Jim Rai, head of litigation at Winckworth Sherwood, acting Lloyds Action Now,

"There can be no doubt that the fact of the £25.4bn loan was not only being kept secret for the possible advantage of the UK banking system, but was deliberately kept secret so that Lloyds TSB shareholders were not put off the proposed acquisition of HBOS."

When the merger with HBOS was recommended to Lloyds TSB's shareholders, HBOS was being supported by the authorities using secret loans worth £25.4 billion and $11 billion which were not disclosed to Lloyds TSB's shareholders.

.

In a few years time, officials at the Bank of England, America's Federal Reserve and even former government ministers might well find themselves appearing in court to testify under oath about HBOS' true financial position in late 2008.

 .

Investors Sue Lloyds' Directors

Norway - tens of thousands of dead fish has left marine investigators puzzled

Published on Jan 4, 2012 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ The appearance and disappearance of tens of thousands of dead fish has left Norwegian marine investigators puzzled. The herring carpeted a stretch of coast in the north of the country, leading to speculation the fish could have been washed ashore by a powerful storm that hit Norway on Christmas Day.

USA - Mitt Romney Ekes Out 8-vote Win Over Rick Santorum in Iowa

Published on Jan 4, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Mitt Romney eked out a minuscule 8-vote victory over Rick Santorum in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses, ringing down the curtain on an improbable first act in the campaign to pick a challenger to President Barack Obama in the fall. (Jan. 4)

USA - Iowa: Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum Seesaw in Narrow Vote

Published on Jan 3, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney waged a seesaw battle for supremacy in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses late Tuesday night, a dramatic opening round for the campaign to pick a challenger to President Barack Obama. (Jan. 3)

USA - ABC World News Now: Iowa Caucus 2012: Matthew Dowd Recaps the Night

Uploaded by ABCNews on Jan 3, 2012

ABC News Political Analyst Matthew Dowd reviews the winners and losers at Tuesday's Iowa caucus.

USA - Ron Paul: 'Essentially 3 Winners' Out of Iowa

Published on Jan 3, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Texas Rep. Ron Paul rode a current of youthful discontent to third place in Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses Tuesday, promising to take his outsider bid for the GOP nomination into independent-minded New Hampshire. (Jan. 3)

USA - Gingrich Looks Ahead to New Hampshire

Published on Jan 3, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Newt Gingrich vowed to fight on Tuesday night after a disappointing showing in the Iowa caucuses that he blamed on attack ads against him. (Jan. 3)

USA - Bachmann: Finishes Last; Vows to Stay in Race

Published on Jan 3, 2012 by AssociatedPress

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann tells a small group of supporters that she's staying in the presidential race, saying she's the only true conservative who can beat President Barack Obama in November. (Jan. 3)