Carney.

The new note is said to be harder to counterfeit and able to survive a spin in the washing machine but has now landed in hot water with vegans and vegetarians.

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to remove tallow, which is widely used in the making of candles and soap.

In a new statement, the Bank said it did not know about the issue when the contract to produce the note was signed.

It said: "We are aware of some people's concerns about traces of tallow in our new five pound note.

"We respect those concerns and are treating them with the utmost seriousness.

"Information recently provided by our supplier, Innovia, and its supply chain shows that an extremely small amount of tallow is used in an early stage of the production process of polymer pellets, which are then used to create the base substrate for the five pound note.

"Innovia is now working intensively with its supply chain and will keep the Bank informed on progress towards potential solutions."

British Gas freezes standard energy tariffs for millions over winter

British Gas is freezing its standard energy tariffs for the winter in a move affecting more than six million customers.

The UK's biggest energy supplier will keep the charges for gas and electricity on hold until at least March.

It comes after rival SSE said last month that it was freezing prices until at least April.

Britain's Big Six energy suppliers have been under pressure to treat loyal customers on standard tariffs fairly.

A recent report accused them of overcharging households and making six times as much profit as they admitted to - claims rejected by the industry.

It prompted a meeting between Energy Secretary Greg Clark and representatives from the energy firms.

Chancellor Philip Hammond said in his Autumn Statement that the Government would "look carefully" at energy markets to make sure they are fair.

British Gas chief executive Mark Hodges said its price freeze would "help bring some peace of mind to more than six million of our customers".

The supplier has also launched a deal allowing households to fix energy prices for three winters until March 2019.

Wholesale energy prices have been rising, leading to the collapse of smaller provider GB Energy earlier this week.

It had recently hiked tariffs by as much as a third, while other small suppliers have also had to increase prices.

British Gas serves about 11 million homes in Britain, with many of them on the standard variable tariffs affected by the latest announcement but others on fixed-price deals.

Shares in owner Centrica fell 1%.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Taylor Swift is getting her own TV channel

The world's highest-earning female singer, Taylor Swift, is to get her own TV channel.

Fans - or Swifties - will be able to plug in to DirecTV to view Taylor Swift Now to see never-before-seen footage from concerts, special events and behind the scenes footage.

Telecommunications firm AT&T says the catalogue of the award-winning 26-year-old singer will be regularly updated and will include "select songs" of forthcoming gigs.

The channel is part of AT&T's new streaming service - following its purchase of DirecTV.

Although the streaming service begins on Wednesday, it is not yet clear when Swift's own channel will be available for subscription.

The company is also producing a video-on-demand channel for actress Reese Witherspoon.

Hello Sunshine! is working on bringing female-driven stories to fans of the Oscar-winning star.

It is the latest business deal for the 40-year-old actress who owns the Draper James clothing line, two retail shops, a production company and is currently writing her autobiography.

Mitt Romney praises Donald Trump after posh dinner

Former Donald Trump critic Mitt Romney has said the President-elect is the "man who can lead us" after the pair met for an "enlightening" dinner at an upmarket restaurant.

Mr Trump is considering him for the post of Secretary of State, America's top diplomat.

Mr Romney fiercely criticised Mr Trump during this year's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, calling him a "phony", a "conman" and a "fraud".

In turn, Mr Trump labelled him a "loser" and a "choke artist" and said Mr Romney would have dropped to his knees to get his support during his failed 2012 presidential bid.

But the animosity between the pair appears to have vanished as the two enjoyed an intimate dinner date.

After feasting on a meal at the three-Michelin star Jean Georges restaurant in New York City that included garlic soup with frogs legs, scallops and steak, Mr Romney was full of praise for Mr Trump.

"I had a wonderful evening with President-elect Trump," Mr Romney told reporters.

"We had another discussion about affairs throughout the world and these discussions I've had with him have been enlightening, and interesting, and engaging. I've enjoyed them very, very much."

Mr Romney heaped more praise on his would-be boss by praising his "message of inclusion and bringing people together" since his shock election.

He said Mr Trump's cabinet appointments and his wish for increased unity had changed his opinion.

"All of those things combined give me increasing hope that President-elect Trump is the very man who can lead us," said Mr Romney.

Also at the meal - at a Trump hotel in Manhattan - was Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, his incoming Chief of Staff.

Mr Priebus has reportedly been pushing for Mr Romney behind the scenes.

However, former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway could be on a collision course with Mr Trump after saying in TV interviews on Sunday that supporters would feel "betrayed" if Mr Romney got the job.

Rudy Giuliani, a faithful supporter of the President-elect, was previously seen as the frontrunner, but Mr Trump is also considering other candidates.

He will meet retired general John Kelly on Friday - and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker is also on the shortlist.

Mr Corker also met Mr Trump on Tuesday and said afterwards: "The world needs to know that the secretary of state is someone who speaks fully for the president and again, that's a decision he's going to have to make."

Mr Trump's choices so far have included the controversial Stephen Bannon as chief strategist, Alabama senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley as ambassador to the UN, and Besty DeVos as secretary of education.