Japan's Parliament has passed a one-off bill to allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate, the first emperor to do so in 200 years. The 83-year-old Emperor last year said his age and health were making it hard for him to fulfill his official duties. But there was no provision under the existing law for him to stand down. The government will now begin the process of arranging his abdication, expected to happen in late 2018, and the hand over to Crown Prince Naruhito. SOURCE: BBC NEWS