Malaysia

Malaysia was accused April 7 of waging an assault on civil rights as parliament passed a tough anti-terrorism law aimed at countering Islamic militancy.
      

As Sebastian Vettel nurses his hangover, Bernie Ecclestone can raise a toast to the F1 gods after a weekend to savour in Malaysia gave the sport a reason to smile again.
      
Crisis loomed like the black clouds over Sepang after the German Grand Prix's axing, deafening complaints from teams and a soporific first race in Australia.
      

Fernando Alonso on March 26 muddied the waters still further about his mysterious crash in testing when he said he remembers every detail but that the cause remains unknown.
      
The two-time world champion said a freak steering lock-up caused him to crash his McLaren in Barcelona in February, and that he only lost his memory when given medication afterwards.
      

International Credit Rating Agency Fitch did not change Turkey?s outlook in its recent evaluation of the country, which resulted in comforting the markets slightly. Many people were not expecting Fitch to lower the ratings with elections approaching, but looking at the positive reaction of the markets, we concluded that ?it means some uneasiness did exist.?

Turkey received foreign direct investment worth $1.8 billion in January, Turkey?s Economy Ministry said in a statement late March 23.

The stronger U.S. dollar has stemmed external pressures in some countries from signs of weaker currencies and falling foreign exchange reserves.

In a report published on March 23, Moody?s Investor Service said external pressures in some countries are translating to capital outflows or significantly lower inflows as the U.S. dollar hurts countries with large external funding needs.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg has officially invited his Ferrari rival Sebastian Vettel to attend the German team's debrief in Malaysia following the pairs' spat after Mercedes dominated the Australian Grand Prix.
      

BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met on Monday with heads of the diplomatic missions of the Asia-Pacific region in Belgrade to discuss intensifying of the political dialogue and promoting the economic cooperation.

Does democracy in Malaysia really depend on Anwar Ibrahim? If it does, Malaysia's 30 million people are in trouble. Anwar is back in jail: at least five years' imprisonment, and another five years' ban from political activity after that. He says he doesn't care: "Whether it's five years or ten it doesn't matter to me anymore. They can give me twenty years. I don't give a damn."

Bosnia abandons sales of ammunition to Ukraine

BELGRADE -- Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday "banned arms and ammunition exports to Ukraine," Reuters has reported.

The agency said this came "following pressure from Bosnian Serbs," while Bosnian authorities said the conflict in Ukraine "should be resolved by peaceful means."