New favourite in Japan's PM race
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Japan's ex-foreign minister Taro Aso says his rival Yasuo Fukuda is most likely to win the contest to become PM.
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Shinzo Abe, a conservative advocate of a   more muscular Japanese foreign policy, was overwhelmingly   elected as ruling party leader on Wednesday, setting the stage   for him to be chosen prime minister next week.
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Japan&#39;s ruling party on Sunday chose moderate political veteran Yasuo Fukuda as the country&#39;s next prime minister, seeking safe hands after a disastrous year under conservative Shinzo Abe.
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Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe,   pledged on Tuesday to boost the country's role in global   affairs and revive respect for traditional values at home.
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Momentum was building in Japan's ruling party on Friday to tap 71-year-old lawmaker Yasuo Fukuda, known for his pro-Asian diplomacy, as successor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after his shock resignation, media and analysts said.
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HIROSHIMA, Japan  - Shinzo Abe announced his   candidacy on Friday to be Japan's next prime minister, a post   he looks certain to win, and said he wanted his country to   forge a stronger role on the world stage and improve ties with   Asia.
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Shinzo Abe, the front-runner to become Japan's new prime minister, called Friday for his country to build a stronger military as a deterrent and to push ahead with economic reforms as candidates launched their campaigns to lead the governing party.
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The front-runner to become Japan's next prime minister vowed Saturday to extend his nation's support for U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan.
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Former cabinet minister Yasuo Fukuda appears a shoo-in to become Japan's next prime minister after a poll showed on Tuesday that most rank-and-file supporters of the ruling party -- like lawmakers -- backed him for the job.
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The contest to succeed Shinzo Abe as Japan&#39;s next prime minister was thrown wide open Friday as dovish ruling party veteran Yasuo Fukuda announced he would run in what has turned into a two-way race.
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The race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe narrowed to two candidates Saturday as the ruling party said its conservative No. 2 leader and a dovish party stalwart who favors warmer ties with Asia will run.
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Japan's ruling party scrambled on Thursday to find a new leader and avoid a policy vacuum after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's shock resignation the previous day.
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Japan's Yasuo Fukuda was chosen as prime minister by parliament's lower house on Tuesday, ensuring him the nation's top job and setting the stage to form a cabinet that must confront a feisty opposition keen to force an election.
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Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said he would run for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, a race that will decide who succeeds Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
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Japan's prime minister-in-waiting Shinzo  Abe on Monday chose party heavyweight Hidenao Nakagawa as  secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the  party's No. 2 post and its de facto campaign manager as the LDP  prepares for a critical upper house election next summer,  public broadcaster NHK reported.
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Shinzo Abe, an advocate of a more   muscular Japanese foreign policy and restoring traditional   values, is poised to win a party leadership contest on   Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister   next week.
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Japan's ruling party scrambled on Thursday to find a new leader and avoid a policy vacuum after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's shock resignation the previous day, amid reports the departing leader had medical problems.