he said there are a number of challenging issues to address. >>> prime minister abe appointed yuko obuchi and midori matsushima as part of his efforts to promote a bigger role for women in government. obuchi was first elected to the lower house of the diet in 2000. she is well-known in japan as a daughter of the late former prime minister keizo obuchi. in 2008, obuchi became minister for declining birth rate measures under then-prime minister taro aso. she was then 34. making her the youngest minister in any cabinet in post-war japan. abe named obuchi to the number two position in the finance ministry two years ago, when he became prime minister for a second time. she also chaired a lower house committee on education and science. obuchi won praise from prime minister abe, and leaders of the ruling liberal democratic party for her understanding of a broad range of issues. that's one reason she was chosen to join the cabinet. matsushima stepped down from her first cabinet post after less than two months on the job. before becoming a lawmaker in 2000, she was a journalist at a newspaper. lat

abe appointed yuko obuchi and midori matsushima last month when he reshuffled his cabinet. they were among five women he appointed. but the ministers quit amid questions over their political activities. the prime minister said he is responsible for appointing them and would quickly choose replacements to avoid slowing down the government. abe is hoping to refocus attention on work related to his policy goals. he wants to pass bills aimed at revitalizing local economies and women's advancement. he regards them as the top priorities of his administration. but the head of the opposition party says that abe should take responsibility for the quick departures. executives of seven opposition parties are going to question abe about the issue and pushing for a diet debate about the scandals that led to the resignations. >>> officials at the world health organization have declared nigeria free of the ebola virus. they described it as a spectacular success story. officials say there have been no new cases reported in 42 days. that's twice the maximum incubation period. an infected ma

prime minister shinzo abe appointed yuko obuchi and as part of a cabinet shuffle. they were among five women abe picked as part of his efforts to promote women's advancement. over the course of one day both ministers quit amidst questions over their political activity. ldp secretary-general sadakazu tanagaki apologized to his counterpart for the resignation. he said the government carefully selected the replacements. he said members of his party will work hard to overcome challenges and regain public terrorist. >> translator: we have to renew our resolve. i've asked the leaders of komeito to work as one with the ldp. >> translator: we want to work to the to restore trust, get the diet clinton rations moving and advance the work of the administration. >> members want lawmakers to enact bills related to key policies before the current diet session ends next month. the bills include those on regional revitalization, and creating more opportunities for women. prime minister abe has outlined some policy goals he wants to accomplish by the end of the year. the sudden res

the trade and industry minister yuko obuchi, and justice minister midori matsushima, stepped down within hours of each other. >>> indonesia's joko widodo has been sworn in as president of the world's third largest democracy. he's the first president not to belong to the established military political elite linked to the former prime minister. in his speech, he spoke of reconciliation and national unity and promised to maintain what he called the country's free and active foreign policy. >>> the second child of britain's prince william and his wife kate is due to be born in april. the duke and duchess announced last month that the couple were expecting a baby, but no date was disclosed. kate hasn't been seen in public for more than two months as she has been suffering from acute morning sickness. the palace say her health is steadily improving. >>> could the balance of power in the battle for the northern syrian town of kobane be about to change? after weeks of saying it wouldn't, turkey now says it will allow safe passage for iraqi kurdish peshmerga fighters to join the syrian kurds defe