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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California state lawmaker favored tosucceed Nancy Pelosiin the U.S. House has already been thrust into the national spotlight as the force behind headline-grabbing policies like aban on masksfor federal agents and protections fortransgender youth.

Election 2026-House-California

Now Scott Wiener is expected to win the California Democratic Party's endorsement on Sunday, giving his candidacy an extra boost in a competitive primary. Once in Washington, he could swiftly become a fresh symbol of San Francisco politics, derided by conservatives as an example of extreme liberalism while occasionally clashing with progressives.

Wiener has practice with that balancing act after 15 years in city and state politics.

"Sen. Wiener only does the tough bills," longtime Sacramento lobbyist Chris Micheli said. "He never shies away from a significant political battle."

Wiener's challenge of navigating modern Democratic politics was on display in January, when he changed his language on the war in Gaza. Days after declining to align with his progressive opponents in describing Israel's actions as genocide, he said he agreed with that term. The shift angered some Jewish groups and led Wiener to step down as co-chair of the state Legislative Jewish Caucus.

"For a period of time I chose not to use the word 'genocide' because it is so sensitive within the Jewish community," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But ultimately I decided I had been effectively saying 'genocide' for quite some time."

Leading high-profile legislation

Wiener, known for his calm demeanor, is often at the center of California's most divisive issues, from housing to drug use. His backers and critics alike describe him as someone who advocates relentlessly for his bills.

"If you're willing to risk people being mad at you, you can get things done and make people's lives better," Wiener said.

He wrote laws requiring large companies todisclose their direct and indirect climate emissionsand ramp upapartment construction near public transit stops.

But he doesn't always win.

Wiener authored a first-in-the-nation law banning local and federal law enforcement agents from wearing face coverings after a wave ofimmigration raidsacross Southern California last summer. A judge blocked it from taking effect this month — a rare loss in the state's legal battles with the Trump administration that had Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's office blaming Wiener.

He also failed to pass high-profile bills todecriminalize psychedelic mushroomsandhold oil and gas companies liablefor damage from climate-caused natural disasters.

His critics come from both parties.

Republicans have blasted many of his policies aimed at defending LGBTQ+ people, sometimes calling Wiener, who is gay,offensive names.

Aaron Peskin, a former San Francisco supervisor and outspoken progressive, said a law Wiener wrote inadvertently stifled local housing and affordability efforts.

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"It was screwing my government's ability to deliver goods and services to the people that we represent," he said.

Shifting language on Israel

Wiener said he supports Israel's right to defend itself but grew horrified by the scale of its attacks on Gaza and blocking of humanitarian aid. More than70,000 Palestinianshave been killed since the war began in late 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. He had harshly criticized Israel's actions but avoided using the word "genocide."

At a candidate forum in January, he refused to say "yes" or "no" after the Democratic hopefuls were asked whether Israel was committing genocide, which angered pro-Palestinian advocates. His opponents, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and former tech executive Saikat Chakrabarti, said "yes."

Days later he released a video saying Israel had committed genocide, triggering backlash from Jewish and pro-Israel groups who said his words lacked "moral clarity."

It was a representation of the difficult political terrain many Democrats are navigating aspolls show views have shiftedon Israel. American sympathy for Israel dropped to an all-time low in 2025, particularly among Democrats and independents, while sympathy for Palestinians has risen.

"Do I think he wins or loses based on this issue? Not necessarily, but it could become a problem for him," San Francisco Bay Area political consultant Jim Ross said, adding that some voters might fear he will equivocate on issues important to them.

Just two Jewish members of Congress — Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Rep. Becca Balint, both of Vermont — have publicly used the word "genocide" to describe Israel's actions. Only a small percentage of congressional Democrats have used the term, according to the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

Wiener grew up in New Jersey in a family that was Conservative Jewish, a sect of Judaism that is moderately traditional, and his only friends until high school were from his synagogue, he said. He later joined a Jewish fraternity at Duke University and was surprised by how supportive his brothers were when he told them he was gay.

"A lot of Jews just intuitively understand what it means to be part of a marginalized community," he said.

Competing for Pelosi's seat

Pelosi, a former House speaker, has not made an endorsement in the race.

If elected, Wiener said, he will work to bring down San Francisco's notoriously high cost of living. His opponents are running on a similar promise and say he has failed to prioritize affordable housing.

Chan and Chakrabarti, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., say they are fresher faces better positioned to bring sweeping change after Pelosi. Wiener, they say, is a moderate with establishment ties. Chan has been elected twice by voters in the city's Richmond District, while Chakrabarti has never been on the ballot.

Ross, the political consultant, said it's impossible to compare anyone to Pelosi given the sheer size of her political influence. But like her, Wiener has proved to be a strong networker who can raise money and pass ambitious bills.

"They're both about the politics of what they can get done," Ross said.

Associated Press writer Janie Har contributed.

Federal authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) warehouse in Surprise,Arizona, after a suspect allegedly smashed a window, ignited a fire and hurled a propane tank into the building early Saturday.

FbiPhoenix said that at about 1:30 a.m. local time, the Surprise Police Department responded to a report of criminal damage to the newly purchased ICE building.

A Department of Homeland Security (Dhs) spokesperson told Fox News Digital the suspect "broke a window, ignited a fire, threw a propane tank into the building, and fled."

The fire was quickly extinguished by the interior sprinkler system, the spokesperson said.

Stolen Ambulance Allegedly Driven Into Idaho Dhs Office Building In Attempted Arson Attack

The FBI confirmed authorities found abroken windowat the warehouse and evidence of "minor and limited fire activity."

Read On The Fox News App

No suspectinformation or arrestshave been announced as of Saturday afternoon.

The incident came days after state and federal authorities launched an investigation into an attempted arson attack at a DHS office building in Meridian, Idaho.

The suspect allegedly stole an ambulance from a bay at St. Luke's West hospital on Wednesday, drove the ambulance through the parking lot, and retrieved gas cans that were staged in nearby vegetation, according to Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.

The suspect, who has not been identified, then drove the ambulance directly into the North Portico building, which houses DHS offices, Basterrechea said.

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La Man Seen Throwing Molotov Cocktail Into Federal Building, Feds Say

Investigators believe the suspect poured anaccelerantinside and around the outside of the ambulance.

However, the suspect was unable to ignite the accelerant before being scared off by responding agencies, according to Basterrechea.

Officials said the location was known to the community.

"There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space at this location," Basterrechea said. "Comments on social media, such as 'property damage isn't violence,' is absolutely false. This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk."

TheMeridian Police Departmentis leading the investigation into Wednesday's attack in Idaho in coordination with the FBI, ATF, DHS, Idaho State Police and other regional law enforcement partners.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

The FBI is investigating Saturday's incident in Arizona with assistance from the ATF.

ICE and ATF did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.

Original article source:Propane tank hurled into Arizona ICE facility in suspected arson attack, FBI investigating

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Crews recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers who were killed by an avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada, authorities said Saturday, concluding a harrowing operation that was hindered by intense snowfall.

California Avalanche

A search team reached the bodies of eight victims and found one other who had been missing and presumed dead since Tuesday's avalanche on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe. The ninth person who was missing was found "relatively close" to the other victims, according to Nevada County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Hack, but was impossible to see due to whiteout conditions at that time.

At a news conference, Sheriff Shannon Moon praised the collective efforts of the numerous agencies that helped recover the bodies — from the California Highway Patrol to the National Guard to the Pacific Gas & Electric utility company — and 42 volunteers who helped on the last day of the operation.

"We are fortunate in this mountain community that we are very tight-knit, and our community shows up in times of tragedy," Moon said.

Victims named

The sheriff named for the first time the three guides from Blackbird Mountain Company who died: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30.

According to biographies on the company's website, Alissandratos was originally from Tampa, Florida, and moved to Tahoe roughly a decade ago. He enjoyed a wide array of adventure activities, from backcountry exploration to rock climbing.

Henry moved to Colorado in 2016 and then to Truckee three years later. He was described as "laid back" and devoted to sharing his knowledge and love of the mountains with others.

There was no bio for Choo on the website.

"This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced," Blackbird Mountain founder Zeb Blais said Wednesday in a statement.

"We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much," he said, "and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues."

The six other fatal victimswere women who were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced backcountry skiers and knew how to navigate the Sierra Nevada wilderness, their families said this week.

They were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, all in their 40s. They lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Idaho and the Lake Tahoe area.

"We are devastated beyond words," the families said in a statement. "Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors."

The families asked for privacy while they grieve and added that they "have many unanswered questions."

Two of the friends got out alive and were rescued along with four others, including one guide, after Tuesday's avalanche. Their names have not been released.

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Stuck on the mountain for hours

The avalanche struck on the last day of the 15 skiers' three-day tour, when the group decided to end the trip early to avoid the impending snowstorm. Officials have said the path they took is a "normally traveled route" but declined to specify what that meant.

At around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the six survivors called for help, describing a sudden and terrifying slide that was approximately the length of a football field. In the aftermath they discovered the bodies of three fellow skiers, according to Hack.

Rescuers were not able to reach them until roughly six hours after the initial call for help, Hack said, and took two separate paths to arrive. They found five other bodies, leaving only one person unaccounted for.

But it was immediately clear to rescuers that it was too dangerous to extract the bodies at that time due to the heavy snowfall and threat of more avalanches. Those conditions persisted on Wednesday and Thursday.

A breakthrough on Friday

Authorities used two California Highway Patrol helicopters, with the help of Pacific Gas & Electric Company, to break up the snow and intentionally release unstable snowpack to reduce the avalanche risk.

Crews were then able to recover five victims that evening before it got too dark to access the last three.

Rescuers used helicopters and ropes to hoist the last four bodies from the mountain the following morning, fighting through severe winds that forced them to make multiple trips. The bodies were then taken to snowcats — trucks that are outfitted to drive on snow — for further transport.

"We cannot say enough how tremendously sorry we are for the families that have been affected by this avalanche," Moon said.

Initial reports indicated that at least two of the surviving skiers were not swept away by the avalanche, Hack said. The others were standing separately and relatively close together and were hit.

Hack declined to offer information about what might have set off the avalanche.

Authorities close the area

The terrain will be off-limits to visitors until mid-March, said Chris Feutrier, forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest. Officials intended to restore public access once the investigation is complete.

"This is the public's land, and they love to recreate on it," Feutrier said. "The Forest Service doesn't close public land for every hazard or every obstacle. We trust the American people to use their best judgment when recreating."

Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California state lawmaker favored tosucceed Nancy Pelosiin the U.S. House has already been thrust into the national spotlight as the force behind headline-grabbing policies like aban on masksfor federal agents and protections fortransgender youth.

Election 2026-House-California

Now Scott Wiener is expected to win the California Democratic Party's endorsement on Sunday, giving his candidacy an extra boost in a competitive primary. Once in Washington, he could swiftly become a fresh symbol of San Francisco politics, derided by conservatives as an example of extreme liberalism while occasionally clashing with progressives.

Wiener has practice with that balancing act after 15 years in city and state politics.

"Sen. Wiener only does the tough bills," longtime Sacramento lobbyist Chris Micheli said. "He never shies away from a significant political battle."

Wiener's challenge of navigating modern Democratic politics was on display in January, when he changed his language on the war in Gaza. Days after declining to align with his progressive opponents in describing Israel's actions as genocide, he said he agreed with that term. The shift angered some Jewish groups and led Wiener to step down as co-chair of the state Legislative Jewish Caucus.

"For a period of time I chose not to use the word 'genocide' because it is so sensitive within the Jewish community," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "But ultimately I decided I had been effectively saying 'genocide' for quite some time."

Leading high-profile legislation

Wiener, known for his calm demeanor, is often at the center of California's most divisive issues, from housing to drug use. His backers and critics alike describe him as someone who advocates relentlessly for his bills.

"If you're willing to risk people being mad at you, you can get things done and make people's lives better," Wiener said.

He wrote laws requiring large companies todisclose their direct and indirect climate emissionsand ramp upapartment construction near public transit stops.

But he doesn't always win.

Wiener authored a first-in-the-nation law banning local and federal law enforcement agents from wearing face coverings after a wave ofimmigration raidsacross Southern California last summer. A judge blocked it from taking effect this month — a rare loss in the state's legal battles with the Trump administration that had Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's office blaming Wiener.

He also failed to pass high-profile bills todecriminalize psychedelic mushroomsandhold oil and gas companies liablefor damage from climate-caused natural disasters.

His critics come from both parties.

Republicans have blasted many of his policies aimed at defending LGBTQ+ people, sometimes calling Wiener, who is gay,offensive names.

Aaron Peskin, a former San Francisco supervisor and outspoken progressive, said a law Wiener wrote inadvertently stifled local housing and affordability efforts.

Advertisement

"It was screwing my government's ability to deliver goods and services to the people that we represent," he said.

Shifting language on Israel

Wiener said he supports Israel's right to defend itself but grew horrified by the scale of its attacks on Gaza and blocking of humanitarian aid. More than70,000 Palestinianshave been killed since the war began in late 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. He had harshly criticized Israel's actions but avoided using the word "genocide."

At a candidate forum in January, he refused to say "yes" or "no" after the Democratic hopefuls were asked whether Israel was committing genocide, which angered pro-Palestinian advocates. His opponents, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and former tech executive Saikat Chakrabarti, said "yes."

Days later he released a video saying Israel had committed genocide, triggering backlash from Jewish and pro-Israel groups who said his words lacked "moral clarity."

It was a representation of the difficult political terrain many Democrats are navigating aspolls show views have shiftedon Israel. American sympathy for Israel dropped to an all-time low in 2025, particularly among Democrats and independents, while sympathy for Palestinians has risen.

"Do I think he wins or loses based on this issue? Not necessarily, but it could become a problem for him," San Francisco Bay Area political consultant Jim Ross said, adding that some voters might fear he will equivocate on issues important to them.

Just two Jewish members of Congress — Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Rep. Becca Balint, both of Vermont — have publicly used the word "genocide" to describe Israel's actions. Only a small percentage of congressional Democrats have used the term, according to the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

Wiener grew up in New Jersey in a family that was Conservative Jewish, a sect of Judaism that is moderately traditional, and his only friends until high school were from his synagogue, he said. He later joined a Jewish fraternity at Duke University and was surprised by how supportive his brothers were when he told them he was gay.

"A lot of Jews just intuitively understand what it means to be part of a marginalized community," he said.

Competing for Pelosi's seat

Pelosi, a former House speaker, has not made an endorsement in the race.

If elected, Wiener said, he will work to bring down San Francisco's notoriously high cost of living. His opponents are running on a similar promise and say he has failed to prioritize affordable housing.

Chan and Chakrabarti, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., say they are fresher faces better positioned to bring sweeping change after Pelosi. Wiener, they say, is a moderate with establishment ties. Chan has been elected twice by voters in the city's Richmond District, while Chakrabarti has never been on the ballot.

Ross, the political consultant, said it's impossible to compare anyone to Pelosi given the sheer size of her political influence. But like her, Wiener has proved to be a strong networker who can raise money and pass ambitious bills.

"They're both about the politics of what they can get done," Ross said.

Associated Press writer Janie Har contributed.

Federal authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) warehouse in Surprise,Arizona, after a suspect allegedly smashed a window, ignited a fire and hurled a propane tank into the building early Saturday.

FbiPhoenix said that at about 1:30 a.m. local time, the Surprise Police Department responded to a report of criminal damage to the newly purchased ICE building.

A Department of Homeland Security (Dhs) spokesperson told Fox News Digital the suspect "broke a window, ignited a fire, threw a propane tank into the building, and fled."

The fire was quickly extinguished by the interior sprinkler system, the spokesperson said.

Stolen Ambulance Allegedly Driven Into Idaho Dhs Office Building In Attempted Arson Attack

The FBI confirmed authorities found abroken windowat the warehouse and evidence of "minor and limited fire activity."

Read On The Fox News App

No suspectinformation or arrestshave been announced as of Saturday afternoon.

The incident came days after state and federal authorities launched an investigation into an attempted arson attack at a DHS office building in Meridian, Idaho.

The suspect allegedly stole an ambulance from a bay at St. Luke's West hospital on Wednesday, drove the ambulance through the parking lot, and retrieved gas cans that were staged in nearby vegetation, according to Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.

The suspect, who has not been identified, then drove the ambulance directly into the North Portico building, which houses DHS offices, Basterrechea said.

Advertisement

La Man Seen Throwing Molotov Cocktail Into Federal Building, Feds Say

Investigators believe the suspect poured anaccelerantinside and around the outside of the ambulance.

However, the suspect was unable to ignite the accelerant before being scared off by responding agencies, according to Basterrechea.

Officials said the location was known to the community.

"There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the Department of Homeland Security leasing office space at this location," Basterrechea said. "Comments on social media, such as 'property damage isn't violence,' is absolutely false. This was absolutely an act of violence, and if the suspect had not been interrupted, there is no doubt this building would have been burned, putting the lives of first responders and others at risk."

TheMeridian Police Departmentis leading the investigation into Wednesday's attack in Idaho in coordination with the FBI, ATF, DHS, Idaho State Police and other regional law enforcement partners.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

The FBI is investigating Saturday's incident in Arizona with assistance from the ATF.

ICE and ATF did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.

Original article source:Propane tank hurled into Arizona ICE facility in suspected arson attack, FBI investigating

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Crews recovered the bodies of nine backcountry skiers who were killed by an avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada, authorities said Saturday, concluding a harrowing operation that was hindered by intense snowfall.

California Avalanche

A search team reached the bodies of eight victims and found one other who had been missing and presumed dead since Tuesday's avalanche on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe. The ninth person who was missing was found "relatively close" to the other victims, according to Nevada County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Hack, but was impossible to see due to whiteout conditions at that time.

At a news conference, Sheriff Shannon Moon praised the collective efforts of the numerous agencies that helped recover the bodies — from the California Highway Patrol to the National Guard to the Pacific Gas & Electric utility company — and 42 volunteers who helped on the last day of the operation.

"We are fortunate in this mountain community that we are very tight-knit, and our community shows up in times of tragedy," Moon said.

Victims named

The sheriff named for the first time the three guides from Blackbird Mountain Company who died: Andrew Alissandratos, 34, Nicole Choo, 42, and Michael Henry, 30.

According to biographies on the company's website, Alissandratos was originally from Tampa, Florida, and moved to Tahoe roughly a decade ago. He enjoyed a wide array of adventure activities, from backcountry exploration to rock climbing.

Henry moved to Colorado in 2016 and then to Truckee three years later. He was described as "laid back" and devoted to sharing his knowledge and love of the mountains with others.

There was no bio for Choo on the website.

"This was an enormous tragedy, and the saddest event our team has ever experienced," Blackbird Mountain founder Zeb Blais said Wednesday in a statement.

"We are doing what we can to support the families who lost so much," he said, "and the members of our team who lost treasured friends and colleagues."

The six other fatal victimswere women who were part of a close-knit group of friends who were experienced backcountry skiers and knew how to navigate the Sierra Nevada wilderness, their families said this week.

They were identified as Carrie Atkin, Liz Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar and Kate Vitt, all in their 40s. They lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Idaho and the Lake Tahoe area.

"We are devastated beyond words," the families said in a statement. "Our focus right now is supporting our children through this incredible tragedy and honoring the lives of these extraordinary women. They were all mothers, wives and friends, all of whom connected through the love of the outdoors."

Advertisement

The families asked for privacy while they grieve and added that they "have many unanswered questions."

Two of the friends got out alive and were rescued along with four others, including one guide, after Tuesday's avalanche. Their names have not been released.

Stuck on the mountain for hours

The avalanche struck on the last day of the 15 skiers' three-day tour, when the group decided to end the trip early to avoid the impending snowstorm. Officials have said the path they took is a "normally traveled route" but declined to specify what that meant.

At around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the six survivors called for help, describing a sudden and terrifying slide that was approximately the length of a football field. In the aftermath they discovered the bodies of three fellow skiers, according to Hack.

Rescuer were not able to reach them until roughly six hours after the initial call for help, Hack said, and took two separate paths to arrive. They found five other bodies, leaving only one person unaccounted for.

But it was immediately clear to rescuers that it was too dangerous to extract the bodies at that time due to the heavy snowfall and threat of more avalanches. Those conditions persisted on Wednesday and Thursday.

A breakthrough on Friday

Authorities used two California Highway Patrol helicopters, with the help of Pacific Gas & Electric Company, to break up the snow and intentionally release unstable snowpack to reduce the avalanche risk.

Crews were then able to recover five victims that evening before it got too dark to access the last three.

Rescuers used helicopters and ropes to hoist the last four bodies from the mountain the following morning, fighting through severe winds that forced them to make multiple trips. The bodies were then taken to snowcats — trucks that are outfitted to drive on snow — for further transport.

"We cannot say enough how tremendously sorry we are for the families that have been affected by this avalanche," Moon said.

Initial reports indicated that at least two of the surviving skiers were not swept away by the avalanche, Hack said. The others were standing separately and relatively close together and were hit.

Hack declined to offer information about what might have set off the avalanche.

Authorities close the area

The terrain will be off-limits to visitors until mid-March, said Chris Feutrier, forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest. Officials intended to restore public access once the investigation is complete.

"This is the public's land, and they love to recreate on it," Feutrier said. "The Forest Service doesn't close public land for every hazard or every obstacle. We trust the American people to use their best judgment when recreating."

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Young women, mothers holding babies and some men lined up in a dusty field on the outskirts of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. They came for injections of a new HIV prevention drug launched in the country on Thursday, one that only needs to be administered twice a year.

Zimbabwe New HIV Drug

Zimbabwe, where HIV has led to tens of thousands of deaths over the past two decades, is one of the first countries to roll out lenacapavir, a long-acting drug that authorities hope will slow new infections.

Withclinical studies demonstrating near-total protection, the drug has been described by some health officials as a turning point for high-risk groups. Others warn that turning scientific promise into broad impact will require overcoming funding constraints, infrastructure gaps and the challenge of keeping patients engaged.

At the Zimbabwe launch, Constance Mukoloka stepped out of a mobile clinic, beaming with relief after receiving one of the first doses.

"I am safe, I can work with confidence now," said the 27-year-old sex worker, describing how daily preventive preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, pills often created tension with clients and proved difficult to take consistently — putting her and others at risk.

Could reshape HIV prevention strategies

Mukoloka is among the first beneficiaries of a donor-supported rollout of lenacapaviracross 10 African countries. Health officials and advocates say the drug could reshape HIV prevention strategies if governments can navigate barriers of cost and fragile health systems.

Developed by California-based Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir's introduction in selected high-risk countries is being supported through the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, orPEPFAR, in partnership with the Global Fund.

The injection is offered for free in Zimbabwe to high-risk people such as sex workers, adolescent girls and young women, gay men and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

For Mukoloka, the drug represents more than convenience.

"When I took tablets, customers would see a container of pills and leave. They would never return due to fear," she said. "They couldn't tell the difference between PrEP and treatment drugs. With the work we do, that stigma costs you money."

Daily oral PrEP has long been available in Zimbabwe alongside condoms, vaginal rings and shorter-acting injectables. Yet adherence has remained a challenge, particularly for people facing stigma or unpredictable schedules.

"I work in beer halls looking for clients. Sometimes I would get drunk and forget to take my drugs," Mukoloka said. "Sometimes I would work all night and not have time. Some clients refuse protection. They say ... 'Why should I use protection when I have paid?'"

Extended duration an advantage

Health authorities see lenacapavir's discreetness and extended duration as a critical advantage for key populations such as sex workers and therefore a boost in fighting the spread of HIV.

"Prevention must fit into real life. If a health solution is too complicated, too demanding, or too visible, people simply won't use it," Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe's health minister, said at Thursday's launch. "Lenacapavir represents a new way of doing things."

The drug has been rolled out in other southern African nations like Zambia and Eswatini.

Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Zambia, once global HIV epicenters, have emerged in recent years as among the world's most successful models in controlling the epidemic, achieving World Health Organization testing, treatment and viral suppression targets.

Yet despite these gains, new infections remain a concern, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.

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According to the United Nations children's agency, HIV prevalence among adolescent girls and young women aged 10-24 is "persistently" triple that of their male counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by gender inequality, poverty and uneven access to health services.

In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls of all ages accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2024, according to UNAIDS. In all other geographical regions, about 73% of new infections in 2024 occurred among men and boys.

In Zimbabwe, authorities say about 46,000 people across 24 sites are expected to benefit in the early phase of the lenacapavir rollout, a fraction of potential demand in a country of roughly 15 million.

High cost of mass rollouts

Details for the next phase are not clear. The government says it hopes the number of beneficiaries will increase as more donor-funded doses arrive. It also hopes to acquire its own doses for a mass rollout but, like many other African governments, lacks enough money.

Health officials, experts and activists warn that practical realities could tamper the drug's early promise in Africa, a continent of over 1.5 billion people, not least due to the high cost of mass rollouts for governments.

In Kenya, which received its first 21,000 lenacapavir doses this week, the government said the injectable would be offered at a negotiated price of about $54 per person per year, still a heavy cost for many.

Gilead Sciences has said it wouldsell its drug at no profitto low and middle-income countries heavily affected by HIV.

Bellinda Thibela, who works on health justice and access at Health GAP, an international advocacy organization, described the move as "a bit comforting" but hardly enough on its own on a continent where health systems have heavily relied on external funding that is diminishing, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign aid cuts.

Challenges will remain in countries that were "80% to 90% dependent on U.S. funding," Thibela said. "What's the point of having a reduced price if there is no staff and equipment in clinics?"

While many clinicians describe lenacapavir as a significant advance, they stress it must complement, not replace, prevention tools.

"Condoms remain key. They are cheap and they also prevent other sexually transmitted infections," said Enerst Chikwati, Zimbabwe program director at AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

But for early recipients such as Mukoloka, the drug's impact already feels profound.

"I am elated. I can go for a whole six months feeling safe," she said.

Associated Press writer Evelyne Musambi contributed to this report from Nairobi, Kenya.

For more on Africa and development:https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.