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 8 – A coalition of 19 Democratic-led U.S. states has filed a lawsuit to prevent a Trump administration panel, led by billionaire Elon Musk, from accessing government systems that process trillions of dollars in payments.
The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argues that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) lacks legal authority to access U.S. Treasury systems containing personal data of millions of Americans. It warns that granting access could disrupt funding for health clinics, preschools, and climate initiatives while also posing major cybersecurity risks.
The lawsuit also accuses Republican President Donald Trump of potentially using the information for political purposes. The White House and Treasury Department have not responded to the claims.
Musk, who was appointed by Trump to identify government fraud and waste, has drawn criticism from Democrats and advocacy groups, who argue that his efforts could dismantle critical government programs and lead to mass layoffs of federal workers.
In a related case, a federal judge recently ordered the Treasury to restrict access to the payment system, allowing only two special government employees with read-only permissions.
The states claim that DOGE’s access violates federal laws requiring privacy impact assessments before handling sensitive data and unlawfully expands Trump’s executive power. The lawsuit seeks an immediate restraining order to block DOGE’s access to Treasury systems until further legal action is taken. — Reuters
A group of predominantly Democratic-led U.S. states has filed a lawsuit to prevent a Trump administration panel, headed by billionaire Elon Musk, from accessing government systems that handle trillions of dollars in payments. — Photo by Reuters
