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The recent ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran has brought a fragile calm to the region, but experts warn that energy prices may take months to normalize. The conflict had a significant impact on global oil and gas supplies, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and gas exports pass.Iran's response to US-Israeli attacks included choking off the Strait of Hormuz and attacking energy infrastructure in several Gulf countries. This led to soaring prices for energy and byproducts like helium, as well as fertilizers that rely on these inputs, affecting sowing seasons and consumers worldwide, especially in developing countries.Experts stress that a predictable and stable flow of cargo through the strait is needed before markets can stabilize. Currently, only a trickle of vessels are passing through, with five vessels crossing on Wednesday and seven on Thursday, down from 120-140 ships per day before the conflict.Rockford Weitz, a professor at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, described the situation as 'the biggest disruption in the history of global oil markets.' He emphasized that normalization will take time and requires collaboration among global powers and regional players.Additionally, concerns remain about Iran charging toll fees and skyrocketing insurance fees, which could keep oil prices high. However, experts agree that these fees are not the primary cost drivers.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of a looming inflation crisis and plans to downgrade its forecast for the world economy. Kristalina Georgieva, IMF managing director, stated that growth will be slower, even if the new peace is durable.For now, oil prices are expected to remain higher than pre-war levels due to the overhang of greater risk premium of supplies out of the Gulf. The situation remains uncertain, with experts closely watching for any side deals, such as a potential agreement between Iraq and Iran, which could impact oil production and prices.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that his country's technology played a crucial role in shooting down Iranian drones in the Middle East. This development comes after Zelenskyy announced last month that expert teams had been deployed to the region following the outbreak of the United States-Israeli war on Iran.In a recent statement, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian forces participated in operations using domestically produced interceptor drones against 'Shahed' drones, which are similar to those used by Russia during its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.Key highlights of Zelenskyy's statement include:Ukrainian forces successfully destroyed Iranian 'shaheds' in several countries.The operations were not limited to training missions but involved actual support in building modern air defence systems.Ukrainian experts provided crucial advice on strengthening air defence systems in countries that collaborated with them.Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the future, stating that it is only a matter of time before mass production of interceptors capable of destroying drones with jet engines commences.Kyiv has effectively utilized cheap drone interceptors to neutralize Russian drones before they reach their targets. As part of the agreement, Ukraine is receiving weapons to protect its energy infrastructure and, in some cases, financial arrangements.During his recent visits to Gulf nations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, Zelenskyy signed defence agreements with the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

The play Good Golly Miss Molly! is a joyous tribute to community spirit, set in the 1970s in Tunstall, where residents resisted a council plan to demolish their houses. The show, written by Bob Eaton, uses rock'n'roll standards to tell the story of a community coming together.Eaton's show has taken a hold of the audience, with its insinuatingly woven narrative of social history, pop, and politics. The story revolves around the residents of Hawes Street, who fought against the council's slum clearance programme and successfully argued for home improvements instead.The director cleverly uses music as the glue that binds the community together, telling the story through a band reuniting for a nostalgic knees-up in a social club. The play's protagonist, Molly, played by Shirley Darroch, evolves from a belligerent schoolgirl to a lead singer, NUM staffer, and residents' association chair, finding self-fulfilment along the way.The company's performance is tremendous, with doo-wopping, harmonising, and swapping instruments, making the angst and yearning of the songs a perfect expression of the working-class struggle.While the conflict could be more fully explored, the play gives a joyful sense of the music pulling the audience into the action, providing an exuberant lift to the company's 40th anniversary season.The play is showing at the New Vic theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, until 2 May.

The latest offering from writer Theo Jamieson and director Adam Lenson is a boldly conceived musical that thrusts a turbulent romance into a sci‑fi framework. The story follows a young astronaut, Daniel, who vanishes from his shuttle with barely enough fuel, prompting a quest to uncover the motives behind his reckless flight.Stuart Thompson (as Daniel) and Poppy Gilbert (as Emily) anchor the piece with performances that are both visceral and nuanced. Their chemistry captures the push‑pull of a relationship scarred by childhood bullying, parental betrayal, and a shared history of trauma, delivering songs that soar and hit hard.Visually, the production leans heavily on interstellar projections that transform the stage into a shifting cosmos, while the score oscillates between Sondheim‑style wit and full‑blown symphonic passages. This combination creates an epic sense of strangeness that distinguishes Flyby from more conventional West End fare.However, the narrative’s fragmented structure hampers its emotional payoff. The non‑chronological storytelling leaves critical gaps, and the metaphor of being "stranded in space" feels over‑extended—especially with the protagonist’s surname, Defoe, a thin nod to Robinson Crusoe. The three narrators, played by Simbi Akande, Gina Beck, and Rupert Young, often drift into digressive asides that dilute the central arc.Despite these flaws, moments of brilliance emerge, particularly in the musical’s treatment of mental‑health themes. The show hints at the potential to join the ranks of modern theatre successes like Next to Normal and Dear Evan Hansen, should its structural rough edges be smoothed.The production is currently staged at Southwark Playhouse, Borough, London and will run through 16 May. Audiences seeking a daring blend of emotional intensity and cosmic spectacle will find Flyby a compelling, if imperfect, experience.

The 2026 NFL draft is shaping up to be an interesting one, with a mediocre quarterback class and a lack of standout players at skill positions. However, amidst the uncertainty, several under-the-radar prospects have emerged as potential game-changers. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State, is a one-year starter with impressive athleticism, but his throwing mechanics need refinement. He could be a late-round pick with potential as a developmental quarterback or a do-everything offensive weapon.Chris Bell, WR, Louisville, is a big, physical receiver who excels on short routes and has the ability to create after the catch. Despite concerns about his injury history and penalty issues, Bell has the talent to make an impact outside the top 50 picks.Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State, is a mammoth tackle with exceptional size, athleticism, and strength. Despite being a relative newcomer to football, Iheanachor has shown promise and could sneak into the first round if teams bet on his raw talent.Caleb Banks, DL, Florida, is a disruptive defensive lineman with a rare combination of size, speed, and power. However, his persistent foot injuries and relatively muted production raise concerns about his durability and potential impact.Uar Bernard, DL, NFL International Player Pathway Program, is a 21-year-old Nigerian prospect with extraordinary athleticism, but it's unclear if he can translate his skills to the football field. Teams will likely take a chance on him in the seventh round, given his roster exemption and potential for development.

In an era where pop stardom is measured by a patchwork of streaming figures, award nods and high‑profile support slots, Holly Humberstone has built a credible résumé without ever cracking the singles chart. The 26‑year‑old from Lincolnshire has leveraged a Brit Rising Star award, a coveted opening for Taylor Swift, and four million monthly Spotify listeners to cement her place in the contemporary pop landscape.Her second album, ‘Cruel World’, marks a decisive shift from the gothic melancholy that defined her debut, Paint My Bedroom Black. The new record embraces an 80s‑inspired synth‑pop palette brimming with ear‑catching hooks, delivering lyrics that are both earnest and conversational, reminiscent of Swift’s confessional style.Highlights include the sun‑soaked breakup anthem ‘To Love Somebody’, which builds to a stadium‑ready pre‑chorus, and the irresistibly catchy ‘White Noise’, a nostalgic nod to disco that channels the energy of early‑2000s Kylie Minogue. Even the cheeky, self‑aware line on “Drunk Dialling” – “I’m gonna shake my nonexistent ass to this shitty song” – showcases Humberstone’s willingness to blend humor with polished production.The album’s production is consistently confident, featuring a surprising happy‑hardcore breakdown on the closing track “Make It All Better.” Combined with Humberstone’s knack for crafting crowd‑pleasing melodies, these elements suggest she is poised for a long‑term pop career that can thrive in both traditional and modern market models.

Winter Garden Theatre’s latest revival of Arthur Miller’s 1949 classic reimagines the Loman household as a bleak garage, its sheet‑metal doors and dust‑laden floor evoking a timeless industrial backdrop rather than a specific era. Designed by Chloe Lamford, the set’s grayscale palette and sepia‑tinted flashbacks reinforce the play’s decay‑laden atmosphere.Directed by Joe Mantello, the production leans into minimalist staging to amplify the emotional rawness of the script. Nathan Lane inhabits Willy Loman with a mix of frantic energy and tragic vulnerability, his trademark brassiness turning the character’s long‑winded rants into a hypnotic rhythm. Opposite him, Laurie Metcalf delivers a razor‑sharp Linda, whose pragmatic fury and exhausted composure anchor the family’s disintegration.The cast also includes Christopher Abbott as Biff, Ben Ahlers as Happy, and K. Todd Freeman as the Black neighbor Charley, a casting choice that subtly flips the racial dynamics explored in the 2022 revival, where the Lomans were portrayed as a Black Brooklyn family.Lane’s Willy wrestles with the collapse of the post‑war American Dream, clinging to a broken promise of prosperity while refusing Charley’s offer of work—a moment that lands with a palpable “I just can’t work for you” that resonates as a critique of white entitlement and crumbling masculinity.Metcalf’s Linda, meanwhile, embodies the often‑unseen labor of holding a family together, delivering lines with “blistering anger” that underscores the personal toll of Willy’s delusions. Their interplay creates a “stark and gutting tragedy” that, despite its familiar arc, feels freshly relevant.Beyond the performances, the revival reflects a three‑decade‑long journey for Mantello’s vision, now backed by producer Scott Rudin, whose return to Broadway follows years of controversy. The production’s success suggests that Miller’s meditation on failure and aspiration still strikes a chord with contemporary audiences.In a theater climate often wary of bleak narratives, this revival proves that the American Dream’s collapse can still command attention, especially when delivered by a duo as compelling as Lane and Metcalf.

Netflix's vast library of content often includes films that were initially intended for theatrical release but end up being off-loaded to the streaming platform. The latest example is 'Thrash', a shark thriller that was previously known as 'Beneath the Storm' and 'Shiver'. Despite its promising premise, the film fails to deliver, with critics calling it a messily made, choppily edited and entirely misfiring cavalcade of bad decisions and dodgy accents.The film, directed by Norwegian director Tommy Wirkola, tells the story of a hurricane that destroys a town while also thrusting a pack of bull sharks into the streets and homes of those unlucky enough to still be there. However, the film's distracting sense of inauthenticity and lack of suspense make it a disappointing watch. The cast, including Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor and Djimon Hounsou, struggle to elevate the poorly written characters and lackluster dialogue.'Thrash' is now available on Netflix, but it's unlikely to be a hit with viewers. The film's cheap production values and lack of originality make it feel like a low-budget B-movie, rather than a film that was once intended for theatrical release. With Netflix spending around $18bn on content last year, it's surprising that they would accept a film of such poor quality.

Saudi Arabia has halted operational activities at several energy facilities due to recent attacks, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The attacks targeted oil, gas, and electricity sites in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City.The attacks resulted in the death of one Saudi national from the industrial security personnel of the Saudi energy company, with seven others injured. The attacks have reduced the kingdom's oil production capacity by approximately 600,000 barrels per day.The Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, have faced repeated drone and missile attacks from Iran over recent weeks. These attacks have contributed to increased volatility in the oil market, affecting the security of supply for consuming countries.Oil prices have jumped upward as the world weighs the prospects of a shaky Iran-US ceasefire and possibly the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit point that Iran has effectively blocked during the conflict.The ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump, has been placed in doubt due to Israel's ongoing daily attacks on Lebanon and Iran's attacks on the Gulf countries. Several leaders around the world have called for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire.