LDP head Takaichi edges closer to Japan PM as opposition bloc splits

The Japan Innovation Party said Friday it will end talks with two other major opposition parties on cooperating in next week's parliamentary vote for a new prime minister, raising the likelihood of ruling Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi becoming the nation's first female leader.The JIP, in coalition talks with the LDP since Thursday, said at a meeting with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People that collaboration with them is "very difficult," Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Osaka-based party, told a press conference.Fujita also s…READ FULL ARTICLE