PWS NEWS

Russia and Ukraine agreed to a localized ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by Melania Trump, allowing humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. The ceasefire, from October 27, aims to alleviate a deepening humanitarian crisis in the Russian-occupied city. Thousands of civilians face severe shortages of food, water, and electricity.

• Al Jazeera: Russia, Ukraine agree to Melania Trump-brokered localised ceasefire
• The Guardian World: Russia and Ukraine agree to local ceasefire in Oleshky amid deepening humanitarian crisis

a16z Crypto rebrands as a16z Frontier, broadening its scope under Chris Dixon, with a focus on emerging tech waves.

• TechCrunch: As blockchain investing falls out of vogue, a16z Crypto rebrands as a16z Frontier
• Andreessen Horowitz: a16z Frontier

Seven people were killed and 34 injured in a church attack in southern Jordan. Authorities are investigating the incident as an act of terrorism targeting the country's minority Christian population. A manhunt is underway.

• BBC World: Seven shot dead by gunmen at church funeral in Jordan, officials say
• The Wall Street Journal: Gunmen Kill Seven in Church Attack in Jordan

US consumer sentiment fell to a five-month low in October, with the University of Michigan's final sentiment index easing to 48. The decline was attributed to high prices and rising interest rates, which depressed morale. The sentiment index was an improvement from the preliminary reading but still a near-record low.

• Bloomberg: US Consumer Sentiment Slips to Five-Month Low on Inflation
• Al Jazeera: US consumer sentiment hits a near-record low before midterm elections

Blackstone president and Treasury Secretary downplay AI bubble concerns, but markets remain cautious.

• Bloomberg: AI Trade Stumbles Again as Investors Rediscover Treasury Haven

OpenAI trains advanced AI models without internet access to prevent hacking incidents, built offline testing environment with cached web content, paused training its frontier models.

• The Verge: OpenAI now trains its frontier AI models with no internet access

The US Space Force is exploring options for a new spaceport, including public-private partnerships, federal installations, and state land.

• Ars Technica: Inside the Pentagon, the pressure is on to find a home for a new spaceport

A Pentagon memo warns that insider trading on prediction markets can compromise US military operations, potentially endangering troops. The memo cites concerns that such betting can reveal sensitive information to adversaries. This has sparked debate over the regulation of prediction markets and their impact on national security.

• Ars Technica: Hegseth warns prediction market bets warp military judgment, endanger troops

Hedge fund managers have taken a record short position in US natural gas due to a mild winter outlook. This is based on expectations of anemic demand for natural gas as a furnace and power-plant fuel. The outlook suggests a decrease in natural gas consumption.

• Bloomberg: Hedge Funds Are Record Short Natural Gas on Mild Winter Outlook

TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 is scheduled for November 4 in Boston. The event will feature roundtables, live pitching, and networking opportunities. It will take place at SoWa Power Station.

• TechCrunch: TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 roundtables: Go deeper on the challenges founders are solving right now

Google updated its privacy policy, stating Gmail data may be used for advertising. The change affects users who enable Personal Intelligence. This feature provides Google with additional data for targeted ads.

• Ars Technica: Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertising

US President Trump dropped some tariffs on Canada to serve the public interest, benefiting Susan Collins' re-election campaign in Maine, where she faces a tight race against Democrat Troy Jackson.

• The Guardian World: Trump drops some Canada tariffs in bid to boost embattled Susan Collins in Maine
• Forbes: GOP Sen. Susan Collins Says Trump Will Nix Some Canadian Tariffs—As She Faces Tight Senate Contest

Chipmakers posted their longest weekly drop since November, despite a slight gain on the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.2% and Treasuries gave back some of their previous gains. A resurgence in oil prices and concerns about inflation weighed on the market.

• Bloomberg: Chipmakers Post Longest Weekly Drop Since November

Top investors from Iconiq and Sapphire Ventures, along with Superhuman Mail founder Rahul Vohra, shared insights on building hit products. They discussed red flags and do's and don'ts for achieving product market fit. The discussion aimed to help entrepreneurs and startups succeed in the competitive market.

• TechCrunch: VCs, Superhuman Mail founder share red flags about product market fit