DEVELOPING: Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Abruptly Announces Resignation

BREAKING NEWS Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Abruptly Announces Resignation Tokyo, Japan - September 7, 2025 - 5:13 AM ET Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his intention to resign, effective immediately. This decision comes after months of pressure from within his own party following a historic defeat in July's parliamentary election. Ishiba's resignation plan was revealed just hours before the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was set to make a crucial decision on whether to hold an early leadership election or approve a virtual no-confidence motion against him. His departure is expected to create a power vacuum at a time when Japan faces key challenges both domestically and internationally. Ishiba, who took office in October 2024, had resisted calls to resign for over a month, citing concerns about creating a political void. However, growing pressure from within the LDP ultimately led him to make this decision. The Liberal Democratic Party is now expected to move forward with an early leadership election to choose Ishiba's successor. This process is likely to be contentious and may lead to further instability in Japan's government. This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*