FDA approves the world’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has approved the world’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV, maker Gilead Sciences announced Wednesday. It’s the first step in an anticipated global rollout that could protect millions – although it’s unclear how many in the U.S. and abroad will get access to the powerful new option. While a vaccine to prevent HIV still is needed, some experts say the shot — a drug called lenacapvir — could be the next best thing. It nearly eliminated new infections in two groundbreaking studies of people at high risk, better than daily preventive pills they can forget to take.

Supreme Court OKs Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for kids

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American Civil Liberties Union lawyer says the Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors is “a devastating loss for transgender people” and “everyone who cares about the Constitution.” The justices’ 6-3 decision Wednesday effectively protects from legal challenges many efforts by President Donald Trump’s Republican administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people. Another 26 states have laws similar to Tennessee’s. Chief Justice John Roberts writes for a conservative majority the law does not violate the Constitution’s equal protection clause. Justice Sonia Sotomayor writes in a dissent the majority “abandons transgender children” to political whims.

Hegseth says the Pentagon has given Trump options for Israel-Iran conflict

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon has provided possible options to President Donald Trump as he decides any next steps on Iran. But Hegseth would not tell lawmakers on Wednesday whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli strikes, an action that could risk dragging America into a wider war in the Middle East. Hegseth is testifying in the last of a series of often combative hearings before Congress. Hegseth said “maximum force protection” is being provided for U.S. troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump’s decision whether to provide Israel a “bunker buster” bomb to strike at the core of Iran’s nuclear program. He wouldn’t indicate what the U.S. may do next.

US unemployment ticked down, hovering at historically low levels

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dipped to 245,000 last week, hovering at historically low levels, the Labor Department said Wednesday. U.S. jobless claims ticked down from 250,000 the week before. Economists had expected last week’s claims to match that at 250,000. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose to 245,500, the highest since August 2023. The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits the week of June 7 slid to 1.95 million.