Japan’s Suga announces PM run with strong party backing

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga formally announced his bid to become the country's next prime minister yesterday, with growing party support making him the race's clear favourite. Suga unveiled his candidacy following days of speculation about his plans and shortly after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party set a September 14 vote on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor. A parliamentary vote will follow two days later, with lawmakers expected to endorse the new LDP leader as prime minister.  He won't run unchallenged, with former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida already announcing they will stand.