Joe Root: England cricket team will do better on South Africa tour

The England cricket squad begins a tour of South Africa on 11 December and batsman and vice-captain Joe Root believes they will do well, having put some some 2015 disappointments behind them and learned to adapt. England were knocked out of the world cup in the first round and recently lost a Test series to Pakistan, but in between beat New Zealand and regained the Ashes, in which the 24-year-old Root was declared Man of the Series. Although Pakistan beat England, Root believes the squad will be better for the loss. Dec 9, 2015

Greece: Tour operators climb Colosseum to protest against Holy Year selling ban

Six Roman tour operators climbed on Romes Colosseum on 7 December to protest against an order banning them from approaching tourists on the streets to sell them their packages. The decree, passed by Romes municipality last month, came just before the Holy Year, due to start on 8 December and to last almost one year, when millions of pilgrims and tourists are expected to flock to the Italian capital as well as to the Vatican. Dec 8, 2015