President Hollande Not to Stand for Re-election

In a surprise move Francois Hollande has announced he will not seek a second term as president of France. The 62-year-old, faced with very low popularity ratings, has become the first sitting president in modern French history not to seek re-election.

US President-elect Donald Trump has named General James Mattis as his defence secretary. Mr Trump has previously described Gen Mattis, 66, as "a true general's general". Gen Mattis, who is known as "Mad Dog", was an outspoken critic of the Obama administration's Middle East policy, particularly on Iran.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has for the first time apologised to the people of Haiti for the organisation's role in a deadly cholera outbreak. Haiti was cholera-free until it was brought to the country by Nepalese peacekeepers in 2010. Since then the acute bacterial disease has killed around 10,000 people.