News Wrap: UAW adds Michigan Stellantis factory to ongoing strike

Amna Nawaz:

The United Auto Workers added a new factory to its ongoing strike on day 39. Some 6,800 workers walked out at a Michigan plant that makes Ram pickup trucks for Stellantis. The union said Friday that the Detroit Big Three need to offer more. In all, 41,000 workers are now on strike against Ford, GM and Stellantis.

Senator Bob Menendez has again pleaded not guilty, this time to federal charges, he acted as an agent for Egypt. The New Jersey Democrat left a courthouse in New York after today's hearing without speaking. He's also accused of taking bribes, but he has denied all wrongdoing.

In Russia, a court ordered Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to stay in custody until early December. She appeared in a hood and mask held in a defendant's box. She'd been detained last week on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal is also being held in Russia on espionage charges.

The United States is vowing again to defend the Philippines after Chinese ships collided with Filipino vessels in the South China Sea. It happened Sunday off the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, where Beijing has sweeping territorial claims. Video caught a Chinese vessel ramming a Philippine supply vote. Then another Chinese ship blocked the Philippines' Coast Guard from approaching.

Manila condemned the actions.

Gilbert Teodoro, Philippine Secretary of National Defense: We are here to really decry in the strongest possible terms, this egregious violation And illegal act within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China's distorting the story to fit its own ends.

Amna Nawaz:

The U.S. has long backed the Philippines under a mutual defense treaty dating back to 1951.

In Argentina, the presidential election will head for a run-off after Economy Minister Sergio Massa made a surprise first-round showing. Supporters cheered the center-left candidate last night after he finished first over Javier Milei. The far right populist had voiced admiration for former U.S. President Trump. The run-off is scheduled for mid-November.

And on Wall Street, stocks mostly gave ground on continued concerns about interest rates. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 191 points to close at 32936. The Nasdaq rose 34 points, and the S&P 500 slipped seven.

And the world's oldest dog ever has died in Portugal. Bobi the guard dog passed away over the weekend. He lived all his life on the same farm and claimed the Guinness Record for longevity when he turned 30. At his death, Bobi was 31. That is 217 in dog years.

Rest easy, Bobi.