No image available				
			
			
			 / 30 January 2009
			
		
		Japanese industrial production fell 9,6% in December and core inflation almost evaporated, reinforcing expectations of a record economic contraction.
		
	 
	
		
			
				
					No image available				
			
			
			 / 12 September 2007
			
		
		Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly announced his resignation on Wednesday after a year in power dogged by scandals, an election rout and a crisis over Japan’s support for United States-led operations in Afghanistan. The hawkish Abe, who took office promising to boost Japan’s global security profile, had seen his clout dwindle.