Shinzo Abe, Modi 'Dear Friend' dies; Modi declares one-day mourning

As a mark of the country's 'deepest respect' for Abe, the PM Modi also declared one day of national mourning on July 9.

[{"selector":"#anim-4bbb5923-8025-4189-a86e-0a7258aed895 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09861080-924e-4a50-8d2d-10632e1689d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-733d5079-462d-4a8c-8f7c-5b40d07c40ce","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock at the news that former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died from a gunshot wound.

[{"selector":"#anim-6ad7f3c2-020d-488b-9984-4cca143641a9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d8d1ca6-60c0-49cf-94df-104d26995e2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ba095d9-d0aa-4c6f-ac35-0528317374d9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Abe had also met Modi before during his tenure, when he was credited with advancing India-Japan relations.

[{"selector":"#anim-673ea9ab-7b22-4d8c-91b3-3abba780b871 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1591f9c-1905-4ff8-a098-3d4743eccf81","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d91d4d8d-c23e-405d-857c-2eb7a06b01ba","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Having not imagined that the most recent meeting he had with the late leader would be their last, PM Modi reflected on the meeting.

[{"selector":"#anim-ca0cdd84-c907-40a3-b6ce-508583e3deef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0edc53d9-4184-4661-a1ea-8c1473d8c681","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d564fb19-ad18-411a-9e66-b1a83c232fe9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] On my recent visit to Japan, I was able to meet with Mr. Abe again and discuss many topics with him. His wit and insight were as always on point.

[{"selector":"#anim-4d812f09-6b0a-4198-bdff-64fe2316e5d9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a62fa55-f360-4d4f-9b49-bd915f39d4e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cafd0063-6b38-4cda-b3a9-9384a97d41d5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This was our last meeting, little did I know. He and the Japanese people deserve my heartfelt condolences," the Prime Minister tweeted.

[{"selector":"#anim-149c4af8-5d13-4cdc-ab30-179cdd9cd4b4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4222f63e-4157-4719-ab20-b9a4bef3995c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a56ff0aa-b21f-4989-a7a8-75dd9466d0ef","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] “Mr. Abe's efforts contributed greatly to elevating India-Japan relations into a Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

[{"selector":"#anim-19e6d4c9-e8e7-490d-af21-33a9702e2d05 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db31f535-c67d-466f-a562-4d672408b96c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d622b150-22bf-4042-92b6-2d1f1ed197da","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Thousands of Indians are mourning with Japan today, and we offer our solidarity to those grieving." he said. Click here more stories