A defiant Phil Hogan, newly confirmed as the EU’s Agriculture Commissioner, repeated his threat to sue MEP Nessa Childers for defamation, demanding that she withdraw her accusation that he discriminated against a Traveller family in Kilkenny.

Diageo is reported to be in advanced talks to sell fast food giant Burger King for more than £1.3 billion.

Diageo PLC is seeking bids of more than stg£1.4bn for Burger King by the end of next week, sources say.