The Guardian · 3 Jun, 06:00
A 76-year-old vulnerable customer, Richard Palmer, received an incorrect energy bill of £8,400 from ScottishPower, causing him significant distress and prompting him to pay the bill immediately using half of his savings. The energy company later refunded the amount and apologized, citing an incorrect meter reading as the cause of the mistake.
Richard Palmer, a 76-year-old customer of ScottishPower, received an energy bill in March demanding payment of £8,413, which was nine times his normal annual payment. The bill threatened to impair his credit history if not paid immediately, causing Palmer to panic and pay the bill using half of his savings. His daughter, Anne, complained to ScottishPower, but initially received no response. An investigation by ScottishPower found that the mistake was caused by an incorrect meter reading from 2022. The company refunded £9,000 to Palmer, including a refund of a duplicate £433 payment, and apologized for the error.
Why it matters: This case highlights the potential for energy companies to make serious mistakes that can cause significant distress to vulnerable customers. The incident is particularly concerning given that ScottishPower was recently ranked as the worst energy supplier for customer service in a survey by Which?. The case also comes as the energy price cap is set to rise by 13% from July, affecting millions of people.
£8,413 (incorrect energy bill), £922 (Palmer's estimated annual bill), £433 (duplicate payment), £9,000 (refund from ScottishPower), 13% (increase in energy price cap), £1,862 (new average annual gas and electricity bill), £1,641 (previous average annual gas and electricity bill), 76 (Palmer's age), 2022 (year of incorrect meter reading)
The Palmer case is 'quite shocking', according to Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, and stood out from others they had dealt with because of its size.
The Guardian · 3 Jun, 05:33
Karen Bass will head to a runoff election in November for the Los Angeles mayoral seat after failing to secure a majority in the primary. She will face either Spencer Pratt or Nithya Raman.
Karen Bass led in the Los Angeles mayoral primary but did not secure a majority of the vote, setting up a runoff election in November. As of the evening of the primary, it was unclear who would join Bass in the runoff, with Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman as the potential candidates. Bass has been the mayor of Los Angeles since 2022 and has focused on addressing homelessness and building more housing units. The next mayor will have to tackle several key issues, including the homelessness crisis, revitalizing Hollywood, and improving emergency response programs.
Why it matters: The Los Angeles mayoral election is significant because the city's next mayor will have to address pressing issues such as the homelessness crisis, which has long been a challenge for the city. The election outcome could also impact the city's approach to housing, emergency response, and economic development. Additionally, the runoff election will be closely watched as it may determine the future direction of the city.
50% (vote share threshold for a majority), 2022 (year Bass was first elected as mayor), 2025 (year of the wildfires), 31 (number of people killed in the wildfires), 2006-2010 (air dates of The Hills reality TV show)
“We are a city that is unified,” - Karen Bass
The Guardian · 3 Jun, 05:00
There are growing reports of brutal arrests, torture, and deaths in Iran's prisons, particularly since the January protests and the war broke out. Detainees and their families describe widespread abuse, including beatings, starvation, and denial of medical care.
Iranian writer Hamid Asefi was beaten by intelligence agents during his arrest on March 5, resulting in extensive bleeding on his brain. Amnesty International has documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of detainees since February 28, including mock executions, severe beatings, and denial of food and medical care. Many detainees, including protesters, journalists, and political prisoners, have reported being subjected to brutal treatment, including beatings, starvation, and sexual assault. Some have died in custody, including Hesam Alaeddin, a 40-year-old father of two, whose family alleged that he was beaten to death.
Why it matters: The reports of brutal arrests, torture, and deaths in Iran's prisons are significant because they highlight the regime's violent response to dissent and its disregard for human rights. The cases documented by Amnesty International and described by detainees and their families demonstrate a pattern of abuse and mistreatment that is widespread and systematic. This has serious implications for the safety and well-being of those detained in Iran's prisons.
80+ women imprisoned in one ward of Qarchak prison; 8 kilos weight loss in 2 weeks for Mehnaz, a 23-year-old protester; 3 female prisoners died in a week in Qarchak prison due to denial of medical care; 10 and 11-year-old daughters of Hesam Alaeddin witnessed his beating; 28 February: date since which Amnesty International has documented torture and ill-treatment of detainees; 31 January: date of Vida Rabbani's arrest; 5 March: date of Hamid Asefi's arrest; 8 January: date of protest in Haft Hoz neighbourhood; October 2025: date of CHRI report on Qarchak prison conditions
"Death was no longer a distant possibility; I could feel its shadow completely across my face" - Hamid Asefi, Iranian writer
Ars Technica · 2 Jun, 22:51
Microsoft announced new tools for developers at its Build conference, including Linux tools and a new desktop PC called the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, which is designed for Windows developers.
Microsoft's Build developer conference kicked off with several announcements focused on AI and related technologies. The company introduced new AI models, an expanded preview of a multi-model agentic scanning system called Codename MDASH, and a new 'Autopilot' agent called Microsoft Scout. Additionally, Microsoft announced plans to provide Linux tools for Windows developers and unveiled the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box, a compact developer PC built around Nvidia's new RTX Spark chip with up to 128GB of built-in memory.
Why it matters: These announcements are significant because they demonstrate Microsoft's continued efforts to support developers and improve its Windows ecosystem. The new Linux tools and Surface RTX Spark Dev Box are likely to be of particular interest to developers who work with Windows and Linux, and may help to improve the overall development experience on Windows.
Ars Technica · 2 Jun, 23:05
Male bowerbirds in urban areas are using more brightly colored human-made items to decorate their bowers, which they use to attract females, according to a new study. This behavior differs from their rural counterparts, who have less access to such items.
Researchers from the University of Exeter studied the courtship display behavior of male great bowerbirds in urban and rural environments in Australia's northern Queensland. They monitored 61 male bowerbirds during the prime breeding season of September–December 2023 and found that urban birds used more brightly colored human-made items to decorate their bowers compared to rural birds. Both urban and rural birds showed a preference for human-made items, but urban birds had greater access to them.
Why it matters: This study highlights the impact of urbanization on the behavior of male bowerbirds, specifically their courtship display behavior. The use of human-made items by bowerbirds in urban areas suggests that they are adapting to their environment and using available resources to attract females.
61 (number of male great bowerbirds monitored), September–December 2023 (prime breeding season)
Ars Technica · 2 Jun, 20:47
Microsoft has announced a new Android-based operating system called Project Solara, designed to run agents instead of apps. The OS is a chip-to-cloud platform intended to free agents from reliance on single interfaces.
Microsoft has introduced Project Solara, a new software platform based on Android OS. It is designed to run agents instead of apps and is a chip-to-cloud platform that aims to free agents from reliance on single interfaces. Project Solara is currently limited to concept hardware and software and is not expected to replace traditional apps soon. The platform is envisioned to run on specialized devices with dynamically generated interfaces, powered by advanced AI models.
Why it matters: Project Solara matters because it represents a potential shift in how users interact with devices, moving from app-based interfaces to agent-based interactions. This could enable more flexible and dynamic user experiences, especially on specialized devices. The platform also reflects Microsoft's continued commitment to the development of generative AI technology.
NPR News · 3 Jun, 03:37
Summary not available.
NPR News · 3 Jun, 04:01
Summary not available.
NPR News · 3 Jun, 01:45
Summary not available.