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Israeli and Hamas officials are set to engage in indirect talks in Egypt on Monday in a bid to reach a ceasefire agreement and negotiate a hostage-prisoner swap, as the devastating Gaza war nears its second anniversary. The negotiations are taking place in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. Israel's delegation, led by senior negotiator Ron Dermer, is expected to arrive Monday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Hamas officials, led by Khalil al-Hayyah, arrived in Egypt on Sunday. The talks will focus on the initial phase of a potential ceasefire deal, which includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, are also expected to join the discussions, according to Egypt’s state media. This diplomatic push follows Hamas' partial acceptance of a U.S.-backed peace proposal, which has received support from Trump and a cautious endorsement from Israel. Under the proposal, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 of whom are believed to still be alive — within three days, relinquish power, and disarm. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the talks are expected to last only a few days. However, some Hamas officials have suggested more time may be needed, particularly to locate bodies of hostages buried under rubble. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi praised Trump’s role in advancing the peace effort, saying in a televised address that a ceasefire, the return of hostages and detainees, and the reconstruction of Gaza are essential steps toward lasting peace and regional stability. He emphasized the need to preserve the decades-old U.S.-brokered peace framework in the region. Bombing Slows Amid Talks Israel has indicated it is scaling back airstrikes in response to calls from the U.S. to ease military pressure during the negotiations. However, deadly attacks have continued. Since Saturday night, Israeli strikes have killed dozens in Gaza, though the military claimed it was targeting militant threats. On Monday, the Israeli military reported eliminating a “terrorist cell” armed with explosives and mortars, and destroying another group that had launched a mortar shell injuring an Israeli soldier. It also struck a site used to fire anti-tank missiles. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 19 new deaths in the past 24 hours, including two civilians seeking aid, and 96 injuries. The total death toll has risen to 67,160 since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack sparked the war. Nearly 170,000 people have been wounded, according to the ministry, which is operated by Hamas but remains a primary source for casualty data cited by international organizations. Hamas militants abducted 251 people and killed about 1,200, mostly civilians, during the initial attack. Most of the hostages have since been released through previous ceasefire deals. Children of War In Gaza, children born on the day the war began are nearing their second birthdays amid bombings and displacement. Many families live in tents with minimal belongings, struggling with hunger, trauma, and lack of medical care. Rola Saqer, a displaced mother from Beit Lahia, said her daughter Masa has suffered from chronic malnutrition and weighs only eight kilograms — the same weight for the past five months. “I wanted her to grow up strong, but fear and hardship have weakened her,” said Saqer, who had struggled for years to have a child. “She has known nothing but war.” In a nearby tent, Amal al-Taweel, another displaced mother, said her son Ali was born after three years of trying for a baby. Now, the family lives without sanitation, food security, or access to vaccines and toys. “I imagined a happy life for him, in a safe home,” she said. “Instead, his world is war, destruction, and fear.”

France plunged deeper into political instability as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just hours after announcing his new Cabinet — and less than a month into the role — amid mounting criticism and an inability to build consensus. The French presidency confirmed Monday that President Emmanuel Macron accepted Lecornu’s resignation. Lecornu, a close Macron ally, had replaced François Bayrou, becoming the country’s fourth prime minister within a year. In his resignation speech, Lecornu said the political environment made it impossible to lead effectively. “It would take very little for this to work — more selflessness from many, and a bit of humility. The country must come before party,” he said. The sudden resignation triggered immediate political backlash. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen urged Macron to either dissolve the National Assembly or step down himself. “We’ve reached a dead end,” she said, calling for snap elections. Left-wing parties also demanded Macron’s resignation, while others pushed to revive a broad leftist coalition of socialists, greens, and communists. Markets reacted swiftly to the turmoil, with France’s CAC-40 stock index falling nearly 2% from Friday’s close. The newly appointed ministers — some not yet officially sworn in — were left in limbo, serving only in a caretaker capacity. Ecology Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher expressed her frustration on social media, writing: “I despair of this circus.” Lecornu’s Cabinet choices drew criticism across the board, particularly his decision to name former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire as defense minister — a move questioned due to his role in rising public deficits. One of Lecornu’s key challenges was to pass a national budget amid France’s spiraling debt, which reached €3.346 trillion ($3.9 trillion), or 114% of GDP, by Q1 2025. Servicing this debt consumes about 7% of the state budget. Several ministers from the previous government were retained, including Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. France’s political gridlock has persisted since last year’s snap elections, which produced a fragmented parliament. The far-right and far-left together control over 320 seats, while centrists and conservatives hold only 210. Before resigning, Lecornu had consulted widely with political parties and unions in an attempt to form a consensus Cabinet. He pledged not to use the executive’s special constitutional powers to bypass Parliament on budget matters, promising instead to work with lawmakers across the spectrum.

The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi for their pioneering work on peripheral immune tolerance. Brunkow, 64, is a senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Ramsdell, 64, is a scientific adviser for Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi, 74, is a distinguished professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University in Japan. Peripheral immune tolerance is one way the body helps keep the immune system from getting out of whack and attacking its own tissues instead of foreign invaders. Their work dates back to 1995, when Sakaguchi made the first key discovery. Brunkow and Ramsdell made another breakthrough in 2001 and Sakaguchi linked all of their work two years later. “The laureates’ discoveries launched the field of peripheral tolerance, spurring the development of medical treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases,” the Nobel Assembly said in a news release. “This may also lead to more successful transplantations. Several of these treatments are now undergoing clinical trials.” Thomas Perlmann, Secretary-General of the Nobel Committee, said he was only able to reach Sakaguchi by phone Monday morning. “I got hold of him at his lab and he sounded incredibly grateful, expressed that it was a fantastic honor. He was quite taken by the news,” Perlmann said. He added that he left voicemails for Brunkow and Ramsdell. The award is the first of the 2025 Nobel Prize announcements and was announced by a panel at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Nobel announcements continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday and the Nobel Memorial Prize in economics Oct. 13. The award ceremony will be held Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, who founded the prizes. Nobel was a wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite. He died in 1896. The trio will share the prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor (nearly $1.2 million).

Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Sunday issued a joint statement welcoming Hamas's steps toward the ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war in the Gaza Strip. According to the statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries welcomed "the steps taken by Hamas regarding Trump's proposal to end the war in Gaza, release all hostages, alive or deceased, and the immediate launch of negotiations on implementation mechanisms," it said. They further commended Hamas's announcement of "its readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a transitional Palestinian administrative committee of independent technocrats," emphasizing the need for the immediate launch of negotiations to agree on mechanisms to implement the proposal and address all of its aspects. The foreign ministers also welcomed Trump's call on Israel to "immediately stop the bombing and to begin implementation of the exchange agreement," expressing appreciation for his commitment to establishing peace in the region. The ministers affirmed that these developments represent "a real opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing people in the Gaza Strip." The foreign ministers reiterated their joint commitment to supporting efforts to implement the proposal, end the war in Gaza, and reach "a comprehensive agreement" ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid, no displacement of Palestinians, and the protection of civilians. They also called for the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unifying Gaza and the West Bank, full Israeli withdrawal, Gaza's reconstruction, and a just peace based on the two-state solution. The joint statement came a day after Egypt announced that it would host Israeli and Hamas delegations on Monday to discuss field arrangements and details for the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners under Trump's ceasefire proposal. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000 others since Oct. 7, 2023, according to an update by Gaza's health authorities, in addition to destroying infrastructure and causing famine in the enclave.

Israel and Hamas prepared for indirect negotiations in Egypt on Monday, as hopes for a possible ceasefire in Gaza began to build after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a hostage release could be announced this week. President Donald Trump has welcomed the militant group’s statement accepting some elements of the U.S. peace plan. Israel has said it supported the new U.S. effort. Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — about 20 believed to be alive — within three days. It would give up power and disarm. Monday's discussions will focus on the proposed exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, Egypt’s foreign ministry said. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is joining the talks, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief reporters. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the current situation is “the closest we’ve come to getting all of the hostages released.” But he warned that “there are a lot of opportunities here for whoever wants to sabotage it to do so." Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,’’ he described two phases after Hamas accepts Trump’s framework: The hostages are released and Israel pulls back in Gaza to the “yellow line,” where it was in August. Rubio told CBS that Hamas should release hostages as they are ready, and that bombardment needs to end so they can be released. The U.S. plan also addresses Gaza's future. In a text exchange with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Trump said there would be “complete obliteration” if Hamas stayed in power there. Trump also texted that Netanyahu was on board for ending the bombing and peace in Gaza but added, “soon on the rest.” Support for a ceasefire grows “I hope that we are closest to a hostage deal since the (ceasefire) deal in January,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said in a speech Sunday. Anxious relatives of hostages gathered near Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, with some urging Trump to continue to apply pressure. Israel's recent military offensive in Gaza City led many to fear for the hostages' lives. “We cannot allow such a historic agreement to be sacrificed again,” said Michel Ilouz, father of Guy Ilouz. As hundreds of thousands of people marched across several European cities and elsewhere Sunday in support of Palestinians, the foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement welcoming steps toward a possible ceasefire. In backing Hamas’ willingness to hand over the running of Gaza to a transitional committee, the ministers called for an “immediate launch of negotiations to agree on mechanisms to implement the proposal.” They also underlined their commitment to the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, unifying Gaza and the West Bank and reaching an agreement on security leading to a “full Israeli withdrawal” from Gaza. Rubio told ABC that decisions regarding a governing structure or international group to manage Gaza can take place simultaneously with the first step of the ceasefire. “That’s the part that I think is going to be a little tougher to work through, but that’s what’s going to provide permanency to the end of the conflict,” he said. At least 12 killed in Gaza on SundayTrump has ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza, but residents and local hospitals said strikes continued across the territory. “While certain bombings have actually stopped inside of the Gaza Strip, there’s no ceasefire in place at this point in time,” Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Badrosian told journalists. She also said Netanyahu is in “regular contact” with Trump and that the prime minister has stressed that the talks in Egypt “will be confined to a few days maximum, with no tolerance for maneuvers that will delay talks by Hamas.” At least eight people were killed Sunday in multiple strikes in Gaza City, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties. Four other people were shot dead near an aid distribution site in the southern city of Rafah, according to Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military said it was not involved in the shooting and did not immediately comment on the strikes. “We’re on the brink, and we don’t know whether one will die of a strike or starvation,” said Mahmoud Hashem, a Palestinian father sheltering in a tent in Gaza City. Gaza’s Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll in the war reached 67,139 on Sunday, with nearly 170,000 injured. The ministry does not differentiate how many of those killed were civilians or combatants, but says women and children make up about half of the dead. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties. The Israeli military said Saturday it is continuing to work to dismantle Hamas infrastructure across the strip and warned residents not to return to northern Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes to announce the release of all hostages from Gaza “in the coming days” as indirect talks with Hamas continue in Egypt on Monday on a new U.S. plan to end the war. In a brief statement late Saturday, Netanyahu said he has sent a delegation to Egypt “to finalize technical details,” adding that “our goal is to contain these negotiations to a timeframe of a few days.” He spoke after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of the U.S. plan. President Donald Trump welcomed the Hamas statement but on Saturday warned that “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.” Earlier Saturday, a hospital official said Israeli bombing of Gaza City had “significantly subsided,” though at least five Palestinians were killed. Israel's army meanwhile said the country's leaders had instructed it to prepare for the first phase of the U.S. plan to end the war in Gaza. Israel has moved to a defensive-only position in Gaza and will not actively strike, said an official who was not authorized to speak to the media on the record. The official said no forces have been removed from the territory. Still, Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiyah told the AP that Israeli strikes killed five Palestinians across Gaza City, while bombing had "significantly subsided.” The army statement came hours after President Donald Trump ordered Israel to stop bombing Gaza once Hamas said it had accepted some elements of his plan. Trump welcomed the Hamas statement but on Saturday warned that “Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off.” He noted that Israel had “temporarily stopped the bombing.” Trump appears determined to deliver on pledges to end the war and return all hostages ahead of the second anniversary on Tuesday of the attack that sparked it. His proposal unveiled earlier this week has widespread international support. On Friday, Netanyahu's office said Israel was committed to ending the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Netanyahu is under increasing pressure to end the conflict. The official told the AP that Netanyahu put out the rare late-night statement on the Sabbath, saying that Israel has started to prepare for Trump's plan due to pressure from the U.S. The official also said a negotiating team was getting ready to travel. Egypt’s state-run broadcaster Al-Qahera News, which is close to security agencies, reported that indirect talks between Hamas and Israel will start Sunday. A senior Egyptian official said U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Egypt to head the U.S. negotiating team in the talks to release the Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli detention. The talks also will discuss maps showing the expected withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas in Gaza, said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to brief the media. The official involved in the ceasefire negotiations also said Arab mediators are preparing for a comprehensive dialogue among Palestinians aimed at unifying their position toward Gaza's future. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the second most powerful militant group in Gaza, said it accepted Hamas’ response to the Trump plan. The group had rejected the proposal days earlier. Progress, but uncertainty ahead Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 48 hostages — around 20 of them believed to be alive — within three days. It also would give up power and disarm. In return, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction. Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations among Palestinians. Its statement also didn't address the issue of Hamas demilitarizing, a key part of the deal. Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general and chairman of Israel’s Defense and Security Forum, said while Israel can afford to stop firing for a few days in Gaza so the hostages can be released, it will resume its offensive if Hamas doesn't lay down its arms. Others said that while Hamas suggests a willingness to negotiate, its position fundamentally remains unchanged. This “yes, but" rhetoric "simply repackages old demands in softer language," said Oded Ailam, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, who asserted that it serves more as a smoke screen than a signal of true movement toward resolution. Still, some Israelis expressed cautious hope. A group representing some families of hostages said the prospect of seeing loved ones return “has never been closer.” They appealed to Trump to keep pushing “with full force” and warned that “extremists on both sides” will try to sabotage the plan. Meanwhile, protests have erupted across Europe calling for the war's end. Unclear what it means for Palestinians Palestinians in Gaza tried to piece together what the plan means in real terms. “We want practical implementation. We want a truce on the ground,” said Sameer Qudeeh in Khan Younis. He worried that talks will break down again. “I hope Hamas ends the war, because we are truly tired,” said Mohammad Shaat in Khan Younis, as anxious Palestinians roamed the shattered streets. Israeli troops were still laying siege to Gaza City, the focus of its latest offensive. On Saturday, Israel's army warned Palestinians against trying to return to the city, calling it a “dangerous combat zone."

Today is Saturday, October 4, 2025, the 277th day of the year, with 88 days remaining. On this day in history: ·         1957: The Space Age began when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, into orbit. ·         1777: General George Washington’s forces attacked the British at Germantown, Pennsylvania, suffering heavy casualties and retreating. ·         1927: Sculptor Gutzon Borglum started work on what would become the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. ·         1965: Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit the Western Hemisphere, addressing the U.N. General Assembly. ·         1970: Rock singer Janis Joplin was found dead in her Hollywood hotel room at age 27. ·         2001: A Russian airliner from Israel to Siberia was accidentally shot down by a Ukrainian missile over the Black Sea, killing all 78 aboard. ·         2002: John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban,” was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading for forgiveness; he was released in May 2019. ·         2004: SpaceShipOne reached the edge of space for the second time in five days, winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize for commercial space travel. Notable birthdays today: Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa turns 81; actors Susan Sarandon 79, Armand Assante 76, Christoph Waltz 69, Liev Schreiber 58, Abraham Benrubi 56, Alicia Silverstone 49, Caitríona Balfe 46, Rachael Leigh Cook 46, and Dakota Johnson 36; singer Jon Secada 64; NBA star Derrick Rose 37; and actress Melissa Benoist 37.

Thousands took to the streets of Barcelona on Saturday as Spain, Italy and Portugal prepared for large-scale demonstrations denouncing Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Protests in Spain’s two largest cities, Barcelona and Madrid, had been planned weeks earlier, while similar demonstrations in Rome and Lisbon were prompted by anger over Israel’s interception of a humanitarian flotilla that departed from Barcelona in an attempt to break the Gaza blockade. In Italy, more than two million people joined rallies on Friday during a nationwide general strike in solidarity with Gaza’s residents. Support for Palestinians has surged across Spain in recent weeks, as its left-wing government intensifies diplomatic pressure against Israel’s far-right administration. Demonstrations targeting an Israeli-owned cycling team disrupted last month’s Spanish Vuelta race, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the devastation in Gaza as “genocide,” calling for Israeli teams to be banned from international sporting events. The renewed protests in Southern Europe come as Hamas said it has accepted parts of a peace proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the two-year war that has devastated Gaza and triggered genocide allegations against Israel. In Barcelona, families and people of all ages joined the march, waving Palestinian flags and carrying placards reading “Stop the Genocide,” “Gaza hurts me,” and “Hands off the flotilla.” While demonstrators acknowledged their actions may not influence Israel directly, many said they hoped to inspire broader movements and push European leaders to take a stronger stance. María Jesús Parra, 63, who traveled an hour to join the march, said she could not stay silent after witnessing what she called “a genocide broadcast live.” “How can we, as Europeans who lived through the 1940s, watch this happen again?” she said. “No one can claim ignorance now.” Rallies in Rome, Madrid and Lisbon were scheduled later on Saturday, alongside demonstrations in several other Spanish cities. The Gaza war began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel’s ensuing military campaign has killed more than 67,000 people and injured nearly 170,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the U.N. and independent observers.

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, paving the way for her to become the country's first female prime minister. Takaichi, known for her ultra-conservative views and strong stance against China, won the LDP leadership in a runoff vote on Saturday, defeating Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In a significant milestone for a nation that lags behind in gender equality, the 63-year-old becomes the first woman to lead Japan's long-dominant conservative party. A staunch supporter of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s political ideology, Takaichi is also a regular visitor to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a move that could stir tensions with regional neighbors. Following her victory, Takaichi acknowledged the historic nature of her win but stressed the challenges ahead. “I made history for the LDP,” she said. “Instead of celebrating, I’m focused on the many obstacles we must overcome. I’ll need everyone’s support.” She vowed to revitalise the party and restore public confidence after a series of electoral defeats. “We must become a more dynamic and optimistic party to transform people’s concerns into hope,” she added. The LDP, despite recent setbacks, still holds a dominant position in the lower house of parliament, making Takaichi the likely next prime minister. A formal parliamentary vote is expected by mid-October. Takaichi replaces outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as the party seeks to recover from political setbacks and restore voter trust. The leadership transition comes at a crucial time as Japan faces both domestic and international challenges, including sluggish economic growth, security concerns, and political scandals. Her appointment signals a shift towards more conservative policies, as the LDP looks to reclaim support from right-leaning voters who backed far-right parties like Sanseito in recent elections. Takaichi, however, presented herself as a “moderate conservative” during the campaign to appeal to broader audiences, including potential opposition allies. While she supports increased government spending, a stronger defense posture, and tighter controls on foreign labor and tourism, she avoided taking hardline positions on divisive social issues during her campaign. Experts noted that LDP candidates largely steered clear of discussing controversial topics such as same-sex marriage, historical disputes, and recent political finance scandals — a move analysts say may undermine public trust. The leadership race featured five candidates, including two sitting ministers and three former ones. While early polls identified Takaichi, Koizumi, and Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi as frontrunners, Koizumi would have become Japan’s youngest prime minister in over a century if elected. The new leader will soon face her first diplomatic challenge, with a possible summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on the horizon. The meeting, expected in late October during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, may include discussions on Japan’s defense spending — a key issue for both nations. Takaichi’s victory also raises the possibility of expanding the ruling coalition, which currently includes the centrist Komeito party. Analysts suggest the LDP may seek cooperation with other centrist opposition groups to push forward its legislative agenda.

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect a new party leader on Saturday to succeed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, aiming to recover from recent electoral setbacks and rebuild public trust. Following a series of defeats in parliamentary elections over the past year, which left the LDP in the minority in both chambers, the party hopes a new leader can quickly tackle domestic and international issues and work with opposition groups to push through its agenda. There are five contenders for the LDP presidency — two current ministers and three former ones. Since the LDP still holds the most seats in the lower house (which elects the prime minister) and the opposition remains fragmented, the new party leader is expected to become Japan’s next prime minister. The leadership race is an internal party election involving 295 LDP lawmakers and roughly one million party members, accounting for just 1% of Japan’s total population. Polls suggest the leading candidates include: Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who would become the youngest Japanese PM in over 100 years if elected; Former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who could become Japan’s first female prime minister;Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a seasoned moderate. The other two candidates — Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Economic Minister Takayuki Kobayashi — are considered less likely to win. A clear majority is unlikely in the first round of voting, making a runoff between the top two candidates highly probable. The final decision will likely be shaped by powerful party insiders. A formal parliamentary vote on the new prime minister is expected by mid-October. With criticism mounting over the political vacuum caused by Ishiba’s resignation, the new leader will need to move fast — especially with a potentially high-stakes summit with U.S. President Donald Trump expected later this month. Trump is anticipated to press Japan to boost its defense budget. This meeting may coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, which begins on October 31. In addition to forming a new government, the LDP is also expected to seek broader political alliances. The party already governs in coalition with the centrist Komeito party and may approach other moderate opposition groups for support — a shift from its previous reluctance to cooperate across the aisle. All five leadership candidates are presenting themselves as “moderate conservatives” and have focused their campaigns on economic issues, including tackling inflation, increasing wages, enhancing national defense, and tightening foreign labor policies. However, they’ve largely avoided controversial social topics such as LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality. They also steered clear of addressing the LDP’s recent political funding scandal — widely seen as the main cause of their electoral losses — and failed to propose clear anti-corruption reforms. Experts argue this avoidance has fueled skepticism about the party’s commitment to real change and may hinder its efforts to restore public confidence.