And finally… bark worse than bite

A police academy in Liaoning, a north-eastern province of China, will put 54 dogs up for sale later this week, CNN reports.

The dogs – mostly German Shepherds – didn’t even begin the training programme because they were “timid” or “lacked athletic ability”.

The auctions usually take place several times per year, with the dogs starting at around 200 yuan (around £20 or €30) each.

One social media user in China joked: “When bringing the dogs back home, please make sure not to tell your neighbours that they failed the test. Just imagine how you feel when your parents tell others that you failed your test when applying for schools.”