Record number of homes in Great Britain turn to green energy as fuel prices soar

British households are turning to green home energy upgrades in record numbers to try to keep bills down as the Iran crisis sends global oil and gas prices soaring, data from leading energy suppliers suggests.Figures show demand for solar panels, electric vehicles and heat pumps in Great Britain has leapt since the war began on 28 February, as households brace for a sharp increase in monthly payments when the next energy price cap takes effect in the summer.Energy bills are expected to increase by 18% from July – to the equivalent of £1,929 for the typical annual dual-fuel tariff – after Europe’s benchmark gas price rose by about 50%.Octopus Energy, the biggest GB energy supplier, shared figures with the Guardian showing its heat pump orders had more than doubled in March compared with February, while sales of solar power systems were up almost 80% and new leases of electric vehicles rose by more than 85%.The same trend was noted by the sector’s second biggest player, British Gas, which has recorded a 250% increase in solar panel installation inquiries since 28 February

‘Abhorrent’: the inside story of the Polymarket gamblers betting millions on war

“Horekunden” was rapidly losing patience.His frustration was with the Institute for the Study of War, a US thinktank which produces a daily map of the frontline in Ukraine.For Horekunden, and other anonymous gamblers, the map was a “disjointed, incoherent mess … like the painting of a five-year-old”. Therefore it was no use to them in their aim: to settle a bet on the online prediction market Polymarket.The map they were unhappy with depicted the city of Kostyantynivka, which Ukrainian troops have been holding for five months amid shelling and swarms of drones

‘It has your name on it, but I don’t think it’s you’: how AI is impersonating musicians on Spotify

Jason Moran, a renowned jazz composer and pianist, got a strange call from a friend last month. The friend, bassist Burniss Earl Travis, was curious about Moran’s new record that he saw on the music streaming service Spotify.“It has your name on it,” Travis told him. “But I don’t think it’s you.”Moran said he doesn’t use Spotify or put his music on the platform, preferring only to use the site Bandcamp, so this didn’t track

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home targeted with molotov cocktail

A 20-year-old man allegedly tossed a molotov cocktail at the home of Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, before the sun rose on Friday, according to statements from San Francisco police.The suspect, who allegedly threw the fire bomb at the $27m North Beach residence around 4.12am, has been arrested but not identified. The same person allegedly threatened to torch OpenAI’s headquarters in the city. No injuries were reported

The Masters 2026: day three golf updates from Augusta National – live

Haotong Li eats into Rory’s lead with eagle on 8! He creams a fairway wood from 240 yards into the heart of the green, a gentle fade that rolls up to 18 inches. In goes the putt, and the two-time Open nearly man is five under for his round already! He’s -9. Meanwhile Russell Henley, who tied for fourth here in 2023, finishes with birdies at 15, 16 and 18 for a blemish-free 66. He joins Patrick Cantlay in the clubhouse lead at -6.You’ll have noticed Patrick Reed slipping back down the Leader Board

County cricket: Northants make history with four hundreds as Leics frustrate Surrey – as it happened

Leicestershire gave Surrey a shock at the Oval, defying, not collapsing in the face of 520. Rishi Patel’s 133 not out, his first century in Division One, was a Midlands masterpiece, careful and distinguished, while Jake Weatherald whizz-banged at the other end for 96. Lewis Hill, dropped on five, finished 60 not out as Surrey’s attack toiled away.Northants squashed Kent under a mighty Doctor Martens, amassing 684 for two, thanks to career-bests 261 from Luke Procter and 153 from Calvin Harrison. The second ball of the morning was four wides, and so it went on, the attack flayed to all four corners of the wind