Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe resigns, clearing way for successor

Yoshihide Suga at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Wednesday (Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet resigned on Wednesday, clearing the way for his successor to take over after parliamentary confirmation later in the day.

Mr Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, announced last month he was stepping down because of health problems.