Japanese Emperor Akihito will end his three-decade reign this week when he abdicates on Tuesday.
His son Crown Prince Naruhito will become emperor on Wednesday.
Akihito has cited concerns about his age and declining health and is the first Japanese emperor to abdicate in 200 years.
James Lindsay from the Council on Foreign Relations says it's a huge transitional moment for the Japanese people.
Injuries and arrests as French high school student protests spread
Dozens of people have been injured and hundreds arrested, most of them teenagers, officials said, in a wave of French student protests against teacher shortages and dilapidated buildings that on Wednesday spread to more schools across the country.
Russia hits power plants, kills four, leaves Kyiv under smoke
Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and nearby areas killed four people, damaged energy infrastructure and shrouded the capital in smoke, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday.
US forces exit remaining bases in Iraq
US forces have withdrawn from their remaining bases in Iraq on Wednesday, raising fears they will leave behind a security vacuum.
Shark stranded in South Korean canal draws 600,000 visitors as rescue bid fails
A shark stranded in a canal in the South Korean port of Busan has become the country's latest wildlife sensation, with the city saying about 600,000 people have flocked to see it over the past two weeks.
Israeli strikes kill five people in Gaza, medics say
Israeli strikes killed at least five Palestinians in two separate attacks in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the territory's health officials said.
Flydubai has announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Israel following the incident involving flight FZ1073 on September 30.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) says a security incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been brought under control.
Flydubai has provided an update on flight FZ 1073, which was travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) when it diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on September 30.
