Welcome to our coverage of world affairs, including the US politics and Israel’s elections.
Volkswagen has plunged to a $9.2 billion quarterly loss as its China business buckles, with its finance chief dropping an ominous warning.
The German manufacturing giant’s third-quarter loss widened from about $1.7 billion a year earlier. Worldwide vehicle deliveries fell 14.3 per cent, while deliveries in China collapsed almost 40 per cent.
It comes as the state of New York moved to stop AI chatbots posing as children’s friends, signing a landmark law that puts some of the technology’s most human-like features behind an age check.
It is one of the more successful moves in the frantic push to legislate the emergent technology, which has been predicted to introduce an immeasurable amount of social problems as the planet rapidly integrates it into daily life.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been accused of a “brutal” 1993 rape by a former Miss Switzerland, according to a report released by Democrats. The White House denies Beatrice Keul’s allegations and Mr Trump was never charged.
In Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged the election was “stolen” and that “envelopes stuffed with cash” helped Arab parties’ huge gains.
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Elsewhere, Flavio Bolsonaro, who was defeated in this week’s Brazilian election and was ordered to surrender his passport, has arrived in the US. Mr Bolsonaro was spotted in Florida after the US indicated it would grant him a visa. The US’ welcome of Mr Bolsonaro is likely to deepen the schism in Brazil-US relations. Donald Trump has openly supported Mr Bolsonaro.
In the Middle East, the US has warned several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a short, intense military campaign against Iran after November’s midterm elections.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting the US is also moving additional military assets into position, including a Patriot missile defence system being transferred to Israel. American forces have also been restocking munitions, while bomber aircraft and fighter jets prepare for potential strikes.
Read on for more updates
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