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Solar panel sales have surged dramatically since the onset of the Iran war, according to Octopus Energy, with British households increasingly opting for larger rooftop installations to achieve energy independence.The company reported a 54% increase in sales this month compared to the same period last month, marking a significant shift in consumer behavior amid global energy uncertainty.Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Octopus Energy's chief product officer, observed: "We are seeing a massive shift as people stop just asking and start acting. British families are tired of being held hostage by global fossil fuel prices. By switching to solar and heat pumps, they are becoming their own power stations, locking in low costs and protecting their wallets for the long term."Octopus noted that many customers are choosing "supersize" systems with 12 panels instead of the typical 10-panel arrays. Additionally, heat pump sales have increased by more than 50%, while electric vehicle charger systems have seen a 20% rise in sales.Greg Jackson, Octopus Energy's chief executive, described a "huge jolt" in solar sales compared to February. On March 17, the company reported a 27% increase in solar sales inquiries since the start of the Iran war.Good Energy, another green electricity supplier, confirmed this trend, reporting a doubling of interest in solar panels over the past three months.Nigel Pocklington, Good Energy's chief executive, emphasized: "The most effective way to bring bills down over the long term is to double down on renewables, alongside storage and flexibility, so more of our power comes from predictable, homegrown sources. We should be putting solar on any building that can take it. That's how we cut costs, strengthen energy security and give people real control over the energy they rely on every day."The market is poised for further growth with plug-in solar kits expected to become available from high street retailers and supermarkets in the coming months. The government recently announced that most new homes will likely have solar panels from 2028 and will lift a ban on sales of these kits.Andrew Dickinson, head of infrastructure at Heligan Group, explained: "Given the recent geopolitical events, the UK's reliance on global energy markets has become front and centre. The solution lies in a series of short-term initiatives to address the immediate impact of rising energy prices on homeowners. Plug-in solar is one of these solutions that is expected to lower the barriers to entry for homeowners. The previously lengthy process of roof assessment, design and installation by a specialist technician will no longer be necessary."A recent report from Electrify Britain, backed by Octopus, found that solar panels and heat pumps would significantly reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel price fluctuations. The report "Plug In, Pay Less" revealed that houses using these technologies would be almost immune to fossil fuel price rises: a 30% increase in wholesale gas and oil prices would translate into only a 1.7% rise in energy bills by 2035 for households using no gas or oil appliances.Energy bills are expected to rise by more than £300 this July, according to Cornwall Insight, a consultancy. Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, commented: "Predictions of energy bills rising by hundreds of pounds will feel like deja vu to hard-working families as yet another gas price crisis pushes up the cost of living. Many are still saddled with debt from the last gas crisis while Putin and the oil and gas companies stand to benefit."Ralston added: "These wars and the global gas market are clearly beyond the UK's control, so the only way we have to permanently stabilise bills is to cut our use of gas and that means switching to electric heat pumps and renewables that squeeze gas power plants off the grid."Octopus Energy also noted a one-third increase in inquiries about leasing electric vehicles, further indicating a broader shift toward renewable energy solutions among British consumers.

Matt Brittin, Google's former top executive in Europe, has been selected as the next director general of the BBC. Brittin, who stepped down as Google's president in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa last year, will replace Tim Davie at a critical juncture for the corporation. The 57-year-old's appointment was confirmed after a BBC board discussion on Thursday. Brittin, a former Olympic rower and Doctor Who fan, is seen as a substantial figure capable of diving straight into crucial government talks over the renewal of the BBC's royal charter. However, his lack of editorial experience has been noted by insiders, who worry about his ability to deal with the periodic crises that occur at the corporation. The BBC is now expected to create the role of deputy director general to support Brittin, with a new head of BBC News also to be appointed. Brittin expressed his excitement about the role, stating: “Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast-changing world.” Samir Shah, the BBC's chair, praised Brittin's experience, saying he had “deep experience of leading a high-profile and highly complex organisation through transformation”. The appointment comes after some early favourites for the role dropped out or declined to apply amid concerns that scrutiny and political attacks aimed at the BBC have made leading it one of the hardest jobs in public life. Brittin's lengthy career at Google will also be significant in his new job, particularly as the BBC lays out plans to save considerable costs using a new tech division and forges a new relationship with YouTube, which is owned by Google. The licence fee model is also under pressure, with more people opting not to pay.

Mohamed Salah's future has become the subject of intense speculation after his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, confirmed that the Liverpool star will leave Anfield at the end of the season. While there will be attention on whether Salah can end his nine-year spell with a trophy, the focus is shifting to his next destination.Salah's former teammates Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino have already made the move to Saudi Arabia, and it is a path that Salah may well take. The Saudi media is hopeful that the country is in pole position to sign the Egyptian star, with several top clubs expressing interest.Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli are all reportedly interested in signing Salah, with each club offering different advantages and challenges. Al-Ittihad have had offers turned down before and would likely be a frontrunner, while Al-Hilal, the most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, could make a strong claim to being the biggest.The signing of Salah would not only boost the Saudi Pro League's profile but also provide a significant marketing coup. As one of the biggest names in Middle Eastern sport, Salah's presence would help to maintain global interest in the league, which has been investing heavily in star players since 2023.There are also religious and personal factors that could influence Salah's decision, with several players citing their Muslim faith and desire to live in a Muslim country as reasons for joining Saudi clubs.Ultimately, if Salah does join a club in Saudi Arabia this summer, he will become the face of the league for years to come, and his decision will have significant implications for the future of the Saudi Pro League and European football.

Amazon's cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), has confirmed that its region in Bahrain was disrupted due to drone activity. This incident marks the second time in a month that the company's operations have been affected by the war in the Middle East.An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the disruption, stating that the company is helping customers migrate to alternate AWS regions while it recovers from the incident. However, the company did not provide additional details on the extent of the damage or the expected duration of the disruption.The disruption comes after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to attack 'economic centres and banks' related to US and Israeli entities in the region. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency released a list of offices and infrastructure run by top US companies with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, and Oracle, which have branches in multiple Israeli cities and Gulf countries.AWS is critical for the operation of many well-known websites and government operations and is Amazon's main driver of profits. Earlier this month, AWS reported that facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had lost power, and the company was working to transfer computing workloads to other regions.These attacks come after Iran claimed it is targeting US assets across the Gulf Arab states in retaliation for the joint attack on Iran by the US and Israel that began on February 28. Gulf states have accused Tehran of targeting civilian infrastructure, such as airports and energy facilities.

A devastating plane crash occurred in the remote municipality of Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, on March 24, 2026, claiming the lives of at least 34 people and injuring dozens more. The Colombian military plane, a Lockheed Martin-built Hercules C-130, was transporting soldiers to another city in the Putumayo province when it crashed just 1.5km (0.9 miles) away from the takeoff site.The Colombian Minister of Defence, Pedro Sanchez, described the incident as a 'tragic accident' and confirmed that ammunition on board detonated due to a fire on the aircraft. Fortunately, there was no indication of an 'attack by illegal actors,' according to Sanchez.The plane, which had 125 people on board, was carrying soldiers to another city in the Putumayo province. The governor of the Putumayo department, Jhon Gabriel Molina, reported that 34 people were killed and 21 are still to be identified.To provide medical assistance to the injured, the Colombian Air Force deployed two planes with 74 beds to fly the wounded to hospitals in the capital, Bogota, and other locations. This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the risks associated with military and civilian aviation.The Colombian Air Force has operated the Hercules C-130 since the late 1960s, with some of the older models recently modernized. This incident comes on the heels of another Hercules C-130 crash in Bolivia last month, which resulted in over 20 fatalities and 30 injuries.

Pakistan's military leadership has been playing a crucial role in attempting to broker negotiations between the US and Iran. The country's army chief, Asim Munir, recently had a call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the conflict. Diplomatic sources indicate that the US and Iran could meet for negotiations in Islamabad as early as this week to discuss an end to the war, which began almost a month ago. While Islamabad has yet to be officially confirmed as the venue, sources suggest that Tehran prefers Islamabad. Pakistani sources mention that US Vice-President JD Vance is being considered as a probable chief negotiator from the US side, rather than Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff or Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Vance is viewed as a sceptic of the US decision to bomb Iran and has largely kept quiet on the conflict. After the phone call between Trump and Munir, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. According to an official readout of the call, they agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy. Sources suggest that Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is likely to lead any talks from the Iranian side. However, Ghalibaf has dismissed reports of talks between the two sides as 'fake news'. An Iranian diplomatic source confirmed that talks are expected this week but expressed 'zero trust' in Washington. They stated that Iran would not accept Witkoff and Kushner as negotiators for any discussions. Negotiations between the US and Iran were ongoing when the US began its bombing campaign. The Iranian regime views these negotiations as an attempt by the Trump administration to deceive Iran into thinking it wanted a diplomatic solution while planning to attack. On Monday, Trump indicated that he would be willing to halt US strikes, claiming that 'strong talks' were being held between Iranian officials and Witkoff and Kushner. Trump told reporters that they had 'very, very strong talks' and that they had 'major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement'. The US president has given a five-day deadline to an ultimatum he gave over the weekend, threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route currently being blockaded by Iran's military. Trump's announcement of talks helped boost markets, bringing oil prices sharply down to below $100 (£75) a barrel, the lowest in days.

Crispin Odey, a 67-year-old hedge fund tycoon, appeared in a London courtroom on the first day of a three-week trial to challenge the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) decision to ban him from the UK's financial services industry. The ban was imposed due to allegations of sexual harassment made by several women. Odey testified that he did not recall cornering a female employee after a boozy lunch and saying to her 'I could attack you now'. However, the employee's diary entry, dated January 24, 2020, confirmed the incident, stating: 'Comes back from boozy lunch and corners me in the corridor. Him: I could attack you now. Me: Please don’t. Him: You could sue me for that.' Odey admitted to having groped a colleague's breasts without her consent in 2005, which he attributed to being under sedatives after root canal treatment. He claimed the woman accepted his apology and continued to work for the firm for another eight years. The FCA alleges that Odey showed a 'lack of integrity' by attempting to frustrate an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment. Odey denied these allegations, stating that he had attempted to have the FCA rule on whether he was fit and proper first. Odey is also facing a £79m libel lawsuit against the Financial Times and civil personal injury claims by five women, including one who accused him of rape. The hearing continues.

Liverpool FC has confirmed that Mohamed Salah will depart the club at the end of the season, marking the end of his nine-year tenure with the team. The announcement was made through a statement released by the club.Salah, who joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017 for £36.9m, has been a pivotal player for the team, scoring 255 goals in 435 appearances and winning numerous titles, including the Premier League golden boot four times. He is third in the club's all-time leading goalscorers chart, behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.In a heartfelt video message posted on social media, Salah expressed his gratitude to the club, the city, and the fans, stating, “Liverpool is not just a football club. It’s a passion, it’s a history, it’s a spirit.” He also thanked his teammates, past and present, for their support throughout his time at the club.During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup, and two League Cups, as well as a Community Shield. Despite his departure, Salah remains focused on achieving the best possible finish to the current season for Liverpool.The club has announced plans to give Salah a send-off at Anfield on the last day of the league season in May, when Liverpool plays Brentford. This will provide an opportunity for fans to celebrate his legacy and achievements.

The Middle East remains embroiled in a cycle of violence, with Iranian barrages targeting Israel, Gulf Arab states, and northern Iraq on Tuesday. This escalation comes a day after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US was in 'very good' talks with Iran to end the war in the region soon.Despite Trump's optimistic remarks, multiple official sources in Tehran have denied any talks are underway. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated, 'No negotiations have been held with the US … fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.' The Iranian government remains wary of US offers of negotiation, citing past experiences where talks were followed by attacks, such as the surprise attack that killed the supreme leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials.Potential intermediaries, including Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, and others, have confirmed tentative efforts to establish channels of communication between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been engaging in discussions with his counterparts in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.The diplomatic activity follows a significant escalation of threats between the US and Iran over the weekend, with both sides trading warnings of potential strikes. On Monday, Trump delayed a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for shipping or face targeted airstrikes on its power stations. This brief reprieve drove down oil prices and boosted stocks, with the deadline now set to expire on Friday.Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Islamist militant movement. The Israeli prime minister warned, 'There's more to come.'The conflict has already had significant economic impacts, with oil prices rising to $104 (£77) a barrel, up more than 40% since Israel and the US started the war on 28 February. Analysts warn of durable and deep disruption to the supply of oil and gas from the region, even if hostilities end rapidly, with severe economic consequences worldwide.