Former British MP sentenced to 18 months for expenses fraud

LONDON -- Britain's David Chaytor, a former Member of the Parliament (MP) for Bury North, on Friday was sentenced to 18 months in prison for expenses fraud.

Chaytor, 61, of Lumbutts, Lancashire, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court where he pleaded guilty on Monday to three charges relating to the false accounting of over £20,000 (approximately $31,105).

50 people killed so far by seasonal flu in the UK

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Thursday confirmed the seasonal flu has killed at least 50 people so far as the disease is starting to peak in England, Wales and Scotland.

Influenza A H1N1 (2009) swine flu and Influenza B remain the predominant strains circulating in the United Kingdom. However, sporadic cases of H3N2 have also been reported.

During the last week, the HPA was informed that a further eleven people died due to flu, increasing the death toll to 50 casualties since the flu season began in October. 45 of these people died with the H1N1 strain and five with Influenza B.

Most of the victims were under 65 years of age. HPA reported eight cases between 5-14 years of age, 33 cases aged between 15-64 and four cases over 64. Since October, five children under the age of five have died.

Joint venture between Shell and Brazilian company approved by European body

BRUSSELS -- The European Commission on Tuesday approved the joint venture between Shell and a Brazilian sugar and ethanol company.

The Commission cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the establishment of a joint business between UK-based Shell and Brazil's Cosan S.A. Indústria e Comércio of Brazil.

The new joint venture will dedicate to the production, distribution and sale of sugar, ethanol and related products. The merger would be made through Shell Brazil Holding B.V. which belongs to the Shell Group.

In addition, the activities of the venture will also include the development and licensing of certain ethanol technologies, the supply, distribution and sale of transportation fuel products in Brazil, and the production and sale of co-generation power at the sugar and ethanol facilities of the joint venture in the South American country.

Shell is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies. On the other hand, Cosan is dedicated to the manufacturing and trading of sugar and ethanol, the co-generation of electricity from sugarcane, the distribution of fuels, and the production and distribution of lubricants in Brazil.

The merger was approved after the Commission determined that the market of suppliers of bio-ethanol for ex-refinery, non-retail, and retail sales of motor fuels has the participation of a considerable number of other suppliers. Thus, the new joint venture by Shell will not raise competition concerns.

Somali pirates attack and board UK-flagged ship in failed hijack attempt

MANAMA, BAHRAIN -- Somali pirates on Monday attacked and boarded a UK-flagged tanker in the North Arabian Sea, but failed to take control of it, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Navy said the incident happened at approximately 1.45 p.m. Bahrain time when Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) were notified of a distress call from the merchant vessel CPO China, which is a UK-flagged tanker. The distress call indicated that the vessel was being attacked by pirates while underway in the North Arabian Sea.

The ship reported taking fire from several skiffs and, despite evasive manoeuvring, was boarded by the suspected pirates. The U.S. Navy said the ship's master mustered his 20 man crew in the ship's citadel, a secure compartment from where they could retain control of the ship.

Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne, currently serving with CMF's counter-piracy mission, Combined Task Force 151, was the nearest warship to CPO China and was immediately ordered to assist.

When the HMAS Melbourne's helicopter arrived at the location of the CPO China, the warship was able to establish communications with the vessel. "Having been unable to take control of the merchant vessel, and with Melbourne on the scene, the pirates left the ship," the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

The Master of the CPO China reported that all the crew members were safe and, on Tuesday morning, a security team from HMAS Melbourne boarded the ship to make sure it was secure.

"Somali pirates operate across a vast expanse of sea. They use large mother ships to travel great distance from the Somali coast, from where they can launch fast skiffs to attack international shipping," a CMF spokesperson said. "We are pleased that HMAS Melbourne was close enough to intervene in this instance. However, coalition warships may not always be in the vicinity of a pirate attack. That is why we emphasize that seafarers have the power to greatly reduce their chances of being pirated if they take simple precautions."

The spokesperson urged mariners transiting these waters to follow guidance laid out in the Best Management Practice volume 3 and added that they should regularly check Navigation Area Warnings and liaise closely with Maritime Trade authorities. Other CMF warships have also been involved in disrupting pirate activities in recent days.

On Sunday, the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Lake Champlain was ordered to investigate a suspicious vessel that had been spotted in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel displayed the hallmarks associated with the kind of 'skiff' commonly used by pirates.

As Lake Champlain launched her helicopter to investigate, the suspicious vessel increased its speed and was seen to be throwing items overboard, according to the U.S. Navy. The vessel initially refused verbal commands to stop, but ultimately heeded directions after warning shots were fired.

Personnel from Lake Champlain then boarded the skiff and confiscated excess fuel and a motor. The vessel was then released.

UK Foreign Office removes Côte d'Ivoire Ambassador

LONDON - The United Kingdom Foreign Office (FCO) on Friday removed Ambassador for Côte d'Ivoire in order to recognize the one designated by President-elect Alassane Ouattara.

The FCO informed Ambassador Philippe D Djangone-Bi that he was withdrawn from his position to the UK as it will be moving to recognize the appointee of Ouattara in the usual manner. This decision was also taken in order to increase pressure on former President Gbagbo to desist power.

UK DFID: Aid agencies to focus on value for money (23/12/2010)

SoS for DFID, Andrew Mitchell MP
photo by DFID

UK Government support for aid organisations will be targeted at those agencies which demonstrate they can deliver best value for money while they improve the health, education and welfare of millions of people in the poorest countries, Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell said today.

 Following a detailed review of support to major charities, the British Government will provide strategic support to organisations which tackle malaria, fight child poverty, boost international transparency and other causes.

After a highly competitive process involving applications from more than 400 civil society organisations worldwide, the UK Government will support 41 agencies through Programme Partnership Arrangements.


These organisations, including Oxfam, Plan and WaterAid, were selected as having the best value for money and robust monitoring and evaluation systems.

The list includes organisations that have not previously won core funding from taxpayers, including Sightsavers, Farm Africa, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and Malaria Consortium.

The agreements could help:

• Treat millions of children infected with malaria and help high risk countries develop drug or insecticide resistance strategies
• Hundreds of thousands more children enrolled in primary education
• Treat millions of victims of pneumonia and diarrhoea
• Help millions of poor people access functional, sustainable and inclusive water sources and access sanitation facilities.

Andrew Mitchell said:

"These organisations are on the frontline of the fight against world poverty. British people should be proud that they will be saving millions of lives in the poorest countries.

"This support is based on these organisations' clear ability to deliver the results we all want to see. We expect these charities to work hard to prove to UK taxpayers that they will and can make a real difference to the lives of the poorest and deliver real value for money."

Rather than rely on large strategic grants, smaller charities who can demonstrate they have innovative and effective projects are encouraged to apply to DFID’s new Global Poverty Action Fund. Launched earlier this year, the fund will award grants on the basis of impact and results achieved.

DFID will work closely with the successful applicants to develop their proposals in more detail. The full details of the allocations will be announced next year.

Full details of the application format and the scoring system used can be found on the PPA pages.

source: dfid.gov.uk

UK: MP Mike Hancock denies assistant is Russian spy

A Russian working as a parliamentary aide to a British MP has been taken into custody to face deportation proceedings amid claims she is a spy. According to the Sunday Times, Katia Zatuliveter, 24, was arrested on the orders of MI5 over espionage claims. She has been working for Lib Dem MP Mike Hancock, who said she had done nothing wrong and would appeal. The Home Office said it did not routinely comment on individual cases, nor would it confirm deportation moves. But a security source is said to have told the Sunday Times that Ms Zatuliveter's presence was not "conducive to national security", and the intention was to "show her the door".

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