Japan's Parliament has elected Shigeru Ishiba, the new leader of the ruling liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as the country's prime minister. Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stepped down earlier in the day to make way for the new leader.

ISHIBA SHIGERU, Japan’s new prime minister, knows what his colleagues think of him. “I have undoubtedly hurt many people’s feelings, caused unpleasant experiences and made many suffer,” he said apologetically in his final speech during the leadership race of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also wrote to Fumio Kishida, who announced his decision to resign in August.