Jul 31, 2026, 09:00 PM UTC

Firefighters in southwestern France are working to extinguish the remaining hotspots of a massive wildfire in the Gironde region near Bordeaux. The blaze destroyed approximately 42,000 hectares of pine forests and resort areas—an expanse roughly four times the size of Paris—and forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate.

Local officials reported that the fire's perimeter has not expanded for several days. Favorable weather conditions overnight, including lower temperatures and higher humidity levels, provided much-needed relief to emergency crews operating along the Atlantic coast.

Although containment efforts have advanced significantly, firefighters remain on site to cool hot ground and prevent potential reignitions as operations transition toward full control.

Sources: STV News

Former US President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism regarding potential new diplomatic negotiations with Iran. Speaking on foreign policy priorities, Trump questioned the viability and effectiveness of entering renewed talks with Iranian leadership, raising uncertainty over future bilateral relations.

The stance comes amidst ongoing international discussions surrounding regional security and nuclear non-proliferation in the Middle East. Political strategists and foreign policy analysts note that questioning diplomatic engagements signals a potential continuation or expansion of maximum-pressure policies previously utilized by his administration.

Sources: Bloomberg.

The artificial intelligence-focused hedge fund Situational Awareness is attempting to stabilize its positions following a sharp downturn in tech equities. Managed by 24-year-old investor Leopold Aschenbrenner, the fund suffered significant losses amid a broader selloff across the technology sector.

The decline coincided with mixed quarterly earnings reports from major technology firms, including a notable drop in Apple shares toward the end of the week. Analysts point to heightened market volatility as investor sentiment shifts regarding the immediate valuation and profitability of heavy investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The fund's management is currently working to salvage its capital strategy and mitigate further losses.

Sources: Bloomberg

Citadel founder Ken Griffin has acquired artificial intelligence investments from Situational Awareness following a significant selloff by the hedge fund, according to reporting by Bloomberg. Situational Awareness, associated with Leopold Aschenbrenner, faced distress that prompted the liquidation of its AI holdings. Griffin's intervention aligns with his established strategy of acquiring assets at favorable prices during market downturns or firm-specific stress. The transaction underscores ongoing volatility in the artificial intelligence sector as hedge funds reevaluate their exposure to tech equities.

Sources: Bloomberg