U. S. Banking Industry Rakes In Record Profits.
Major U. S. banks have reported record profits despite ongoinginflationand economic pressures tied to thewarwith Iran and disrupted trade in the Strait of Hormuz. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT. . .
Major U. S. banks have reported record profits despite ongoinginflationand economic pressures tied to thewarwith Iran and disrupted trade in the Strait of Hormuz. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:America’slargestbanksreported acombined $43 billion in second-quarter profits, exceeding analysts’ expectations despite ongoing conflict withIran, persistent inflation, and broader economic uncertainty. JPMorgan Chaseled the group with$21 billion in profit, boosted by a $4. 6 billion gain tied to its stake in Visa, as well as strong investment banking activity driven by mergers, acquisitions, and artificial intelligence (AI) financing deals. 📰 DETAIL:Goldman Sachsearned $6. 6 billion, whileBank of Americaposted $9 billion on strong trading and investment banking results, andWells Fargoreported more than $6 billion as consumer and business lending increased. Bank executives said relatively low loan delinquencies and expectations that interest rates will remain higher for longer continued to support profitability. JPMorgan CEOJamieDimonsaid the U. S. economy has remained resilient but warned that geopolitical conflicts, sticky inflation, large fiscal deficits, and elevated asset prices continue to pose risks. Bank of America CEOBrian Moynihancredited a healthy economy and resilient consumers and businesses for one of the bank’s strongest quarters on record, while Wells Fargo CEOCharlie Scharfsaid affordability concerns persist but are being offset by solid employment and wage growth. The results mark the unofficial start of quarterly earnings season and come as theTrumpadministrationhas proposed replacing mandatory quarterly corporate financial reports with semiannual reporting. Majorbankshave said they will continue releasing quarterly earnings regardless of any regulatory changes. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“The U. S. economy demonstrated notable resiliency this year, with stronger business investment and hiring,” saidJamie Dimon, JPMorgan’s CEO, while cautioning about underlying risks. Image by Senseiich. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. More From The PulseYoulin Chen, an American researcher accused ofespionagein China, faces a potential life sentence or thedeathpenalty, increasing tensions between the U. S. and China. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:American researcher Youlin Chen is set to stand trial inChinaon espionage charges,potentially facing life imprisonment or thedeath penalty. 📺 DETAIL:The 54-year-old Chen was arrested by Chinese authorities approximatelytwo years ago. Secretary of State Marco Rubio classed him as “wrongfully detained,” the first American citizen officially designated as such, and President Donald J. Trump has personally raised his case. Chen specialized in analyzing seismic data from North Korea’s nuclear tests. His research included a 2020 study for the U. S. State Department on North Korea’s nuclear detonations between 2006 and 2017, whichincludedseismic data originating from China. Under Chinese law, Chen faces possiblelife imprisonment or the death penalty. According to Chen’s wife, Yufang Rong, Chinese authorities haveinterrogated himover 100 timesabout his expertise. Opponents of Chen’s arrest note that he hasnever held U. S. security clearance. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“I believethey will convict him no matter whatand the trial will be behind closed doors. ” – Yufang Rong. 🎯 IMPACT:This represents thesecond high-profile detentionof a U. S. citizen in China on espionage charges this year. Min Zin, director of a Myanmar-focused think tank, was accused of espionage and arrested by Chinese authorities back in June. Chen’s case adds another layer oftension between the U. S. and China. It is possible that Chen’s case will be raised again in theexpected meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinpingin Washington, D. C. , in September. 📺 FLASHBACK:Chen is not the only person of interest caught between the U. S. and China. In May,over 100 U. S. lawmakers from both partiescalled on President Trump to advocate for the release ofChinese Communist Party (CCP) critic andHong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. In February, it was reported that Lai hadreceived a 20-year sentencefor opposing the CCP. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessYoulin Chen, an American researcher accused of espionage in China, faces a potential life sentence or the death penalty, increasing tensions between the U. S. and China. show moreNigel Farage has disclosed the sustained barrage of death threats he receives on a monthly basis, as he pushes for increased security following themurderof Reform UKimmigrationand justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has revealed that he receivesover 300 threats each month. 📰 DETAIL:Since February,Farage has received 1,577 threats, with597 being death threats, primarily via X (formerly Twitter). The Reform leader attributed hisdecision to seek privately-fundedsecurityto the vast number ofdeaththreats he receives on a regular basis. The revelation comes in the wake ofthe murder of Ann Widdecombe, a highly prominent former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and minister turnedReform spokeswoman. Farage was reportedly offered taxpayer-funded security in September last year, but Farage rejected the offer as it amounted to a75 percent cutin his security. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Frankly, I find it astonishing that, just a short period after he was elected to Parliament, the authorities, the government,chose to massively downgrade his security. ” – Robert Jenrick, Reform Shadow Chancellor🎯 IMPACT:This revelation coincides with reports thatcounter-terrorism policehave taken over the investigation into the death of the 78-year-old Widdecombe. Police initially suggested there was no evidence of a terror motive, but reports of investigatorsuncovering far-left materialsat the suspect’s residence, approximately 200 miles from Widdecombe’s home where she was murdered. Laurence Taylor,Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said it was“clear”that Widdecombe’s murder was the result of“a targeted attack. ”Against this backdrop, many are likely to regard Farage’s request for increased security measures as understandable and warranted. 📺 FLASHBACK:Farage is set to meet with theRoyal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), the British government’s independent body which handles the security of elected officials, todiscuss his security concerns. The disclosure follows anow-deleted post on X by Natalie Fleet, Labour MP for Bolsover and Parliamentary Under-Secretary forSafeguarding and Violence Against Women, who described the reaction to Widdecombe’s killing and Reform’s subsequent demands for better security as“faux outrage. ”JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessNigel Farage has disclosed the sustained barrage of death threats he receives on a monthly basis, as he pushes for increased security following the murder of Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe. show moreA new report has revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is under mounting financial pressure due to declining TV license payments, as the British public increasingly turns elsewhere fornewsandentertainment. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:The TV Licence sales that fund the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)dropped by over 500,000 last year, according to the corporation’s annualreport. 📺 DETAIL:According to the corporation’s annual report, the sale of TV Licences, whichfund the BBCand arecompulsoryfor anyone watching live television, even if none of it is BBC content,decreased by 540,000. The report also showed that 23. 3 million licenses were active by the end of 2025/2026 financial year, while the number of households in Britain not using a license rose to 3. 7 million, an increase of 62,000. “We can see that the large majority of the reason for the decline is people…not consuming licensable content,”saidBerangere Michel, the BBC’s Chief Financial Officer. “That is a trend thatI don’t see changing back. In fact,I see it accelerating, and that is one of the reasons why we would likea reform of the funding,” Michel added. The report also noted that rising production costs, inflationary pressures, and a rapidly changing media market have further strained the organization. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“This is a moment of real jeopardy, not just for the BBC but for public service broadcasting and the UK as a whole,” complained BBC Director General Matt Brittin in reaction to the report. 🎯 IMPACT:The findings of the annual report suggestdeclining faith and interest in the BBC. The corporation has already announced plans tocut £500 millionin costs by 2028/2029, with£160 millionin savings targeted from its news and content divisions. The report is likely to push the British government to pursue funding reform. British Culture, Media, and Sport SecretaryLisa Nandy has already proposedexpanding theTV Licenseto includehouseholds that opt for paid streaming servicessuch as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, rather than BBC content, forcing them to fund the corporation. Last month, it was reported that the British government was drafting a proposal tomakesocial media companies prioritize BBC content. 📺 FLASHBACK:The BBC has been implicated in a number of scandals,underscoring the corporation’s ideological biasand causing viewers to switch off. Back in June, the BBC claimed that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had called for“white cold rage”in response to thewrongful arrest and murderofwhite British teenager Henry Nowak. Farage hadactually called for “pure cold rage. ”The BBC subsequentlyreleased an apology. In December last year, the BBC was hit bya multi-billion-dollar lawsuitfrom President Donald J. Trump after the corporation intentionally spliced together clips of remarks made by Trump on January 6, 2021, that were around an hour apart, to create afalse narrative of him encouraging violence. The scandalresulted in the resignationof now-former Director General of the BBC Tim Davie, as well as the resignation of then-Director of News Deborah Turness. Image by Sebastiandoe5. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessA new report has revealed that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is under mounting financial pressure due to declining TV license payments, as the British public increasingly turns elsewhere for news and entertainment. show moreIncoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly planning significanttaxincreases, raising concerns about economic impact on the country’s already struggling middle class. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:IncomingBritishPrime MinisterAndyBurnhamis expected to pursue ahigher-tax agendathat could add the equivalent of an estimated$51 billion in new taxes, according to an analysis byNigel Farage’s Reform UKparty. Reform warns Burnham’s tax increases would come on top of the estimated$88 billion in tax risesintroduced under outgoing Prime MinisterSir Keir Starmer, bringing the incumbent Labour Party’stotal tax increases to approximately$139 billion. 📰 DETAIL:Reform says Burnham is targeting areas includinginheritance taxes,capital gains tax, and National Insurance (Social Security) contributionson landlords’ rental income. ReformShadowChancellor (Treasury Secretary)Robert Jenrickhas criticized Burnham’s past support for measures such ashigher taxes on estates, savings, investment, workplace parking, and travel,and challenged him to publicly rule out additional tax increases. Furthertax hikes couldworsencapital flightafter an estimated16,500 millionaires reportedly left the United Kingdomin 2025, taking an estimated $92 billion in wealth with them. Burnham has previously expressed support forrestoring the top income tax rate to 50 percent, conflicting with Labour’s 2024 election pledge not to raise income tax. Reform argues Burnham lacks a direct electoral mandate for such policies because he is due to become Prime Minister following an internal Labour Party leadership change, rather than after leading the party into a general election win. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Andy Burnham has spent 20 yearsreaching for other people’s money—adeath taxon family homes, agraduate taxon young people getting their first pay cheque, a £14 billionraid on savingsand investment, and new levies on everything from your parking space at work to your weekend away. ” –Robert Jenrick🎯 IMPACT:The proposed tax hikes could exacerbate capital flight, witha record number of millionaires already leaving Britain, potentially taking billions in future tax revenue with them. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessIncoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly planning significant tax increases, raising concerns about economic impact on the country's already struggling middle class. show moreThe U. S. military has deployed explosive seadronesfor the firsttimein combat, targeting an Iranian naval base in a significant escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:TheU. S. militaryusedexplosiveseadronesfor the first time in combat,striking anIraniannaval basein Bandar Abbas, a key hub for Iran’s naval operations near theStrait of Hormuz. The attack, involving three Corsair naval drones, reportedlykilled three peopleand significantly damaged Iran’s ability to repair submarines, according to U. S. military officials. 📺 DETAIL:Texas-based manufacturerSaronicsaid it was proud that its technology supported the mission, marking thefirst known wartime use of one-way attack naval drones by the U. S. The attack came as the U. S. launched athird consecutive night ofstrikesagainst Iranian targets, while Tehran claimed responsibility for missile attacks on two United Arab Emirates (UAE) tankers in Oman’s territorial waters, killing one person and injuring eight. Iran also said ittargeted U. S. military facilitiesin Jordan and Bahrain. The conflict, which began after joint U. S. -Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, has increasingly centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies normally pass. PresidentDonald J. Trumpannounced the U. S. would reinstate itsnaval blockadeof Iranian ports and impose a20 percent charge on goodstransiting the strait, reversing access granted under a June memorandum of understanding intended to facilitate peace negotiations. An Iranian lawmaker said parliament had introduced legislation to strengthen Iran’s control over the waterway following what he described as the overnight downing of U. S. drones💬 KEY QUOTE:“Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forcessuccessfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facilityin Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, markingthe first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations. Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping. ” – U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM)🎯 IMPACT:The strikes mayhamper Iran’s ability to disrupt shippingin the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes. 📺 WATCH FOOTAGE OF THE DRONE STRIKESHERE. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessThe U. S. military has deployed explosive sea drones for the first time in combat, targeting an Iranian naval base in a significant escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. show moreThe Federal Trade Commission has taken unprecedented steps tocrackdown on products falsely labeled “Made in the USA” inabid to protect American consumers from being scammed and American manufacturers from being undercut. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has intensified its crackdown on companiesfalsely labeling products as “Made in the USA. ”📺 DETAIL:FTC ChairmanAndrew Fergusonsaid the Trump administration is taking“unprecedentedly aggressive steps”to protect American manufacturers and consumers. “We want our economy to thrive, and not just the consumer part of the economy…We want the manufacturing part of the economy to thrive. And so, if you’re going to try totake advantageof consumer preferencefor things that aremade in America, you have tobe honest about it,” said Ferguson. FTC policies require products labeled as “Made in the USA” to bealmost entirely produced domestically. Products falsely marketed as being “Made in the USA” can becomesubject toexpensive settlementsand civil enforcement actions, potentially costing liable companieshundreds of thousands of dollars. In one case exposed by the FTC, two companies, Americana Liberty LLC and Three Nations LLC, allegedly sold American flags marked “Made in the USA” despite the fact that “significant or essential foreign components” wereimported from China, resulting in$167,743in “consumer redress. ”💬 KEY QUOTE:“President Trump has ordered the federal government to focus on making sure that companies that say that they’re making products in America areactually making products in America, and this is super important because there’s a ton of evidence thatthe American people are willing to pay a premiumto get products that are made in America, for good reason. ” – Andrew Ferguson. 🎯 IMPACT:This represents anintensification and continuationof a crackdown by the FTC announced back in April, when the Commission announced a series of enforcement actions against companies falsely advertising their products as “Made in the USA. ” In one case, TouchTunes Music Company faced apenalty of$625,000for falsely claiming that its electronic dartboards were U. S. -made. Image by V4711. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessThe Federal Trade Commission has taken unprecedented steps to crack down on products falsely labeled "Made in the USA" in a bid to protect American consumers from being scammed and American manufacturers from being undercut. show moreThemurderinvestigation into thedeathof Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has shifted to counter-terrorism officers following the discovery of far-left political materials at the suspect’s home. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Counter-terrorismofficers have taken over theinvestigationinto the death of Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswomanAnnWiddecombe, 78,after her body was discovered at herhomelast week. The initial handling of the case byDevon and Cornwall Police, who suggested there was no evidence of a terror motive, has faced criticism, with reports suggesting more experienced investigators foundfar-left materialsat the suspect’s residence. 📺 DETAIL:Detectives reportedly found materialindicatingpoliticalideology may have played a rolein the motive. Searches of the 28-year-old suspect’s home and electronic devices allegedlyuncoveredcommunist literature, Russian political material, and other ideological content that investigators are examining as part of the case, although police have not confirmed those reports publicly. The suspect, who was arrested inRotherhamon suspicion of murder, has since been re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts ofterrorism. Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, criticized Devon & Cornwall Police for initially downplaying the possibility of terrorism, saying investigators should have kept a more open mind rather than ruling out a political motive at an early stage. Home SecretaryShabana Mahmoodtold the House of Commons that the suspect was not previously known to the government’s Prevent counter-extremism program. 💬 KEY QUOTE:Counter Terrorism Policing chief Laurence Taylor has said it is “clear” that Miss Widdecombe’s murder was“a targeted attack. ”🎯 IMPACT:Widdecombe’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and the public alike, although some on the leftcelebratedher death and expressed their hope that it was “painful. ” She was afixture in British politics for decades, first as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and government minister and later as a member of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. Image via European Parliament. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. show lessThe murder investigation into the death of Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has shifted to counter-terrorism officers following the discovery of far-left political materials at the suspect's home. show moreReform UK officials are warning that the British government sought to cut Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s security as the investigation into themurderof the party’simmigrationand justice spokeswoman, Ann Widdecombe, continues. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Robert Jenrick, the Reform UK party’sShadowChancellor (Treasury Secretary), has criticized the Britishgovernmentfordowngrading Reform leader Nigel Farage’s security. 📺 DETAIL:On Monday, Robert Jenrickcriticized the British governmentfor not taking Nigel Farage’s security seriously. Jenrick described Farage’s lack of security as a“dereliction of duty”and a government security package previously offered to Farage as“downgraded. ”Farage reportedlydeclined agovernment security package in September last year,not because he did not believe he needed it, but because it amounted to a75 percent cut. Party donors stepped in to fund his protection. “Frankly, I find it astonishing that, just a short period after he was elected to Parliament, the authorities, the government, chose tomassively downgradehis security,”saidJenrick. “I do question whether this would have happened to someone with different political views,” the Reform Shadow Chancellor added. The criticism follows themurderof former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and minister turned Reform UK immigration andjusticespokeswomanAnn Widdecombe. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“It shouldn’t have taken the death of Ann Widdecombefor Nigel Farage to be given a meeting with the relevant Home Office committee—that really is a dereliction of duty. ” – Robert Jenrick🎯 IMPACT:The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of political figures,particularly those with anti-establishment views, such as Farage. The claim that the Reform leader was given a diminished security package is likely to raise questions about theimpartiality and adequacyof security decisions. The Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, has denied accusations of ministerial involvement in security downgrades. 📺 FLASHBACK:Earlier this week, the British Home Secretaryoffered a security meeting to Farage. Farage has accepted the offer, which coincided with the revelation that the suspect arrested in connection with Widdecombe’s murder was not known to Prevent,the United Kingdom’s counter-extremism initiative. The Labour-controlled government’s minister forSafeguarding and Violence against Womendescribed the reaction to Ann Widdecombe’s murder, specifically Reform requests for enhanced security, as“faux outrage”beforeretracting and apologizing to Farage. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessReform UK officials are warning that the British government sought to cut Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's security as the investigation into the murder of the party's immigration and justice spokeswoman, Ann Widdecombe, continues. show moreThe latestinflationreport shows a significant slowdown, driven by a sharp decline inenergycosts, though broader price pressures remain a concern. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:Inflation slowed significantly in June, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) falling 0. 4 percent, its sharpest monthly decline since April 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This was driven largely by a5. 7 percent drop in energy costs, including a9. 7 percent decrease in gasoline prices. 📺 DETAIL:Despite the monthly decline, energy prices remain15. 7 percent higherthan a year ago, while other categories such asfood and shelterhave also seen annual increases of 3. 0 percent and 3. 3 percent, respectively. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained flat for the month and rose 2. 6 percent over the past year, down slightly from May’s 2. 9 percent. Analysts had anticipated a higher headline inflation rate of 3. 8 percent for the year, but it came in at 3. 5 percent. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Asofter-than-expectedreading could help reassure investors that the recent jump in oil has yet to feed through meaningfully into broader price pressures,”commentedDaniela Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital. com. 🎯 IMPACT:The report offers temporary relief to households struggling withhigh costs, but persistent price increases in key categories like shelter and food indicate ongoing challenges. Additionally, the Federal Reserve may still face pressure toraise interest ratesdepending on future inflation trends and the conflict in Iran, which has intensified in recent days after the Iranians attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and President Donald J. Trump responded by declaring a ceasefire with the country“over”and launchingdozens of strikes. 📺 FLASHBACK:The last time inflation dropped this sharply was inApril 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the CPI fell by 0. 8 percent amid economic shutdowns and plummeting demand. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. show lessThe latest inflation report shows a significant slowdown, driven by a sharp decline in energy costs, though broader price pressures remain a concern. show moreA newstudyhas suggested over 2,500 people across England and Wales died during unprecedented heatwaves throughout May and June, underscoring the risks posed by extreme heat and the need forairconditioning. PULSE POINTS❓ WHAT HAPPENED:A new study has suggested thatalmost 3,000 people have diedin England and Wales due to recent heatwaves. 📺 DETAIL:According to a new study conducted by Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,approximately 2,700 peoplemay have died fromheat-related causesduring the heatwavesin England and Wales throughout May and June. Statistics for the United Kingdom’s other Home Nations, Scotland and Northern Ireland, would likely drive the estimate higher, but they are collected separately. The heatwave in June accounted forapproximately 2,200 of these deaths. The elderly, infants, and those with pre-existing medical conditions were most at risk, although experts have warned thatevenhealthy individuals face risks. The study also indicated thatroughly 550 peopledied from heat-related causes in the last week of May alone. The study follows reports thatJune 2026 was England’s hottest month on record. According to scientists, extreme heat places strain on the body’s cardiovascular system, causing potentially fatal emergencies, such as heat strokes and heart attacks. 💬 KEY QUOTE:“Don’t underestimate the risks. Just because you’re fit and healthy,you’re not safe. ” – Professor Fredi Otto, climate scientist at Imperial College London. 🎯 IMPACT:The study underscores the threat posed byextreme heat, especially to countriesthatlack widespread installation of air conditioning. The researchers behind the study acknowledge their estimates are based on historical mortality data and involve assumptions that may not be entirely precise. The study followssimilar figures from other European countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), recent heatwaves have resulted in over 1,000 excess deaths in Paris, the capital of France. 📺 FLASHBACK:Last month, the far-left Deputy Mayor of Parisblamed the United Statesfor the heatwave affecting Europe and criticized American recommendations to install air conditioning (AC). “Dear American journalists and social media ‘influencers’: for days, some of you have been criticizing and making fun of Paris because the citydoes not have A/Cin every room…OMG, this is so rich,” saidAudrey Pulvar. According to the International Energy Agency,only around 20 percentof European householdshave AC, partly as a result of “green” and net zero mandates discouraging or conditionallybanningunits. Around 90 percentof U. S. households have AC. Image by Dinkun Chen. Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse. JoinPulse+to comment below, and receiveexclusivee-mail analyses. show lessA new study has suggested over 2,500 people across England and Wales died during unprecedented heatwaves throughout May and June, underscoring the risks posed by extreme heat and the need for air conditioning. show more