IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Japan

Cabinet clears way for snap election

The Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formally announced on Friday the ruling coalition's plan to convene an extraordinary Diet session on Sept 28, which will likely see Abe dissolve the lower house and call a snap election. The government's endorsement of the plan to disband the lower chamber of Japan's bicameral parliament was announced by Japan's top government spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, at a meeting of both chambers' steering committees. The move has drawn staunch criticism from opposition parties, who claim it goes against the Constitution.