A spokesperson for Tony Blair has responded to newspaper claims that the former prime minister is seeking to become President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy.
The spokesperson told Sky News that Mr Blair had not met with the US President or discussed a role within his administration, but did not deny that he had met members of Mr Trump's team.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Blair met the president's son-in-law and key adviser Jared Kushner at the White House last week to discuss working for Mr Trump.
The newspaper went on to claim Mr Blair has met Mr Kushner three times since September.
While in Downing Street, Mr Blair shared a close relationship with President George W Bush.
Despite winning three general elections, his role in leading Britain into the war in Iraq alongside Mr Bush badly damaged his legacy.
After leaving office in 2007, he took the role of Middle East envoy for the Quartet Group comprising the EU, US, Russia and UN until 2015.
Mr Blair has been making more interventions in UK politics since leaving his Middle East role.
Last month in a speech, he urged Remainers to "rise up" and persuade Brexit voters to change their mind about leaving the bloc.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Drop in London HIV rates 'may be due to internet drug PrEP'
A drug being bought online is believed to be the reason for a 40% drop in new rates of HIV in London.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, reduces the risk of catching the virus and costs around £40 a month.
Four London sexual health clinics saw dramatic falls in new cases of HIV last year compared to 2015.
Dr Michael Brady, medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said the drop in rates is "impressive" and "really exciting".
"I think there are probably a number of reasons, and it kind of reinforces the message that we have been saying for a while that we need to take combined approach to HIV prevention," he said.
"I don't think one single approach is going to make a major impact on the epidemic so I think what we are seeing is a mixture of the impact of better testing... earlier treatment... and increasing numbers of people accessing PrEP, which is a tablet which if taken regularly can prevent someone from getting HIV.
"These drops in diagnoses are probably the first signs we have seen in London of the impact of that combination approach."
The NHS lost a legal battle against funding PrEP in November and, as part of a clinical trial, will now be rolling out the drug to 10,000 people over three years from the summer.
The medication, also called Truvada, is used to treat people who are HIV positive but is also taken as a preventative measure in other countries.
Early data suggests it can reduce the risk of infection by up to 86%.
Its success worldwide has led many people in Britain to source generic PrEP online from places like India and China.
Sexual health clinics have also been carrying out urine and blood tests on people using the drug to monitor their health.
The use of PrEP, however, has led to some concerns it may discourage the use of condoms and cause an increase in sexually transmitted infections.
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: "According to Public Health England in 2015, among men who have sex with men, there was a 21% increase in new gonorrhoea infections and a 19% rise in syphilis.
"That is quite a worrying because this was before PrEP became more widely available so there is an anxiety that men who are using PrEP may not use cordons and it could lead to an explosion in STIs."
Krishen Samuel, 30, is HIV positive wants the drug to be made available to those most at risk as soon as possible.
"I wish it had been available when I was HIV negative because it is an amazing tool," he said.
"Sometimes we need to face the reality most prevention campaigns speak about condoms and only focus on condoms but the reality is people do have sex without condoms as well. And if they have another tool that can prevent HIV infection, why not choose it."
In a statement given to Sky News Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at Public Health England, said: "Provisional data suggests that HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in England has fallen although it is not possible to confirm this at a national level until all data for 2016 have been received.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and conducting analyses of testing and other information that will provide a better understanding of the factors, including PrEP, that may be driving changes in HIV transmission among gay and bisexual men."
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, reduces the risk of catching the virus and costs around £40 a month.
Four London sexual health clinics saw dramatic falls in new cases of HIV last year compared to 2015.
Dr Michael Brady, medical director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said the drop in rates is "impressive" and "really exciting".
"I think there are probably a number of reasons, and it kind of reinforces the message that we have been saying for a while that we need to take combined approach to HIV prevention," he said.
"I don't think one single approach is going to make a major impact on the epidemic so I think what we are seeing is a mixture of the impact of better testing... earlier treatment... and increasing numbers of people accessing PrEP, which is a tablet which if taken regularly can prevent someone from getting HIV.
"These drops in diagnoses are probably the first signs we have seen in London of the impact of that combination approach."
The NHS lost a legal battle against funding PrEP in November and, as part of a clinical trial, will now be rolling out the drug to 10,000 people over three years from the summer.
The medication, also called Truvada, is used to treat people who are HIV positive but is also taken as a preventative measure in other countries.
Early data suggests it can reduce the risk of infection by up to 86%.
Its success worldwide has led many people in Britain to source generic PrEP online from places like India and China.
Sexual health clinics have also been carrying out urine and blood tests on people using the drug to monitor their health.
The use of PrEP, however, has led to some concerns it may discourage the use of condoms and cause an increase in sexually transmitted infections.
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: "According to Public Health England in 2015, among men who have sex with men, there was a 21% increase in new gonorrhoea infections and a 19% rise in syphilis.
"That is quite a worrying because this was before PrEP became more widely available so there is an anxiety that men who are using PrEP may not use cordons and it could lead to an explosion in STIs."
Krishen Samuel, 30, is HIV positive wants the drug to be made available to those most at risk as soon as possible.
"I wish it had been available when I was HIV negative because it is an amazing tool," he said.
"Sometimes we need to face the reality most prevention campaigns speak about condoms and only focus on condoms but the reality is people do have sex without condoms as well. And if they have another tool that can prevent HIV infection, why not choose it."
In a statement given to Sky News Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at Public Health England, said: "Provisional data suggests that HIV diagnoses among gay and bisexual men in England has fallen although it is not possible to confirm this at a national level until all data for 2016 have been received.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and conducting analyses of testing and other information that will provide a better understanding of the factors, including PrEP, that may be driving changes in HIV transmission among gay and bisexual men."
Saturday, March 4, 2017
PM under pressure on three million EU nationals living in UK
Theresa May is under renewed pressure on the future of three million EU nationals living in the UK after MPs called for their future rights to be immediately guaranteed.
The Commons Exiting the EU Committee said the Government should not wait for a similar assurance over the British citizens in the EU before acting.
Ministers have said that settling the status of EU nationals in the UK will be a "priority" in Brexit negotiations, but they need to secure the rights of UK nationals at the same time.
But the committee said it was "unconscionable" they should have to wait up to two years when the negotiations are completed before their future is clarified.
:: Post-Brexit fears: 'I'm not Greek anymore, I'm English'
Hilary Benn, chairman, said EU citizens had been left under a "cloud of uncertainty" and did not want to be used as "bargaining chips".
He said: "EU citizens who have come to live and work here have contributed enormously to the economic and cultural life of the UK.
"They have worked hard, paid their taxes, integrated, raised families and put down roots.
"Although the Government has said it wants EU citizens to be able to remain, this has not offered sufficient reassurance that the rights and status that they have enjoyed will be guaranteed. It should now do so."
The committee's report adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister following the House of Lords overwhelming backing of an amendment to the Government's Brexit Bill, which calls for a guarantee on the continuing rights of EU citizens.
:: Sky Views: No such thing as one type of Brexit
Ministers have made it clear they intend to overturn the vote when the bill - which authorises the start of the formal withdrawal process - returns to the Commons later this month.
The report states: "It would be unconscionable for EU citizens in the UK and Uk citizens in the EU not to have clarity about their status for another two years.
"We do not believe the electorates of Europe will thank politicians in any country if the situation is allowed to continue."
The committee said the system for EU citizens to get permanent residency in the UK - completing an 85-page form and "copious" supporting evidence - was "not fit for purpose".
It warned that Brexit would not also necessarily lead to an immediate fall in net migration to the UK.
The Commons Exiting the EU Committee said the Government should not wait for a similar assurance over the British citizens in the EU before acting.
Ministers have said that settling the status of EU nationals in the UK will be a "priority" in Brexit negotiations, but they need to secure the rights of UK nationals at the same time.
But the committee said it was "unconscionable" they should have to wait up to two years when the negotiations are completed before their future is clarified.
:: Post-Brexit fears: 'I'm not Greek anymore, I'm English'
Hilary Benn, chairman, said EU citizens had been left under a "cloud of uncertainty" and did not want to be used as "bargaining chips".
He said: "EU citizens who have come to live and work here have contributed enormously to the economic and cultural life of the UK.
"They have worked hard, paid their taxes, integrated, raised families and put down roots.
"Although the Government has said it wants EU citizens to be able to remain, this has not offered sufficient reassurance that the rights and status that they have enjoyed will be guaranteed. It should now do so."
The committee's report adds to the pressure on the Prime Minister following the House of Lords overwhelming backing of an amendment to the Government's Brexit Bill, which calls for a guarantee on the continuing rights of EU citizens.
:: Sky Views: No such thing as one type of Brexit
Ministers have made it clear they intend to overturn the vote when the bill - which authorises the start of the formal withdrawal process - returns to the Commons later this month.
The report states: "It would be unconscionable for EU citizens in the UK and Uk citizens in the EU not to have clarity about their status for another two years.
"We do not believe the electorates of Europe will thank politicians in any country if the situation is allowed to continue."
The committee said the system for EU citizens to get permanent residency in the UK - completing an 85-page form and "copious" supporting evidence - was "not fit for purpose".
It warned that Brexit would not also necessarily lead to an immediate fall in net migration to the UK.
Patients with chemical attack symptoms in Mosul
The UN is investigating possible war crimes in eastern Mosul after 10 patients were admitted to hospital with symptoms linked to a chemical attack.
It follows an attack on a residential area along the Tigris River earlier this week in a part of Mosul liberated by Iraqi forces in January.
Hussein Qader, the deputy director of a hospital in the nearby city of Irbil, said 10 patients were admitted with symptoms of chemical weapons exposure on Thursday.
Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, said: "If the alleged use of chemical weapons is confirmed, this is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, regardless of who the targets or the victims of the attacks are.
It follows an attack on a residential area along the Tigris River earlier this week in a part of Mosul liberated by Iraqi forces in January.
Hussein Qader, the deputy director of a hospital in the nearby city of Irbil, said 10 patients were admitted with symptoms of chemical weapons exposure on Thursday.
Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, said: "If the alleged use of chemical weapons is confirmed, this is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, regardless of who the targets or the victims of the attacks are.
Hillary Clinton snapped reading headlines about Mike Pence emails
A photograph has emerged of Hillary Clinton reading newspapers splashing on Mike Pence's use of a personal email account while in office.
Mrs Clinton appears to be transfixed by the headlines as she learns that the vice president was embroiled in an email controversy.
Mr Pence and Donald Trump repeatedly criticised Mrs Clinton during the presidential election campaign after it emerged she had used her personal emails for her State Department work.
Her use of the private server while she was secretary of state in the Obama administration triggered a huge political fallout and some commentators said it was a major blow to her chances of beating Mr Trump in November's election.
During the campaign, Mr Pence and Mr Trump said Mrs Clinton had broken the law and endangered national security, leading to their backers to chant "Lock her up!" at rallies.
Mrs Clinton was travelling on a flight from Boston's Logan airport in New York on Friday when she was snapped engrossed in the newspapers by healthcare centre worker Caitlin Quigley, who posted the photos on social media.
Emails released under a public records law show that while Mr Pence was the governor of Indiana he regularly used an AOL address to speak to advisers about confidential state business.
His account was later hacked by a scammer asking Mr Pence's contacts for money, according to reports.
Mr Pence's office has confirmed he "maintained a state email account and a personal email account" while governor.
In a statement, his office added: "Mr Pence fully co-operated with Indiana law regarding email use and retention."
The FBI investigated Mrs Clinton's use of a personal email server but she has always insisted she did not use it to send sensitive information.
In July 2016 the FBI said Mrs Clinton had been "extremely careless" in handling classified information but it did not recommend criminal charges.
But just weeks before the election, it revealed it was opening a new probe into the email server after the discovery of new emails in an "unrelated case".
Mrs Clinton appears to be transfixed by the headlines as she learns that the vice president was embroiled in an email controversy.
Mr Pence and Donald Trump repeatedly criticised Mrs Clinton during the presidential election campaign after it emerged she had used her personal emails for her State Department work.
Her use of the private server while she was secretary of state in the Obama administration triggered a huge political fallout and some commentators said it was a major blow to her chances of beating Mr Trump in November's election.
During the campaign, Mr Pence and Mr Trump said Mrs Clinton had broken the law and endangered national security, leading to their backers to chant "Lock her up!" at rallies.
Mrs Clinton was travelling on a flight from Boston's Logan airport in New York on Friday when she was snapped engrossed in the newspapers by healthcare centre worker Caitlin Quigley, who posted the photos on social media.
Emails released under a public records law show that while Mr Pence was the governor of Indiana he regularly used an AOL address to speak to advisers about confidential state business.
His account was later hacked by a scammer asking Mr Pence's contacts for money, according to reports.
Mr Pence's office has confirmed he "maintained a state email account and a personal email account" while governor.
In a statement, his office added: "Mr Pence fully co-operated with Indiana law regarding email use and retention."
The FBI investigated Mrs Clinton's use of a personal email server but she has always insisted she did not use it to send sensitive information.
In July 2016 the FBI said Mrs Clinton had been "extremely careless" in handling classified information but it did not recommend criminal charges.
But just weeks before the election, it revealed it was opening a new probe into the email server after the discovery of new emails in an "unrelated case".
Peers urge PM not to pay divorce bill if no Brexit deal is agreed
Theresa May is being urged to walk away from the European Union without paying a £50bn "divorce settlement" being demanded by Brussels.
Government lawyers are recommending that the Prime Minister should stop paying money to Brussels if Brexit negotiations end in deadlock with no deal.
But the PM is also being warned that withholding cash from the EU could damage the UK's prospects in the Brexit negotiations after she triggers Article 50.
The highly contentious demand comes in a report by a high-powered House of Lords committee which has examined the legal consequences of Brexit.
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has demanded that the UK pays the £50bn bill for exiting the EU, a demand condemned by pro-Brexit Conservative MPs.
Mrs May is widely expected to reject the Brussels demand, but Brexit Secretary David Davis was giving nothing away when questioned about it this week.
:: Your guide to Brexit jargon
Asked during a visit to Denmark if the UK was prepared to accept the £50bn bill, he said: "We are a country which believes in the rule of law and we take our responsibilities seriously.
"But we think this is something that needs to be dealt with alongside the issue of markets, the issue of other relationships between us and at the end of this we will come to an amicable agreement. But we are not at that stage."
Government lawyers are recommending that the Prime Minister should stop paying money to Brussels if Brexit negotiations end in deadlock with no deal.
But the PM is also being warned that withholding cash from the EU could damage the UK's prospects in the Brexit negotiations after she triggers Article 50.
The highly contentious demand comes in a report by a high-powered House of Lords committee which has examined the legal consequences of Brexit.
The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has demanded that the UK pays the £50bn bill for exiting the EU, a demand condemned by pro-Brexit Conservative MPs.
Mrs May is widely expected to reject the Brussels demand, but Brexit Secretary David Davis was giving nothing away when questioned about it this week.
:: Your guide to Brexit jargon
Asked during a visit to Denmark if the UK was prepared to accept the £50bn bill, he said: "We are a country which believes in the rule of law and we take our responsibilities seriously.
"But we think this is something that needs to be dealt with alongside the issue of markets, the issue of other relationships between us and at the end of this we will come to an amicable agreement. But we are not at that stage."
Boris Johnson to visit Russia for 'guarded engagement'
Boris Johnson will travel to Moscow for "high-level talks" with his Russian counterpart, it has been announced.
The Foreign Office said Mr Johnson would visit Sergey Lavrov in the coming weeks - the first visit from a UK foreign secretary in more than five years.
His visit is described by Whitehall sources as part of a new policy of "guarded engagement" with Vladimir Putin's regime.
But he faced criticism from MPs, who said Russia should remain isolated following its intervention in Syria.
Discussions would be "robust" on the issues of Russian intervention in Ukraine and Syria, and there would be no lifting of sanctions, according to the FCO.
The Foreign Office said Mr Johnson would visit Sergey Lavrov in the coming weeks - the first visit from a UK foreign secretary in more than five years.
His visit is described by Whitehall sources as part of a new policy of "guarded engagement" with Vladimir Putin's regime.
But he faced criticism from MPs, who said Russia should remain isolated following its intervention in Syria.
Discussions would be "robust" on the issues of Russian intervention in Ukraine and Syria, and there would be no lifting of sanctions, according to the FCO.
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