News Headlines - 01 December 2018

▽Europe ready to offer Britain more time for a softer Brexit | The Times

European leaders are prepared to offer Britain a three-month extension to Article 50 to prevent parliamentary deadlock triggering a no-deal Brexit.
Under plans being discussed in European capitals the EU would agree to extend Britain’s membership until July to allow time for either a second referendum or to agree a Norway-style soft Brexit... The move was part of a response to growing fears in Brussels that if Theresa May’s deal is voted down by MPs the ensuing chaos could increase the odds of a no-deal Brexit.

▽Gaza's Only Grand Piano Makes Public Comeback

The only grand piano in the Palestinian territory of Gaza was played in public this week for the first time in 10 years.
Palestinian and Japanese musicians played the piano for 300 people at a November 25 performance at the Palestine Red Crescent Society. For many, it was the first time they had ever heard a piano performed live... The Japanese government donated the piano about 20 years ago, following temporary peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

▽Gay 'trend' influencing the Catholic clergy: Pope

Pope Francis is "concerned" about what he described as the "serious issue" of homosexuality, saying in an interview published Saturday that being gay was a "fashion" to which the clergy is suspectible.
"The issue of homosexuality is a very serious issue that must be adequately discerned from the beginning with the candidates," the pontiff said with regards to would-be priests.
"In our societies it even seems that homosexuality is fashionable and that mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the church," he says in the book 'The Strength of a Vocation', released in Italy on Saturday.

▽New cases of HIV rise in Eastern Europe, decline in the West | Reuters

More than 130,000 people were newly diagnosed with HIV last year in Eastern Europe, the highest rate ever for the region, while the number of new cases in Western Europe declined, global public health experts said on Wednesday... almost 160,000 people were diagnosed in Europe with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS...

▽Ex-Barcelona striker David Villa announces move to Vissel Kobe | The Japan Times

Former Spain and Barcelona striker David Villa announced Saturday that he has signed with Vissel Kobe, joining his former teammate Andres Iniesta... Villa started his career at Sporting Gijon before stints with Real Zaragoza and Valencia. He joined Iniesta at Barcelona in 2010, where he won the Spanish League twice and the Champions League... Villa was also a key member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning team in South Africa.