An own goal from Adam Lang and a second-half effort from Thomas Muller saw a dominant Germany side defeat Hungary 2-0 at Schalke's Veltins-Arena home today.

Pressure to lower mortgage rates will likely weigh on the profitability of 75%-State-owned Permanent TSB (PTSB) over the coming years, according to Davy Stockbrokers.

Some of the highest savings rates on offer in Ireland are likely to be squeezed lower, a leading analyst has said, as the political war of words over the rates lenders charge for mortgage loans hots up more.

Mounting political pressure on mortgage lenders to cut their standard variable rates could impact funding costs at Permanent TSB more than many other banks, a leading banking analyst has said.

Ant-Man ****

US composer David Lang presents a festival of new music this weekend. Don’t get bogged down in genres, he advises Alan O’Riordan

BRITAIN: A mother had to be rescued by fire crews after being locked in a cupboard by her one-year-old toddler.

Permanent TSB is likely to tap private investors before AIB early next year, though there is little chance that both state-owned banks will weigh on each other’s prospects of raising equity, according to analysts.

Bank of Ireland’s UK lending activities and mortgage business could help shelter it from the adverse effects of any potential worsening in the domestic market, according to a leading stockbroking firm.

The Irish operation of KBC bank has reported losses of €40m for the first three months of the year following on from a loss of €766m for the last three months of 2013, due mainly to its residential loan book.

* I have a great sex life with my husband. However, when we’re in bed, I have fantasies about other men.

CHINA: People who eat rare animals could be jailed for 10 years or more under a new interpretation of the criminal law, state media reported, as the government seeks to close a legal loophole and better protect the natural environment.

An art-loving businessman faces the prospect of seeing one of his treasured paintings thrown into a furnace after it featured on a BBC show about fakes and forgeries.

Community-based courts could reduce re-offending rates by around 10%, international research suggests.

Famed in song around the world for its beauty, research on murkier aspects of water from Galway Bay could have benefits for cancer patients and people suffering from extreme pain.

Bank of Ireland said its pension deficit will narrow by an initial €400m under a plan to cut employee retirement benefits, in an accord that eases the way for the nation’s largest lender to repay part of its state bailout.

Eighty swans have been removed from the River Thames due to a mystery oil spill which is baffling authorities.

A Christian group is fighting a High Court battle in the UK over a ban on its bus advert suggesting that gay people can be “cured”.

Loan losses at Bank of Ireland and AIB through exposure to the SME sector could exceed the adverse scenario in the last Central Bank stress tests by up to €1.1bn, according to a new report by Davy Stockbrokers.

With no signs of trauma and nothing to raise suspicions, the sudden death of a Chicago man just as he was about to collect nearly $425,000 in lottery winnings was initially ruled a result of natural causes.

Leinster A 44 Jersey 13

Financial services company IFG will buy up to £30m (€37.3m) of its own shares later this month, it confirmed yesterday.

Weaning Irish banks off the Eligible Liabilities Guarantee scheme; driving down deposit rates, kickstarting the supply of credit, and the introduction of the Insolvency Bill, are all key to restoring banks to profitability.

Davy Stockbroker analyst Emer Lang has downgraded Bank of Ireland from “outperform” to “neutral” on the back of near-term challenges to its net interest margin, rising impairment losses, and limited growth opportunities.

Elton John has told how he believes his son Zachary's childhood is going to be "very difficult" as he battles homophobia and the impact of his father's world fame.

Last year’s overall winner Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post) out-galloped a large bunch into Skerries yesterday to take victory at the end of stage eight of the An Post Rás as overnight leader, Frenchman Nicolas Baldo, finished safely in the main field to bring the final yellow jersey home to France.

Another cracking day’s racing on the An Post Rás saw the Swiss team play pass the parcel with the yellow jersey as Nicolas Baldo took over the race lead and young Frenchman Thomas Rostollan lived up to his nickname of ‘little motorbike’ to claim stage three into Buncrana.

Defending champion Gediminas Bagdonas (An Post) survived a massive crash in the peloton with around 50km to go yesterday to rejoin the front of the race with the help of his team and take victory on stage three of the An Post Rás in Westport yesterday.

Another fast and furious day on the An Post Rás saw a new rider in the yellow jersey yesterday as Swiss professional Pirmin Lang of the Atlas Personal Jackroo team outsprinted a seven-man lead group to take victory on stage two into Gort.

A man wanted over the murders of two people was arrested today after he was spotted in the street by an off-duty police officer.

The detective leading the manhunt in Britain for a man suspected of killing two people in their own homes has urged him to give himself up.

Lottery ticket-holders in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland each selected the winning numbers for the world record-breaking $640m Mega Millions jackpot, officials have said.

Europe and the United States will go into the final day of the 12th Solheim Cup all square following a fightback by the Americans in today’s afternoon session.

SO far it’s been all cuddles at the Castle – this morning the Solheim Cup becomes more like the Ryder Cup’s famous War on the Shore.

Newcastlewest (Limerick) 2-4 Newry Shamrocks (Down) 1-5

HIGH-STREET butchers have bucked the recession to emerge as the most resilient sector of Ireland’s service industry.

NEARLY €18 billion of the €25bn contingency fund for the banks — which formed part of last year’s EU/IMF bail-out deal — might be needed in order to recapitalise the Irish banks further in the aftermath of next week’s capital and liquidity stress tests.

THE total amount that NAMA will spend on tainted bank loans will amount to around €37 billion, it was confirmed yesterday.

AN elderly man yesterday admitted the attempted rape of a 92-year-old friend of his estranged wife.

BANK of Ireland’s raising of £300 million (€344m) in a three-year bond was described yesterday as apositive development by a leading Irish banking analyst.

More countries must help Kenya to prosecute Somali pirates, a top United Nations official said.

Paraplegic war veteran Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) signs up for a tour of duty on the planet of Pandora, which is home to the peace-loving Na’vi, including the Omaticaya tribe led by Eytukan (Wes Studi) and his wife Mo’at (CCH Pounder).