HIV Drug Price, YouTube Ban, & Town Lottery

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Adam Rogers
September 25, 2025

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A groundbreaking HIV prevention drug will cost $40 per year in 120 low- and middle-income countries starting in 2027 under new generic licensing agreements. Lenacapavir prevents nearly all new HIV infections with twice-yearly injections and costs $28,218 annually in the US.
Gilead granted licenses to six generic manufacturers to supply the drug through national HIV programs. Funding partnerships with the Gates Foundation and Clinton Health Access Initiative helped secure the $40 price, putting the injectable on par with daily HIV prevention pills.
With 1.3 million new HIV cases last year, the drug could dramatically reduce infections by offering a discreet alternative to daily pills. However, some high-incidence countries aren't covered by the agreement, and the Trump administration may limit funding to pregnant women only.

Alphabet announced YouTube will allow creators previously removed for COVID-19 or 2020 election misinformation to return, citing the company’s commitment to free expression and recognition of conservative voices.
The move follows YouTube’s 2023–2024 retirement of standalone COVID-19 and election misinformation rules. Bans under these now-expired policies affected prominent conservative creators, some of whom relied on YouTube monetization for income.
YouTube parent company Alphabet accused the Biden administration of conducting 'repeated outreach' to coerce the removal of videos that didn't violate company policies. Meta and X have made similar accusations about government pressure during the Biden era.

A gunman killed two detainees and critically wounded another at a Dallas ICE facility on Wednesday before taking his own life, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The shooter opened fire from the rooftop of an attorney's office across the street, targeting the detention facility and those in its entrance area. FBI agents found anti-ICE messages in ammunition near the shooter's position.
There has been a series of attacks on Texas immigration facilities this year. The same Dallas facility had a bomb threat in August when a man claimed to have a detonator. A Fourth of July attack at an Alvarado detention center injured a police officer, while a July shooting at a McAllen Border Patrol facility killed the attacker and wounded an officer.

A family of one of the victims from January's deadly Washington DC airport collision that killed 67 people sued American Airlines and the government, claiming safety failures caused the crash. (More)

Adelita Grijalva won Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, succeeding her late father Raúl Grijalva. She becomes the state’s first Latina in Congress, securing a decisive Democratic hold in a key border district. (More)

Ben Carson rejoined the Trump administration as national adviser for nutrition, health, and housing, overseeing rural-focused programs in the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. (More)

Starting Oct. 12, Americans entering most European countries will undergo fingerprint scans, photos, and digital collection of passport data under the EU’s new Entry/Exit System, replacing passport stamps. (More)

Syria's new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, became the first Syrian leader to address the UN in 60 years after overthrowing Assad's dictatorship last December. (More)

Italy condemned an alleged drone attack on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Aid Flotilla and sent a navy frigate to assist its citizens aboard. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Wednesday (S&P -0.28%, Nasdaq -0.34%, Dow -0.37%). Stocks fell for a second consecutive day as investors continued to sell AI plays. (More)

FINRA approved scrapping the $25,000 day trading minimum for a new system based on position size, opening access to smaller accounts. (More)

New home sales jumped 20.5% in August, hitting their highest level since January 2022, even as mortgage rates hovered around 6.6%. (More)

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 50th homer on Wednesday, becoming the first steroid-free player since Babe Ruth to reach 50 homers in four seasons. (More)

The NFL approved the sale of 2.35% of the Chicago Bears to existing owners, valuing the team at a record $8.9 billion. The McCaskey family now holds 77%, and the Ryan family owns 23%. (More)

Record-setting quarterback Drew Brees and receiver Larry Fitzgerald headline 13 first-year nominees for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. (More)

A researcher in New Caledonia filmed three endangered Indo-Pacific leopard sharks mating—a first in the wild. The encounter involved two males and one female. (More)

NASA completed laser communication tests across 218 million miles, streaming video faster than home internet and paving the way for high-definition Mars mission broadcasts. (More)

Stowers Institute scientists pinpointed where chromosomes fuse in 1-in-800 people, showing repetitive "junk DNA" drives these changes that can cause fertility problems. (More)

Chick-fil-A is opening a beverage-focused concept called Daybright.

Lottery win turns 10% of Quebec town into multimillionaires.

Why some people thought the world was ending this week.

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