A leading Malaysian news site was fined US$120,000 Friday after being convicted of contempt over readers' comments that criticised the judiciary, sparking international condemnation and concerns about worsening press freedom.Fears have grown that independent media outlets are under attack in the Southeast Asian nation since a scandal-plagued coalition seized power without an election last year following the collapse of a reformist government.Malaysiakini, a popular portal that has made a

Myanmar's generals came under increased diplomatic pressure Thursday over the coup that deposed Aung San Suu Kyi, as India joined the United States (US) and other countries in calling for a restoration of democracy, and Britain and Canada announced sanctions against the junta.As the ruling generals pressed on with a drive to stymie nationwide opposition, Myanmar's giant neighbour India called in a joint statement along with the US, Japan and Australia - all members of the so-called

The corruption trial of Malaysia's scandal-plagued former first lady will proceed after a judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to make a case, boosting efforts to bring her to justice. Rosmah Mansor will now present her defence in the next stage of the case, and told the Kuala Lumpur High Court she will take the stand to testify.Notorious for her overseas shopping trips and vast collection of handbags, she became a lightning rod for public ange

Cambodia's government moved to exert near-total control over the country's online life Wednesday, setting up a national internet gateway which activists say will stifle freedom of expression and block content via a China-style firewall.Cambodia has seen a rapid increase in internet use in recent years, and Premier Hun Sen's government - which dissolved the main opposition party in 2017 - has intensified a crackdown on online dissent.A government spokesman dismissed concerns ove

Since a military coup earlier this month, Myanmar has endured internet blackouts and blocks on some social media sites, while a draft cybersecurity bill has been floated.These lightning-quick moves by the new junta have tech experts, rights groups and citizens worried that internet-hungry Myanmar will soon be as cut off as during the previous military regime.What Has Happened Since The Coup?The military has so far ordered five temporary internet shutdowns, starting on 1 February - the day of

Thai premier Prayut Chan-o-cha faced a torrent of vitriol from opposition MPs on Tuesday over his handling of a pandemic-bruised economy, amid a renewed push from a pro-democracy movement calling for his resignation and royal reforms.The verbal assault came at the start of a four-day no-confidence debate, with lawmakers set to vote on Saturday on the administration's fate.While Prayut - who came to power in a 2014 coup - is expected to survive the vote, the debate could set off internal

Myanmar's deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi will appear in court via video conference this week over charges brought against her by the new military junta, her lawyer said Monday.Army chief General Min Aung Hlaing has justified the 1 February coup by alleging widespread voter fraud in November's elections, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept.Two days after the putsch, the 75-year-old Nobel laureate was hit with the unusual charge of violating Myanmar&#

Malaysia on Monday defended a plan to deport 1,200 Myanmar nationals on navy ships sent from their homeland just weeks after a coup, following criticism from the United Nations (UN).News emerged last week the migrants would be sent home, after the Myanmar military seized power and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the start of February.Malaysian immigration chief Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the detainees, who will be deported on 23 February, are accused of offences including not havi

Despite stark failures in curbing COVID-19's spread, Britain has scored a notable success with its mass vaccination drive, giving 15 million people a first dose by Sunday.Here are some of the factors behind the speedy rollout.Early BackingIn May 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) government signed a deal with the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to buy 100 million doses of their still unproven vaccine, three months before the European Union (EU) followed suit.It a

Myanmar cut internet service and deployed troops around the country on Monday in signs of a feared crackdown on anti-coup protests, hours after security forces fired to disperse a demonstration in the country's north. The junta has escalated efforts to quell a burgeoning civil disobedience campaign which is demanding a return of the country's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Monday's internet shutdown and a request from the United Nations (UN) for an observer t