Friday☕️

Earth Intelligence

18 Jul 2025 — 8 min read

Economics & Markets:

Yesterdays U.S. stock market:

Yesterday’s commodity market:

Today’s crypto market:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

Yesterday, July 17, 2025, Israeli military operations in Gaza resulted in at least 27 deaths, including an incident at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian health authorities and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, a tank shell or fragments struck the church compound, killing two to three elderly civilians and injuring approximately 10 others, including the parish priest. Broader strikes on the same day affected other areas, contributing to the reported casualties, though detailed information on additional targets remains sparse in initial accounts.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement acknowledging the church incident, with preliminary findings suggesting fragments from a shell fired at nearby military targets inadvertently hit the structure, and the matter is undergoing further investigation. Reactions from international entities, such as the Vatican, have included expressions of sorrow and renewed demands for an immediate ceasefire, highlighting ongoing debates about civilian protection amid stalled peace talks and the protracted conflict.

Environment & Weather:

As of today, July 18, 2025, Punjab Province in Pakistan is experiencing a severe monsoon-related emergency due to persistent heavy rainfall, which has led to flash floods, landslides, building collapses, and other incidents across multiple districts. Official reports indicate at least 63 deaths and 290 injuries in the province over the past 24 hours, contributing to a provincial total of 103 deaths and 393 injuries since late June, while the national figure stands at 159 deaths, with children making up half of the fatalities. The most affected districts include Chakwal, where over 400 millimeters of rain fell in 24 hours, causing flooding in villages and disruptions to power and daily activities; Jhelum and Rawalpindi, with similar flooding issues; and other areas such as Lahore and Faisalabad, where building collapses and water accumulation have occurred. Weather forecasts predict continued heavy rain until at least July 20, increasing the potential for additional flooding in rivers and nullahs.

Rescue operations are currently active in the affected regions, including Jhelum, where the Pakistan Army is using helicopters and boats to evacuate residents and distribute aid, supported by Rescue 1122 teams providing emergency services. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have declared emergencies in several districts, implemented measures such as Section 144 to limit public activities, and issued advisories for urban flooding and possible glacial lake outburst floods. Coordination with organizations like UNICEF is underway to deliver supplies, particularly for children. This event highlights broader environmental and infrastructural challenges in Pakistan, similar to previous floods, with discussions among experts on enhancing disaster management to address losses in agriculture, livestock, and property.
As of today, July 18, 2025, South Korea is experiencing severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, particularly in Gwangju and South Chungcheong Province, with impacts extending to Gyeonggi and North Chungcheong regions. Official reports indicate at least four deaths and one person missing, with fatalities linked to incidents such as collapsed walls, flooded vehicles, and drowning in basements or streams. Over 5,000 people have been evacuated from affected areas, though earlier figures cited around 1,300, reflecting ongoing updates as the situation evolves. Rainfall has exceeded 400 millimeters in parts of South Chungcheong and reached 426 millimeters in Gwangju within a day, marking some of the heaviest downpours in over a century. Additional rain of 50 to 200 millimeters is forecasted through Friday, raising concerns for further flooding and landslides.

Rescue operations are active, including searches for the missing individual in Gwangju and evacuations supported by firefighters and emergency teams navigating inundated areas. The government has elevated the disaster alert to its highest level, activating full-scale response measures across ministries, suspending train and ferry services, and issuing warnings to avoid riverbanks, slopes, and underground spaces. Damage includes 403 schools closed and 166 with property issues, 87 roads and 38 buildings flooded in Gwangju alone, along with broader reports of submerged vehicles, homes, and infrastructure, plus power outages. This event highlights vulnerabilities to extreme weather, with experts noting the role of atmospheric conditions in intensifying the rains.

Science & Technology:

On July 17, 2025, OpenAI announced the introduction of ChatGPT agent, a new feature that allows the AI to perform tasks autonomously within a virtual computer environment. This system combines Operator's remote browser for interactive web actions, deep research capabilities for information synthesis, and ChatGPT's conversational and reasoning strengths to manage multi-step processes. Key functionalities include browsing websites in visual or text-based modes, executing code in a terminal, generating and editing files such as spreadsheets and presentations, and integrating with APIs for services like Gmail or GitHub. The agent preserves context across tools, dynamically chooses the best approach, and enables scheduled recurring tasks, with examples demonstrating uses like preparing meeting briefings, planning meals, analyzing competitors, and generating financial reports.

The rollout started immediately for ChatGPT Pro users, followed by Plus and Team subscribers in the subsequent days, with Enterprise and Education access planned for the coming weeks; subscription-based usage limits apply, and availability in regions like the European Economic Area is still pending. Safety protocols involve user approvals for sensitive actions, refusals for high-risk tasks, and privacy options, supported by benchmarks showing advancements in areas like mathematics, data science, and web navigation.
On July 15, 2025, Anthropic announced the launch of Claude for Financial Services, an enterprise AI platform designed specifically for the financial sector, which was further highlighted on social media on July 17. This solution merges Claude models, such as Claude 4 and Claude Code, with integrations to major data platforms including FactSet, PitchBook, S&P Capital IQ, Morningstar, Databricks, Snowflake, and Box, allowing for real-time access to verified financial data from both internal and external sources. Core features support tasks like due diligence, market research, competitive analysis, portfolio management, investment decisions, and quantitative modeling, all conducted through a single interface with audit trails to ensure compliance and accuracy. Early users, including Bridgewater Associates, Norges Bank Investment Management, Commonwealth Bank, and AIG, have noted potential productivity improvements, while partnerships like that with Turing enable specialized agents for regulatory processes.

The platform is available through Anthropic's enterprise subscriptions, starting with a minimum of 50 seats, and includes enhanced rate limits, a collection of finance-oriented prompts, and secure connections via the Managed Connect Platform. Safety and reliability measures focus on data privacy, verifiable results, and alignment with regulatory standards to address risks in sensitive financial environments. Feedback from the public and industry experts has been generally favorable, recognizing its role in streamlining complex workflows and competing with established tools, though conversations also cover the need for ongoing accuracy improvements and the broader effects on analytical roles in finance. This initiative reflects Anthropic's strategy to expand into specialized AI applications, fostering discussions on implementation in regulated fields.

Statistic:

Largest Automakers by market capitalization:

🇺🇸 Tesla: $1.028T
🇯🇵 Toyota: $222.19B
🇨🇳 Xiaomi: $185.38B
🇨🇳 BYD: $140.24B
🇮🇹 Ferrari: $90.20B
🇩🇪 Mercedes-Benz: $58.14B
🇩🇪 BMW: $55.35B
🇩🇪 Volkswagen: $51.77B
🇺🇸 General Motors: $51.15B
🇮🇳 Maruti Suzuki India: $45.61B
🇮🇳 Mahindra & Mahindra: $44.57B
🇺🇸 Ford: $44.33B
🇩🇪 Porsche: $43.45B
🇯🇵 Honda: $41.39B
🇰🇷 Hyundai: $38.36B
🇨🇳 Li Auto: $32.03B
🇮🇳 Tata Motors: $29.60B
🇨🇳 Seres Group: $29.56B
🇨🇳 SAIC Motor: $28.86B
🇰🇷 Kia: $28.25B
🇳🇱 Stellantis: $27.18B
🇨🇳 Geely: $24.02B
🇨🇳 Great Wall Motors: $22.84B
🇯🇵 Suzuki Motor: $21.14B
🇮🇳 Hyundai Motor India: $20.17B

History:

The history of Tesla traces back to early concepts of electric vehicles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when pioneers like Thomas Edison and Ferdinand Porsche experimented with battery-powered cars. However, internal combustion engines soon dominated due to their superior range and easier refueling. The modern revival of electric vehicles gained momentum in the 1990s, notably with General Motors' EV1, which inspired Tesla's founders. Tesla, Inc., originally named Tesla Motors, was founded in July 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in San Carlos, California, with the goal of accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy via electric cars. Elon Musk invested $6.5 million in 2004, becoming chairman, and took over as CEO in 2008 during a period of financial difficulties. Tesla's first vehicle, the Roadster sports car, debuted in 2008 as the pioneering production all-electric car using lithium-ion batteries, offering over 200 miles of range per charge. Subsequent milestones included the Model S sedan in 2012, which earned Motor Trend's Car of the Year award; the Model X SUV in 2015; and the affordable Model 3 in 2017, which became the world's top-selling electric vehicle. Tesla went public in 2010, raising $226 million, and diversified into energy products with the Powerwall battery in 2015, followed by the acquisition of SolarCity in 2016 to create Tesla Energy.
Tesla's growth accelerated with the Model Y crossover in 2020, which became the global best-selling car by 2023, and the Cybertruck pickup in 2023. The company advanced autonomous driving through features like Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software. It expanded manufacturing with Gigafactories in Shanghai (opened in 2019), Berlin (2022), and Texas (2022), achieving profitability with four straight profitable quarters in 2020 and joining the S&P 500 index that year. Despite successes, Tesla faced hurdles such as production delays known as "production hell," safety recalls related to Autopilot incidents, allegations of worker rights issues, and controversies stemming from Elon Musk's social media activity and political stances, contributing to stock drops and boycotts in early 2025. As of July 2025, Tesla produces six vehicle models, incorporates AI features like the Grok chatbot in its cars, and has opened its first showroom in India. It holds a 17.6% share of the global battery electric vehicle market as of 2024, with upcoming launches like the Cybercab and Robovan planned for 2026. In terms of market dominance, Tesla's capitalization stands at $1.028 trillion, far exceeding the combined values of rivals like Toyota ($222 billion), Xiaomi ($185 billion), and BYD ($140 billion), underscoring strong investor faith in its electric vehicle innovation and leadership, even with lower overall production volumes compared to traditional automakers.

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