Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday denied allegations that his office covered part of the costs for a dinner party held on the eve of a state-funded cherry blossom-viewing event, a practice that would constitute a breach of the public offices election law.

The government decided on Friday to postpone the introduction of private-sector English tests as part of unified university entrance exams starting in fiscal 2020. The decision came after the education minister made a gaffe over students’ financial standing last month.