TOKYO http://www.philadelphiaflyersteamstore. … ffl-jersey , May 19 (Xinhua) -- The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday approved a bill to allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne and hand his duties over to Crown Prince Naruhito.
The bill, crafted only with the current emperor in mind, would allow Emperor Akihito to be the first Japanese emperor that has relinquished the throne in around 200 years.
According to the bill, the emperor and his wife Empress Michiko would keep the honorific title of "heika" which means "Your Majesty" after the abdication.
They are expected to move to Togu Palace where the crown prince and his family currently live, and the new emperor's family will move to the Imperial Palace, said the bill.
The Emperor's Birthday holiday on Dec. 23 will be changed to Feb. 23, the birthday of Crown Prince Naruhito, said the bill.
The bill will also triple the annual budget allocation for the private expenses of Prince Akishino, who will become the first in line after his older brother succeeds to the throne.
The timing of the abdication will be decided under a government ordinance within three years after the law's promulgation after consulting with the Imperial House Council, said the bill.
Local media reported that the government eyes allowing the emperor to abdicate in December 2018, with the emperor's 85th birthday in mind.
The nation's era name (gengo) which lasts for as long as the emperor is on the throne, will possibly change at the beginning of 2019, said the reports.
The bill was submitted to the Diet later on Friday, with the government expecting it to be enacted by the end of the current Diet session in mid-June.
Japan's top government spokesperson Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference on Friday that the government expects the bill to be passed at the parliament "smoothly," but declined to comment on the possible timing of the abdication.
Japanese Emperor Akihito indicated his wish to relinquish and hand over the throne to the crown prince in a rare video message last August, citing his age.
A six-member government panel was set up last September to hear opinions of experts on the constitution and other fields and to hold discussions on necessary legal changes to enable the emperor to abdicate and on the status of and treatment given to the retired emperor.
One of the major disputed points had been whether to create a permanent abdication system for every emperor, or just a mechanism to enable only the current emperor to abdicate.
The panel submitted last month its final report to the government, suggesting that one-off legislation should be passed on the abdication which would apply only to the current emperor.
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By Burak Akinci
ANKARA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump met for the first time on Tuesday at the White House amid frictions on how to fight the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.
During a joint press conference, Trump brushed aside tensions between the two NATO allies and praised Turkey's fight against terrorism.
He was particularly keen on supporting Ankara's long-time struggle against the military insurgency inside Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), without mentioning the Syrian Kurdish militia the People's Protection Units (YPG).
The Trump administration has decided recently to supply arms to YPG fighters against the IS, causing tensions with Turkey, which says the Syrian Kurds are allied with the PKK, considered as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU.
Turkey is also staunchly seeking, without any tangible success, the extradition of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen living in Pennsylvania, who is accused by Turkey of masterminding a failed coup last summer.
None of these thorny issues were mentioned during the press conference.
Erdogan praised the American president for his "legendary triumph" in the election but also warned his administration not to make "any discrimination whatsoever" between terrorist groups, in a clear message vis-a-vis the YPG which Turkey considers as one terror group.
He also called on the Trump administration not to repeat "errors of the past concerning the fight against terrorist groups."
The Turkish leader has expressed readiness to open a "new chapter" with the new U.S. administration after severe difficulties with the previous one led by President Barack Obama.
Turkish officials including Erdogan himself qualified as "unacceptable" U.S. weapon supply to Kurdish units in Syria, fearing that those arms will fall into PKK rebels hands.
The Pentagon on the other hand said the YPG, a key factor of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is the only force on the ground that can successfully seize the IS stronghold Raqqa in the near future.
Despite no apparent agreements, experts think that is nevertheless a "good start" for mending ailing ties between the two allies, on the brink of a potential breakdown.
"Yes, the two leaders are still divided on the YPG issue but the fact that they exchanged warm messages towards each other and on the importance of the partnership is still somewhat of a good start," commented journalist Serkan Demirtas.
"The framework of a sound partnership has been established during this visit event if it is not at the level that Ankara was expecting. There is a lot at stake in Syria and both parties are. Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Soccer T-Shirts Wholesale Hockey T-Shirts Wholesale NCAA T-Shirts Wholesale Basketball Hoodie