By Sara HUSSEINThousands of Japanese and foreign dignitaries will gather in Tokyo on Tuesday to honor assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at a rare state funeral that has sparked controversy and protest. Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister and one of the country's most recognizable political figures, known for cultivating international alliances and his Abenomics economic strategy. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has pledged the party will sever all ties with the church, but the scandal has helped fuel discontent over the state funeral. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be in the audience. Abe worked to cultivate close ties with Washington to bolster the key U.S.-Japanese alliance, and also courted a stronger Quad grouping Japan, the United States, India and Australia.

Source: Mint September 27, 2022 04:46 UTC