The sentence hearing of the two former Anglo Irish Bank directors convicted of providing illegal loans to 10 individuals is due to open at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today before Judge Martin Nolan.

A spacecraft is on course to make history by landing the first probe on a comet, but first it must end its two-year hibernation. Rosetta, operated by the European Space Agency, has been dormant since Jul 2011 and its alarm clock is set for 10am GMT on Jan 20.

Ex-Anglo chairman Seán FitzPatrick and two former colleagues have been sent forward for trial for providing “unlawful financial assistance” to 16 individuals.