Bill paves way for Emperor Akihito's abdication

TOKYO - Japanese Emperor Akihito's abdication moved a step closer on Friday when the lower house of parliament approved a bill paving the way for the first such abdication in nearly two centuries.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Sergeant Pepper's a smash hit again

Fifty years after it was released, an album that critics and fans alike regard as one of The Beatles' finest is heading back to No 1 in the US Billboard charts, albeit a remastered version with extra tracks and interviews.

Cape Town cuts back to survive its worst drought in 100 years

CAPE TOWN - As the South African capital suffers its worst drought in a century, residents have been told to restrict showers to two minutes and flush toilets only when "absolutely necessary".

Surgeon attack prompts safety calls

MELBOURNE, Australia - Doctors and medical professionals in the Australian state of Victoria have called on the state government to urgently address the issue of health-worker safety following another serious attack at a Melbourne hospital.

Sixth-grade speller crowned queen bee

OXON HILL, Maryland - Ananya Vinay never looked all that impressed by any of the words she was given in the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Human rights in Xinjiang: Development and progress

Editor's Note: The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "Human Rights in Xinjiang-Development and Progress" on Thursday. Following is the full text of the white paper:

Iconic Route 66 revs back to life

LOS ANGELES - For decades, Route 66 captured the imagination of travelers the world over, offering a glimpse of a bygone era of US history, when people hit the road in search of adventure and a better life.

Ariana Grande to return to Manchester for benefit gig

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom - US pop star Ariana Grande announced on Tuesday she would return to Manchester to headline a star-studded benefit concert for the victims of the deadly attack on her show last week.

'Rainbow village' attracts tourists

SEMARANG, Indonesia - An Indonesian hamlet dubbed "the rainbow village" after being given a makeover in a kaleidoscope of colors is attracting hordes of visitors and has become an internet sensation.

Ex-CIA analyst is now a beer historian

WASHINGTON - She started her career in the shadows working for the CIA, but a historian at a prestigious Washington museum has been thrust into the limelight after the US media dubbed her job researching beer the "coolest in the world."

Faceless fish among weird deep-sea finds

SYDNEY - Faceless fish and other weird and wonderful creatures, many of them new species, have been hauled up from the deep waters off Australia during a scientific voyage studying parts of the ocean never explored before.