Donald Trump’s 75-country US Visa Suspension Challenged

A group of United States citizens and immigrant rights bodies have launched a lawsuit seeking to challenge the sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, argues that the Trump administration has relied on a false narrative to justify the visa processing suspension, one of the most substantial restrictions on legal immigration in the country’s history. 

The lawsuit charges that the policy “constitutes an unlawful nationality-based ban on legal immigration and a new set of discriminatory, unlawful public charge rules that strips families and working people of the process guaranteed by law”, according to a case overview by the National Immigration Law Center, which are among the groups supporting the legal challenge. 

The sprawling 106-page complaint further alleges that the administration relies “on an unsupported and demonstrably false claim that nationals of the covered countries migrate to the United States to improperly rely on cash welfare and are likely to become ‘public charges'”. 

The State Department has described the action, announced in mid-January, as a “pause” on immigrant visa processing on “countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”. 

The department have not revealed the criteria it used to determine which countries were added to the list, which comes amid a wider effort to constrict legal immigration pathways into the US and to deport undocumented citizens from the country. 

According to a January 14 state department cable obtained by the Guardian, the sweeping list cuts across every major region of the world, spanning countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and eastern Europe. 

Amongst the affected countries include Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Tiger Populations Grow in India and Bhutan

India and Bhutan have reported a marked increase in their wild tiger populations, according to new figures released separately by both countries. 

 

India recorded an average total of 3,682 tigers – making it the home of 75% of the world's wild tigers, the minister of state for forest, environment and climate change said. Separately, Bhutan recorded 131 tigers – up 27% from its last count in 2015. 

 

The new figures coincide with International Tiger Day on Saturday. 

 

The news in both Bhutan and India has been welcomed as the world continues to grapple with the increasing loss of species. As a top predator, tigers are considered essential for preserving the complex systems that underpin the natural world. 

 

However, they are an endangered species. According to WWF statistics, the global wild tiger population has dropped by around 95% over the past century. The loss of habitat due to human habitation and the illegal wildlife trade are among factors responsible for the decline.

 

Can we be more aggressive to ensure our critically endangered Malayan tiger population does not shrink any further and work towards getting their numbers up? Please, we must save Panthera tigris jacksoni at all costs!

Covid in Malaysia: Soaring High

Covid cases in Malaysia are ballooning but MOH are telling us that less than one percent are of Category 3 and above. So, no need to run scared leh!

But the Americans are spooked! On Tuesday, Malaysia together with Bhutan, Brunei and Iran were added to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s expanding list of highest-risk destinations for travel. 

Note: The CDC place a destination at "Level 4: Covid-19 Very High" risk when more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents are registered in the past 28 days.

Liverpool haven't been this close to Manchester City since Christmas Day. The gap is now down to three points in the Premier League title race – which once was heavily in favour of the latter – after Liverpool demolished Leeds United 6-0 at a raucous Anfield. 

This means we can look forward to the prospect of an exciting title race with 12 games left! 

Two penalties from Mohamed Salah (15, 35), either side of Joel Matip's first goal of the season in the thirtieth minute, gave the Reds a commanding 3-0 lead at the break. 

The Whites managed to stem the flow for a period in the second half but Sadio Mane netted twice (80, 90) before Virgil van Dijk scored in injury time to secure a 6-0 victory. 

This is the Liverpool I love – serious and relentless. Now just a three-point gap to close up!

Gross National Happiness

Gross National Happiness (GNH) is a development philosophy as well as an index which is used to measure the collective happiness of a nation. 

In 1979, the then King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck (right) himself had declared that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product”.

 

With that pronouncement, he challenged the conventional and materialistic notions of human progress.

 

Listen to the TED Talk by Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay on GNH:

The concept is indigenous to Bhutan, and was enshrined in the country’s 2008 constitution which states that “the State shall strive to promote those conditions that will enable the pursuit of Gross National Happiness”.

 

Malaysia should learn from this country. But then, we are too proud to learn from this tiny kingdom that is sandwiched between China and India.

 

 

This is so very true!

I received good news on Friday. Kementerian Sumber Malaysia and HRDF informed me that I am exempted from attending PSMB TRAIN THE TRAINER. Certificate No. 4976.

Be Happy!

How many times a year do you get an excuse to celebrate happiness? Why not today? Why not right now? After all, today is International Happiness Day!

In 2012, the UN declared March 20 to be observed as the International Day of Happiness. The day recognizes that happiness is a fundamental human goal, and calls upon countries to approach public policies in ways that improve the wellbeing of all peoples.

By designating a special day for happiness, the UN aims to focus world attention on the idea that economic growth must be inclusive, equitable, and balanced, such that it promotes sustainable development, and alleviates poverty. Additionally the UN acknowledges that in order to attain global happiness, economic development must be accompanied by social and environmental wellbeing.

The initiative to declare a day of happiness comes from Bhutan – a country whose citizens are considered to be some of the happiest people in the world. 

The Himalayan Kingdom has championed an alternative measure of national and societal prosperity, called the Gross National Happiness Index. The GNH rejects the sole use of economic and material wealth as an indicator of development, and instead adopts a more holistic outlook, where spiritual wellbeing of citizens and communities is given as much importance as their material wellbeing.

And did you know that the United Nations ranks Malaysia the world's 51st happiest among 156 countries and second in ASEAN?

One of the quickest ways to get involved is to celebrate acts of generosity, kindness, enthusiasm and connection – focused on bringing happiness to others. It's easier than one may think to ACT:

A: Affirm the pledge – make a personal pledge to create more happiness in the world

C: Cheer Happy Heroes – celebrate the people who bring happiness to you and others

T: Take part – do something to mark the day and spread some happiness

C'mon, be happy! Enjoy it! And spread it!