EUROPE: Tesla sales have halved in a year, April data show. Sales across 32 European countries dropped from 14,228 in the same month in 2024 to 7,261 this year.

The electric car firm’s sales have plunged worldwide, partly due to the antics of its far-right owner Elon Musk, whose role in US President Donald Trump’s government have made him even more controversial.

Sales of electric vehicles overall rose, with Chinese brands doing best.

CHINA: At least five people were killed and 19 hurt in a huge chemical plant explosion in Shandong province’s Weifang city today.

The blast was powerful enough to knock out the windows at a storage warehouse more than two miles away. Hundreds of firefighters rushed to the scene, but few details are yet clear.

EU: Regulators are investigating four online pornography platforms on suspicion they are failing to protect children.

The European Commission has opened formal proceedings against Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos under the bloc’s Digital Safety Act. The four are suspected of failing to ensure minors cannot access their content, with child consumption of pornography linked to rising violence against girls.

CANADA: King Charles III opened the Canadian parliament today, the first time the British monarch — who is also Canadian head of state — has done so since 1977.

He said that “our world has never been more dangerous and unstable” since the second world war, delivering some of his remarks in French, which is the language in the Canadian province of Quebec.

The state opening was seen as a reproach to US President Donald Trump, who has talked of annexing his northern neighbour.