“Malaysia’s lower house of parliament on Monday narrowly rejected a constitutional amendment that would limit the premiership to two terms, in a vote marked by high abstention, although without explicit ‘nays.’ The proposed amendment, which sought to limit any individual’s service as prime minister to 10 years, was part of the reform agenda of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition. Anwar, who came to power in 2022, has faced increasing pressure to deliver on campaign promises, with critics accusing him of faltering on reforms. The bill was rejected as 146 lawmakers voting in favor fell just two short of the two-thirds majority required to pass the amendment. Forty-four MPs abstained from voting while 32 were absent.” (03/02/26)
“Responding to a 911 call late Saturday, Des Moines police found an intruder had been shot multiple times. The homeowner told officers he heard someone yelling in his back yard, then pounding on his back door. When he unlocked the door, he says the woman forced her way in and attacked him, so the homeowner fired a handgun. … After she was released from the hospital, [Stannita] Wilson was charged with burglary.” (03/02/26)
“Rap music blared out around us at a campaign rally in the district of Chitwan, in Nepal. Supporters of 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah screamed out lyrics to an AI-generated campaign song which translates to: ‘Time’s up, Fake leaders, Game Over. We’ll ring the bell on 5 March.’ Crowds of all ages were chanting ‘Balen!’, as he’s referred to in Nepal. Giant banners of the political newcomer wearing his trademark black sunglasses were mounted across the rally. Balen Shah is running for prime minister after just three years as mayor of the capital, Kathmandu. He is contesting in what’s become a key race between Nepal’s entrenched political establishment and a new generation of politicians. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), came fourth in the last general election in 2022.” (03/02/26)
“A German company has signed a deal to help build the first stellarator fusion power plant in Europe. Proxima Fusion has signed the agreement with the Free State of Bavaria, RWE, and Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) to put the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion power plant on the grid in Europe. The company revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed and it outlines a roadmap to commercial fusion in Europe that begins with building demonstration stellarator Alpha near the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching. … Proxima Fusion also revealed that when operational in the 2030s, Alpha will become the first stellarator to demonstrate net energy gain, meaning its plasma will generate more energy than it consumes.” (03/01/26)
“Both the Pennsylvania (Penn) State University College Republicans and College Democrats are speaking out after another flyer reading, ‘Dead ICE agents can’t kill,’ was found on campus, depicting the hanging of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. In a joint Saturday statement entitled, ‘PSU College Republicans and Democrats Condemn Continued ICE Death Threats on Campus,’ they said, ‘Earlier today, a member of the Penn State College Republicans discovered a second ‘Dead ICE Agents Can’t Kill’ flyer placed near the HUB-Robeson Center, which serves as a central part of daily life for students at Penn State.’ … Penn State University told Fox News Digital in a statement that it ‘condemns this and any calls for violence or attempts to frighten or intimidate [violent gang members]. We are aware of this image circulating online, and University Police and Public Safety is investigating.'” (03/02/26)
“The Supreme Court on Monday hears its latest gun rights case concerning a federal law that bars frequent users of illegal drugs from possessing firearms. Gun rights advocates [point out that] the law falls afoul of the Constitution’s Second Amendment, which protects the right to bear arms. The case puts a spotlight on the Trump administration’s mixed messaging on gun rights. Although the Justice Department is defending the law in court, to the annoyance of Second Amendment advocates, it has in other areas backed challenges to firearms restrictions. The Justice Department turned to the Supreme Court after an appeals court ruled last year in favor of Texas-based Ali Danial Hemani, an alleged regular user of marijuana who had a handgun at his home in the Dallas area when it was searched by the FBI in 2022.” (03/02/26)
“A long lost painting by Rembrandt has been rediscovered and authenticated by experts, after its whereabouts were unknown for decades. Rembrandt’s Vision of Zacharias in the Temple, from 1633, was excluded from a list of the Dutch master’s works in 1960, and disappeared after being sold to a private collector the following year. But it resurfaced when its owners presented it for tests at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which undertook a two-year examination. ‘When I saw it in our studio when it was restored, I was immediately struck by the incredible power it has,’ Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits said. The Rijksmuseum receives many emails from people asking for information about paintings they have inherited or bought, Dibbits said. In this case, they knew it could be something special.” (03/02/26)
“An internal government database reviewed by The Washington Post demonstrates the vast scope of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to revise or remove information on African American history, climate change and other topics at hundreds of national park sites.” (03/02/26)
“Three U.S. fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses Sunday night, U.S. Central Command said in a Monday statement. All six aircrew ejected safely and are in stable condition. The incident shows how chaotic the air war with Iran has become as allies defend against Iranian attacks while American jets fly through the same airspace.” (03/02/26)
“Israel’s military vowed to intensify its attacks on the country and make Hezbollah pay a ‘heavy price’ after launching several strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and south Lebanon, areas where Hezbollah holds sway. The escalation came as Lebanese authorities, who have been trying to spare the country from any repercussions of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, said Hezbollah’s rocket fire gave Israel “excuses” to ramp up its attacks. Hezbollah’s attack on Israel overnight was the first time the Lebanese movement claimed responsibility for an operation against Israel since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between the two.” (03/02/26)
