January 23, 2026
Local
Local
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Two foreign nationals have become the first individuals in Malaysia to be charged in court for littering under the newly enforced anti-littering law, according to a report by The Star.
WASHINGTON, Feb 28 — Hundreds of scientists and experts have been dismissed from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a key US agency responsible for weather forecasting, climate analysis, and marine conservation, according to Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman.
The layoffs follow Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency initiative, which has enacted sweeping federal workforce reductions—moves critics say may exceed legal authority.
NOAA has become a target for Project 2025, a conservative governance plan supported by the Heritage Foundation and seemingly embraced by Donald Trump’s administration. The blueprint labels NOAA a driver of "climate change alarmism" and calls for its dismantling, including the privatization of the National Weather Service.
"Musk’s sham mission is bringing vital programs to a screeching halt," Huffman warned, emphasizing that millions rely on NOAA for accurate forecasts and severe weather alerts. Environmental groups echoed his concerns, with Miyoko Sakashita of the Center for Biological Diversity calling the firings “an act of sabotage” that will undermine lifesaving programs.
Adding to the controversy, Trump has reinstated Neil Jacobs as NOAA chief, despite his involvement in the 2019 "Sharpiegate" scandal, where he was officially censured for misleading the public about a hurricane forecast under political pressure.
The mass firings have sparked outrage, with critics warning that gutting NOAA will have dangerous consequences for public safety and environmental conservation. — AFP
