Right-click on the desktop, click on "Create From Template" > "Empty File". Nothing happens, no errors. The empty file is not created on the desktop. Other desktop icons are shown and are executable. Note, that a document on the desktop can be created when using the Thunar File Manager. Distro is debian-based and XFCE built from source. I believe this worked over XFCE 4.6.2. Users on Fedora have reported the issue too.
Fixed in git master and 4.8 branch, thanks for reporting this.