The Covid-19 pandemic has given oxygen to the far right movement around the world. The recent violent protests in Melbourne, ostensibly over vaccine mandates in the construction sector, is the latest example of far right groups taking advantage of public frustration over prolonged lockdowns and social restrictions. We speak to Dr. Josh Roose, Senior Research Fellow at Deakin University on the challenges of responding to far right extremism.

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In 2015, Penang-born Leonard Francis pleaded guilty to defrauding the US Navy's Pacific Seventh Fleet of almost US$35 million. For the first time since his conviction, Leonard Francis has broken his silence by speaking to journalist Tom Wright providing details on the extent of bribery and corruption in his dealings with the US Navy. Leonard is the subject of Tom Wright's latest project with his new media outlet Project Brazen, a nine-part podcast series titled Fat Leonard. We speak to him about the main character of the podcast and future projects under Project Brazen.

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The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed over 22,000 lives to date, but the restrictions on social gatherings have disrupted grieving rituals for many Malaysians. A group of volunteers has initiated an online memorial as a way to remember the departed, which began with a tweet by journalist Aidila Razak. We speak to two volunteers behind the Covid-19 Memorial Malaysia on the project's aims, as well as the challenges of reporting on loss during the pandemic.

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Malaysian women have long been denied the right to automatically confer citizenship to their children when they give birth overseas. A recent High Court ruling has reversed the injustice by granting mothers equal rights as fathers in these situations. We discuss the implications of this momentous decision with independent journalist and gender activist Tehmina Kaoosji.

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The decision by the Selangor state government to degazette part of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, despite public opposition, sparked furious backlash last week. The saga also highlights the shortcomings of the system in holding government authorities accountable for decisions that affect forest conservation and management. We speak to forestry researcher Lim Teck Wyn on the complexities of forest management and how the decision-making process can be made more transparent and democratic.

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Around 44% of the Malaysian population is fully vaccinated - but there is a segment of society that remains hesitant to take the Covid-19 vaccine. What drives vaccine perceptions in the country, and how should we tackle the concerns of the vaccine hesitant? We discuss the findings of a recent Ipsos survey on this issue with Prof. Mahendhiran Nair of Sunway University and Lars Erik Lie of Ipsos Malaysia.

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The two Ps - the pandemic and politics - have been the main newsmakers for the past 18 months. But ironically, both have also been stumbling blocks to news media looking to gather and verify information about these very issues. We speak to journalists Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin and Lee Shin Yiing to find out how they've been navigating the challenges in holding business and policymakers to account.

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Despite the heightened interest of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement in investing, the social and governance aspects of the equation, such as press freedom, are still less likely to sway business decisions. A recent Bloomberg article posits that investors ignore press freedom at their own peril. We speak to one of the co-authors of the report, Bloomberg editor Isabella Steger on how investors are affected by deteriorating media freedoms, highlighting the situation in Hong Kong as a test case.

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Despite all the controversy due to the pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics ended on a high note for the Japanese hosts. Similarly, Malaysia’s campaign ended with a silver medal in the cycling keirin event on the final day, bringing the total medal tally to two. How does this achievement compare to previous Games? We run through the highlights with journalist Haresh Deol.

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Protesters took to the streets on Saturday under the banner of #Lawan to show their discontent with the government. Meanwhile, the special Parliamentary sitting was left hanging after the final day was postponed due to Covid-19 cases. We recount the happenings with independent journalist Hadi Azmi.

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