Pfizer has signed a deal to purchase Metsera Inc., an obesity drugmaker in the development stage, after winning a bidding war against Novo Nordisk. Metsera, based in New York, is developing oral and injectable treatments for obesity and diabetes. On Friday, Metsera announced that Pfizer will acquire the company for up to $86.25 per share, including cash and contingent value rights. Metsera's board said it believes this deal offers the best value and certainty for shareholders. Novo Nordisk, which had increased its offer to $10 billion, announced on Saturday that it would not continue pursuing the acquisition.

Rodrigo Paz has been sworn in as Bolivia’s new president, marking a shift after nearly 20 years of one-party rule. On Saturday, Paz took the oath before lawmakers and foreign leaders. His inauguration has sparked hope among Bolivians facing severe fuel shortages and high food prices. Paz unexpectedly defeated former President Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga in the presidential runoff last month. He inherits an economy in crisis after two decades of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism party. Paz plans gradual reforms and has distanced Bolivia from the ALBA bloc, moving closer to the United States.

UPS and FedEx has decided to ground their fleets of MD-11 planes “out of an abundance of caution” after a deadly crash at a UPS global aviation hub in Kentucky. The companies announced their decisions separately late Friday. The MD-11 aircraft make up about 9% of the UPS airline fleet and 4% of the FedEx fleet. The companies stated that their decisions were made proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. The crash occurred Tuesday at UPS Worldport in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 14 people, including the three pilots on the MD-11 that was headed for Honolulu.

Washington's local economy has taken blows from a series of actions by the Trump administration, from the layoffs of federal workers to the ongoing law enforcement intervention with the National Guard. Now there's the added fallout from the government shutdown, which has furloughed workers and paused money for food assistance. Experts say the shutdown’s long-term impact on the regional economy will be felt long after the government reopens. The Capital Area Food Bank is providing 8 million more meals than it had prepared to this budget year. That's a nearly 20% increase.

Gaza health officials say over 69,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war. The death toll has risen as bodies are recovered from the rubble since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10 and as other dead are identified. Israel and Hamas have again exchanged bodies under the ceasefire agreement, with Israel returning 15 Palestinian bodies on Saturday. The ceasefire aims to wind down the deadliest conflict ever between Israel and Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinian farmers and others in the West Bank, with violence reaching new highs during the olive harvest.

A Russian drone has hit a tower block in eastern Ukraine, killing three people and injuring 12, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack in Dnipro was part of a larger missile and drone barrage targeting energy infrastructure across the country, and a worker at an energy company in Kharkiv was also killed. Ukrainian forces shot down many drones and missiles, but several locations were struck. Authorities have switched off power in several regions due to the attacks. Fighting for the strategic city of Pokrovsk has reached a key stage, with both Kyiv and Moscow trying to influence international support.

Local workers at some American military bases in Europe are feeling the impact of the U.S. government shutdown. Unions representing foreign nationals working at the bases say many have not received their salaries since the shutdown in Washington began last month. Labor unions in Italy and Portugal say hundreds of workers have gone unpaid as the shutdown stretches approaches its sixth week. In Italy, over 1,300 local workers at U.S. bases weren't paid in October. In Portugal, a similar situation is occurring at the Lajes Field base, where roughly 360 Portuguese workers had not been paid. Meanwhile, Germany is covering the salaries of nearly 11,000 civilian employees at U.S. bases there.

Reusable bottles get grubby no matter what liquid they’re filled with, so it’s important to clean them regularly. Water bottles pick up germs from our mouths when we take a sip, and from our hands when we touch the straw or lid. Experts disagree on when and how you should wash them, but they’re all in agreement on one thing: something is better than nothing at all. The simplest cleaning routine is a daily soapy water scrub, using a thin brush to get into straws and tight crannies. For a deeper clean, try the dishwasher if your bottle can handle it, or dissolve a denture or retainer-cleaning tablet in it overnight.

Voter anger over rising electricity costs is shaping next year's midterm elections. Communities with fast-rising electric bills or debates over who pays for Big Tech's energy needs are pivotal. This week, electricity costs played a key role in elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia. Voters in several states cited economic concerns as a top issue. Rising electric costs aren't expected to ease soon, and many Americans could see higher bills during next year's campaigns. Analysts attribute the increases to grid modernization, demand from data centers, and rising natural gas prices.

Vice President JD Vance’s recent comments about hoping his Hindu wife converts to Christianity have sparked discussions about interfaith marriages. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event, Vance shared how he and his wife, Usha, navigate their religious differences while raising their children Catholic. A Pew Research survey shows that interfaith marriages have increased significantly since 2010. Experts who routinely counsel interfaith couples emphasize the importance of respecting each other's beliefs without coercion. The Hindu American Foundation criticized Vance's remarks, highlighting recent anti-Hindu hate coming from “explicitly Christian sources.”

Along with stop, drop and roll, some states are teaching students to 'Stop and don't touch that gun.' Arkansas, Tennessee and Utah passed laws requiring schools to teach children as young as 5 the basics of gun safety and how to properly store guns at home. In Tennessee, lesson plans could include stickers, games, videos with catchy jingles and colorful firearm illustrations, including a gun made of Lego-style bricks. The reality is that many children in the U.S. grow up around firearms from an early age. The main takeaway from the lessons is a series of steps. Children are told to stop, don’t touch, leave quickly and tell an adult.

Cold temperatures across much of the U.S. and even snow in parts of the Northern Plains are forecast beginning this weekend. Cities from Baton Rouge to Birmingham could see daily record low temperatures on Tuesday. Areas of the Dakotas could see as much as 3 inches of snow Friday into Saturday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Ashton Robinson Cook says the cold snap isn't expected to last and that warmer temperatures are forecast for much the central U.S. next week.

With Thanksgiving less than three weeks away, the question of how much this year’s turkey and trimmings will cost looms large, especially with grocery prices 2.7% higher than they were in 2024. President Donald Trump has claimed over the past two days that costs for the Thanksgiving meal are down 25% this year, citing a prepackaged Thanksgiving meal basket from Walmart. But this is misleading. While Walmart’s 2025 meal basket costs about 25% less than the one from 2024, that’s because it offers fewer items and different products to make it more affordable.

President Donald Trump says no U.S. government officials will be attending the Group of 20 summit this year in South Africa, citing the country’s treatment of white farmers. Trump had already announced he would not attend the annual summit for heads of state from the globe’s leading and emerging economies. Vice President JD Vance had been scheduled to attend in Trump’s place, but a person familiar with Vance’s plans who was granted anonymity to talk about his schedule said Vance would no longer travel there for the summit. “It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa,” Trump said on his social media site.

Fox Sports has let go of NFL analyst Mark Sanchez and hired Drew Brees in his place. Sanchez has been off the air since police said he was stabbed during a fight with a truck driver outside an Indianapolis hotel on Oct. 4. He was in Indianapolis for Fox’s coverage of the Oct. 5 game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders. Sanchez faces a felony battery charge, along with several misdemeanor charges, for what prosecutors have said was a fight over parking. Brees will replace Sanchez on Fox’s No. 4 NFL crew. Brees’ first game will be Nov. 16.