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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for unity within the LDP to win the upcoming Upper House and Tokyo metropolitan assembly elections, despite the party's recent loss of its Lower House majority due to a fundraising scandal. He emphasized the need to regain public trust by listening to the people and speaking the truth.

Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office gave 100,000 yen gift certificates to parliamentary secretaries attending a social gathering at his official residence, raising questions about the practice within the ruling LDP. This follows similar revelations about Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's office distributing gift certificates to first-time ruling party Lower House members.

Asian markets were mixed on Tuesday, with Chinese markets retreating after a broad rally on Wall Street fueled by hopes the Trump administration may take a more targeted approach as it tees up a new round of tariffs on imported goods next week. The S&P 500 jumped 1.8% on Monday, but remains down 1.9% for the year due to concerns that a trade war could hinder economic growth and increase inflationary pressures.

Despite billions in government subsidies fueling industrial park development in Fukushima, most workers haven't returned, leaving the region struggling to recover from the nuclear disaster. The government's continued support is crucial, but long-term solutions are needed to attract and retain young people.

Japan's auto industry is bracing for potential US tariffs on imported vehicles, with concerns about production adjustments and the impact on the US economy. The industry emphasizes its significant contributions to the US through employment and investment, highlighting the importance of the US market as the top export destination.