Trump Names Mattis as Defence Secretary

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.

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.

Ethnic cleansing is taking place in war-torn South Sudan, the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) has warned. It says it has observed starvation, the burning of villages and rape being used as weapons of war across the country. The three-member commission has just completed a 10-day visit to South Sudan, which has been blighted by conflict for more than three years.