Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, facing a grilling from opposition lawmakers amid sagging support for his Cabinet, denied Monday favoritism allegations against him that have been blamed for his party's losses in two recent major local elections.Abe told an ad hoc session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee that he was not asked by a friend for help in opening a new university department, and that he did not instruct government officials to benefit the friend's school operator.Abe has faced allegations that he used his influence to sway the approval process for a new veterinary depart…READ FULL ARTICLE
