The Science Council of Japan urged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Saturday to explain his refusal to appoint six nominees as new members of the body. It is the first time that the candidates have been rejected.

Japan’s new government plans to form a digital agency to accelerate seamless sharing of information. Creating the agency is a key pledge Prime Minister Suga made during the LDP leadership election.

Japan’s longest-serving prime minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday that he decided to step down due to worsening health conditions. His recent hospital visits raised speculation as to whether he could stay in the post until next year.

Sen. Kamala Harris, whose mother emigrated from India and father from Jamaica, accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president on Wednesday. She became the first woman of color to run on a major party ticket. 

Four Japanese cabinet ministers visited the Yasukuni Shrine on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the country’s surrender in World War II. The shrine, which honors Class A war criminals, is seen as a symbol of Tokyo’s past militarism by its neighbors.