Japan set for polls in November

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has told top opposition politicians he plans to call a general election in early November, Kyodo news agency reported yesterday.
Noda was forced to promise the opposition an early general election to gain their support in parliament two weeks ago for a bill to double Japan's sales tax.
Its passage was a rare tangible achievement in the revolving door world of Japanese leaders that has seen six prime ministers in as many years, but could cost Noda, who has only been in office for 11 months, his job.