In 2011, 1,700 farmers lost out on €1.6m in single farm payments, because their applications were unduly late, or because they forgot to put in an application.

THE European Court of Auditors has criticised deficiencies in the Single Farm Payment (SFP) which it says sees a lot of money being given to inactive “absentee farmers”.

IRISH credit unions could face a combined loss of over €200 million on subordinated bonds held with Irish banks.

THE Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has been forced to set aside €48.4 million to bail out 13 credit unions in financial difficulties resulting in record losses of €45.5m for 2010.

THE state’s 414 credit unions will soon be hit with a demand for the payment of €24 million in premiums to cover the cost of the Government’s guarantee on their deposits of €12 billion.

The UK government warned Libya not to celebrate the return of the Lockerbie bomber today, the first anniversary of his release from a Scottish jail.

A cancer doctor involved in discussions leading up to the release of the Lockerbie bomber said today the medical portion of the application was a "fair reflection" of specialist advice.

THE Financial Regulator has questioned if the Credit Union movement has adequate funding in place to meet a crisis head-on.

The crew of a cargo ship captured by Somali pirates pounced on their sleeping captors today, disarming them and killing five before regaining control of their vessel which had been hijacked almost three months earlier, officials said.

A NUMBER of credit unions in severe financial difficulty have broken deadlines to file accounts with the Financial Regulator and are receiving cash support from the Irish League of Credit Unions’ €120 million Savings Protection Scheme.

THE Financial Regulator fears there is insufficient emergency funding in place to deal with the collapse of a large credit union.

LOAN growth at credit unions across the Republic and Northern Ireland declined again in 2007.

IRISH farmers are believed to have missed out on about €5 million per year of single farm payments.

The Supreme Court's dismissal of the Competition Authority's case against the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) may have a major impact on the enforcement of Irish competition law, according to solicitors McCann FitzGerald.

A BITTER row between farmers and the Department of Agriculture and Food over the level of red tape surrounding EU schemes and directives is set to escalate today.

CREDIT unions in the North will be at a disadvantage if the Financial Regulator imposes a guaranteed savings protection scheme (SPS), the credit union movement has warned.

ALLIES of President Vladimir Putin won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections, but human rights officials condemned the vote on Monday as short of international legal requirements and a retreat from Russia’s democratic reforms.

Allies of President Vladimir Putin won a sweeping victory in Russia’s elections today but European human rights officials condemned the poll as having fallen short of international legal requirements and representing a retreat from democratic reforms.

The biggest pro-Kremlin party is set to dominate the Russian legislature after parliamentary elections tightened President Vladimir Putin’s grip on power.

The biggest pro-Kremlin party pulled far ahead of its rivals in Russia’s parliamentary elections today, with partial preliminary results suggesting President Vladimir Putin can tighten his grip over the Duma ahead of his own likely re-election bid.

The jailing of Russia’s richest man in what is widely seen as a politically-driven attack on his oil empire could herald a return to Soviet-style repression that is bound to trigger capital flight, media and politicians warned today.

Two members of staff are being held hostage at Saughton Prison in Edinburgh.

Two members of staff are being held hostage at Saughton Prison in Edinburgh.