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 24 — Several US federal agencies have instructed employees not to immediately respond to an email from Elon Musk, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, demanding a list of their weekly accomplishments or risk termination.
Trump-appointed officials at the FBI and State Department told staff to follow their chain of command, signaling possible tensions between the administration and Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The agency has already laid off over 20,000 workers and offered buyouts to another 75,000 across various departments, including Defense and Consumer Financial Protection.
The email, titled "What did you do last week?", was sent from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) but did not mention Musk’s termination warning. Some agencies, including Defense, Homeland Security, and the Internal Revenue Service, have told employees to wait for further guidance before responding.
The American Federation of Government Employees union questioned Musk’s authority, advising workers to check with their supervisors before replying. Meanwhile, Musk defended the move on X, calling it a “basic pulse check” and criticized resistance from government agencies.
The controversy has raised concerns among lawmakers, with Senator John Curtis urging Musk to take a more compassionate approach. Former Governor Chris Christie called the move “a complete overstep” that would likely be challenged in court.
Amid growing uncertainty, some federal workers remain frustrated about their job security as coalition talks continue to shape Trump’s administration. — Reuters
