HIV transmission stopped, study claims
Scientists and medical experts are excited about a new study that has found that that the risk for homosexual men of HIV transmission with suppressive antiretroviral therapy is zero. The Guardian leads with the story and cites Prof Alison Rodgers from University College London saying that the news “can help end the HIV pandemic by preventing HIV transmission, and tackling the stigma and discrimination that many people with HIV face.” The Independent reports figures that more than 77 million people have become infected with HIV and 35.4 million have died of Aids.
State funeral preparations
Preparations for Saturday’s state funeral of Grand Duke Jean are being finalised on Friday. The guest list includes numerous royal heads of state from across Europe, among them King Philippe of Belgium and his father King Albert, who was Jean’s brother-in-law, Royal Central UK reports. Britain will be represented by Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Delano will have more on the funeral preparations later on Friday.
China could build overseas military bases
China is likely to establish military bases around the world to protect its 'One Belt One Road' project, the US Defense Department states in a report. Pakistan’s The News says locations for the bases are targeted for the Middle East, Southeast Asia, including Pakistan, and the western Pacific. According to The Guardian, the Pentagon report also noted that Denmark has expressed concern about China’s interest in Greenland. Reuters also says there is US concern about Chinese submarine activity in the Arctic region.
Pelosi accuses Barr of lying
Democrat speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has said that William Barr lied to Congress when he said he was he was not aware of any complaints Robert Mueller had about the attorney general’s summary of the report in to Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election. The BBC cites Pelosi saying Barr “lied to Congress. And if anybody else did that it would be considered a crime.” Reuters says justice department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec has called the allegation “reckless, irresponsible and false.” CNN reports that Pelosi also called Barr, president Donald Trump and senate leader Mitch McConnel “handmaidens” to special interests and right-wing ideology.
Tesla will be $500 billion company claim
CNBC reports that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed autonomous driving will transform Tesla into a company with a $500 billion market cap. The article cites two investors who attended a “broad investor call” held by Citigroup and Goldman Sachs on Thursday.
India braces for cyclone Fani
Some 800,000 people in the Indian east coast state of Odisha have bene evacuated as Tropical Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall on Friday. The storm is packing wind speeds up to 205 km per hour, The Guardian reports.
Maduro show of strength
The BBC says that Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro made a public appearance on Thursday flanked by soldiers. He has called on the armed forces to defeat “any coup plotter”.
Vietnamese woman in Kim Jong Nam case freed
Doan Thi Huong, the Vietnamese woman accused of poisoning Kim Jong Nam, the brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has been freed from jail in Malaysia. Murder charges had been dropped after Huong pleaded guilty to a charge of causing harm. She had already served more than two years in prison.
Chewbacca stars dies
Peter Mayhew who played Chewbacca in the original Star Wars trilogy has died at the age of 74, the BBC reports. Mark Hamill described Mayhew, who stood at 2.18 metres, as “the gentlest of giants”.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts