Tokyo - The disapproval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet hit the second-worst level since 1949 as many voters expressed loss of confidence in his leadership, opinion polls conducted by Japanese newspapers said Monday.

The worst was recorded at 75 per cent in 2001, when former prime minister Yoshiro Mori managed the cabinet, and it dissolved two months later.

Recently, Japanese researchers found that people who have faith in mass media like TV and newspaper are healthier than people who criticize them.

Research team led by Yasuharu Tokuda from St. Luke's International Hospital and Takashi Inoguchi from Chuo University analyzed data collected from 39,000 people in 29 Asian countries.

Data analysis revealed that people in the Maldives had the most trust and good health as compared to people in Hong Kong who more cynical and sickly.

Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average extended its losses Friday to a two-month low after Sony Corp announced a projected record operating loss for fiscal 2008.

The Nikkei index tumbled 306.49 points, or 3.81 per cent, to close at 7,745.25, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 22.36 points, or 2.81 per cent, at 773.55.

Tokyo  - Japan on Friday launched an H2A rocket carrying its Ibuki satellite on a mission to examine the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth's atmosphere.

The Ibuki satellite is to observe for five years the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane, which cause global warming, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, which makes the H2A rocket.

The satellite is to measure levels of greenhouse gases at 56,000 locations around the globe, the agency said.

Tokyo  - The Japanese government on Friday sent 1 million dollars of relief goods to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

Japan's assistance was aimed at helping make temporary shelters for civilian victims of Israel's military attacks on the strip, which destroyed thousands of homes.

It included 29,000 blankets, 20,000 sleeping mats and 8,000 plastic sheets and is to be sent to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Tokyo  - Stocks declined more than 2 per cent in Tokyo Friday morning after Sony Corp announced a projected record operating loss for fiscal 2008.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 228.4 points, or 2.84 per cent, to 7,823.34, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 16.29 points, or 2.05 per cent, at 779.62.