Japan PM apologizes for party's church links

TOKYO－Amid sliding approval ratings, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized for his party's links with the controversial Unification Church, vowing to win back public trust by severing such ties and tightening vigilance over political activities.

Revelations of long-running links between some lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, and the church have become a headache for Kishida. Not only has his popularity slumped, they have also fanned opposition to a state funeral planned for former leader Shinzo Abe.

Abe's suspected assassin bore a grudge against the church, alleging it bankrupted his mother, and blamed Abe for promoting it, according to his social media posts and news reports.