This week on AI: Apple at the Supreme Court, Australian photo scandal, new R&D centers & more

Product rumors took a backseat to the here-and-now this week, as Apple found itself on the defensive at the U.S. Supreme Court, announced plans for new international research and development centers, and coped with the aftermath of a lewd photo scandal in Australia.

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Everything you need to know:

• Samsung v. Apple came to the Supreme Court > >
• Apple store workers in Australia were caught sharing photos of women and rating them > >
• Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe > >
• An R&D center in Shenzhen, China will open next year > >
• Apple rival Samsung killed off the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 > >
• A lawsuit over Apple's denial of the iPhone 6 'touch disease' expanded > >
• Apple's $1 billion investment bought it a board seat at Didi Chuxing > >

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A roundup of all of our hottest stories this week:

US Supreme Court shows flexibility in first day of Apple v. Samsung case

Apple investigation of employee-led photo sharing ring finds no purloined customer data

Tim Cook meets with Japan's prime minister, says Apple Yokohama R&D center to be completed in December

Apple to open R&D center in Shenzhen in 2017, foster Chinese developer talent

Hammer finally falls as Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is officially, permanently discontinued

Three more lawfirms join class action over 'touch disease' affecting iPhone 6

Apple granted board seat at Didi Chuxing after $1B investment, report says

Apple Pay comes to New Zealand through ANZ Bank

Apple CEO Tim Cook meets Nintendo executives, plays Super Mario Run in Japan visit

Apple poaching GPU designer Imagination Technologies' talent, hiring key personnel away

BMW's 2017 5 Series Sedan to be first car with support for wireless CarPlay

Apple starts sales of SIM-free iPhone 7, 7 Plus handsets in US

Apple Watch Nike+ to launch on Oct. 28, Apple says

Sony pledges to launch over five iOS games by March 2018