Travel disruptions are looming as the FAA prepares to cut flights across major US airports amid the ongoing government shutdown.
In the commodities market, Russian oil prices are sliding as India and China scale back purchases under new US sanctions.
Meanwhile, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are set for major price relief under a new federal plan, and Trump is pushing for US leadership in Bitcoin and digital assets.
Here’s a glance at the major developments on Thursday.
US shutdown hit 40 airports
The FAA is getting ready to slow down air traffic at about 40 major US airports starting Friday, because of safety concerns linked to the ongoing government shutdown, which is now the longest in US history.
They’ll start by cutting around 4% of flights on Friday, and then gradually move up to about a 10% reduction over the next week.
Some of the busiest airports in the country are affected, like JFK and LaGuardia in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, though international flights aren’t included.
The shutdown has left thousands of air traffic controllers working without pay, which has stretched staffing thin and led to more delays.
Airlines are now scrambling to update travelers and adjust their schedules to deal with the changes.
Russian oil discounts deepen
Russian oil is now selling at its biggest discount to Brent crude in about a year.
The gap has widened by roughly $2 recently, meaning Russia’s Urals crude is trading around $4 per barrel cheaper than Brent for December deliveries.
The drop comes after new US sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, which have led major buyers in India and China to back off.
In India, refiners like Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, Mangalore Refinery, and Reliance have put their December purchases on hold, and together, they normally account for about 65% of India’s Russian oil imports.
Meanwhile, China’s big state-run refiners have also paused buying seaborne Russian oil.
With both major markets pulling back at the same time, the Asian buying landscape has basically splintered, and those reduced orders are driving Russian oil prices even lower.
All of this is a tough hit to Moscow, which relies heavily on oil exports to support its revenues.
GLP-1 drugs get major price cut
Shares of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly got a boost after the Trump administration announced a deal to bring down the prices of their blockbuster weight-loss drugs, including the injectable GLP-1 medications Wegovy and Zepbound, as well as new pill versions that are on the way.
The plan is to make these treatments more affordable through Medicare, Medicaid, and a new government-run program called TrumpRx, which is expected to launch in January 2026.
Under the deal, some patients could end up paying as little as $150 a month, a huge drop from the current price tag that can run well over $1,000.
Analysts say the move could especially benefit Eli Lilly, since its oral versions are closer to approval and could hit the market sooner, strengthening its competitive edge.
Trump wants US crypto dominance
President Donald Trump has rolled out a new plan to make the US the world’s “Bitcoin superpower,” as crypto adoption continues to pick up.
Speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami, he said his administration is moving to end what he called the federal government’s “war on crypto,” using executive orders to clear the way for more innovation and economic growth.
Trump argued that embracing digital assets could help ease pressure on the US dollar and keep America at the front of the global financial system.
He also pointed out that countries like China are pushing hard to take the lead in crypto and digital finance, and said the US needs to move faster if it doesn’t want to fall behind.
He tied the push to broader tech leadership as well, saying that just like in artificial intelligence, America should be setting the pace in Bitcoin and digital asset development.
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