UK's Queen Elizabeth Urges Reconciliation In Post-referendum Scotland

Britain's Queen Elizabeth used her annual Christmas Day broadcast on Thursday to advocate reconciliation, especially in Scotland where an unsuccessful independence referendum earlier this year polarized public opinion.

EYN Fetes IDPs As Borno Churches Record Impressive Turn-out At Christmas Despite Terror Fears

BEVERLY HILLS, December 25, (THEWILL) – Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN), the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, situated in the Wulari area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Thursday, organised a special Christmas programme for over 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) within the church to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Turkey arrests student for insulting Erdogan

Sixteen-year-old student taken into custody for allegedly insulting the Turkish president and his party of corruption.

The young boy reportedly criticised Erdogan over corruption claims against his government [Reuters]

A 16-year-old high school student has been arrested in central Turkey for "insulting" President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by accusing him and his ruling party of corruption, according to local media reports.
The young boy, who was identified with his initials MEA by the Turkish media, was arrested on Wednesday at his high school in the central Turkish city of Konya.

Girl says father gave her to Boko Haram

Police arrests 13-year-old after she leaves suicide vest in taxi unwilling to become Boko Haram's suicide bomber.

Police says the girl will remain in custody while investigations continue [Al Jazeera]

A 13-year-old  girl has accused her father of giving her to Nigeria's Boko Haram group that ordered her to explode a suicide bomb in Kano city.

Dozens arrested in Israel corruption probe

Members of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's party among government officials held over misuse of public funds.

The investigations could strike a blow to Lieberman's party just three month before elections [EPA]

Israeli police have arrested more than two dozen current and former officials in a corruption investigation, including several from the party of Avigdor Lieberman, the foreign minister, according to a police spokesperson.

Sudan expels two UN officials

Expulsion appears to be escalation of President Omar al-Bashir's move against UN activities in the country. Sudan had already shut UNAMID's human rights office in Khartoum and called on the mission to prepare an exit plan [AP]

Sudan has ordered two senior United Nations officials to leave, UN sources said, in what appeared to be an escalation of President Omar al-Bashir's move against UN activities in the country.

Pope decries violence in God's name

Pope Francis condemns ISIL and other groups in his Christmas message for 'brutal persecution' of religious minorities. Pope spoke emotionally of "children displaced due to war and persecution" [AFP]

Pope Francis has condemned the "brutal persecution" of minorities by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group and said the joy of Christmas was marred by the suffering of children in the Middle East and around the world.