Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba to resign – reports

Mr Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the upper house in a crucial parliamentary election in July (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s prime minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to step down after growing calls from his party to take responsibility for its big loss in the July parliamentary election, Japanese television has reported.

Mr Ishiba, who took office in October, has resisted demands from mostly right-wing opponents within his own party for more than a month.