Donald Trump’s offer of US-backed insurance and naval escorts for shipping travelling through the Strait of Hormuz has not prevented maritime premiums soaring as underwriters scramble to reassess the risks to oil, gas and cargo vessels.
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to shipping following the US attack on Iran, on Tuesday the president wrote on Truth Social that the US would provide cover “at a very reasonable price… for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially energy, traveling through the Gulf”.
He also suggested that naval escorts could be used to provide safe passage for tankers in the Persian Gulf, the route to market for 20% of the world’s oil supply.
Image: A cargo ship approaches Dubai. File pic: AP
Experts at Lloyd’s of London, the world’s oldest insurance market, told Sky News that the president’s proposal was unclear, and that naval escorts could even increase the risk to shipping.
On Tuesday, the Joint War Committee (JWC) of the Lloyds Markets Association, which represents participants in the Lloyds market, expanded its “high-risk” area in the Middle East to cover the entire Persian Gulf.
Underwriters had already begun cancelling or repricing war-risk insurance for vessels in the region, but Neil Roberts, secretary of the JWC, told Sky News the market was working and that the American intervention was unnecessary.
“I don’t think the details of such a scheme have been given to anyone, so far as we know, and it will take time to work it out, and the appetite is unknown,” he said.
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“Essentially our market is still writing risks and there isn’t a perception here that there’s a need for intervention at this time.”
Image: Lloyd’s of London
Mr Roberts said that premiums would rise to reflect the heightened risk in the Gulf, amid reports suggesting 12-fold increases, and that US escorts could offer a target rather than act as a deterrent.
“There will be those who think it might increase the target, because the Iranians are targeting US military. It’s not known how capable they would be against the new drone and missile threats that we’re seeing. This is not the same as the 80s.”
“So yes, obviously people would like to see the detail, they’d like to it happen, and if you’re a tanker owner, you’d be on the one hand delighted that it’s been offered, on the other hand trying to understand whether it does increase the risk or not and do you want to accept it?”
Image: Satellite mapping from AIS ship trackers on Tuesday shows a build up of stationary tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
He added: “What’s happened over the weekend has changed the risk profile for the area and it was necessary for underwriters to be able to reassess their position given the new risks. And for the Joint War Committee we’ve recently increased our listed areas by adding the US bases which are now targets that were previously not listed. That means we’ve got the opportunity as underwriters to reassess the voyages on an individual basis.”
A number of tankers have been attacked directly in the Gulf since the conflict began, along with oil, gas and cargo infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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With scores of vessels at anchor on either side of the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices have spiked, along with shipping costs.
For now, the economic impact is largely contained to commodity markets, but a prolonged closure that ate into global oil reserves could lead to wider impacts and trade disruption.
Food and goods supplies coming into the Gulf states from Europe, Africa and Asia could also be disrupted.
The UAE government said earlier this week it has stockpiles that will last four to six months, but asked citizens to only buy what they need and avoid shopping sprees to “make sure there is enough for everyone”.
Hollywood star Michelle Pfeiffer was a guest on the BBC show on Wednesday (March 4)
BBC viewers were stunned by Michelle Pfeiffer’s youthful looks as she appeared on The One Show.
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The actress was on the sofa on the BBC programme on Wednesday (March 4) to discuss her new TV series The Madison, which sees her sharing the screen with Kurt Russell.
But as she chatted to hosts Alex Jones and Clara Amfo, viewers were distracted by her ageless beauty. Many posted messages on X, formerly Twitter, saying that they could not believe how young the 67-year-old star looked.
One person commented: “Dang Michelle Pfeiffer is still hot even at almost 70.”
“Michelle is unreal I mean look at her,” said someone else, as another fan remarked: “I’m amazed how beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer looks on The One Show tonight x.”
“How does Michelle still look so amazing,” asked one fan, as someone else shared: “Michelle Pfeiffer in Grease 2 was my first crush oof!”
“Michelle Pfeiffer is so great and beautiful!” exclaimed another admirer, as one person said the star “still looks great”.
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Another fan posted: “Michelle Pfeiffer looks amazing. She looks so at ease on the sofa and interviews really well. I bet she’s great to work with. A seasoned professional.”
New series The Madison follows the Clyburn family, who move from New York to Montana after a tragedy in the family.
Speaking on The One Show, Hollywood star Michelle said: “I play Stacy Clyburn, and I am the matriarch of the family based in New York, and a tragedy fractures the family, and then actually pulls it back together in ways that were unexpected.”
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She went on: “”And, you know, it’s a story about, you know, it’s tender and visceral and actually unexpectedly funny at times, and it is a story about self-discovery and the messy and profound work to rebuild everything that you knew that has fallen apart.”
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website
The 20-year-old was forced off in the 70th minute of City’s 1-0 win away to Leeds United last Saturday.
In his pre-match press conference, Guardiola claimed that O’Reilly was in contention to play against Forest with a final assessment to be made after Tuesday’s training session.
But speaking before kick-off on Wednesday night when O’Reilly was not named in City’s matchday squad, Guardiola claimed the 20-year-old had not fully recovered from his ankle issue.
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Asked for a timeframe on O’Reilly’s return, Guardiola said: ‘Yesterday we had a training session, he then felt uncomfortable from the knock he got against Leeds.
‘Hopefully he can come back but at the same time it’s happened, in this part of the season everybody is massively important for our experience in the periods where we fight for competitions, everyone is massively important.’
After Wednesday’s game against Forest, City are away to Newcastle United in the FA Cup on Saturday.
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The father and step-daughter were reunited on the BBC soap in sad circumstances
EastEnders fans are saying that they’ve ‘worked out’ Nigel Bates’ fate after Clare Bates’ ‘heartbreaking’ return to the BBC soap.
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It was announced last month that actress Gemma Bissix was stepping back into the role of the daughter of Debbie Bates, and the stepdaughter of Nigel by marriage. Nigel received full custody of Clare after her mother Debbie died in a car crash in the summer of 1995.
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Gemma was last seen in EastEnders back in 2008 when she made the decision to leave following the breakdown of her relationship with the late Bradley Branning, and has not returned since.
At the time of her exit, Clare claimed that she and Nigel became estranged because he wasn’t a fan of her wild behaviour in her younger years. However, in scenes aired on Wednesday night (March 4), it turned out that this wasn’t true.
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After receiving a voicemail from Julie in the episode prior, Clare was stunned to learn that Nigel is living in dementia, with his condition deteriorating in recent months. Clare was furious that not only did she not know this, but that he was in a care home.
Julie pointed out that Clare ignored her calls for help locating him when he disappeared from their family home in Scotland after his initial diagnosis. Over at the hospital, Phil Mitchell and Julie wanted to see how Nigel was doing before bringing Clare in.
Fed up with waiting, Clare burst into the room only for Nigel not to recognise her. To make matters worse, Nigel, who is in hospital after nearly drowning in the bath, thought Phil’s grandchild Lexi Pearse was his stepdaughter.
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A confused Nigel asked Phil to bring him to the Queen Vic to have a pint with Barry Evans, in spite of the character having died over 20 years ago.
It turns out that Nigel and Clare fell out after she sold her mum Debbie’s wedding ring to a pawn shop. Nigel was planning to give the jewellery to Clare’s daughter Bella and had to pay a lot of money to get it back.
Noticing that Clare was upset, Lexi played her a message her mum Lola recorded for her prior to her death. The pair formed a bond over losing their mums at a young age.
The episode ended with a stunning cliffhanger, with Julie and Phil discovering that Nigel was missing. Putting the blame on Clare and Lexi, it remains to be seen just what happens next.
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Following the episode, EastEnders fans took to X, previously known as Twitter, to have their say on Clare’s return and explain where they think the storyline is going next.
@RyanSoapKing25 said: “The Clare & Nigel reunion scene in tonight’s #EastEnders was heartbreaking. I hope Nigel remembers Clare before he dies and they make amends especially as they didn’t leave things on the best terms first time around. Nigel thinking that Lexi is Clare was devastating.”
@jones_emma54777 wrote: “This scene with Lexi and Clare is very moving #EastEnders.” @B73Shell stated: “I know it will be a slow burner, but I do wonder if Phil & Julie will end up together? They are very suited, especially for their love over Nigel #eastenders.”
@Unhappy_Dig_8575 commented on Reddit: “I called this months ago… Julie & Phil are gonna grief get [sic] together aren’t they they have really softened towards each other especially Julie in today’s ep. It will likely happen after the funeral and then Julie will decide to fulfil Nige’s dream by going to India travelling leaving Walford behind for good.”
The Google Pixel 10a has the same 48-megapixel main camera, 13-megapixel ultra-wide and 13-megapixel front camera as the Pixel 9a. Such a lack of progress isn’t overly concerning, given that the Pixel 9a took fine photos for the money.
Camera hardware is never the main focus in a Pixel phone. Google’s image processing does a lot of the heavy lifting here, resulting in shots with an almost uncanny level of clarity and contrast, even at night.
Images taken with the Pixel 10a’s main camera are generally pin-sharp and well exposed, pulling detail out of shadow while taming brighter areas. The ultrawide is the weak link, producing grainier and less natural-looking snaps.
Google’s 13-megapixel front camera might not be the star component as found in the Pixel 10 Pro, but it does capture natural selfies with rich skin tones. Portrait shots make the subject pop, though some edge detail is lost.
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There is no dedicated telephoto camera, so you’re best advised to stop at the 2x zoom mark. These cropped-in shots still look decent, but zooming in any further will see the detail level dropping off dramatically.
No one handles AI-powered image editing better than Google. In the Pixel 10a, as with other Pixel phones, you can fire off a quick snap and be pulling off major edits within a couple of taps, all without ever having to leave the camera app. Some of the AI-powered tools found in Google’s Pixel Studio suite can carry your image into uncanny territory, allowing you to fundamentally transform it using simple language, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
New to the A-series is ‘Camera Coach’, which talks you through improving the framing of your shot in real time. ‘Auto Best Take’, meanwhile, blends similar photos to produce group shots where everyone looks their best.
The Google Pixel 10a is reasonably well equipped for a sub-£500 phone, but we’ve seen it all before. The specifications are almost identical to the Google Pixel 9a which, at the time of writing, Google is still selling as new at a steep discount.
The study, led by a University of York researcher, revealed an “unprecedented” variety of plants in human diets thousands of years ago.
People living in Britain and Europe as long ago as the sixth millennium BC used a wide range of plant, animal and seafood products to create “elaborate” meals, the researchers said.
The study was led by Dr Lara González Carretero, from the University of York, and also involved researchers from Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Poland, Russia and Spain.
Researchers examined organic remains found in 58 pieces of pottery uncovered at 13 archaeological sites across northern and eastern Europe dating between the sixth and third millennium BC.
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Experimental cooking with modern replica pottery vessels to recreate prehistoric recipes. Experts have found Stone Age families enjoyed a ‘surprisingly complex’ range of cuisine (Image: Lara González Carretero/SWNS)
They recovered tissue samples of a wide variety of plants – including grasses, berries, leaves, and seeds.
A common technique for interpreting the diets of ancient cultures involves analysing fatty residues in ancient pottery.
But Dr Carretero said that method is limited as it mostly provides insights only into animal remains.
For the new study, published in the journal PLOS One, the research team instead combined multiple techniques, including microscopic examination and chemical analysis, to identify the remains of plants that were eaten by ancient European hunter-gatherers.
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Dr Carretero said: “In many cases, plant remains were found alongside those of animals, most often fish and other seafood.
“The exact mixtures and ingredients varied from region to region, most likely reflecting which resources were locally available as well as local cultural practices.
“These findings emphasise the important role of plants and aquatic foods in the diets of early Europeans.
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“These results also support the idea that these communities regularly used pottery technology for food preparation and that each culture had their own complex culinary traditions.
“This study also demonstrates that combining multiple analytical techniques can yield detailed insights that are overlooked by traditional methods, particularly when it comes to the plants that ancient peoples were eating.”
Dr Carretero added: “While conventional chemical analysis tends to highlight the animal-based components of ancient meals, our combined microscopic approach has brought these prehistoric recipes back into focus.
“We found that hunter-gatherer-fishers were not living on fish alone. They were actively processing and consuming a wide variety of plants.
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“This research underscores that to truly understand ancient diets, we need to take a closer look at these food crusts, quite literally.”
The United States may have launched strikes on Iran this week, but Donald Trump also found time for a war of words.
This time, it was with the prime ministers of the UK and Spain – after they refused to allow America access to their airbases ahead of the attack.
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Sir Keir Starmer and Pedro Sanchez have responded with some tough words of their own – so why are they and other European leaders finally standing up to the US president?
Niall is joined by Sky’s military analyst Michael Clarke.
Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show – why@sky.uk
TOKYO (AP) — It’s officially named the World Baseball Classic. But for the Group C games in Japan, simply call it the world according to Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani’s life-size image is all over the Tokyo Dome, and racks of Ohtani jerseys — about $125 each — dominate the adjacent merchandise center. Japan begins play on Friday against Taiwan with South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic also in the group.
Ohtani skipped batting practice on Wednesday, surely disappointing several hundred fans who were in the stadium expecting a show. He’s just saving himself and is 0-for-5 since arriving in Japan and playing in exhibition games against Japanese league teams.
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“Every time I join (the Japanese team) there are younger and younger players — younger players are increasing,” Ohtani said, speaking in Japanese at a brief new conference.
Japan is not only a favorite to advance, it’s also possible it will again meet the United States in the final in Miami. Three years ago, Japan defeated the Americans 3-2 when Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to end a dramatic game that gave the WBC a huge popularity boost.
Ohtani is expected to only bat for Japan, not pitch as the Los Angeles Dodgers want to save him for the season. But he left the door slightly ajar before leaving spring training in Arizona.
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Asked if he might attempt to pitch, he replied: “It’s hard to say. But if (Mike) Trout shows up, it’s tempting,” he said, speaking through interpreter Will Ireton.
Trout will not be playing this time for the United States because of insurance issues, which have kept several players on the sidelines.
Travis Bazzana will be the second baseman for Australia. He was selected by the Cleveland Guardians as the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, the first from his country to occupy that spot.
Ohtani is his role model, as he is for many other younger players.
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“I personally believe he is the greatest of all time,” Bazzana said. “He epitomizes the work ethic and mastering his craft in baseball. That is someone I look up to, but when it comes to that game in a couple of days — you can’t focus on who’s across the field.”
Japan has a powerful batting lineup led by Ohtani and other MLB big hitters: Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto and Seiya Suzuki. The pitching staff has lost some stars from 2023 including with Roki Sasaki, Shota Imanaga and Yu Darvish.
The pitching anchor will be World Series MVP and Ohtani’s Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
“It’s a chance to go up against the best team in the world and it’s a special event going against Ohtani,” said Australian manager Dave Nilsson, a former all-star catcher with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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“It’s going to be a big moment for the fans and for Japan,” Nilsson added. “We’re not going to get caught up in the sideshow.”
In a candid interview ahead of his album release, Harry Styles reflects on Liam Payne’s death (Picture: Matt Baron/BEI/REX/Shutterstock)
Harry Styles has reflected for the first time on the death of Liam Payne, sharing how it is especially ‘difficult to lose a friend who is so like you’.
Harry has now shared that he still ‘struggles’ to talk about Payne, who he first met on X Factor when the singers were just 16 years old.
‘Full transparency, it’s like something that I, even the idea of talking about it, I struggle with that a little bit even,’ he confessed on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show podcast.
The music artist spoke about the grieving process (Picture: Apple Music / The Zane Lowe Show)
Harry explained how he wasn’t able to ‘acknowledge how strange it is to have people kind of own part of your grief in a way’.
While he had lost a friend, the world had lost a star and fans very publicly grieved Payne alongside those who knew him in real life.
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There was also intense pressure on the former group to speak out and to share insight into their own emotions as they paid tribute to him.
Harry continued: ‘I have such strong feelings around my friend passing away. And then suddenly being aware there’s maybe like a desire from other people of you to convey that in some way, or it means you’re not feeling what you’re feeling or something, you know?’
Reflecting on Payne’s death for the first time in an interview, he told Zane: ‘It’s so difficult to lose a friend. It’s difficult to lose any friend, but it’s so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways.
The Grammy-winning singer was present at his late bandmate’s funeral (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s like, I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.’
The shock death left Harry wondering what he wanted to ‘do with his life’ and whether he was living how he really wanted to.
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His discussion about Payne came after Zane asked about artistry and music, ahead of new album, Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally.
The Aperture singer shared that he loves when he can hear an artist ‘discover themselves’ and are being ‘vulnerable’.
‘Choosing the song that is meant just for me to work through something, I think it becomes something important when you choose to let people look at that,’ Harry mused.
Speaking with Zane Lowe, he discussed what he thinks makes music connect with fans (Picture: Getty)
‘I think the thing that makes someone like an artist is letting [fans] watch you be an ordinary person,’ he continued. ‘It’s not about being, “I am this mystic thing”.
‘I think the difference is we’re all ordinary people and there’s some people who let other people watch you be an ordinary person. And I think that is kind of the key in a lot of ways for me, anyway.’
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Zane replied that he thought of Payne as Harry spoke and others who ‘ struggled to get out of extraordinary situations’.
The As It Was singer called Payne a ‘super special person’, adding the loss was ‘really sad’.
‘I think the greatest way you can honour your friends who pass away is by living your life to the fullest,’ he added.
Harry Styles Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally review
Metro’s music reporter Danni Scott gives her verdict on Harry Styles’ new album.
He has tried to ‘live his life to the fullest’ in honour of those who are no longer here (Picture: Getty)
This came in the form of travel for Harry, with the star embarking on a year of travel and side quests around Europe.
He told Zane how he just said yes to a lot (and no to some things) and made a group of new friends with the whole experience giving him a fresh outlook on life.
‘It just has changed the way that I’m experiencing life,’ Harry said. ‘This album is such a wonderful byproduct of that because I was recording while all this was happening, and I was exploring all that.
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‘I think also just being in a place in my life where I’m like, if I put this album out and everyone decided they hated it. Would I be sensitive about it? Yes, I would. Would it make me doubt who I know myself to be as a person? No, it wouldn’t.’
Harry Styles’ new album Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally is out on March 6.His full interview on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show is out now.
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The home side have found goals hard to come by, scoring just 38 so far this term, and Ollie Watkins, their first-choice striker, has faced scrutiny after scoring just once in his last seven games. Former Blue Tammy Abraham was signed in January to ease the burden, but could he start here against his former side? Keep up to date with all the latest with our live blog below.
Did Ubisoft even meant to post this image? (Ubisoft)
Ubisoft is giving Sony a run for their money, in terms of the least exciting way to make a major announcement, as the Black Flag remake is finally confirmed.
We seem to have said it a lot lately but there is a dispiriting lack of showmanship to the video games industry at the moment. From Nintendo repeatedly not giving people what they want, in the form of a new first party Direct, to Sony’s increasingly lazy news announcements, publishers are becoming almost allergic to any sort of fanfare.
A remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag has been an open secret for years but after all that build-up the final, official announcement is a single image in a blog post that doesn’t even mention the game – posted late in the afternoon, just as everyone is going home (in Europe at least, where Ubisoft are based).
The blog in question is about everything that’s happening with Assassin’s Creed in 2026 but doesn’t talk about Black Flag Resynced at all, almost as if the image was added by accident. That may mean it’s not due out this year, though, which is exactly what the most recent rumours suggested.
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Instead of Black Flag, the blog talks about the one year anniversary of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, with the annoucement that support for the game is being wound down, but there’s still ‘a few surprises’ left before the end.
It’s assumed, although Ubisoft has never quite confirmed it, that the next mainline entry will be what is currently known as Codename HEXE. It’s believed to involve witch hunts in medieval Germany and while the blog doesn’t confirm that it does promise a ‘unique, darker, narrative-driven Assassin’s Creed experience, set during a pivotal moment in history.’
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According to Ubisoft you won’t hear anything more about it for ‘a little longer’ but its inclusion in the blog seems to imply that a 2026 release is a possibility. Although the director did recently exit the company, so that’s likely to have put it back a bit.
There’s also Codename INVICTUS, which the blog describes as a PvP multiplayer experience. Rumours have spoken of a troubled development and compared it to Fall Guys, of all things, but the blog seems to refute this, insisting it ‘isn’t quite what the rumours have suggested.’
They don’t say what it actually is though and while there’s brief references to mobile game Assassin’s Creed Jade and ‘bringing co-op back to Assassin’s Creed’ there’s no details on that either.
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After a brief mention of a planned live action series, the blog ends with the annoucement of a free 60fps patch for 2014’s Assassin’s Creed Unity on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
That’s very welcome but the whole reveal is so half-hearted it’s hard to get excited about it any of it, when there’s no real detail and no trailers or even proper screenshots.
