Aso Becomes Japan PM, But Election Looms

Taro Aso took office today as Japan's fourth prime minister in just 2 years, and the hawkish new leader appointed several long-time supporters to serve with him in cabinet. But the government may be short-lived, Bloomberg reports. Officials in Tokyo predicted that the PM would call an election as soon as next month, in which he will fight to keep his party from losing its more than 50-year hold on power.
(More Japan stories.)