Japan: Heavy Snowfall Hits Sea Of Japan Coast 4

Heavy snowfall has battered a wide area of Japan, especially the Hokuriku region along the Sea of Japan coast. This video shows blizzard conditions in the city Otaru, Hokkaido.

US: Level 2 Evacuations Issued As Upper Cemetery Fire Sparks In Spokane

The Upper Cemetery Fire, previously called the Hills Fire, sparked near Greenwood Memorial Terrace in the Spokane Palisades Park area on Friday, July 26. The fire burned 90 acres, threatening more than 500 structures within hours, and level 2 evacuations were in place.

Labour Party set for landslide victory

Labour Party set for landslide victory

Supporters of the Labour Party celebrate in London on July 4, 2024, as an exit poll shows the opposition party is heading for a landslide victory in a national election to choose the 650 lawmakers who will sit in the House of Commons, the lower chamber of Parliament, for the next five years.

Cyril Ramaphosa takes oath of office for 2nd term as South African president

STORY: Cyril Ramaphosa takes oath of office for 2nd term as South African president SHOOTING TIME: June 19, 2024 DATELINE: June 21, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:43 LOCATION: Pretoria CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the inauguration ceremony STORYLINE: Cyril Ramaphosa, leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), took the oath of office as the nation's president for the next five years Wednesday at a ceremony in Pretoria, the administrative capital. "As the President of the Republic, I will work with everyone to reach out and work with every political party and sector that is willing to contribute to finding solutions to the challenges our country faces as we transition to a new decade of freedom," Ramaphosa said in his address at the ceremony. Ramaphosa, 71, was reelected as South African president by the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, on June 14, receiving 283 votes. His opponent, Julius Malema from the Economic Freedom Fighters, garnered 44 votes. Under th

Pakistani president approves dissolution of National Assembly for elections

STORY: Pakistani president approves dissolution of National Assembly for elections DATELINE: Aug. 10, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Islamabad CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of government buildings in Islamabad 2. various of Islamabad STORYLINE: Pakistani President Arif Alvi has approved the country's prime minister's advice to dissolve the National Assembly or the lower house of the parliament, said a statement from the President House Media Wing. According to the statement released late Wednesday, the president had approved the summary sent by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, adding that the president dissolved the assembly in terms of Article 58(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. Earlier, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi told Xinhua that the prime minister had sent advice to the president to dissolve the assembly, three days ahead of the completion of its five-year term on Aug. 12. The dissolution of the National Assembly, which elects the federal government, will caus

Japan's lower house approves record 836.9 bln USD budget for FY 2023

STORY: Japan's lower house approves record 836.9 bln USD budget for FY 2023 DATELINE: March 1, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:11 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY/MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Japan's lower house of parliament 2. various of protest against the record defense spending STORYLINE: Japan's lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved a record 114.38 trillion yen (836.9 billion U.S. dollars) budget for fiscal year 2023, with record allocations made for social security costs while controversial defense spending has been factored in despite the country's grim fiscal health. A record 36.89 trillion yen (269.81 billion U.S. dollars), the largest amount ever, has been included in the budget for ballooning social security costs in a bid to deal with Japan's rapidly aging population. The government's budget also includes 6.82 trillion yen (49.88 billion U.S. dollars) in defense spending. This is part of the government's plans to bolster its defensive capabilities, with the broader five-year plan d

No speaker in U.S. House elected as voting drama drags on

STORY: No speaker in U.S. House elected as voting drama drags on DATELINE: Jan. 6, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:20 LOCATION: NEW YORK, U.S. CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): XIA LIN, Xinhua correspondent STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): XIA LIN, Xinhua correspondent "The U.S. House of Representatives hasn't elected a new speaker as the election entered the third day on Jan. 5, 2023. U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy from California, the House Republican leader, fell short of the necessary votes to take the gavel in five more rounds of voting. The 435-seat lower chamber, where Republicans have a slim majority over Democrats, is unable to conduct any legislative business until a speaker is elected. The 118th Congress convened on Jan. 3, while the House has been holding the speaker election for three days. McCarthy has the support of most House Republicans and former U.S. President Donald Trump, but a handful of hardliners have pressured him to decentralize the speaker's power. It was the first time a Hou

Malaysian PM passes confidence vote

STORY: Malaysian PM passes confidence vote DATELINE: Dec. 20, 2022 LENGTH: 00:03:20 LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Malaysia Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur 2. various of the parliament session of the day at the lower house of parliament (released by Malaysian Parliament on Dec. 19) 3. various of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the parliament session (released by Malaysian Parliament on Dec. 19) STORYLINE: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim passed a crucial confidence vote in the country's lower house of parliament on Monday. The motion was passed via voice vote rather than a bloc vote, and the move cemented Anwar's position as prime minister. The vote follows a memorandum of understanding signed by five political coalitions on Friday, with the heads of the coalitions agreeing to throw their weight behind Anwar and to ensure the unity government's stability. Malaysia has been in a political stalemate following the indecisive results of a snap natio

Indonesian parliament convened, opposition in control

Indonesian parliament convened, opposition in control

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A total of 560 members of Indonesia's lower house of parliament take their oaths in Jakarta on Oct. 1, 2014. An uphill battle is expected for President-elect Joko Widodo's coalition government as it has only 207 seats against 292 held by a five-party opposition alliance led by Prabowo Subianto, loser in the July presidential election.

Ex-lawmaker Tokuda

Ex-lawmaker Tokuda

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Takeshi Tokuda, a former member of the House of Representatives. Prosecutors filed a lawsuit on April 4, 2014, seeking to ban Tokuda from running in a general election for the lower house from a single-seat constituency in Kagoshima Prefecture for five years. Tokuda, a son of major hospital chain Tokushukai founder Torao Tokuda, resigned as a lower house member in February after his illegal election campaign came to light.

Diet approves BOJ chief Kuroda's reappointment

Diet approves BOJ chief Kuroda's reappointment

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (far R) and members of his Cabinet applaud at a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on April 5, 2013, after the lower house approved the government's reappointment of Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuroda for a five-year term after he serves the remainder of his predecessor's tenure.

Parties involved in AIJ scandal

Parties involved in AIJ scandal

TOKYO, Japan - In Tokyo on March 27, 2012, (from L to R) Kazuhiko Asakawa, president of AIJ Investment Advisors Co., Hideaki Nishimura, president of ITM Securities Co. which is effectively under AIJ's control, and Isao Ishiyama, a retiree of the now-defunct Social Insurance Agency who currently operates a pension fund consultancy, sit at a session of the House of Representatives' Committee on Financial Affairs which addressed AIJ's loss of assets it had been managing on behalf of pension funds. They were three of the five witnesses to testify at the lower house's committee.

Nagoya mayor's group aiming at Diet seats

Nagoya mayor's group aiming at Diet seats

NAGOYA, Japan - Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Nagoya, central Japan, on Feb. 17, 2011. Kawamura said he aims to field at least five candidates from his local political group in the next lower house election, in an effort to promote tax cuts at the national level. But he declined to say whether he would run in the election himself.

Campaigns begin for 5 lower house by-elections

Campaigns begin for 5 lower house by-elections

NAGAOKA, Japan - Local people in the House of Representatives Niigata No. 5 constituency listen to a campaign speech by a candidate for the lower house by-election in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 15. Campaigning began for five lower house by-elections to be held Oct. 27.

Italy's new cabinet wins final confidence vote

STORY: Italy's new cabinet wins final confidence vote DATELINE: Oct. 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:18 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni making a speech in Senate 2. various of confidence vote STORYLINE: The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin. The final tally in the Senate was 115 votes in favor of confirming Meloni's government, 79 against and five abstentions. On Tuesday, the government easily won approval in the lower house of parliament, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. The two confidence votes are a step required by the Italian constitution for a new government to become fully operative. Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, told the parliament ahead of the confidence vote on Wednesday her policy goals, including curbing high energy costs, sparking stronger economic growth, continuing support for Ukr

Italy's new cabinet wins confidence vote in lower house

STORY: Italy's new cabinet wins confidence vote in lower house DATELINE: Oct. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:15 LOCATION: Rome CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni making a speech at the Parliament STORYLINE: The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. The cabinet must now pass the second confidence test in the senate on Wednesday in order to become fully operative. Ahead of the vote, Meloni outlined the key points of her government's program, vowing to lead the country as best she can through what she described as some of the toughest times in decades. She also pledged to follow European Union (EU) rules. Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy, is the first woman ever to serve as prime minister in the country. She won 26 percent of the vote in snap elections held on Sept. 25. Brothers of Italy ran along with two allies -- Forza

ITALY-ROME-NEW CABINET-CONFIDENCE VOTE-WINNING

ITALY-ROME-NEW CABINET-CONFIDENCE VOTE-WINNING

(221025) -- ROME, Oct. 25, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the lower house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 25, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

ITALY-ROME-NEW CABINET-CONFIDENCE VOTE-WINNING

ITALY-ROME-NEW CABINET-CONFIDENCE VOTE-WINNING

(221025) -- ROME, Oct. 25, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the lower house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 25, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

ITALY-ROME-NEW CABINET-CONFIDENCE VOTE-WINNING

ITALY-ROME-NEW CABINET-CONFIDENCE VOTE-WINNING

(221025) -- ROME, Oct. 25, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the lower house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 25, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won the confidence of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Egypt toughens penalty on illegal migration

STORY: Egypt toughens penalty on illegal migration DATELINE: March 30, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Cairo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: various of Egyptian parliamentvarious of a ship sailing in the sea STORYLINE: Egypt's House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, approved on Tuesday the government-drafted legislative proposal (draft law) aiming to amend some provisions of the Law on Combating illegal migration and Smuggling of Migrants. The legislative body toughens the penalty on illegal migrants, individuals who provide shelter to them, migrant smugglers, and those who do not report illegal migration cases. The sentences handed to illegal migrants will now be imprisonment, and a fine varying between EGP 200,000 and EGP 500,000. Migrant smugglers will have to pay an amount equal to the revenues they achieved through their illegal activity in addition to a fine ranging between EGP 500,000 and EGP 1 million. They will also have to serve a prison sentence of at least five years. Penalty o

Campaigns begin for 5 lower house by-elections

Campaigns begin for 5 lower house by-elections

NAGAOKA, Japan - Local people in the House of Representatives Niigata No. 5 constituency listen to a campaign speech by a candidate for the lower house by-election in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 15. Campaigning began for five lower house by-elections to be held Oct. 27. (Kyodo)

Experts show different views on security bills

Experts show different views on security bills

People stage a rally, seeking the withdrawal of the government-sponsored security bills, outside the Diet building in Tokyo on July 13, 2015, when five experts gave their views on the bills during a lower house special panel. The ruling bloc aims to hold a vote on the controversial bills and ram them through the lower house soon. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Nagoya mayor's group aiming at Diet seats

Nagoya mayor's group aiming at Diet seats

NAGOYA, Japan - Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Nagoya, central Japan, on Feb. 17, 2011. Kawamura said he aims to field at least five candidates from his local political group in the next lower house election, in an effort to promote tax cuts at the national level. But he declined to say whether he would run in the election himself. (Kyodo)

Parties involved in AIJ scandal

Parties involved in AIJ scandal

TOKYO, Japan - In Tokyo on March 27, 2012, (from L to R) Kazuhiko Asakawa, president of AIJ Investment Advisors Co., Hideaki Nishimura, president of ITM Securities Co. which is effectively under AIJ's control, and Isao Ishiyama, a retiree of the now-defunct Social Insurance Agency who currently operates a pension fund consultancy, sit at a session of the House of Representatives' Committee on Financial Affairs which addressed AIJ's loss of assets it had been managing on behalf of pension funds. They were three of the five witnesses to testify at the lower house's committee. (Kyodo)

Indonesian parliament convened, opposition in control

Indonesian parliament convened, opposition in control

JAKARTA, Indonesia - A total of 560 members of Indonesia's lower house of parliament take their oaths in Jakarta on Oct. 1, 2014. An uphill battle is expected for President-elect Joko Widodo's coalition government as it has only 207 seats against 292 held by a five-party opposition alliance led by Prabowo Subianto, loser in the July presidential election. (Kyodo)

Campaigns begin for 5 lower house by-elections

Campaigns begin for 5 lower house by-elections

NAGAOKA, Japan - Local people in the House of Representatives Niigata No. 5 constituency listen to a campaign speech by a candidate for the lower house by-election in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 15. Campaigning began for five lower house by-elections to be held Oct. 27. (Kyodo)