FUKUDA FACES FIRST PARLIAMENTARY CHALLENGES

TOKYO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Japan's new Prime Minister Taro Aso, in his first policy speech in parliament Monday, stressed the immediate need to prop up the economy.

TOKYO, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Taro Aso was elected Japan's new prime minister Wednesday by the country's parliament, replacing Yasuo Fukuda, and he immediately announced his Cabinet.

UPI Almanac for Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.

TOKYO, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is set to leave office, and his Cabinet Friday endorsed a bill to extend the country's Indian Ocean refueling mission.

TOKYO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Ichiro Ozawa won another term Monday as president of the Democratic Party of Japan, allowing him to lead the main opposition to form the next government.

MANIPAL, India, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Although Germany shed its "historical guilt" for the 1939-45 war by the 1980s, most Japanese leaders have yet to abandon the cringing tone that they employ in the presence of those coming from countries that collectively defeated Japan. Recently resigned Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was a typical example of this, especially with regard to policy toward China.

TOKYO, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Japanese foreign ministry said Friday North Korea will suspend its reinvestigation of abducted Japanese nationals until Tokyo has a new prime minister.

TOKYO, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Japan Wednesday postponed a trilateral summit it was to host this month with South Korea and China because of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's resignation.

TOKYO, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Taro Aso, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Tuesday expressed interest to succeed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who has resigned.

TOKYO, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda resigned from office Monday saying he wanted to keep a political stalemate from dragging down the country.