Top Japanese minister faces no-confidence vote after graft claims

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to fire several top ministers who are reportedly under investigation for alleged fraud, local media on Monday.

Those to be axed, potentially as early as this week, include Kishida's right-hand man Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister of economy, industry and trade. All belong to a faction formerly headed by late premier Shinzo Abe one of at least five major groupings vying for influence and power within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Prosecutors are investigating allegations that the faction failed to report tens of thousands of dollars raised through fundraising parties. Kishida refused to be drawn on the possible reshuffle which could take place once the current session of parliament ends on Wednesday but said he took the fraud allegations seriously.