- UK watchdog bans Naomi Campbell from running charity over 'misconduct'
- Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire after truce bid fails
- Alcaraz, Medvedev win Beijing openers as Zhang scores big upset
- Bastianini sets record time in Indonesia MotoGP practice
- At least 3,661 killed this year in Haiti violence: UN
- French minister says in favour of adding 'consent' to rape law
- Workers remove Olympic rings from Eiffel Tower -- for now
- China caps week of 'bazooka' stimulus for ailing economy with rate cut
- X says complied with Brazil court orders, should be reinstated: source
- Draper ready to take lead for British tennis
- Cuts, cash, credit: China bids to jumpstart flagging economy
- France's debt weighs heavier ahead of budget debate
- The Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli strikes
- Shigeru Ishiba: Abe-critic wins Japan top job at last
- Former defence minister Ishiba to be Japan's PM after winning party vote
- Iran treads carefully, backing Hezbollah while avoiding war
- Draper ousts second seed Hurkacz at Japan Open
- EasyJet founder makes life hard for 'brand thieves'
- Return to sender: waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
- 'Broken' news industry faces uncertain future
- On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues
- Ishiba, Takaichi face off in Japan ruling party vote for next PM
- Taken from mother by nuns, victim seeks answers as pope visits Belgium
- 595th-ranked Zhang stuns US Open semi-finalist Navarro in Beijing
- Cowboys halt skid with victory over Giants
- Indian artisans tackle waste with creative upcycling
- Morbidelli fastest in first Indonesia MotoGP practice
- China cuts amount banks hold in reserve to boost lending
- Hong Kong, Shanghai extend surge as China optimism boosts markets
- Hardline French interior boss stirs controversy just days into job
- Israel defies ceasefire calls ahead of Netanyahu UN address
- France rugby superstar Dupont checks out NFL's Chargers on LA 'vacation'
- Pope to meet sexual abuse victims in Belgium visit
- Gaza war resonates but has global diplomacy shifted one year on?
- Yankees down Orioles to claim 21st division title
- Vietnam president reiterates support for Cuba during official visit
- Madrid return to scene of last defeat for Atletico derby clash
- 'Dangerous' duo Wirtz and Musiala highlight Bayern-Leverkusen showdown
- Springboks rally behind under-fire Libbok before title decider
- Ailing New Zealand butterfly collector gives away life's work
- Mexico's new president takes reins of shaky economy
- 'Misinformation megaphone': Musk stokes tension before US election
- Australia eye strong start in bid to topple All Blacks
- Plan to overturn commercial whaling moratorium sinks in Peru
- Man City must solve Rodri riddle, Ten Hag vexed by Man Utd miscues
- Ricciardo thanks fans for 'wild' ride after RB axing
- US regulator urges safety checks on some Boeing 737 rudders
- Scheffler-Kim spat spices 5-0 US rout to open Presidents Cup
- 'I need to go': Floridians make final preparations for Hurricane Helene
- Somali-Canadian rapper K'naan accused of sexual assault
Shigeru Ishiba: Abe-critic wins Japan top job at last
Shigeru Ishiba, who will be Japan's next prime minister after winning his party's leadership vote on Friday, is a seasoned lawmaker known for his in-depth security policy knowledge.
A former defence minister, Ishiba's push to boost the military and call for the creation of an Asian NATO could rile Beijing, but he is careful with his words concerning China.
He argues that Japan's military should be able to take a stronger response when territorial airspace or waters are breached. Currently a warning shot is the only option, and China is "well aware" of that, he has said.
Although he is relatively popular with the public, Ishiba has had four failed bids to lead his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), including a 2012 try against his arch-rival Shinzo Abe before prevailing this time against a nationalist.
For a long time Ishiba alienated party heavyweights with his "outspoken criticism of LDP policies under Abe", said Yu Uchiyama, a politics professor at the University of Tokyo.
But recently he has been "vocal about the need for the LDP to turn over a new leaf when it comes to the funding scandal and other issues", which may have worked in his favour.
He has also proposed creating a government agency in charge of disaster prevention in the earthquake-prone country that is also frequently hit by typhoons and heavy rains.
"My life's work is security, disaster prevention, and the revitalisation of rural regions," Ishiba said in a recent interview with the Mainichi Shimbun daily, pledging to focus on these issues as prime minister.
- 'Don't repeat mistakes' -
Ishiba, whose politician father was at one point a Cabinet minister, grew up in the remote rural region of Tottori.
He read law at university and became a banker before entering politics, winning his first parliamentary seat with the LDP in 1986, aged 29.
During his long career, the father of two has held several key posts including LDP secretary general and minister for agriculture.
The political veteran is a fan of trains, 1970s pop idols and making military models -- including one of a Soviet aircraft carrier for the visit of a Russian defence minister.
In the run-up to Friday's vote, Ishiba pledged to boost the economy by encouraging domestic investment in the chip and AI sectors among other policies, such as using nuclear power alongside renewables to fuel the resource-poor country.
He supports the Bank of Japan's exit from its longstanding unorthodox monetary easing policies -- championed by Abe -- and has said "there is room for raising the corporate tax".
The money raised by this tax hike will help the government in its existing plan to ramp up defence spending to the NATO standard of two percent of GDP by 2027, according to Ishiba.
He aims to raise Japan's low birth rate through measures including a review of the country's notorious long working hours and expanding support for parents, and wants to fight rural depopulation by revitalising regional economies.
Ishiba has said he is uniquely qualified for the job because he has experienced many setbacks when tackling tough social issues, such as agriculture reforms.
"I have always asked myself why and how things didn't always go well. I don't want future generations to repeat the same mistakes," he said in a debate on Wednesday.
B.Finley--AMWN