CRACKDOWN: Malaysia has promised to take back the foreign workers who left voluntarily by March first, provided they return with the proper documentation
A crackdown that forced tens of thousands of mostly Indonesian illegal workers out of Malaysia has created a shortfall of cheap labor in critical industries, a newspaper reported yesterday.

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BIG PICTURE: Although the region boasts some high-profile female heads of state, most are connected to political dynasties, and women still lack voices in parliaments
In the 21st century world the number of national leaders who are women remains extremely small, but with four female presidents and prime ministers currently in office Asia appears to be doing more than most regions for gender equality.

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Democrats fighting for universal suffrage in Hong Kong yesterday seized on growing concern over the expected resignation of the city's leader to renew their call for political reform.

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More than 40 surfers cruised into the world record books by riding a single giant surfboard off an Australian beach, newspapers reported yesterday.

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PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: Europe's poorest country is expected to leave the Communists in power, despite their shift away from Moscow and towards the West
Pro-Western Communists were favored to remain in power as Moldovans voted in parliamentary elections yesterday, but the party faced a challenge from centrists who prefer closer ties with Moscow.

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Britain's former top policeman strongly defended yesterday the government's new anti-terrorism law and criticized opponents of the measure for not comprehending "the true horror" of terrorism.

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Islamic terrorist groups are becoming increasingly active in Germany, coordinating with militants across Europe to recruit fighters for the insurgency in Iraq and to supply the recruits with fake passports, money and medical supplies, security officials say.

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Togo's former parliamentary speaker, who had been in line to lead the country before the military named its own man last month, returned home and met with Togo officials trying to ease a political crisis triggered by the takeover.

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Ukraine's former president Leonid Kuchma returned Saturday to Kiev, where he is likely to face questioning over the gruesome murder of an opposition reporter that became a symbol of the rampant corruption of his regime.

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TIMETABLE: The Shiite alliance is seeking the support of Kurdish political parties as it readies to end bickering and form a government by mid-March
Iraq's dominant Shiite-led alliance set a mid-March deadline to form a government, prodded to action by spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who demanded progress after more than a month of post-election haggling.

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THEORY IN PRACTICE: The socialist tide in the region was reinforced in Uruguay last week, but like other leftist governments, it faces tough economic realities
Decades ago, Latin American leftists talked of revolution and upending political systems. Today, many with ties to the revolutionary past have taken office -- pledging to help the poor, but leaving aside the rhetoric of the past.

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CANADA: The Liberal Party met to hash out how to proceed with its proposed pot decriminalization law after four Mounties were killed during a grow-op raid
The slayings of four Mounties during a raid has added new controversy to the debate about whether Canada should decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

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Disputes involving academics are usually hammered out in obscure journals or debated over wine and cheese in an ivory tower. But the battle triggered by Harvard's president Larry Summers has met a different fate. It has threatened his job, made front-page news in the US, seen the campus divided and brought out placard-waving students.

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■ India
Suspected militants killed
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