A vote to determine Japan's likely next prime minister headed to a runoff on Saturday, with the ruling party picking between its first female leader and the youngest of the modern era.

The Liberal Democratic Party will select either hardline nationalist Sanae Takaichi, 64, or the telegenic political scion Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, to regain trust from a public angered by rising prices and drawn to opposition groups promising big stimulus and clampdowns on foreigners.

The runoff is expected to conclude around 0630 GMT (12 pm in India).

LDP 'rotting from within'

A vote in parliament to choose a prime minister to replace Shigeru Ishiba is expected to be held on October 15.

The new LDP president is likely to succeed Ishiba as leader of the world's fourth-biggest economy because the party, whi

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