Good morning. Markets breathe a sigh of relief as the US and China agree to a temporary truce in their trade war. Donald Trump vows to cut US drug prices. And the president may get a very luxurious gift from Qatar. Listen to the day’s top stories.
Next in Trump’s sights: prescription drug costs. The president’s set to sign an executive order mandating that Americans pay no more than people in countries that have the lowest price. He predicted that costs may drop as much as 80% in the US, triggering a slump in the shares of pharmaceutical firms across the world. Here’s why prescription drugs are so expensive.
A departure board at Newark Liberty International Airport on May 6. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg
Newark airport’s troubles got even worse. It’ll reduce capacity for several weeks as officials grapple with spiraling delays and safety lapses but experts warned that won’t fix long-term challenges. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told NBC that it may take three to four years to build necessary new infrastructure.
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Deep Dive: Road Tripping
Hitting the road. With Trump’s trade war shaking consumer confidence and stoking inflation fears, Americans are ditching the skies for the open road.
About 39.4 million people are expected to hit the highway this Memorial Day weekend—the most in two decades, according to the American Automobile Association. Just 3.61 million people plan to fly, only a 1.7% gain.
Adding to the allure of road trips, gasoline costs have fallen and recent high-profile airline safety scares aren’t helping the case for air travel. Several carriers have even scrapped their full-year profit forecasts.
The trend is steering travelers toward destinations like the Gulf Coast, Gold Coast, and Smoky Mountains, leaving overseas trips on the back burner. Joining them? Check out these exciting new places to stay near national parks.
A damaged house after cross-border shelling along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. Photographer: Muzammil Ahmed/AFP
A fragile ceasefire has taken hold between India and Pakistan after their most dangerous military escalation in over five decades. But Trump’s Truth Social announcement of the sudden halt in hostilities left Indian officials both stunned and furious.
US airlines and hotels are bearing the brunt of Trump’s trade policies and declining consumer confidence, Andrea Felsted writes. European tour operators should buckle up too amid a slowdown in the luxury market.
The motorcade of Trump is parked next to a Boeing 747 on the tarmac of Palm Beach International airport in February. Photographer: Roberto Schmidt/AFP
Luxury gift. Trump may accept a Boeing 747-8 from Qatar’s royal family to replace the aging Air Force One—possibly the most valuable gift ever from a foreign government, ABC News reported. An announcement may come this week though Qatar said no decision has been made about “temporary use” of the plane.