ICC ends insurer contract amid looming US sanctions pressure
The International Criminal Court has ended its contract with French insurer Axa with immediate effect, as the court faces mounting pressure linked to possible United States sanctions. The move means the Hague-based court will switch to another health insurance provider. It comes after weeks of growing concern that financial restrictions could affect the court's operations.The decision was first reported on Thursday and was later confirmed by an ICC spokesperson, who said the court and Axa had agreed by mutual consent to terminate the relationship. According to the supplied report, the two sides had spent months in talks but were unable... [Continue Reading]
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Europe closes mixed as commodities slide, FTSE, DAX and CAC all finish lower
Executive summary: European equities ended the session under pressure, with the FTSE 100, DAX and CAC 40 all lower, while the Euro Stoxx 50 was marginally higher. The sharpest moves came in commodities, where Brent crude, gold, silver and natural gas all fell hard, reinforcing a broad risk-off tone across resource-linked assets. FX was comparatively calm, with sterling firmer against the dollar and the euro slightly weaker. The session points to a market still sensitive to rate expectations, energy prices and the direction of global growth. [Continue Reading]
European heat pump sales rise as energy prices and tax cuts shift demand
Sales of residential heat pumps rose across Europe in the first half of the year, according to industry data, as higher oil and gas prices and lower electricity taxes in some countries changed the economics of home heating. The European Heat Pump Association said 1.16 million units were sold across 12 European countries, up from 1.05 million in the same period in 2025. The figures point to a broader shift in consumer demand at a time when governments are trying to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.The association linked the increase to the fallout from the Iran war, which disrupted oil... [Continue Reading]

