PM Modi announces one-day national mourning for former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sucummbed to his injuries after being shot while making a speech in the western city of Nara. He was 67.

The Japanese media outlet NHK tweeted on its offcial Twitter handle, "Officials say former Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo has been confirmed dead. He was reportedly shot during a speech on Friday in the city of Nara, near Kyoto."

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing shock over his demise, tweeted, "I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe."

Modi further added that Abe was a towering global statesman and a remarkable administrator. "He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place," he wrote.

Modi announced as that India will observe a one-day mounring as a mark of respects for Abe. "As a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a one day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022," he wrote.

In a series of tweets, Modi recounted his friendship with the deceased. He recounted how they first got acquainted when Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat.

In his later tweets he shared a brief account of their recent meeting and also shared a recent photo with Abe.