Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square gets 720-ton sand nativity scene
The traditional nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square won’t be so traditional this year. For the first time, it is made of sand – 720 tons of it.
Facebook to check Indian political ads in build-up to vote
Indian advertisers wanting to run political ads on Facebook will have to confirm their identity and location to help prevent abuse of the system in the build-up to national elections, the company said on Thursday.
France and Germany, soften demands on EU hosting refugees: document
European Union governments that refuse to host refugees could instead pay to be excused from the bloc’s system of sharing out migrants, France and Germany proposed on Thursday as they sought to end a long-running EU feud over migration.
Libyan election commission says has ‘zero’ budget to prepare polls
Libya’s electoral commission has asked the government for $28.7 million, saying that without funding to boost its “zero” budget it cannot make plans to prepare for a vote on a new constitution and later elections.
Former UK foreign secretary Johnson apologizes for failing to publish earnings
Britain’s former foreign secretary Boris Johnson was ordered by parliament’s standards watchdog on Thursday to apologize for failing to declare almost 53,000 pounds ($67,495) earnings on time.
U.S. military carries out Open Skies flight over Ukraine
The U.S. military said on Thursday it carried out an “extraordinary” flight over Ukraine under the Open Skies Treaty to reaffirm its commitment to the country after Russia seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off Crimea.
Francis to become first pope to visit Arabian peninsula
The first visit by a pope to the Arabian peninsula will take place in February when Francis travels to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the Vatican said on Thursday.
Greek youths march to mark anniversary of police shooting of teenager
Hundreds of Greek youths marched through central Athens on Thursday to mark the 10th anniversary of the killing of a teenage boy by police, which triggered the country’s worst riots in decades.
UK’s Brexit vote to go ahead despite report ministers seek delay
Parliament’s vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal will go ahead on Dec. 11, her office said on Thursday, despite a newspaper report ministers had sought a delay to prevent a defeat so big it might bring down the government.
U.N. Western Sahara talks end with pledge to meet again in 2019
Two days of U.N. talks on Western Sahara ended with all sides promising to meet again for a similar “round table” in the first quarter of 2019, U.N. envoy Horst Koehler told reporters after the meeting ended unexpectedly early on Thursday.
