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Reopening vital oil choke point Strait of Hormuz is a big challenge

PARIS (AP) — Gasoline prices are rising largely because of the Iran war’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passageway for oil and gas from the Persian Gulf. The waterway off Iran’s coast, now effectively closed, is so vital for the global economy that governments are working on blueprints to speedily reopen it to shipping when the shooting stops. In Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron is leading an international effort to unblock the energy choke point, so that oil, gas and goods could flow freely again “when circumstances permit.” He envisions countries using ...

Epstein’s longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers were digging into Jeffrey Epstein’s sprawling financial portfolio on Wednesday as a committee deposed his former accountant and tried to understand his connections to some of the world’s wealthiest men. Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate, appeared for the closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epstein’s sexual abuse, but provided a fuller picture of how Epstein acquired his wealth. The wealthy financier made hundreds ...

Using religion to win votes

Democrats have had trouble in recent years attracting conservative evangelical voters, who mostly vote for Republicans. In 2000, former Vice President Al Gore gave it a try. He failed badly when he said the first instance of pollution in the Bible is when “Abel’s blood cried out from the ground” after his brother Cain murdered him. Gore said this meant Abel’s blood had “defiled” or “polluted” the ground, rendering it incapable of yielding crops. Not exactly. Now comes Democrat James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the Texas Senate seat currently held by Republican ...

Skenes: For the love of game and country

Paul Skenes is smiling from ear to ear, draped in red, white and blue, along with the rest of his teammates, as they begin the first exhibition game representing Team USA at the World Baseball Classic at Papago Sports Complex in Phoenix. Skenes told the MLB Network why it means so much to represent his country in the games. “First and foremost, I care because I’m from America. I love America. I’ve seen the WBCs in the past, and there’s no bigger stage or no greater honor than wearing USA across your chest,” he said ahead of the game. There was another reason Skenes said he ...

‘Friendly takeover’

Donald Trump has shown Cuba’s communist rulers two ways their reign over the island can end: the Maduro way or the Khamenei way. The Cuban regime is a mix of gerontocracy, nepotism and socialism. Its official face is President Miguel Diaz-Canel, but authority still emanates from 94-year-old Raul Castro, brother of the state’s founding dictator, Fidel Castro. Though the long-lived Castro clan seems to prove only the good die young, no one beats the actuarial tables in the end, and Raul’s days are drawing short. Cuba is overdue for a profound change, and Trump is determined to ...

Horoscope

Unless you happen to be a member of a diverse group of evergreen perennial plants known as “bamboo,” your growth will more likely feel slow and awkward, but also, thankfully, inevitable. Because for most species, growth is rarely quick and painless. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate the various milestones, and Jupiter’s direct motions favor plans to do it big — you earned it! ARIES (March 21-April 19). Sometimes people don’t know their own minds until they start talking or writing about it. You have something to articulate. You’ll open up, figure out just how ...