Japans Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has begun posting English-language messages on the video-sharing Internet site YouTube in an apparent bid to raise Japans international profile. Lions Ndamukong Suh Authentic Jersey .
　　Japans Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda speaks in English shown here in this video image from a video clip called New Years Greetings Yasuo Fukuda_1.1.2008 posted on the video-sharing Internet site YouTube. [YouTube.com]
　　In an online New Years message for 2008, Fukuda outlines the challenges facing the world in the coming year and promises to play a leading role in finding solutions.
　　Of these challenges, those that concern the environment seriously affect all who live on this Earth. Japans mission is to play a major role in this area, Fukuda says in the video, speaking in English against a backdrop of leather-bound books at his official residence.
　　We will contribute to creating a world where people can live peacefully, he says in the five-minute clip -- rarely smiling, in line with his dour image.
　　As of Wednesday morning, the English video clip had been viewed 385 times, while a Japanese-language version had been viewed 1,465 times. Neither had yet prompted any viewers to post comments on the site.
　　The clip is part of the YouTube LDP Channel launched last month by the Liberal Democratic Party. It features official party videos designed to reach a younger, wider and more global audience.
　　Fukuda will also make frequent appearances on the channel, according to LDP multimedia chief Taro Kono.
　　The LDP is the very first Japanese party to launch a channel on YouTube, Kono said in another clip. I hope you tune in when you have nothing else to do.
　　Fukuda already sends out a weekly e-mail magazine in English and Japanese outlining his beliefs and policies.
　　 
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　　TOKYO - Asian markets rose Tuesday as investors regained some confidence on Wall Streets second straight day of strong gains, spurred by a US government bailout of banking giant Citigroup.
　　A passer-by is seen in front of an electronic stock board in downtown Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008. Japanese shares surged early Tuesday as investors returning from a national holiday cheered the U.S. government bailout of Citigroup and wall Streets rally.[Agencies] 
　　Initial reaction in the region to the Citigroup news which broke midday Monday in Asia was tepid, and most benchmarks had ended the day lower. But after seeing markets in Europe and the U.S. surge overnight, Asian investors joined in the rally.
　　Gains faded somewhat as trading progressed, reflecting the persistent concerns investors have about the length and depth of slumps in the U.S. - a vital export market and broader global economy.
　　Most investors are still cautious on the U.S. economy, said Castor Pang, an analyst at Sun Hung Kai Financial in Hong Kong, adding that Tuesdays gains were likely a temporary rebound.
　　In Japan, which had been on holiday Monday, the Nikkei 225 stock average was up 3.4 percent at 8,179.00 after surging more than 4 percent earlier.
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　　Hong Kongs Hang Seng index, up 4.6 percent in early trading, rose 3.3 percent by midday at 12,873.80. South Koreas Kospi, which had fallen 3.4 percent Monday, rose 1.5 percent, while Australias key index was up 3. China Wholesale. 7 percent.
　　Wall Street and European markets surged Monday on news that the U.S. government will take a $20 billion stake in Citigroup and guarantee hundreds of billions of dollars in risky assets. The Dow Jones industrials soared 396.97 points, or 4.93 percent, to 8,443.39 Monday - the first two-day advance since Oct. 31.
　　Britains FTSE 100 index jumped 9.8 percent to 4,152.96, Germanys DAX soared 10.3 percent to 4,554.33 and Frances CAC-40 gained 10.1 percent at 3,172.11.
　　Japanese officials in Tokyo hailed Washingtons move.
　　Economy Minister Kaoru Yosano called the plan a courageous decision to save the massive global banking group, noting that the worlds economy could be affected by Citigroups fate, according to Kyodo news agency.
　　All three of Japans megabanks climbed, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. up 3.5 percent, Mizuho Financial Group Inc. soaring 9.1 percent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. 8.2 percent higher.
　　South Koreas KB Financial Group, the holding company for top lender Kookmin Bank, rose 9 percent, after falling the previous day.
　　Wall Streets gains also drove commodity markets higher as oil prices jumped 9 percent Monday, though they slipped back a bit in Asian trading Tuesday. Commodity shares in Australia gained as a result, with BHP Billiton Ltd., the worlds largest mining company, soaring 14.7 percent.
　　After jumping $4.57 overnight, light, sweet crude for January delivery was down 61 cents to $53.89 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Singapore.
　　In currencies, the dollar fell to 96.43 yen from 96.88 yen late Monday. The euro also slid to $1.2837 from $1.2925.