Drugmaker Bayer announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind drug to treat moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause.

Lynkuet is a once-daily soft gel capsule that studies show can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. The drug works by blocking both NK1 and NK3 receptors on KNDy neurons, calming the overactive temperature signals that trigger moderate to severe hot flashes.

The drug has already received regulatory approval in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and is pending approval in the European Union.

Bayer expects Lynkuet to be available in the United States next month.

RELATED STORY | FDA approves new type of drug to treat menopausal hot flashes

The FDA approval of Lynkuet is an important new option for women and providers who are treating moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause, said Dr. Yesmean Wahdan, head of medical affairs USA & North America at Bayer. As a global leader in womens healthcare with more than 100 years of research and experience, we are proud to bring this new treatment option to market for women who are going through menopause and seeking hot flash relief.

According to UCLA Health, 75% of women experience hot flashes during menopause, but only half seek treatment. The average age for the menopause transition is 51, though it can range from age 40 into the early 60s. Hot flashes can persist for seven to 10 years after menopause begins.

Current treatments include hormone therapy, antidepressants and other medications.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris said she might run for the presidency in 2028, marking what could be her third attempt at the nations highest office.

In an interview with BBC News, Harris said that she hasnt decided on a third attempt at the White House but added that she is not done.

I have lived my entire career as a life of service and its in my bones, she said during the interview.

During the interview, she was asked when her grandnieces would see a female president. Harris responded that there would be a female president in their lifetime, for sure.

RELATED STORY | If shes shining, hes dimmed: Kamala Harris recounts strained ties with Biden team

When asked about the long odds she would face in becoming president, she said, If I listened to polls I would have not run for my first office, or my second office and I certainly wouldnt be sitting here.

Harris was relatively close in the popular vote, falling to Donald Trump by 1.5 percentage points, but struggled in six key battleground states pivotal to winning the presidency.

She has cited the relatively short time she had to build a campaign after then-President Joe Biden decided to drop out of the race amid concerns over his health and mental fitness. She also noted in her recent book "107 Days" that she had a strained relationship with President Biden's staff.

Harris campaign raised $81 million within a day of Biden's announcement and $310 million by the end of July. But despite the historic moment the first woman of color to lead a major-party presidential ticket her momentum stalled.

More recently, Harris squashed rumors that she was considering a run in 2026 to become Californias next governor perhaps a sign she still has her sights set on the White House.

In response to its interview with Harris, the BBC said the White House stated, When Kamala Harris lost the election in a landslide, she shouldve taken the hint the American people dont care about her absurd lies.

No former Democratic nominee has attempted another run for the White House since Hubert Humphrey ran again in 1972 after losing to Richard Nixon in 1968. Humphrey came well short of securing the partys nomination.

The last time a losing Democrat successfully earned the partys nomination again was Adlai Stevenson, who was the partys nominee in both 1952 and 1956, losing to Dwight Eisenhower both times.

With Tropical Storm Melissa expected to strengthen into a hurricane this weekend, officials are warning that Jamaica and Haiti could face catastrophic flooding.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Melissa is expected to meander off Jamaicas southern coast, lashing the mountainous island with heavy rain and gusty winds. The storms outer rainbands are also forecast to continue impacting Haiti.

The National Hurricane Center said much of Jamaica and Haiti could see 15 to 25 inches of rainfall, with some localized areas receiving up to 35 inches.

Hurricane-force winds are expected to begin pounding Jamaica on Sunday and may not let up until late Tuesday. By then, Melissa is expected to become a major hurricane.

Melissas slow movement will bring a multi-day period of damaging winds and heavy rainfall beginning tonight, likely causing catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides. There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge early next week. All preparations should be completed today, the National Hurricane Center said as the storm approaches Jamaica.

The storm is forecast to eventually drift north, striking Cuba or Haiti directly before moving through the Bahamas.

Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti into early next week, likely causing extensive infrastructural damage and potentially prolonged isolation of communities, the National Hurricane Center said. Immediate preparations to protect life and property are urged. Strong winds could also potentially last for a day or more over the Tiburon Peninsula.

For the first time since 2020, the American Heart Association has updated its CPR guidelines, introducing several key changes.

The new guidance includes updated recommendations for responding to choking incidents, opioid overdoses and cardiac arrest.

Previously, there was no specific guidance for helping an adult who is choking. Past recommendations for choking children called for abdominal thrusts only. The 2025 update now advises alternating five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive for both conscious adults and children.

The guidelines also provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for administering naloxone to someone suffering an opioid overdose.

RELATED STORY | Knowing the basics of CPR could save someone's life

Another change unifies the chain of survival for all cardiac arrests, regardless of age or whether the event occurs in or out of a hospital. In previous guidelines, these chains differed for adults, children and infants, and by location.

The American Heart Association also now recommends that children as young as 12 can effectively learn CPR and use defibrillation equipment.

The American Heart Associations 2025 CPR guidelines represent gold standard science. They reflect a rigorous examination of the most up-to-date evidence that guides how resuscitation is provided for critically ill patients, said Dr. Ashish Panchal, volunteer chair of the Associations Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science Committee. As the science continues to evolve, its important that we continue to review new research specific to the scientific questions considered of greatest clinical significance that affect how we deliver life-saving care.The Association says a persons chances of surviving a cardiac event at least double when CPR is performed.

Nike announced it has launched Project Amplify, calling it the worlds first battery-powered footwear for walking and running.

The footwear is designed to help runners and walkers move a little bit faster and farther with less effort, the company said. Nike says the system augments lower-leg and ankle movement, providing an unparalleled boost to anyone who wants to move.

Nike compared Project Amplify to electric bikes, which have surged in popularity in recent years. The first-generation system includes a lightweight motor, drive belt and rechargeable cuff battery that integrates with carbon fiberplated running shoes.

The goal, according to Nike, is to make slower running, jogging and walking easier and more fun, focusing on athletes who run between a 10- and 12-minute mile pace.

RELATED STORY | Nike footwear prices set to rise; analysts cite impact of import taxes

Nike claims the footwear could help athletes running a 12-minute mile improve to a 10-minute mile.

Our job is to dream big while keeping athletes at the center, said Michael Donaghu, vice president of Create The Future, Emerging Sport and Innovation. Project Amplify started with a single question: What if we could find a way to help athletes move faster and farther with less energy and a lot more fun? At its core, Project Amplify is about seamlessly adding a little more power to your stride. The fun comes from realizing you can do more than you thought you could whatever more means to you.

The footwear system remains in the testing phase. Nike said it has tested Project Amplify with 400 athletes, logging 2.4 million steps.

A broader consumer launch is anticipated in the coming years.

Millions of Social Security recipients will now know how much their checks will be in 2026 after new government data was released on Friday.

The Social Security Administration announced that Social Security recipients will get a 2.8% bump in checks in 2026, which represents a $56 increase for the average retiree.

The announcement following the release of the monthly Consumer Price Index report. The Social Security Administration bases its cost-of-living adjustment on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases monthly.

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance. Items like food, shelter and energy typically carry heavier weight.

Last years cost-of-living adjustment was 2.5%, which closely matched the 2.4% increase in consumer goods and services. About 75 million Social Security beneficiaries are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living adjustment starting in January. Nearly 7.5 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income will get the adjustment starting Dec. 31.

For the 12-month period ending in August, the consumer price index showed a 2.9% increase in prices.

"Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect todays economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security," said Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.

The Social Security Administration also said that the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will increase from $176,100 in 2025 to $184,500 in 2026.

RELATED STORY | US inflation rate climbs to 3% in September; highest this year

Recipients should get a letter in December notifying them of their new benefit amount.

There are long-term concerns over the future of Social Security payments.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said legislation passed in July will reduce Social Securitys revenue from the income taxation of benefits. The group says this change will cause Social Security to become insolvent sooner than previously expected. A report from Social Securitys trustees states there are enough funds to fully pay benefits until 2034, but without congressional intervention, benefits will be cut. The committee projects Social Security will become insolvent by the end of 2032.

Officials have long expressed concern about the stability of the program. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and birth rates decline, Social Security revenue is falling while its expenses are rising. Social Security paid out $1.5 trillion in benefits in 2024, accounting for about 23% of federal spending.

After its release was delayed due to the government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly consumer inflation report showing the price of goods and services increased 3% for the 12-month period ending in September.

The 3% increase marked the highest inflation rate in the U.S. since January 2025. The rate is up from 2.9% in August and 2.7% in July.

How much of a role President Donald Trump's tariff policies have played in inflation remains unclear. The inflation rate on items other than food and energy increased to 3% for the year ending in September.

Last week, the Budget Lab at Yale University said President Trump's tariffs would raise prices by almost 1.3% in the short run, costing the typical middle-class household more than $1,800 per year. Those figures have fluctuated as President Trump continues shifting tariff rates on various nations.

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance; items like food, shelter, and energy tend to be weighted more heavily.

Over the last decade, prices have generally increased at a rate of 3.5% per year. Over the last 20 years, consumer inflation has typically risen by 3.3% annually. The Federal Reserve, however, has aimed to keep annual inflation at approximately 2%.

President Donald Trump announced late Thursday he is ending negotiations with Canada after the provincial government of Ontario released a television advertisement critical of U.S. tariffs.

The ad featured the words of former President Ronald Reagan: When someone says let's impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes, for a short while, it works but only for a short time.

It continued: High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens: markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs.

RELATED STORY | US liquor exports see steep losses as tariffs take effect

Trumps decision appeared to follow criticism of the ad from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which called it misleading.

The ad misrepresents the presidential radio address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks, the institute said.

It is unclear why Ontario would have needed permission, as the radio address is in the public domain.

Hours after the institutes statement, Trump said negotiations with Canada were off, noting the ad was not produced by the Canadian government itself.

TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMY OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Talks between the United States and Canada had continued after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Trump in the Oval Office on Oct. 7.

Although many Canadian goods have been exempt from tariffs, the United States has imposed 50 percent duties on steel and aluminum measures Carney has acknowledged have hurt Canadas economy.

Carney has sought to avoid escalating trade tensions, dropping some retaliatory tariffs imposed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The approach has drawn criticism.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford told CBC this week he was looking for Carney to take a harder line against the United States if he cannot reach an agreement.

We are nice, nice, nice. Play nice in the sandbox, Ford said, according to CBC. I am sick and tired of sitting and rolling over. We need to fight back.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, former NBA player Damon Jones and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups have been arrested in connection with separate illegal gambling schemes uncovered in a sweeping FBI investigation, federal authorities announced Thursday.

FBI Director Kash Patel called it one of the most brazen sports-related fraud operations the bureau has seen.

"It's not hundreds of dollars. It's not thousands of dollars. It's not tens of thousands of dollars. It's not even millions of dollars. We're talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery," Patel said.

The league said that Rozier and Billups are being placed on immediate leave.

"We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority," the NBA said in a statement.

Alleged Sports Gambling Scheme

According to federal prosecutors, Rozier, Jones and four others were part of an illegal sports-betting operation that relied on private NBA insider information. Investigators say they passed along details they learned from within the league so that associates could place advantageous wagers.

In one alleged incident, prosecutors claim Rozier planned to remove himself from a 2023 game due to an injury and notified others ahead of time, allowing them to bet the under on his prop totals.

Rozier, now in his 11th NBA season and second with Miami, did not play in the Heats season opener Wednesday against Orlando. He was listed as a coachs decision.

Jones, who spent a decade in the NBA from 1999-2009, later served as a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach and was on staff during the teams 2016 championship run.

Prosecutors said the scheme is directly tied to former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter, who was previously charged as a co-conspirator. Porter was permanently banned from the NBA earlier this year after admitting he shared inside information and manipulated his own playing time to influence bets.

Alleged Poker Scheme

In a separate indictment, authorities accuse Billups and dozens of others with mob ties of running high-stakes poker games designed to cheat invited guests out of large sums of money. Officials say the group used secret cheating technology including an X-ray poker table, specialized contacts and specialized shuffling machines to rig outcomes.

The FBI alleges Billups was recruited to make the games appear legitimate and attractive to victims, who believed they were receiving elite invitations to play poker with a former NBA star. In reality, investigators say, the people at the table were in on the scheme to cheat the victim out of money.

Some suspects in the poker scheme face charges including wire fraud, money laundering and extortion.

Billups is in his fifth season coaching Portland and is a five-time All-Star. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 2004 when the Detroit Pistons won the championship. He coached Wednesday nights season opener against Minnesota.

A League Under Scrutiny

The arrests come as the NBA deepens its financial ties to the sports-betting industry, including partnerships with major sportsbooks and in-arena betting locations. Yet the league has also voiced concern about the rise of prop bets especially those involving role players.

On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told ESPNs Pat McAfee that the league has asked sportsbooks to scale back prop options for players with limited playing time, such as those on two-way contracts.

Vice President JD Vance wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel on Thursday after meeting with Israeli leaders to encourage them to seek a peaceful resolution to end the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Although Vance voiced optimism about a lasting ceasefire, he criticized Wednesdays vote by Israels Parliament to annex the West Bank as a stupid political stunt.

If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt, and I personally take some insult to it, Vance said, suggesting the vote was largely symbolic. The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed. That will continue to be our policy, and if people want to take symbolic votes, they can do that, but we certainly werent happy about it.

As he departed Israel, Vance said both Israel and Hamas are largely abiding by the terms of the ceasefire.

For all of the difficulties and problems, right now I think we can say with confidence that Israel is respecting the ceasefire. Hamas is respecting the ceasefire, he said. There are exceptions little flare-ups that break out here and there which would be expected when these two parties have been at war for two years. But so far the cease-fire is holding, and now were trying to figure out how to make it last over the long term.

Vance emphasized that the U.S. would not put troops on the ground in Gaza to maintain peace, but American forces would be used to supervise and mediate the process.

The vice presidents visit underscored the Trump administrations mission to prevent both sides from breaking the ceasefire. In addition to Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner held high-level meetings with Israeli officials this week.

Officials have acknowledged that advancing to the next phase of the peace process will be challenging. Opening aid to Gaza, establishing a peacekeeping force and the eventual reconstruction of the territory all pose significant hurdles.

There is no question food prices have jumped in the past five years, and Halloween candy is no exception.

A report by FinanceBuzz found that Halloween candy prices have increased more than triple the rate of inflation since 2020. Overall inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index, has risen 24% since then, while the price of Halloween candy has surged 78%.

This year, the average cost of a 100-piece bag of candy is $16.39, according to FinanceBuzz. In 2020, the average bag cost $9.19. Last year, a typical bag cost $14.06.

FinanceBuzz calculated prices by shopping at Walmart, Target, Kroger and Albertsons locations nationwide.

RELATED STORY | Americans admit they eat their Halloween candy before trick-or-treaters arrive

The National Retail Federation projects Americans will spend $3.9 billion on Halloween candy this year, up from $3.5 billion in 2024.

Halloween chocolate and candy represented nearly 18% of all confectionery retail sales in 2024, according to the National Confectioners Association.

Government data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows candy and gum prices have climbed 38% in the past five years.

Its possible candy prices will continue to rise as the effects of new tariffs deepen. Most of the United States cocoa comes from West African nations. About half of U.S. cocoa imports come from Cte dIvoire, which now faces a 21% tariff on products shipped to the U.S.

Because of the federal government shutdown, the data used to set the Social Security Administrations annual cost-of-living adjustment is not available.

The data, which is part of the monthly Consumer Price Index report, was not released Wednesday as intended. The Social Security Administration bases its cost-of-living adjustment on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases monthly.

The consumer price index weighs the costs of goods based on their importance. Items like food, shelter and energy typically carry heavier weight.

RELATED STORY | Dueling letters, contradictions, a man confused: There's 'chaos' at Social Security, says national expert

Last years cost-of-living adjustment was 2.5%, which closely matched the 2.4% increase in consumer goods and services. About 74 million Social Security beneficiaries are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living adjustment starting in January. Nearly 7.2 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income will get the adjustment starting Dec. 31.

The Social Security League projects the annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 will be 2.7%. For the average Social Security retiree, that would mean a monthly increase of about $54.

For the 12-month period ending in August, the consumer price index showed a 2.9% increase in prices.

RELATED STORY | Senate again fails to end shutdown as standoff enters third week

There are long-term concerns over the future of Social Security payments.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said legislation passed in July will reduce Social Securitys revenue from the income taxation of benefits. The group says this change will cause Social Security to become insolvent sooner than previously expected. A report from Social Securitys trustees states there are enough funds to fully pay benefits until 2034, but without congressional intervention, benefits will be cut. The committee projects Social Security will become insolvent by the end of 2032.

Officials have long expressed concern about the stability of the program. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and birth rates decline, Social Security revenue is falling while its expenses are rising. Social Security paid out $1.5 trillion in benefits in 2024, accounting for about 23% of federal spending.