In Japan, cabinet today passed a bill allowing the nation's Emperor Akihito to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Naruhito. <br/><br/>The bill is expected to be scrutinized by the parliament later in the day, the national Kyodo news agency reported. <br/><br/>The existing law does not allow a living monarch to hand over the throne, but the 83-year old emperor said in an address last August his health was failing and hinted he would like to pass the title on to his eldest son. <br/><br/>This will be the first time a monarch has done so in Japan in two centuries.