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Japan's next PM must cope with China, economy

Conservative ex-premier Shinzo Abe will get a second chance to lead Japan after his Liberal Democratic Party surged back to power in Sunday's election, but he must move swiftly to bolster a sagging economy and manage strained ties with China to avoid the fate of his short-lived predecessors. Abe, whose party won by a landslide just three years after a crushing defeat, is due to meet the leader of its...  

Japan votes in election, LDP may return to power

Japan voted on Sunday in an election expected to return the conservative Liberal Democratic Party to power after a three-year hiatus, giving ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a chance to push his hawkish security agenda and radical economic recipe. Polls opened at 0700 am (2200 GMT) and will close at 8 pm (1100 GMT), when major TV broadcasters will issue exit polls forecasting results. ...  

Revolt in Japan ruling party, but govt keeps majority

Tokyo: Japanese political heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa, one of the key figures behind the ruling party's rise to power, led dozens of lawmakers out of the party on Monday, but the government will retain its majority in the powerful lower house of parliament. Indeed, the departure of Ozawa, 70, and his followers could put Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in a better position to consolidate control on his fractious party and cut...