Japan prime minister to call snap election

Japan's PM Shinzo Abe is widely expected to call an early election on Tuesday, two years ahead of schedule. The BBC reports:

The Japanese economy is shrinking and Mr Abe hopes an election win will give him a mandate to delay an unpopular planned increase in sales tax. Mr Abe was elected two years ago with an ambitious plan to revive the economy, but has struggled to do so.

His popularity has fallen but he is expected to win an election because the opposition remains divided. Reports in Japanese media say he will announce the election - probably for 14 December - after meeting members of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and junior coalition party Komeito on Tuesday.

The rise in Japan's sales tax was legislated by the previous government in 2012 to curb Japan's huge public debt, which is the highest among developed nations.

The first rise - from 5% to 8% - took place in April. Mr Abe's government had hoped it would boost income but instead Japanese consumers stopped spending.

Figures released on Monday showed the country had fallen back into recession.