1. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has admitted that his office gave gift certificates to the offices of more than a dozen new lawmakers of his main ruling Liberal Democratic Party earlier this month. But he denied the move would cause any legal problems. 2. Comments by the US White House press secretary criticizing Japan for its levies on rice imports have drawn a response from Japan’s agriculture minister. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Japan of imposing unfair tariffs on inbound shipments of the staple grain on Tuesday. She said: “Look at Japan, tariffing rice, 700 percent.” Agriculture minister Eto Taku responded to the claim on Friday. He said: “I want the US to understand that Japan has a mandatory tariff-free import quota. And imports outside this are subject to a levy of 341 yen per kilogram.”
3. Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven are set to wrap up their two-day meeting in Canada. Their talks have partly focused on a US proposal for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The ministers are trying to balance their own views while also presenting a united message.
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