Trump picks 'Mad Dog' Mattis as defence secretary

Controversial retired general James Mattis has been named by Donald Trump as his choice for defence secretary.

The 66-year-old retired from the Marine Corps in 2013, having served as the commander of the US Central Command.

Nicknamed "Mad Dog", he was referred to by President-elect Mr Trump as "a true general's general".

But, while his service record is mostly respected, there are concerns about his lack of experience in diplomacy.

There is also concern about some of his other activities, including serving on the board of troubled biotech firm Theranos.

The Washington Post reported that Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes had tried to get him to intervene after a Pentagon official questioned the company's selling of its technology without approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Theranos promised new-age blood-testing technology but had to invalidate two years of results after the reliability of its methods were questioned.

Mr Mattis also said in 2005 that it was "fun to shoot some people".

He told a forum in San Diego: "Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight.

"You know, it's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people.

"I'll be right up front with you, I like brawling."

He added: "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil.

"You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway, so it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them."

For Mr Mattis to be confirmed, a new law would have to be approved to bypass current legislation barring military officers from being defence secretary within seven years of leaving active duty.

French president Francois Hollande will not run for second term

France's Socialist president Francois Hollande has announced he will not seek a second term in office.

Mr Hollande is the most unpopular leader in the country's modern history following economic concerns and security fears after a series of terror attacks.

It is the first time since 1958 that an incumbent French president has not sought re-election.

And his decision throws the selection of a Socialist candidate for next year's presidential race wide open.

Mr Hollande, 62, said: "I am aware today of the risk that going down a route that would not gather sufficient support would entail."

He said he decided against running again because he wanted to give the Socialists a chance to win "against conservatism and extremism".

He said he remained "lucid" about his chances of getting wide backing within the party, which remains deeply divided over his policies.

Mr Hollande added: "In the months to come my sole duty will be to continue to lead the state, the mandate for which you elected me in 2012."

If he had won the nomination he would have faced a tough task to even make the second round of voting in the election.

All recent polls have predicted neither Mr Hollande nor any other socialist candidate would make it past round one.

They predict a run-off battle between centre-right conservative candidate Francois Fillon and the leader of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen.

The Left is deeply divided as it approaches the two-round presidential election on 23 April and 7 May.

Several socialists, including former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, have said they will take part in the left-wing primaries in January.

And a few days ago, Mr Hollande's prime minister and number two, Manuel Valls, said he was "ready" to compete.

Another of his ex-ministers, Emmanuel Macron, and leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon have said they will run in the presidential election but without taking part in the primaries.

Mr Hollande had been expected to say in the coming weeks whether he would run again.

The president repeatedly said he would only seek re-election if he was able to curb the unemployment rate, which has hovered for years around 10%.

At the weekend, the conservatives chose Mr Fillon as the Republican candidate.

On Thursday, he tweeted: "This evening, the President of the Republic admits with lucidity, that his patent failure prevents him from going on further.

"This five-year term is ending in a political mess and the dissolving of power."

Trump: Wole Soyinka returns to Nigeria, destroys US green card

Nigerian Nobel prize-winning author Wole Soyinka said Thursday he has fulfilled his pledge to throw away his US residency green card and leave the country if Donald Trump won the presidential election.

Shortly before the vote, Soyinka had vowed to give up his permanent US residency over a Trump victory to protest against the Republican billionaire’s campaign promises to get tough on immigration.

“I have already done it, I have disengaged (from the United States). I have done what I said I would do,” the 82-year-old told AFP on the sidelines of an education conference at the University of Johannesburg.

“I had a horror of what is to come with Trump… I threw away the (green) card, and I have relocated, and I’m back to where I have always been” — meaning his homeland Nigeria.

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.

Image Caption:Some 30,000 civilians are estimated to have fled the besieged city in four days

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.

Image Caption:Many have fled to safer ground in areas under government or Kurdish control 

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.

Image Caption:Children sheltering in the town of Jibreen some 10km (six miles) north of Aleppo

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.

Image Caption:Hundreds of refugees are currently sheltering in three concrete blocks that make up a reception centre in the town 

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.

Image Caption:A Syrian boy evacuated from eastern Aleppo eats bread in the government controlled Jibreen 

"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%.