The Roman Catholic church has formally launched discussions on whether to allow married men to be ordained as priests in regions such as the Amazon, where there is a shortage of Catholic clergy.
Japanese police and government officials have taken part in a rehearsal for the Imperial procession scheduled for October 22 following Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony.
Portugal votes on Sunday with Prime Minister Antonio Costa's Socialists tipped to win a second straight term after presiding over a period of solid economic growth following years of austerity.
Hundreds of climate activists barricaded themselves into a Paris shopping centre on Saturday as security forces tried to remove them, ahead of a planned series of protests around the world by the Extinction Rebellion movement.