Japan PM plans to stay put in office after election drubbing

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Monday he will stay in office to tackle challenges such as rising prices and high US tariffs after a weekend election defeat left his coalition with a minority in both parliamentary chambers and triggered calls for his resignation.

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Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito were short of three seats to maintain a majority in the 248-seat upper house in Sunday's vote. Though the LDP is still the leading party, its ruling coalition is now a minority in both houses of the Diet, or parliament, which makes it difficult for the coalition to pass any legislation.