Express

• Taiwanese functionarissen vrezen dat zelfs subtiele retorische wijzigingen van president Trump met betrekking tot het Taiwan-beleid de decennialang bestaande status quo in de Straat van Taiwan kunnen destabiliseren, nu Trump zich voorbereidt op een top met de Chinese president Xi Jinping op 14 en 15 mei in Peking. • Een functionaris van het Witte Huis bevestigde dat het Amerikaanse beleid ten opzichte van Taiwan ongewijzigd blijft, gebaseerd op de Taiwan Relations Act, drie gezamenlijke communiqué's tussen de VS en de Volksrepubliek China, en de Six Assurances aan Taiwan, waarbij geen wijzigingen zijn aangekondigd. • Chinese wetenschappers suggereren dat Peking druk zal uitoefenen op Trump om het verklarende beleid te verschuiven — waarbij wordt gestreefd naar expliciete oppositie tegen de onafhankelijkheid van Taiwan in plaats van de huidige formulering van "geen steun" — en zullen Amerikaanse voorafgaande onderhandelingen over wapenverkopen nastreven, beide grote afwijkingen van het vastgestelde beleid.

• Ocean Network Express (ONE) posted a US$55 million profit in the fourth quarter of FY2025 as freight rates recovered, though overall cargo movements remained sluggish throughout the year. • The container shipping company faced persistent headwinds from weak cargo demand in 2025, signaling continued challenges in the global freight market. • Industry observers view ONE's modest profitability as reflective of broader shipping sector weakness, with market recovery dependent on improved global trade volumes.

• President Trump stated on Wednesday he is 'cautiously optimistic' about a potential U.S.-Iran deal following 'very good talks over the last 24 hours,' potentially involving Iran surrendering uranium, lifting U.S. sanctions, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. • Trump issued a one-week ultimatum on X, warning 'if they don't agree, the bombing starts' at a 'much higher level and intensity than before.' • Iran is reviewing the U.S. peace proposal, as reported in ongoing diplomatic efforts amid claims the U.S. has already won the war with Iran.

Ahead of Paramount Skydance merger with Warner Bros Discovery, Amanpour talks ‘ideological realignment of CBS’One of CNN’s most recognizable and influential voices, chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour, has voiced concerns about CBS News parent company Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of CNN parent company Warner Bros Discovery and what it might mean for the cable news network.Speaking at the Truth Tellers summit honoring the late English journalism pioneer, Sir Harry Evans, Amanpour said: “Clearly I’m concerned, and I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say about a corporate thing that’s underway, but I am obviously, as a person, as a journalist with a record, concerned, and I’m concerned based on what’s happened to the other things that [Paramount Skydance chief executive, David Ellison, has] taken over already, like CBS News.” Amanpour noted how the network has done since it came under the control of Skydance last summer and nodded to reports about major changes coming to the Sunday show, 60 Minutes. Continue reading...

Nuclear submarine mentioned in part of king’s speech that emphasised defence ties. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.Consumer price data coming out today is expected to show the sharp shock that the US-Iran war has dealt to our economy (and our wallets). Continue reading...

• American Express acquired Hyper, an AI startup specializing in automating expense categorization, compliance, and reporting. • Hyper's agent-based technology supports multistep workflows with minimal human input, targeting corporate finance teams. • The deal bolsters AmEx's commercial services amid surging demand for AI in financial operations.

Pontiff’s comments are another sharp escalation in feud with Trump’s White House over the US-Israeli war on IranSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxPope Leo XIV has said that the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” who spend billions on war, in comments that will be seen as another sharp escalation in his almost week-long feud with the White House over the US-Israeli war on Iran.The first American-born pontiff did not mention Donald Trump by name, but used his speech in Cameroon on Thursday to denounce world leaders that invoke religion to justify violence against other nations. Continue reading...

• Express Scripts added CARDAMYST (etripamil) nasal spray to its commercial national formularies effective March 27, 2026, expanding access for commercially insured patients. • The FDA-approved self-administered spray converts acute paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) episodes to sinus rhythm in adults. • This coverage decision makes the first-in-class treatment broadly affordable across the U.S., improving cardiovascular care options.