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

Grand National 2026: I Am Maximus wins big race for second time at Aintree – live

Jordans goes over the second last, and is chased to the elbow as I Am Maximus runs him down to regain the Grand National, the first to do so since Red Rum in 1977.Paul Townend rides Look Me in the bumper, and is last to take to the track before the final race of the Aintree festival.Ben Jones, whose ride on Jordans smashed apart the race, had this to say to the Racing Post: “It was unbelievable. I had such a smooth run round, it was just magical. “I had a wonderful time

Northants make history, Surrey v Leics, and more: county cricket, day two – live

Not an ideal start for Kent. Zak Crawley is still there, but he’s lost Ben Compton (6) and Sam Northeast for a duck in his first game back at Canterbury. Kent 27-2, 657 behind.Off just 122 balls. Notts lead already 374 over Glamorgan