6-3: In a 6-3 vote with national implications, the US Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for children, deciding that it doesn’t contravene the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Tennessee is one of 25 states that have banned gender transition care for minors.
$200 million: OpenAI landed a $200-million contract to develop artificial intelligence tools for the US Department of Defense. The Pentagon said the company’s work will help address national security challenges in warfighting. The contract is the first under OpenAI’s new initiative to work with governments.
5,000: North Korea will send 5,000 construction workers to support rebuilding efforts in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year. The announcement followed Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu’s visit to Pyongyang on Tuesday. North Korea has previously sent troops to fight on Russia’s behalf in Kursk.
24: The UAE rescued 24 crewmembers after two oil tankers collided in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The strait is a vital gateway into the Persian Gulf, with over one fifth of global oil supply flowing through it daily.
