Japan PM Shinzo Abe set to resign, citing worsening health: Media

| Aug 28, 2020, 02:02:11 PM | TOI.in
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to resign, public broadcaster NHK said on Friday, adding that the long-serving leader wanted to avoid causing problems for the government due to the worsening of a chronic health condition. Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021. The conservative member of parliament returned as Prime Minister for a rare second term in December 2012, pledging to revive growth with his "Abenomics" mix of hyper-easy monetary policy, fiscal spending and reforms.

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Spain Denies US Permission To Use Its Bases For Iran Strikes As Europe Split Widens

Spain has formally refused to allow American military bases on its territory to be used in the ongoing US and Israeli campaign against Iran, with fifteen aircraft already departing from the Rota and Moron bases in southern Spain, according to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the bases, jointly operated but under Spanish sovereignty, would not be used for anything outside the bilateral agreement with Washington or in contradiction of the UN Charter. Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed the departing jets were primarily Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelling aircraft, with nine tankers departing from Moron airbase heading to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and further flights leaving from Rota. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez delivered the sharpest condemnation of the strikes among Western leaders, saying one could oppose the Iranian regime and simultaneously oppose a military intervention that was unjustified, dangerous and outside international law. He called on the European Union to join Spain in pushing for immediate de-escalation and dialogue. Europe's allies have fractured sharply over the conflict. The UK initially refused to allow the use of its bases but Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed course, authorising their use for collective self-defence while stating Britain would not directly join the strikes. Germany has also refused to participate. The divisions expose a deepening transatlantic fault line over the legality, timing and consequences of Operation Epic Fury.

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