Apple Tops Nvidia, OpenAI Trims Round, Ukraine Refinery Strike, China PMI

Apple closes at $5.03 trillion, overtaking Nvidia as world's most valuable company

OpenAI cuts funding target to $20 billion at $1.25 trillion valuation as AI credit strain shows

The Financial Times reports OpenAI cut its round target to $20 billion from $30 billion and its valuation goal to $1.25 trillion from $1.4 trillion.

Ukraine drones hit Russian jet-fuel refinery; Russian strikes leave 350,000 without power in Dnipro

On October 30, Ukrainian drones hit the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Samara, which makes jet fuel for Russia's military, setting it ablaze.

Qatari mediators return to Tehran as Iran rejects ceasefire ideas; Trump says war will end soon

On October 30 a delegation led by a senior adviser to Qatar's prime minister arrived in Tehran, coordinating with US officials.

Canada's Carney says he can wait out Trump for a trade deal as talks stay frozen

Asked by Politico on October 30 whether Canada would wait for a new US president if no acceptable deal emerged, Prime Minister Mark Carney said yes. He said he would not sign a deal just for the sake of it.

Early votes near 49.6 million, a midterm record; Trump calls it the most important midterm ever

The University of Florida Election Lab counted 47.9 million early votes by midday October 30, passing the 2022 midterm record of 45.9 million; a CBS tally reached 49.56 million by evening.

Trump's America First Seafood Strategy: $5 billion loans, nearly 5,000 square miles of Atlantic reopened

On October 30 the White House collected industry backing for the America First Seafood Strategy.

China's official October factory PMI falls to 49.3, third contraction in four months

China's statistics bureau said on October 31 the official manufacturing PMI fell to 49.3 in October from 50.1 in September, below the 50.0 Reuters poll and the third contraction in four months.

Apple Intelligence in China will run on Alibaba's Qwen, with developer testing from November 4

Apple confirmed that Apple Intelligence in China will use Alibaba's Qwen models for text and image understanding and generation, opening to developer beta on November 4, with public release planned in December with iOS 27.3.

Spain high-speed crash toll hits 69 after control center ordered train past red signal

Spain's rail accident commission set the toll at 69 for the October 28 high-speed collision near Urda in Toledo province.

Survey finds 90% of students aged 9 to 17 have used AI chatbots as New York curbs companion bots

Two surveys released October 30 show chatbots are now part of childhood.

AI data centers absorb 70% of memory output; DRAM prices rise another 10-15% as laptops and phones get pricier

AI data centers are estimated to absorb about 70% of global memory chip output.