Hit the road now
Hit the road now
Good morning!🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert. We're taking some R&R — Daily Briefing will back Tuesday! And for the perfect burger this holiday weekend, skip the grill!
Quick look at Friday's news:
A record number of Americans are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend.
The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students.
Atlantic hurricane season is almost here.
Traveling this Memorial Day weekend?
The summer vacation season kick-starts this weekend, when 45.1 million Americans are predicted to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 22 and May 26, breaking a record of 44 million set in 2005.
That's an increase of 1.4 million from last year. The majority of travelers will be taking a road trip to reach their final destination (with Friday as the busiest day for rental car pick ups!).
Don't forget your aux cord: As usual with holiday weekends, flexibility pays off, and the best time to hit the road is Friday morning.
As usual with holiday weekends, flexibility pays off, and the best time to hit the road is Friday morning. Put on the wipers: "Severe weather threat" forecast for parts of the U.S. could ruin your drive or get-togethers with family and friends.
"Severe weather threat" forecast for parts of the U.S. could ruin your drive or get-togethers with family and friends. Rain got you stuck inside? Shop online. USA TODAY gathered all the best Memorial Day weekend deals and sales from Ace, Stanley, Anthropologie, REI and more.
Existing international students at Harvard must transfer or risk losing their legal status
Harvard University's campus was thrown into chaos after the Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. The move jeopardizes the legal status of more than a quarter of its students and marks significant escalation in the White House's battle to pressure the Ivy League school to bend to demands to overhaul its admissions, hiring and teaching practices. The decision will almost certainly prompt a legal challenge from the university.
More news to know now
What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Suspect in fatal shooting of Israeli embassy aides charged with murder
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in a swift reaction to an apparent antisemitic attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., about a mile from the White House. Jeanine Pirro, the interim U.S. Attorney for D.C. said authorities may pursue the death penalty if Rodriguez is convicted. Rodriguez chanted, "Free Palestine, free Palestine," after being taken into custody by event security after the shooting. The slain couple was about to get engaged.
What's next for Trump's tax bill: An opinionated Senate
President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and policy bill has cleared one big hurdle after several marathon days of negotiations in the U.S. House. The House bill that passed by the most narrow of margins early May 22 brings good news for the nation's wealthiest, car buyers, parents, waiters and waitresses. The 1,000-plus-page legislation also contains bad news for people making less than $50,000, recipients of Medicaid and food stamps and anyone still saddled with student loan debt. But Trump can't celebrate a victory just by securing a Senate majority. Any tweaks senators make to the House-passed legislation would then need to be reconciled in negotiations between the two chambers.
Today's talkers
The Atlantic is primed to start spewing hurricanes
Atlantic hurricane season 2025 is almost here and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a "confluence of factors" are set to fuel tropical cyclones in coming months. NOAA officials said to prepare for danger now as they released a forecast that predicts a 60% chance of an above average season. The season is expected to be above average due to a "warmer than average ocean temperatures," NOAA said, among other factors. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and continues through November 30.
Photo of the day: Colman always looks so cool
Celebrities, including "Sing Sing" actor Colman Domingo, attended the amfAR charity dinner Thursday in Cap d'Antibes, Cannes, France. With tickets starting at $25,000, the gathering has fundraised in the name of HIV/AIDS research since 1993. Attendees expressed concern about what President Trump's budget and staffing cuts could mean for AIDS research and prevention around the world.
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Forbes
17 hours ago
- Forbes
What It Means To Be Wealthy In The Philippines
Entalula Island lagoon, Philippines getty With its breathtaking beaches, rich culture, and generous hospitality, the Philippines is a dream destination for travelers and digital nomads. But what does it mean to be wealthy in this Southeast Asian archipelago? From average salaries and cost of living to net worth and visa opportunities, here's what you need to know about being wealthy in the Philippines. The Philippines was the 11th most-searched-for country by Americans in 2024, with many looking to relocate or vacation there. Who wouldn't want to go somewhere that Lonely Planet describes as "emerald rice fields, teeming megacities, graffiti-splashed jeepneys, smoldering volcanoes, bug-eyed tarsiers, fuzzy water buffalo and smiling, happy-go-lucky people." (Tarsiers are the world's only entirely carnivorous primate, a mix between a lemur and a monkey.) These thousands of islands in the South China Sea offer beaches and biodiversity in abundance, a place that U.S. News ranks as the 45th best country in the world. A Spanish colony in the 16th century, it got its name after King Philip II of Spain; the country was ceded to the U.S. after the Spanish-American war in 1898 until it became a commonwealth in 1935—the country is predominantly Christian (83% of its residents). It celebrates its independence from the U.S. on July 4th, and its colonization by the U.S. has made it the third-largest English-speaking country in the world today. The Philippines is a developing economy with a growing middle class, but average salaries remain modest compared to Western standards. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita in the Philippines is approximately $4,439 per year. This is significantly lower than the OECD average of $30,490 and the U.S. average of $51,147. In 2021, one report stated that the average annual income of a family in the Philippines was approximately $5,500, and to qualify as middle class, one would need to earn between $300 and $2,000 per month. However, salaries in the Philippines vary widely depending on the industry and location. For example, workers in Metro Manila, the country's economic hub, tend to earn higher wages than those in rural areas. The cost of living in the Philippines is one of its most attractive features for expats and retirees. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in the Philippines is significantly lower than in the U.S., the U.K., or many European countries. The cost of living is 116% higher in the U.S. than in the Philippines, excluding rent. The cost for a single person per month, not including rent, is as follows: Furthermore, when you factor in rent, it becomes clear that the Philippines offers more for your dollar per square meter; rents in the U.S. are 455% higher than in the Philippines. While rent in major cities like Manila or Cebu can be higher, it is still much more affordable than in most U.S. cities—rent in a city center can start at around $300. Groceries and utilities are also cheaper than in the U.S., and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in the Philippines could be around $3. Wealth distribution in the Philippines is highly unequal, with a significant disparity between the rich and the poor. In 2022, the average wealth of adults in the Philippines was approximately $3,155, which is considerably lower than in the U.S., according to Statista. Over the past ten years, there have been roughly 500 ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the Philippines—that's to say, someone owning $30 million or more. Philippine billionaires, such as those on the Forbes Philippines Rich List, have amassed fortunes in industries like retail, banking, and property development. The Philippines offers several visa options for foreigners looking to live or work in the country, namely it offers a Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), which is popular among retirees. To qualify, applicants must deposit a minimum of $10,000 to $50,000 in a Philippine bank, depending on their age and retirement income. The government has recently announced the launch of a new digital nomad visa for individuals aged 18 and above, allowing them to stay and work in the country for a year, with the possibility of a one-year renewal. The government is seeking to attract tourists, as it fell short of its 2024 target of 7.7 million arrivals by 23%. Being wealthy in the Philippines means more than just financial stability though—it's about travelers being able to enjoy a high quality of life in a country known for its natural beauty, rich culture, and warm people.
Epoch Times
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- Epoch Times
Small-Hotel Owners Find Creative Opportunities in Mixed Economic Environment
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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Travel disruptions fueled by Trump policies may culminate at peak summer season
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration invited travel industry executives to the White House in May for a meeting on federal plans for the 2026 World Cup, a landmark event that under normal circumstances would draw massive international tourism to the United States. It was a welcome gathering by President Trump and his team for an industry eager to capitalize on a rare opportunity and capture tourism dollars. Welcome, at least, until Vice President JD Vance cracked a joke. 'We'll have visitors from close to 100 countries — we want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the games. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home. Otherwise, they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem,' Vance said, referring to the Homeland Security secretary and head of border enforcement. Vance's remarks, while taken in jest, fell flat in a room filled with experts more keenly aware than most of the challenges facing travel in the Trump era. 'It's one of those moments where you're almost, like, stop helping us,' one participant in the meeting told The Times, granted anonymity to speak candidly. Stories are flooding media overseas of capricious denials and detentions at U.S. border crossings, raising concern among international tourists over spending top dollar on vacations to America that may end up disrupted, or never materialize. Erratic tariff policies out of the White House have shaken consumer confidence that experts say reliably tracks with discretionary spending on travel. And a series of scares in U.S. aviation, coupled with cuts to the National Park Service and the National Weather Service, have made planning trips to some of the country's top destinations less reliable. In California, the nation's No. 1 tourist destination, international visits are expected to drop by 9.2% through the year, with international spending anticipated to drop 4.2%, according to a forecast published last month by Visit California and Tourism Economics. Around Yosemite National Park, one of the nation's most popular attractions, reported bookings were down 'as much as 50% going into Memorial Day weekend,' Caroline Beteta, president and chief executive of Visit California, told The Times. Narratives of travel disruptions under the Trump administration have given pause to U.S. officials and industry experts concerned not only with the immediate economic consequences of a slower summer season, but with the prospects of anemic attendance at World Cup games next year and, beyond, for the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. 'Consumer confidence certainly matters,' said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive of the U.S. Travel Assn. 'It creates a degree of uncertainty.' Unlike much of the rest of the country, California is particularly susceptible to shifting trends among tourists from Asia, where tourism has yet to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic as robustly as it has in the Americas and Europe. Commercial flight restrictions over Russian airspace and the strength of the U.S. dollar haven't helped, Freeman said. On the other hand, California benefits from a tourism industry that relies more heavily on domestic travelers, the source of 80% of tourism dollars spent in the state, Beteta noted. 'There's no question that there are widespread misperceptions about impacts to the travel experience, from reports about staff cuts to detentions at the border,' Beteta said. 'Cuts at the National Park Service, for example, don't affect the park concessionaires — and those companies run most of the visitor-facing services, such as lodging, dining, shuttle services and much more. The misperception of chaos at the parks is a PR issue that can have real consequences.' But Cassidy Jones, senior visitation program manager at the National Parks Conservation Assn., said that cuts to the parks are tangible and will directly affect visitors' experience over the coming months, despite efforts by leadership at the Department of the Interior to paper over the cracks. 'There may be fewer entrance gates open,' Jones said. 'People should plan ahead and remember to be helpful park visitors. Take the optional shuttle. Come with supplies with you, as some facilities may be closed at hours you're not expecting, because they don't have the staff to keep them open. Toilets may not be unwinterized yet if they're in cold places.' In April, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order directing that national parks be 'open and accessible' through the summer season, as fears grew that staffing cuts implemented by the administration could become apparent. Still, the White House cuts and hiring freezes severely disrupted a seasonal hiring and training cadence for park rangers that usually begins around Christmas, Jones said. 'Some parks may not feel like a lot of changes are evident, but there's a lot of work that is not being done in the background,' Jones added. 'The order basically demanded that even though parks have experienced devastating staffing cuts, they are to put on a sort of public appearance that everything is business as usual. That means pulling superintendents to work in visitor centers, science and research management staff to make sure facilities are clean — biologists cleaning toilets, that sort of thing.' Twenty years ago, roughly half of flight delays were caused by uncertainty over the weather — a number that has dropped to 33% in recent years thanks to improved forecast quality. That progress is starting to reverse due to widespread cuts in talent, and will be felt by travelers sooner rather than later, said Rick Spinrad, who served as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under President Biden. Trump's government efficiency program, known as DOGE, has eliminated hundreds of positions at NOAA, including at the National Weather Service, and is proposing a 25% cut in the agency's budget. 'In the short term, this summer, when people are doing longer traveling, we may see a degradation of services. You may see more delayed flights, more weather-impacted flights,' Spinrad said. But Spinrad's concern is that the cuts to NOAA will soon be felt much more deeply, at the local level, among the emergency managers, local transportation departments and public health centers that count on reliable forecasts to map out their work. 'What we're going to start to see, I think, is the erosion of the capability of NOAA to provide services to the degree that people had become accustomed to,' he said. Spinrad visited Southern California in late May and was taken aback by the number of people raising concern over the agency's ability to continue predicting atmospheric river events, with all of their implications on public safety, reservoir operations and hydro power. Those forecasts rely heavily on the work of a satellite operations facility that was gutted by the Trump administration. And the capabilities of the National Weather Service to predict phenomena like Santa Ana winds, which fueled devastating fires in Los Angeles in January, are at risk, with 30 of the agency's 122 weather forecast offices operating without meteorologists and with technicians cut throughout, he said. 'I know it will degrade, just by definition. Everything's going to degrade,' Spinrad added. 'All of NOAA's predictive capabilities will degrade as a result of these cuts.' Mark Spalding, president of the Ocean Foundation, warned the aviation industry would soon face disruptions as NOAA's capabilities continue to diminish. 'We will see effects this summer, because they've fired so many people and shut down so much activity,' Spalding said. 'There are a lot of services that a lot of people rely on that NOAA provides — weather prediction, ocean observing, tsunami early warning, hurricane center monitoring,' he added. 'There's a lot this summer that could be affected in ways that are akin to what we're seeing in air traffic control due to the sudden loss of personnel there.' Still, Freeman, of the U.S. Travel Assn., expressed optimism for the U.S. tourism sector going forward, noting he and his counterparts are in 'regular communication' with the Trump administration over headwinds facing the multitrillion-dollar industry. 'We have no shortage of challenges in the travel industry,' he said. 'I think the picture right now for travel is uncertain, at worst.' 'For every challenge you see, there is an opportunity on the other side,' he added.
