Hong Kong  - The number of billionaires in Hong Kong has plunged by more than 50 per cent in the past year as the superwealthy are hammered by the global economic downturn, a survey found Thursday.

There were 19 US-dollar billionaires at the beginning of 2009 compared with 40 at the same time last year, the annual "rich list" compiled by Forbes Asia magazine found.

Manila  - The Philippines' inflation rate slowed down to 7.1 per cent in January as prices of food and other basic commodities eased, the government said Thursday.

The January index was down from 8 per cent in December, but up from 4.9 per cent in the same month last year, the National Statistics Office said.

The office said the decline was caused by price decreases in fuel and utilities and slower price increases for food and commodities.

Bangkok - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva departed Thursday for Japan on a roadshow designed to restore confidence in the kingdom, which was plagued by political chaos last year.

Nuremberg, Germany - Barbie, the original fashion doll, turns an ageless 50 next month and must fight off a string of equally skinny challengers vying for attention from the world's little girls.

Mattel Inc, the world's biggest toy company, is planning celebrations all year marking the anniversary of the March 9, 1959 appearance at the New York Toy Fair of Barbie, who has since developed separate African-American and Hispanic identities and dozens of doll friends.

Budapest  - Delegations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union arrived in Budapest Wednesday to ensure Hungary is meeting commitments to strict financial housekeeping that were a condition for a huge rescue loan package last year.

The IMF, EU and the World Bank offered Hungary a 25 billion-dollar credit line last October as its economy teetered on the brink of collapse.

Kathmandu, Feb 4: The Nepal Government and the Republic of Finland on Tuesday signed a bilateral agreement for the protection and promotion of investment as well as promotion of mutual economic cooperation.

The agreement will stimulate investment in respective countries. As per the agreement, investment shall not be confiscated or nationalised.

The prime tenets of the agreement are to allow, encourage and promote investment and to ensure returns on investments in an equitable manner.

Kantipur quoted Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal as saying that the agreement recognises the need to protect investment of investors with full security.