FARM group leaders were accused yesterday of having failed their members and rural Ireland by advocating flawed strategies.

Retailers in the UK ran for cover today after a gloomy Christmas update from Waterstone’s owner HMV cast a shadow over a clutch of mid-cap firms.

Energy giant Scottish Power replaced its chief executive of the last four years with the former boss of a drinks firm today.

Powergen owner E.On pulled plans to bid for Scottish Power today after being told a proposed offer worth £11.3bn (€16.5bn) failed to meet expectations.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS working on the remains of the 9th-century Viking settlement in Waterford admit they have just “scraped the surface” of the historic site.

GREATER levels of tax relief and grants for small to medium rural enterprises were sought at the Irish Rural Link annual conference in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, yesterday.

SUICIDE in rural areas has been a hidden tragedy for a long time, a conference heard yesterday.

Energy group Scottish Power bettered market forecasts today after annual profits lifted 10% on the back of rising electricity prices.