Sex shops showing films in cubicles lost their battle today to charge the same lower VAT rate as ordinary cinemas.

Sir Ian Brownlie QC, who died in a car accident in Egypt where he was on holiday, was an international lawyer who was as successful in practise as he was in academia. Widely respected for his integrity, knowledge of cases and sharp mind, he was also acknowledged for his warmth and sense of humour, and his "cab-rank principle", which meant if he was free he was available, which often saw him taking on unfashionable clients and causes. He practised in public international law and human rights, and appeared in a full range of international tribunals, including the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice. He also acted as an arbitrator in a number of cases where his clients were usually states.

The owner of a Belgian sex shop today posed a puzzler for European judges - does a coin-in-the-slot peep show count as a cinema?

Airline passengers facing long delays should receive the same cash compensation as those whose flights are cancelled, European judges ruled today.

David Cameron declared yesterday that he would not allow his premiership to be dominated by a "massive bust-up" with the European Union as he shelved any Europe referendum for at least five years.

Ministers face an embarrassing showdown in court after the European Commission accused Britain of failing to protect its citizens from secret surveillance on the internet.

The House of Lords judgment fails to address the question of whether travelling abroad with a loved one is the criminal act of assisted suicide – but it does require the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to publish guidelines on how he makes a decision to prosecute, or not.

So best of luck then to Andrew Gowers, the former Financial Times editor, who yesterday began his new job as head of PR at the oil giant BP. Let's hope for both their sakes that this posting lasts a little longer than Gowers' previous spinning engagement – he was head of European PR for Lehman Brothers.

What would the peace-loving Easter bunny say? Two of Europe's best-known chocolate companies spent yesterday locked in hearings at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the delicate question of whether it is legally permissible to trademark a chocolate rabbit.