Joe Biden was sworn in on Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States amid a pandemic at a heavily protected Capitol where a mob stormed the building two weeks earlier.

Twitter announced on Friday that it permanently suspended the account of President Trump after he incited a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn the 2020 election results.

Governors in the capital region on Saturday urged the central government to declare another state of emergency following a record surge in COVID-19 cases. Economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that the government needs to hear from experts before making a decision.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has drawn criticism on social media for attending a steak dinner with several guests after his government advised the public to avoid big gatherings amid a record spread of the coronavirus.

President-elect Joe Biden called for unity in his victory speech on Saturday night after winning more votes than any other candidate in American history. But Republican President Donald Trump refused to concede, vowing to take the election to the Supreme Court.

The Justice Ministry is considering doing away with a requirement to register marriages with personal seals. The move is in line with efforts by the government to digitalize administrative procedures.

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.

Former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, who was arrested on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Law, has admitted to giving out cash to local lawmakers and supporters. However, he said he did not intend to buy votes for his wife’s Upper House election campaign last July.