Reuters: “Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving premier, announced his resignation because of poor health on Friday, ending a stint at the helm of the world’s third-biggest economy in which he sought to revive growth and bolster its defences. Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021. ‘I cannot continue being prime minister if I do not have the confidence that I can carry out the job entrusted to me by the people,’ Abe, 65, told a news conference as he announced his decision to step down.”
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