USA: Bluesky adds 1 million users after US election as users ditch X

Social media platform Bluesky has gained more than one million new users since the US presidential election, benefitting from an exodus of people unhappy with the direction of X under billionaire…

Belgium: Meta fined 798 million euros ($846m) for breaking EU antitrust rules

The European Union has hit technology giant Meta with a fine just shy of 800 million euros for what it called “abusive practices” involving its Facebook Marketplace online classified ads…

Brazil: One dead after attack on Supreme Court

A man who tried to attack Brazil’s Supreme Court in the capital Brasilia on Wednesday evening is believed to have been killed by his own explosives. He was found dead…

Germany: VW launches $5.8bn joint venture with Tesla rival Rivian

Volkswagen Group (VW) and Tesla rival Rivian have launched a joint venture, with the German car giant increasing its investment in the partnership. The two companies say the deal is…

Azerbaijan: COP29 host President Ilham Aliyev brands oil and gas ‘gift from God’

Azerbaijan’s president has branded oil and gas a “gift from God” as he welcomed delegates to the COP29 climate summit. President Ilham Aliyev praised the use of natural resources, including fossil…

Netherlands: Shell wins landmark climate case against green groups in Dutch appeal

Oil giant Shell has won a landmark case in the Dutch courts, overturning an earlier ruling requiring it to cut its carbon emissions by 45%. The Hague court of appeal…

Ireland: Ryanair boss defends remarks on teachers after backlash

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has defended comments he made about teachers, which sparked a row on the opening weekend of the Irish general election campaign. Politicians and teaching unions reacted…

China: Roads blocked by thousands of cyclists in night quest for dumplings

It started as a social media quest for dumplings, but ended with thousands of cyclists bringing traffic gridlock between two cities in central China. What should have been a boost…

India: Luxury airline Vistara to cease operations

Vistara will become fully integrated with Air India starting MondayIndian full-service carrier Vistara will operate its last flight on Monday, after nine years in existence. A joint venture between Singapore…

USA: Bitcoin tops record $80,000 as Trump nears sweep of US Congress

The price of bitcoin has risen above $80,000 (£62,000) for the first time ever, after Donald Trump’s decisive victory in the US election last week. It comes as the Republicans…