Former Japanese communications minister Seiko Noda on Thursday declared her bid to become leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, turning the search for Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's successor into a four-way race.Noda, who does not belong to an LDP faction, said she has secured the necessary 20 nominations from lawmakers to run in the party's Sept. 29 election.Suga earlier this month announced his intention to resign as public support for his government has plunged amid mounting criticism over its COVID-19 response.Vaccine czar Taro Kono, former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and …READ FULL ARTICLE
