Bush raises North Korea concerns

Japan agrees funding and tax cuts
Japan's cabinet agrees new funding to stimulate the economy, and Prime Minister Taro Aso also offers tax cuts.

Japan posts a rare trade deficit
Japan's trade deficit slips into the red in August as oil imports surge and exports slow amid the current financial crisis.

Global stock markets still jumpy
Fears about a global economic slowdown continue to weigh on stock markets, with Japan's main share index falling nearly 3%.

Bush approves housing rescue bill
US President George Bush signs a rescue bill designed to help Americans at risk of having their homes repossessed.

Japan's industrial output slides
Japan's industrial output falls more than expected as the IMF predicts the economy will slow.