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.
Nine injured in attack in Taipei, media reports
Nine people have been injured, four of them seriously, after a person released smoke bombs at a Taipei subway station and then attacked bystanders, the official Central News Agency said.
Putin offers no compromise on Ukraine, says EU 'robbery' failed
President Vladimir Putin offered no compromise on his terms for ending the war in Ukraine on Friday and accused the European Union of attempting "daylight robbery" of Russian assets.
Bangladesh rocked by unrest after death of student leader
Police and paramilitary troops fanned out across Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh on Friday after violent protests overnight over the death of a popular youth leader, with concerns of further unrest ahead of national elections in which he was due to run.
Suspected gunman in Brown University shooting found dead
The suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University last weekend is dead, a US attorney said, as authorities investigate whether the same person killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor two days after the rampage at Brown.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy meets Poland's Trump-backed president at key moment in war
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Poland's MAGA-aligned President Karol Nawrocki in Warsaw on Friday as the Ukrainian leader tries to shore up relations with a key ally at a crucial moment for Kyiv's war effort.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has spoken by phone with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who expressed gratitude for the UAE’s humanitarian support to communities affected by recent floods.
With improved weather conditions across the emirate, Dubai Municipality has announced the reopening of beaches, public parks and open-air markets.
Some flights operating at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) were cancelled or delayed on Friday due to adverse weather conditions.
