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Nepal elects new president amid political uncertainty

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s parliament members lined up Thursday to elect a new president, the third since the Himalayan nation abolished a centuries-old monarchy and became a republic.The election of the president has fueled feuds among the main political parties and triggered political uncertainty.A total of 884 members of the federal parliament and provincial assemblies gathered in the capital, Kathmandu, to vote for the new president. The final results were expected to be announced Thursday night.Both candidates in the presidential race are prominent career politicians.Ram Chandra Poudel is a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party and previously served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.His opponent, Subash Chandra Nembang of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), has also previously served as Speaker. The national election in November last year left a hung parliament, leading to a fragile coalition government taking power. Prime Minis...

Chaim Topol, Israeli actor known for Fiddler’s Tevye, dies

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in “Fiddler on the Roof,” has died in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday. He was 87.The cause was not immediately released. Israeli leaders on Thursday tweeted their memories and condolences to Topol’s family.Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog hailed Topol as “one of the most outstanding Israeli actors,” who “filled the movie screens with his presence and above all entered deep into our hearts.”Benny Gantz, Israel’s former minister of defense, praised Topol for helping Israelis connect to their roots. “We laughed and cried at the same time over the deepest wounds of Israeli society,” he wrote of Topol’s performance.Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s opposition, said Topol taught Israelis “love of culture and love of the land.”A recipient of two Golden Globe awards and nominee for both an...

Man who killed 4 during Houston drug robbery faces execution

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas inmate faces execution on Thursday for the drug-related killings of four people more than 30 years ago.Arthur Brown Jr. was condemned for the June 1992 deaths in a Houston home during a drug robbery. Authorities said Brown was part of a ring that shuttled drugs from Texas to Alabama and had bought drugs from Jose Tovar and his wife Rachel.Killed during the drug robbery were 32-year-old Jose Tovar; his wife’s 17-year-old son, Frank Farias; 19-year-old Jessica Quiñones, the pregnant girlfriend of another son of Rachel Tovar; and 21-year-old neighbor Audrey Brown. All four had been tied up and shot in the head. Rachel Tovar and another person were also shot but survived.“I don’t see how anybody could have just killed a pregnant woman and then made her suffer so much. It’s just beyond words,” said Maricella Quiñones, Jessica Quiñones’ older sister. Jessica Quiñones had been 9-months pregnant and had named her unborn daughter Alyssa.One of Brown’s accomplices in th...

Maine motorists appeal to keep naughty vanity license plates

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Maine vegan whose custom license plate contains the word “tofu” is one of the motorists caught in a state crackdown on vulgar license plates. Car owners across the United States can pay an extra fee to customize license plates, sparking creativity and personality but causing headaches for state officials who have to decide what’s acceptable.Maine had for several years allowed people to put just about any combination of letters and numbers on their vehicle plates, including words and phrases that other states would ban. But the state decided to change course and this year recalled 274 plates it deemed inappropriate.Some people are fighting back.So far the state has rejected all of the appeals, including one brought by the vegan whose license plate referenced tofu.The state concluded the license plate “LUVTOFU” could’ve been seen as a reference to sex instead of admiration for bean curd. The motorist insisted there was no mistaking his intent because the back o...

Is Starbucks The World’s Largest Unregulated Bank?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

Ontario Students, Get Early Path To A Career In The Trades Industry

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

Moldova President Confirms, It Will Not Seek NATO Membership

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

Q&A with Denver City Council At-Large candidate Will Chan

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

Go to: Denver Post Voter Guide • Candidate Q&A home pageWill ChanPROFESSIONCity administratorEDUCATIONGeorge Washington High School, Colgate University (BA), University of Denver (MA)EXPERIENCEPublic servant of nearly 20 years: labor organizer, expanded immigration services in libraries, city administrator in economic mobility for City and County of DenverWEBSITE • FACEBOOK • TWITTERBriefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.As a Denver-born first-generation American, I worry that the Denver of today does not afford the same opportunities for upward mobility that my immigrant parents used to lift themselves out of poverty. Denver has experienced rapid growth over the past few years and we have significant work ahead to prepare Denver for the future and protect families who are struggling to make ends meet. We need creative problem-solving to invest in housing availability, a next-generation workforce, critical phys...

Q&A with Denver City Council At-Large candidate Tim Hoffman

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

Go to: Denver Post Voter Guide • Candidate Q&A home pageTim HoffmanPROFESSIONDeputy District Attorney, Denver DA’s OfficeEDUCATIONCollege – Bucknell University, Law School – Georgetown LawEXPERIENCEOffice of Vice President Joe Biden – Advance TeamThe State Department – Near East DivisionUS Attorney’s Office, Colorado – SAUSADenver DA’s Office – Deputy DAWEBSITE • FACEBOOK • TWITTERBriefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.The increase in crime over the past several years makes Denverites feel less safe, hurts economic development, and drains our city of resources. We must bolster youth intervention programs, economic development, transitional and affordable housing, and treatment for addiction and mental health issues. These root causes of much criminal behavior are long-term investments that will impact the community now and into the future. At the same time, we need to ensure law enforcement ha...

Q&A with Denver City Council At-Large candidate Dominic Diaz

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:39 GMT

Go to: Denver Post Voter Guide • Candidate Q&A home pageDominic DiazPROFESSIONCompliance ProfessionalEDUCATIONEast High School, Some college at Community College of Denver – Political ScienceEXPERIENCE– 10-year Denver city employee– Vice chair of Denver Employee Volunteer Opportunities– Commissioner for Mayor’s Youth CommissionWEBSITE • FACEBOOK • TWITTERBriefly describe the single most urgent issue facing the city of Denver and how it should be addressed.Most urgent issue: Lack of housing options and affordability– Incentivize affordable development– Keep people in their homes– Create opportunities for homeownershipWhat should Denver leaders do to address the city’s lack of affordable housing?– Address permitting delays, considering fee waivers or reductions when appropriate, and leverage vacant city-owned property– Expand property tax relief and emergency rent assistance programs, provide tax credits for bu...