JAPAN'S DIET ELECTED SHINZO ABE AS NEW PREMIER

UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.

UPI Almanac for Frriday, Sept. 12, 2008.

WASHINGTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda belied his mild-manner low-key image Friday when he OK'd a new measure that would transform Japan's decades-old policy supporting the demilitarization of space.

Kazakhstan increases output; Surgutneftegaz net proceeds grow by 19 percent in 2007; China, Japan work to resolve East China Sea Resources issue

TOKYO, May 5 (UPI) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao says his five-day trip to Japan this week will focus less on bilateral disputes and more on strengthening overall ties.

WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- The latest Patriot missile purchases and upgrade deals by Taiwan and South Korea point to a widespread expectation of growing tensions and expectations of eventual war on Asia's Pacific Rim.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Japan is stepping up its defenses against cruise missiles, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- 2007 was a year when major industrial nations divided into tortoises and hares in their policies towards ballistic missile defense.

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- In 2007, there were 19 presidential and 49 parliamentary elections, at least two notable referenda and several inner-party leadership fights. It would be impossible to cover them all in my column. So here is my personal and incomplete synopsis of the voting year.

TOKYO, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday he will use his upcoming China trip to move Japan's ties with the Asian giant to a new stage.