Japan PM heading to Middle East as planned ahead of warship dispatch

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will proceed as planned with a trip to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman from the weekend, ahead of dispatching a warship and patrol planes to the Middle East and despite heightened tensions in the area. Media had reported this week the trip would be cancelled because tensions rose in the region after the U.S. killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory missile attack by Iran on U.S. forces in Iraq. But Abe will visit the region as intended from Jan. 11-15, chief cabinet secretary said on Friday.