'EU sees potential for talks with Russia'

 European Council President Antonio Costa stated that the bloc sees potential for negotiations with Russia, as reported by the Financial Times on Thursday.

Furthermore, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is supportive of the idea, Costa said. "I’m talking with the [EU’s] 27 national leaders to see the best way to organise ourselves and to identify what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes the right moment to do this," he declared. Potential talks between Moscow and Brussels coincide with Europe's growing frustration with United States President Donald Trump's handling of the peace process in Ukraine. Nevertheless, Costa emphasized the EU would not seek to "disturb" the US-led initiative.

Despite hopes for potential reconciliation with Moscow, Costa noted that "for the time being, nobody has seen any sign from Russia that they want effectively to engage in serious negotiations."

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/EU-sees-potential-for-talks-with-Russia/66246305

S. Arabia, Kuwait said to allow US base use

 Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on the United States military's access to their bases and airspace, imposed after Washington launched Project Freedom to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and after senior US officials downplayed Iranian strikes on the Persian Gulf in response to this operation, US and Saudi officials told the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

The US mission in Hormuz triggered the biggest dispute in military relations between Riyadh and Washington in recent years, leading to a series of phone calls between US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the report. After one of those calls, Trump decided to pause the operation, the officials said.

After the latest decision by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to allow the US military to use their bases and airspace, the Trump administration now intends to resume the operation of guiding ships through the strait, US officials revealed.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/S.-Arabia-Kuwait-said-to-allow-US-base-use/66246517

Russia warns it will hit Kiev if Ukraine disrupts parade

 Russia's Defense Ministry warned in a statement on Thursday that it will launch a "massive strike" on the center of Kiev, if the Ukrainian authorities disrupt the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on May 9.

At the same time, the ministry announced a ceasefire with Ukraine from midnight on May 8 to May 10. Russian armed forces along the frontlines will abort all hostilities during this period, and all missile strikes against Ukraine will also cease. Calling on Ukraine to honor the ceasefire, the ministry nevertheless urged the civilian population of the Ukrainian capital and foreign diplomats to evacuate in a timely fashion in case of an escalation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, accused Moscow of violating the ceasefire, stressing that his country would respond appropriately to Russian attacks.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Russia-warns-it-will-hit-Kiev-if-Ukraine-disrupts-parade/66245682

Trump admin may invite Nvidia, Apple CEOs on China trip

 The United States President Donald Trump administration intends to invite CEOs from Nvidia Corporation, Apple Inc., the Boeing Company, and ExxonMobil Corporation to join the president on his trip to China next week, Semafor reported on Thursday, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.

The source added that the list of executives who will be invited to accompany Trump in China also includes CEOs from Blackstone Inc., Qualcomm Inc., and Visa Inc. Other sources told the outlet that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and US Ambassador to China David Perdue were in charge of making the list of attendees for the trip.

However, there are no high expectations for specific deals during the trip, and the focus will be on strengthening the relationship between Trump and China's President Xi Jinping, according to the report.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Trump-admin-may-invite-Nvidia-Apple-CEOs-on-China-trip/66246115

Roche shells out up to $1B for PathAI to boost AI-powered diagnostics

 Roche is set to pay out $750 million upfront to acquire digital pathology specialist Path AI in a move by the pharma giant to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in diagnostic algorithms.

The deal, which is expected to close in the second half of this year, will see Roche make an upfront payment of $750 million for PathAI, plus additional payments of up to $300 million linked to milestone achievements.

Once the deal is locked in, PathAI will be merged into Roche’s Diagnostics division, the companies said in a May 7 release. 

The transaction will give Roche access to PathAI's Image Management System, or IMS, a user-friendly software interface that weds analysis and workflow capabilities within the digital pathology lab. Roche says it now intends to scale the platform "globally."

The Swiss pharma also figures that PathAI's established AI-driven solutions, including clinical trial support and translational research, will work well in tandem with Roche's existing companion diagnostics know-how. 

"Combining these capabilities will foster the discovery of new biomarkers, potential drug targets and novel diagnostic tools, increasing the value Roche can bring to biopharma companies," the companies said. 

The two firms first partnered in 2021 and began to ramp up their relationship in 2024 to include the development of AI-enabled companion diagnostic algorithms, they explained.

“Digital pathology has the potential to improve precision diagnosis of cancer and enable physicians to offer better tailored treatment regimens,” Matt Sause, CEO of Roche Diagnostics, said in a statement. 

The acquisition "will allow us to combine their best-in-class digital pathology tools with our leading oncology diagnosis platforms to deliver better insights for physicians and potentially better outcomes for patients worldwide," he added. 

In early December, PathAI scored an FDA first when the agency qualified its artificial intelligence tool that aids drug developers in evaluating fatty liver disease in their clinical trials.

The green light covered Path AI’s Histologic Measurement of NASH (AIM-NASH), a cloud-based technology from PathAI designed to assess disease activity for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). It was designed to help score the different stages of liver biopsy, including fat infiltration, inflammation and scarring.

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/roche-shell-out-1b-acquire-pathai-move-boost-ai-based-dx-algorithms

Xeris ups guidance with commercialization ramp

 

Xeris Biopharma beats Q1 2026 estimates with non-GAAP EPS $0.01 (+117% YoY), revenue $82.5M (+43% YoY), raises 2026 guidance

• Company posts Q1 2026 profit with EPS $0.01 on $83.1M revenue, marking a return to net income
• Raises 2026 revenue guidance to $380–$390M

https://finviz.com/quote?t=XERS&p=d

Boeing Shares Rise As CEO Set To Join Trump On China Trip, Fueling Aircraft Order Speculation

 Boeing shares rose in late-morning trading in New York after CNBC reported that CEO Kelly Ortberg will join President Trump on his trip to Beijing next week for talks with President Xi Jinping.

Boeing shares climbed a little more than 2% on the news as traders began to price in the possibility of a Chinese aircraft order, potentially covering both narrow-body and wide-body jets from the U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer.

Senator Steve Daines, who is leading the bipartisan delegation to China, has called for stability and peaceful cooperation between the U.S. and China.

"I strongly believe that we want to de-escalate, not decouple. We want stability; we want mutual respect," Daines said in opening remarks at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Daines also released a statement:

Readout of Daines' Congressional Delegation Trip to China

U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) today conducted three official meetings in Beijing with Premier of China Li Qiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji, and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The bipartisan delegation discussed the importance of direct and open communication between the leadership of the two countries as well as issues of international and local importance. Topics of discussion included cooperation to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and supply chain security. The Senators discussed the importance of reciprocal trade and opening up China's markets to sustained agriculture trade across beef, wheat, pulse crops, potatoes, apples, cherries, soybeans, grain sorghum, seafood, and other industries. The delegation also discussed the importance of China's relationship with Boeing and the proposed aircraft purchase currently under consideration. The Senators expressed their hope for an impactful and successful summit between President Trump and President Xi next week.

Related:

• Did Trump Force China's Hand? Beijing Nears 500-Jet Boeing Deal Ahead Of Xi Summit

Semafor speculates that the Trump team will invite "CEOs from Nvidia, Apple, Exxon, Boeing, and other big companies." 

Given Beijing's history of using large commercial aircraft purchases as goodwill gestures, Ortberg's inclusion on the trip raises the likelihood that Boeing could benefit and suggests tensions are cooling between the two superpowers, despite ongoing energy and trade turmoil in the Gulf region.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/boeing-shares-rise-ceo-set-join-trump-china-trip-fueling-aircraft-order-speculation