A first: U.S. customs-duty collections jumped in June, topping $100 billion for the first time in a fiscal year and producing a surprise $27 billion budget surplus for the month. The EU is awaiting a possible letter from President Trump outlining planned duties. Trump's threat of a 50% tariff on copper imports is creating fresh misery for automakers. He ramped up tariffs on Canada as well as Brazil.
Crypto man: A venture calling itself the Aqua1 Foundation said it bought $100 million in Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto business, but a review of public registries and other sources reveals almost nothing about the source of the money or the person named as its founding partner.
Hill Country: Trump arrived to survey the damage from the deadly floods as questions surfaced over whether officials could have done more to warn people of the danger. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called for FEMA to be eliminated in its current form even as it deploys specialists and supplies to the flood zone.
Six weeks of carnage: The U.N. rights office said it recorded at least 798 killings at aid points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. A proposal bearing the group's name envisions the creation of "Humanitarian Transit Areas" inside and possibly outside Gaza to house the population. Israeli researchers detailed sexual-assault allegations against Hamas fighters during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Gaza ceasefire talks are stalling over the extent of Israeli forces' withdrawal.
Responsibility: Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations demanded that wealthy countries fund the mitigation of greenhouse-gas emissions in poorer countries. Far-right lawmakers will lead the European Parliament's work on a new climate target. They oppose EU policies to curb climate change.
AI high: The chipmaker's stock value ended Thursday's trading session above $4 trillion for the first time. OpenAI and Perplexity are taking on Google Chrome with AI web browsers. America's largest power grid is under strain because of data centers and AI chatbots. X removed posts on Grok after complaints that the bot produced content with antisemitic tropes and praise for Adolf Hitler. X's CEO Linda Yaccarino's departure adds to turbulence in Elon Musk's business empire.
Mali plans to sell gold mined from Barrick's Loulo-Gounkoto complex after the government blocked exports, detained some of Barrick's executives and seized three tons of bullion.
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