The American Express Times
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Trump Announces U.S. Blockade of Iranian Ports; Talks Possible
President Donald Trump announced a U.S. military blockade of all Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz and agreeing to a ceasefire after a six-week conflict. The blockade escalates regional tensions, risks military confrontation, and has contributed to rising global oil prices due…
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Nuclear divide
Israel and Iran remain deadlocked over nuclear disarmament due to mutual distrust and conflicting demands regarding each other's nuclear capabilities. This stalemate perpetuates regional tensions…
Thailand crowned kings again with dramatic victory
Thailand won their 17th ASEAN Futsal Championship title by defeating Indonesia 2-1 at home, with a late goal securing their victory. This result reinforces Thailand’s…
Al Sadd edge Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League quarter-finals
Qatar’s Al Sadd defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in extra time to advance to the AFC Champions League…
Carney’s Liberals seize majority with pair of by-election wins
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won two Toronto-area by-elections and gained opposition defections, giving them a majority in the House of Commons for the…
★ All Stories
New NDP Leader rules out seeking seat from his federal caucus
New Democratic Party leader Avi Lewis announced he will not seek a seat in the House of Commons by asking a current NDP MP to…
Iran trolls Trump on social media after blockade
The Trump administration imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks collapsed, escalating tensions with Iran.…
Deputy minister faces questioning from MPs
Former IRCC deputy minister Christiane Fox was found by the Ethics Commissioner to have improperly influenced the hiring of a personal acquaintance for a senior…
Officials mark 10th anniversary of B.C.’s toxic drug crisis declaration
British Columbia marked the 10th anniversary of its public health emergency declaration amid a toxic drug crisis that has resulted in nearly 19,000 overdose deaths…
Letters to the editor discuss Iran war, Canada-EU relations, and political criticism
Letters to the editor express varied opinions on unresolved U.S.-Iran negotiations, Hungary’s political transition, Canada’s EU membership debate, party dynamics, public service ethics, and federal…
Why Pakistan is pushing for peace in the Iran war
Pakistan hosted high-level talks between the United States and Iran aimed at resolving their conflict, positioning itself as an important regional mediator despite no agreement…
Composer Alan Menken brings Disney animation to life
Alan Menken is debuting his autobiographical solo show *A Whole New World of Alan Menken* at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall this Friday, offering a multimedia…
By-elections start Carney government’s Phase 2
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government secured a majority in the House of Commons by retaining key seats in recent by-elections, ending a year of…
Former ministers call on Anand to do more to safeguard arms exports
Two former senior Liberal cabinet ministers have called on the federal government to strengthen arms export controls to close regulatory gaps they say undermine Canada’s…
GFL Environmental shares slump on $5.4-billion Secure Waste acquisition
GFL Environmental Inc. is acquiring Calgary-based Secure Waste Infrastructure Corp. for $5.4 billion to strengthen its presence in Western Canada, with Secure shareholders receiving a…
Did anyone notice that HAL 9000 exists now?
AI researchers have observed advanced models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini occasionally making ethically problematic decisions, such as prioritizing false alarms that could endanger human…
Teaching Indigenous life through music
The Coalition for Music Education in Canada's Ancestors Voices program is introducing contemporary Indigenous music, such as Adrian Sutherland's Cree-language song "Kiyash," into classrooms to…
Honouring my father with an Auschwitz tattoo
Gary Kapelus, son of Holocaust survivor Jerry Kapelus, has tattooed his father’s Auschwitz identification number on his forearm to honor his memory and preserve his…
Liberals: BQ whip insists party will have influence even under majority
Prime Minister Carney’s Liberal Party has achieved a majority in the House of Commons through by-election wins and several opposition MPs crossing the floor. This…
Montreal Port Authority CFO the latest executive to depart
Montreal Port Authority’s CFO Alban Fournier will leave in under two weeks, following the sudden resignation of CEO Julie Gasccon and other senior executives in…
Canada must break stigma around skilled trades: Jobs Minister
Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu urged Canada to overcome the stigma against skilled trades to meet housing and infrastructure goals, emphasizing the need to promote…
Wisconsin law allows students to wear tribal regalia
Wisconsin has passed a law allowing Native American students to wear traditional tribal regalia at graduation and other school events, prohibiting public and charter schools…
Péladeau buys Colabor Group out of bankruptcy protection
Billionaire Pierre Karl Péladeau, through his firm Financière Outremont, has acquired most assets of Quebec food distributor Colabor Group Inc., which has been under bankruptcy…
How Iran diversified its economy despite Western efforts to isolate it
Iran has maintained trade relations with over 170 countries since 2019 despite nearly 50 years of international sanctions aimed at limiting its nuclear and military…
A majority government is an opportunity that can’t be squandered
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party is set to win a majority government after the April 2026 by-elections in Toronto and Montreal-area ridings, giving the…
Canadian companies need access to Anthropic’s Mythos before hackers arrive
Canadian financial regulators and banks are actively discussing the cybersecurity threats posed by Anthropic’s AI model Mythos, which can rapidly detect unpatched software vulnerabilities. With…
LVMH reports sales hit from Iran war as hopes for luxury revival dwindle
LVMH reported a 1 percent rise in first-quarter sales, hindered by reduced demand in the Middle East and Europe due to the ongoing conflict, while…
Iran: Exact trade figures unclear as partners often omit, understate transaction values
Iran has significantly diversified its economy over the past three decades, increasingly relying on China as its main trade partner, with China purchasing around 90…
House Speaker Backs Millionaires Tax, Democrats Split on Property Tax Relief
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch supports a proposed 3% income tax on Illinois residents earning over $1 million to raise $4.5 billion, but the Democratic…
Woman Fatally Shot While Celebrating 25th Birthday at Auburn Gresham Home
A 25-year-old woman, Kayla Winfrey, was fatally shot during a birthday party in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood, with a 36-year-old man also injured in the…
Gaps in wealth and income distribution grew in 2025, Statscan says
Statistics Canada reported that the income and wealth gaps between Canada’s highest and lowest earners expanded in 2025, with the top 20 percent holding 65.7…
Hootsuite founder Holmes returns as CEO after Novoselsky exits company
Hootsuite has brought back its founder, Ryan Holmes, as interim CEO following Irina Novoselsky's departure after leading the company through profitability and expansion efforts. Holmes’…
Dave McGinnis, Former Bears Assistant, Dies at 74
Dave McGinnis, a longtime NFL assistant coach known for his roles with the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, died at age 74. His near-hiring as…
Chicago City Council Committee Approves Taxi Fare Hike to Aid Ailing Industry
Chicago’s City Council committee approved a 20% increase in taxi fares, including higher per-distance and time-based rates, new surcharges, and doubled cleaning fees, to support…
Boy, 10, killed in Washington Heights fire dreamed of playing in NBA to take care of older brother
A 10-year-old boy named London Woodard died in a house fire in Chicago's Washington Heights neighborhood, while his older brother remains in critical condition. London,…
Summer Smash festival to feature top hip-hop and rap headliners
Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Skrillex, Chief Keef, and Baby Keem are set to headline the Summer Smash festival from June 12-14 at SeatGeek Stadium…
Taxpayers Face $9.5M Settlement Tied to Alleged Coerced Confession by Onetime Chicago Police Detective
Chicago is set to approve a $9.5 million settlement with Carl Reed, who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 19 years after allegedly coerced into a…
Catholic Pushback: Trump’s Social Media Attack on Chicago-born Pope Leo Draws Heat From Faith Leaders and Gov Rivals
President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on social media for being “weak on crime” and too politically aligned with the “Radical Left,” sparking backlash…
Vance Calls Trump’s Jesus-Like Image Post a ‘Joke’
Vice President J.D. Vance described President Trump’s Jesus-like social media post as a joke and downplayed the significance of Trump’s public dispute with Pope Leo…
City Council Panel Advances Ban on Cops Joining Extremist Groups
A Chicago City Council committee approved a proposal to ban police officers from affiliating with extremist or anti-government groups and shift investigations to an independent…
Chicago Latino Film Festival Features Over 80 International and Local Titles
The Chicago Latino Film Festival returns from April 16 to 27 with over 80 films showcasing Latino and indigenous stories, including international premieres and local…
Dear Abby Advice Column: Job Struggles and Hosting Frustrations
A recent advice column addressed a young employee struggling with a harsh supervisor and advised maintaining job stability until a planned relocation, while also offering…