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In the news today: Gas prices blow through $4 a gallon on average, with the Iran war driving up costs; the American allies who want Trump to keep the fight going; and the Army looks into why combat choppers flew over Kid Rock's swimming pool. Also, the new policy that has clowns hitting the streets to protest. |
Leslie Sherman-Shafer, an Uber driver, fills up her car at a gas station in Alameda, Calif, March 23. (AP Photo/Terry Chea) |
Gas prices soar past $4 on average for a gallon of regular in the US, the highest since 2022 |
According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02 — over a dollar more than before the war began. The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Read more. |
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- Drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now. Since the U.S. and Israel launched a joint war against Iran on Feb. 28, the cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline — has spiked and swung rapidly. That's because the conflict has caused deep supply chain disruptions and cuts from major oil producers across the Middle East. If the war drags on, it's possible that those prices could rise even higher. Most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz, where roughly one-fifth of the world's oil typically sails through, remains at a halt.
More expensive fuel can also push up other spending, from utility bills to the price of many goods consumers buy each day. In the immediate future, analysts point to groceries, which have to be restocked frequently and could also see price hikes as businesses' transportation costs pile up.
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Gulf allies privately make the case to Trump to keep fighting until Iran is decisively defeated |
Gulf allies of the U.S., led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are urging President Donald Trump to continue, arguing that Tehran hasn't been weakened enough by the monthlong U.S.-led bombing campaign, according to U.S., Gulf and Israeli officials. Read more. |
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After private grumbling at the start of the war that they were not given adequate advance notice of the U.S.-Israeli attack and complaining the U.S. had ignored their warnings that the war would have devastating consequences for the entire region, some of the regional allies are making the case to the White House that the moment offers a historic opportunity to cripple Tehran's clerical rule once and for all.
Officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain have conveyed in private conversations that they do not want the military operation to end until there are significant changes in the Iranian leadership or there's a dramatic shift in Iranian behavior, according to the officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The push from the Gulf nations comes as Trump vacillates between claiming that Iran's decimated leadership is ready to settle the conflict and threatening to further escalate the war if a deal is not reached soon.
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Army reviewing combat helicopter flyover of Kid Rock's swimming pool |
The Army has launched an administrative review after two AH-64 Apache helicopters on a training run hovered near the hillside home of Kid Rock as the outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump saluted their crews. Read more. |
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Kid Rock posted two videos on social media on Saturday. The clips show a helicopter hovering alongside his swimming pool while he claps, salutes and raises his fist in the air. The Nashville skyline can be seen in the background. "This is a level of respect," Kid Rock posted, that the "Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her."
There was no official request to the Army from Kid Rock for the helicopters to come to his house on Saturday, Maj. Jonathon Bless, public affairs officer for the 101st Airborne Division, said on Monday. The helicopters also overflew a Nashville "No Kings" protest against the Trump administration on Saturday, but Bless said the training run had nothing to do with the protest. "Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements. Appropriate action will be taken if any violations are found," an Army statement reads.
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Violinist Hyunjin Cho and cellist Efstratia Chaloulakou perform for students studying with music at Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 5. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) |
Students study to classical music at Amsterdam's historic concert hall
One of the world's most famous concert venues has a surprising double life as a study hall. At these events, the plush red seats of Amsterdam's Concertgebouw are full of students hunched over laptops and notes, as world-class musicians play live. For the equivalent of about $2.85, students get a musical experience unlike anything they'll get out of a Spotify or YouTube playlist. It's also a chance to get young people more excited about classical music. Find out more by reading our article or watching our video, including thoughts from a neurologist on how you might be able to use classical music to get into a very productive flow state in your own work. |
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