Briefly

JAPAN

Kishida extends poll slide on church links

Disapproval of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet edged above 40 percent for the first time, propelled by doubts over whether his ruling party would ever be free of ties to the Unification Church, according to a public opinion poll. Revelations of long-running links to the church founded in South Korea in the 1950s and famous for its mass weddings have become a problem for Kishida since July 8, when former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot and his suspected killer said his mother was bankrupted by the church and blamed Abe for promoting it. Kishida's support has tumbled and ties to the church have also fanned opposition to a state funeral for Abe to be held on Sept 27. According to the survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily, disapproval of Kishida's cabinet rose to 41 percent from 34 percent roughly a month ago, climbing over 40 percent for the first time since he took office last year.