US varsities losing ground, as fewer Malaysian students heading to the US

Changing us policies, stronger greenback contributing to drop in numbers

Global prestige: A file photo of people walking between buildings on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Dec 17, 2024. Nearly 6,800 international students are enrolled in Harvard’s 2024-2025 school year, amounting to 27% of its total enrolment. — AP

Malaysian student arrivals in the United States have dropped by 7% from January to April – the biggest decline among Asean countries – amid policy uncertainty, rising costs and changing preferences. The numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels as more students explore alternative or shorter, cost-effective study options.

Malaysian student arrivals in the United States have declined this year amid ongoing uncertainties surrounding US foreign student policies.

According to figures from the US National Travel and Tourism Office website, the number of Malaysians arriving in the United States on student visas from January to April this year dropped by 7% to 1,754 compared to 1,887 in the same period last year.

Education consultants said the uncertainties – coupled with rising costs due a stronger US dollar and shifting student preferences – are contributing to the decline.

These factors, they note, have prompted some students to explore alternative destinations or opt for study programmes that involve shorter stays in the United States.

Malaysia’s 7% drop is the largest among Asean countries.

Thailand had the second biggest decline at -3.1%, followed by Indonesia at -2.3%.

All Asean countries recorded a drop in student arrivals to the United States from January to April this year, except for Vietnam, which saw a 21% increase.

Vietnam sent 25,206 students to the United States last year, the biggest number among Asean countries.

Singapore was second (9,639) followed by Thailand (7,081).

Amid policy changes introduced during the Trump administration, some Malaysian students are reconsidering their plans to pursue higher education in the United States.

Concerns intensified following reports that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had instructed embassies to suspend the scheduling of student visa interviews – part of a broader push by the administration to expand social media screening for visa applicants.

On June 6, the US State Department reportedly instructed consulates worldwide to resume processing visa applications for international students admitted to Harvard University, reversing earlier guidance to reject such requests.

The figures from the US National Travel and Tourism Office, which go back to 2015, show that about 8,000 Malaysians arrived in the United States on student visas each year.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a drop to below 3,000 student arrivals in 2020.

The figures have been increasing each year since, but have still not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with 5,223 Malaysian student arrivals recorded last year.

When contacted, the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it had no further remarks to add to earlier comments it had issued.

On June 3, the embassy had assured Malaysian students that applications for study in the United States remain open as usual, with no cancellations to previously scheduled visa appointments.

Higher education consultant Joey Ban said current political developments in the United States had contributed to the decline.

“When Trump took office in 2017, he implemented policies that were seen as rather unfriendly to international students,” said Ban, Principal Consultant at Edu Experts.

“The international student community anticipated similar or stricter policies this time around and shifted their focus to other destinations.”

She said the cost of higher education in the United States is a deterrent due to the strengthening US dollar.

“Few families have the financial capacity to support their children through a four-year bachelor’s degree programme in the United States.

“The duration to obtain a similar degree in the United Kingdom or Australia is also shorter.

“We also have quality options in Malaysia at a much lower cost. Interest is also gaining to study in China and South Korea,” she said.

Ng Yih Chen, president of the American Universities Alumni of Malaysia, said the drop in numbers is part of a long-term trend dating back to the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

“In the 1980s, there were over 10,000 Malaysian students in the United States, but since the mid1980s, even state-owned universities, which are more affordable, raised their tuition fees which have now doubled,” he said.

Ng said skewed negative portrayals of the United States on social media have further discouraged parents from sending their children there.

He added that continued uncertainty around US immigration and education policy had prompted many students to adopt a “wait-and-see” approach.

Doreen John, Head of Partnerships and Student Engagement at Sunway University’s School of American Education, said fluctuations in enrolment are normal and often influenced by currency exchange rates, safety concerns and policy changes.

She said increased competition from other countries and enhanced local education offerings have also shifted student preferences.

However, John added that US universities continue to hold strong appeal.

“The universities still welcome international students and have excellent systems, services and facilities to help them thrive,” she said.

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Maximum alert issued as Tiangong space station scientists uncover new bacterial species

Scientists aboard China’s Tiangong space station have made a startling discovery: a brand-new bacteria strain unlike any previously known on Earth. Hidden inside the station, this tiny life form could change how we think about life’s adaptability and survival in the harsh environment of outer space.

Imagine floating hundreds of miles above Earth, in a metal capsule orbiting at 250 miles high, and stumbling upon a new species. This is not science fiction—it happened on China’s Tiangong station. The discovery sparks questions about what else might thrive in conditions we once thought impossible.

A new type of Bacteria thriving in Space conditions

The newly identified bacteria, called Niallia tiangongensis, was found in a cabin area aboard the station. It is a variant of a known terrestrial microbe but with unique adaptations. This microbe isn’t just surviving; it’s actively repairing damage and managing oxidative stress caused by extreme space conditions like radiation.

This discovery emerged from a collaboration between the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Space Systems Engineering. Published recently in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, their study focuses on understanding how microbes behave in space over long missions—a vital step in safeguarding astronaut health.

Learning how bacteria respond to radiation and the vacuum of space is critical. These tiny organisms can harm both the crew and the spacecraft systems if left uncontrolled. But they can also reveal secrets about cellular protection and repair that might benefit science on Earth.

Why studying microbes in Space matters for astronauts and beyond

Scientists have long known that microbes can influence health in closed environments like space stations. Up to now, the exact mechanisms they use to survive harsh conditions were unclear. The Tiangong experiment shines light on these survival tactics.

For example, oxidative stress is a serious challenge for cells exposed to space radiation—it can cause tissue and cell damage. But Niallia tiangongensis has developed effective ways to combat this stress, repairing itself to thrive despite the damage. This is a breakthrough that could point to new methods for protecting human cells in space and even on Earth.

The potential applications don’t stop there. By learning from how these microbes manage genetics, metabolism, and damage repair, researchers hope to develop new medical and biotechnological advances. Imagine new antibiotics, radiation therapies, or biomaterials inspired by space-borne bacteria.

Reflecting on this, I recall a trip to a high-altitude mountain base camp where oxygen was thin and conditions harsh. The resilience of life forms there—lichen on rocks, tiny insects—reminded me that life always finds a way. Discoveries like this bacterial strain reinforce that nature’s adaptability exceeds our imagination, even beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

What this discovery could mean for future space missions and Earth science

As missions to Mars and beyond become more realistic, controlling microbial contamination and understanding microbial ecosystems in spacecraft will grow increasingly important. This bacterial discovery from Tiangong offers a window into creating better strategies to maintain healthy habitats both in space and on other planets.

The China Manned Space Agency has described this research as promising a “harvest of exceptional findings” that bridge microbial genetics and metabolism with practical applications. It’s a vivid reminder that space exploration isn’t just about rockets and stars; it’s about studying life itself.

So, what do you think about microbes that survive and adapt in space? Could these tiny astronauts be the key to future space travel health and innovation? Share your thoughts and stories below. Let’s dive into this fascinating world together and explore what it means for the future of life beyond Earth.

21 thoughts on “Maximum alert issued as Tiangong space station scientists uncover new bacterial species”

1. 

   John Pendleton

   June 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM

   There’s a wonderful education film about bringing a new life form back from space — it’s calle d “Life.” Everyone should watch this for context. And the Chinese have 

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Over half of Australians believe China will be most powerful country by 2035: poll  

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Over half of Australians believe China will be most powerful country by 2035: poll

 

Photo: screenshot from the Lowy Institute Poll

A new Australian poll has found that more than half of Australians (56%) believe China will be the most powerful country in ten years, while only about a quarter (27%) say the same of the US, noting "attitudes toward China improved incrementally, but caution remains." 

Similarly, more believe China (58%) will lead technologically in ten years compared to the US (12%), according to Lowy Institute Poll 2025 Report published on Monday

This reflected a positive shift on Australian perceptions of China with growing number of Australians gaining firsthand exposure to China's realities, a Chinese expert commented on Monday. The expert hopes in developing bilateral ties, Canberra would not be hijacked by external forces, stressing "the common ground far outweighs differences, and bilateral relations must be defined by cooperation, not divisions."

Attitudes towards China improved incrementally, but caution remains, the Australian institute said in the summary of the poll. The poll reports the results of a nationally representative survey of 2117 adult Australian residents, conducted between 3 and 16 March. 

For the first time since 2020, Australians were just as likely to see China as an economic partner than as a security threat - though a clear majority (69%) continue to think it likely China will become a "military threat" to Australia in the next 20 years, according to the poll.

About half think Australia should cooperate more with China on climate change (49%). Views on economic engagement are mixed — a plurality (43%) say Australia should be trading at about the same level as now, whereas about half (49%) say Australia should be attracting less investment from China, shows the poll.

Regarding Australia's relationships with the superpowers, a bare majority continue to say the US is more important to Australia (52%), while a lower proportion prioritize China (43%), the poll shows.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (45%) enjoyed a 20-point lead over Peter Dutton (25%) in Australians' confidence in him to manage the relationship with China, according to the poll.

"There's slightly more trust, slightly less threat perceptions, [but] it's still a pretty bleak picture for how Australians look at China," The Guardian quoted Ryan Neelam, the poll author and a director at the Lowy Institute, as saying.

Since the 2024 survey, the gap between Australians' trust in the US compared with China has more than halved, as perceptions of China continued to improve from their nadir in 2022, The Guardian reported, quoting Neelam.

Commenting over the poll results, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday that in previous years, under the influence of the then-ruling party's political maneuvers and the deliberate smear campaigns by certain anti-China forces in Australia's media landscape, public perceptions of China had been distorted and mired in so-called "China threat" narratives. This led to notably negative attitudes in polls, such as the Lowy Institute Poll 2022 Report.

However, facts speak louder than rhetoric, Chen continued. Recent years have seen growing number of Australians gaining firsthand exposure to China's realities, particularly after China's visa-waiver policy for Australians, Chen said.

"For instance, we've recently hosted multiple delegations from Australia and New Zealand, with more set to visit," Chen said, sharing his experience. "The latest poll reflects a more objective shift in public sentiment," Chen noted.

Yet while Australians increasingly recognize these truths, the persistence of a majority (69%) viewing China as a future "military threat" reveals the lingering impact of fabricated "China threat" narratives, Chen remarked. 

In addition, according the Australian poll, just over one in three Australians (36%) trusted the US to act responsibly in the world, a 20-point drop since last year and the lowest level on record since the Lowy Institute began polling in 2005.

Despite the sharp drop in trust towards the US, more than six in ten (63%) continue to think that the US would come to Australia's defense if it were attacked, and more Australians say the country should remain close to the US (57%) than those who think Australia should distance itself from its major ally (40%), said the poll.

Nevertheless, most Australians (68%) are pessimistic about the current US administration. Australians are evenly split on Washington's demand for US allies to spend more on defense, according to the poll.

Since the 2024 survey, the gap between Australians' trust in the US compared with China has more than halved, as perceptions of China continued to improve from their nadir in 2022, The Guardian reported, quoting Neelam.

According to The Guardian, Neelam said "That's quite remarkable for Australia's key security ally to have such a low level of trust." "The weight of expectation is that China will be more powerful and more predominant in the global system," he said.

Support for the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal remained steady, with two-thirds of Australians (67%) in favor—roughly unchanged from 2022 (70%), shortly after AUKUS was announced.

As the US consistently prioritizes its own interests and national security, even at the expense of allies, a stance that has fueled growing public disillusionment in Australia, Chen pointed out.

But the expert, citing the poll showing 63% of Australians still believe the US would defend Australia if attacked, said this exposes a lingering, unrealistic idealization of American commitments.

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