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.
EU calls on restraint in Venezuela
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalation in Venezuela.
Trump says Venezuela's Maduro captured after strikes
The US has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, who has been taken out of the country, President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
Russian strike on Ukraine's Kharkiv kills two, injures 25
Russian missiles struck a multi-storey apartment building in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine on Friday, leaving the building in ruins and killing at least two people and injuring about 25 more, officials said.
Two dead as strong earthquake hits Mexico
A powerful earthquake shook southern Mexico on Friday morning, damaging roads and hospitals and briefly interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum's first press conference of the new year.
US says it thwarted potential IS-inspired New Year's Eve attack
The US Justice Department said on Friday it thwarted an alleged plan by a North Carolina man to carry out an IS-inspired attack using knives and hammers on New Year’s Eve.
The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday it is following with concern the developments that have taken place in Yemen over the past few hours and expresses its regret over the ongoing escalation.
The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with Afghanistan over the victims of floods that occurred in Herat province, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the completion of the return of all UAE Armed Forces personnel from Yemen.
