The American Express Times
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Talks doubt as Strait tension deadline nears
American naval forces issued warnings to 27 vessels near Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. Navy’s seizure of an Iranian ship over the weekend. This heightened maritime tension has caused a significant slowdown in shipping through the crucial oil transit route, fueling uncertainty about the strait's accessibility and regional stability.
★ Featured Stories
Pro-Moscow former president claims victory in Bulgaria poll
Pro-Russia former president Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria coalition is projected to win a parliamentary majority in Bulgaria’s snap elections, potentially forming a supermajority with the…
Rivian pitches software deals to big carmakers
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is accelerating efforts to license the company's electric and autonomous vehicle software to established automakers, building on a $5.8 billion joint…
FTI Consulting hands greater power to chief
FTI Consulting has postponed its planned CEO succession, extending Steve Gunby’s tenure as chief executive until at least 2029, leading to the departure of his…
The squeeze on chocolate companies was entirely predictable
Barry Callebaut issued a profit warning due to volatile cocoa prices caused by reduced West African production from extreme weather, deforestation, and diseases. The company's…
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Will social media addiction go the way of cigarettes?
Increased scrutiny of social media platforms has raised concerns about potential addiction patterns that could mirror the historical decline of smoking, which shifted from widespread…
China raises legal shield against foreign pressure
China has implemented new regulations to counter what it views as improper extraterritorial application of foreign laws, establishing a legal framework to block and respond…
S Korea-US tensions rise on leak claim
The United States has reduced the amount of intelligence shared with South Korea following allegations that South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young disclosed sensitive information…
On stronger footing
Hong Kong’s real estate market is showing renewed strength, with experts now widely predicting a 10 percent rise in secondary home prices and increased office…
HK ‘well placed to attract investors seeking safety’
Hong Kong is attracting increased global investment as geopolitical tensions prompt investors, especially from the U.S., to diversify portfolios toward more stable markets in the…
Wet Track Poses ‘No Worries’ for Ka Ying Rising
Trainer David Hayes is confident that Ka Ying Rising can secure a 20th consecutive win in Sunday’s Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin…
Keats’s love letters among rare books returned to heirs 40 years after theft
Manhattan authorities have returned 17 rare stolen books, including John Keats’s 37 love letters, to the heirs of John Hay Whitney after recovering them in…
Tsunami fears fade after Japan hit by earthquake
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck near Japan’s northeastern coast, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders for about 177,000 residents. Despite initial fears, tsunami waves remained…
France’s CB payments group fights US giants
France’s domestic payments network CB has increased its market share to around 75% of card payments in France, reversing earlier declines and attracting new members…
Oil prices leap and US stocks slide after US seizure of Iranian vessel
The United States seized an Iranian container ship in the Gulf of Oman for violating the Strait of Hormuz blockade, triggering a surge in oil…
The Iran crisis has not yet peaked
The temporary ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran remains fragile amid ongoing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear activities. Rising…
AI flood alert system to boost forecasting and response
Hong Kong authorities have launched an AI-powered flood forecasting system that uses real-time, three-dimensional simulations to improve flood prediction and emergency response in key urban…
Lee looks to bolster strategic ties with India and Vietnam
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung began a six-day trip to India and Vietnam to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships amid global geopolitical tensions. The…
New US-Indonesia pact sharpens China’s dilemma
The United States and Indonesia established a new defense cooperation agreement focused on maritime, subsurface, and autonomous systems, along with enhanced joint special forces training…
Key hub in Northern Metropolis draws eight bids
The MTR Corporation received eight bids from leading developers for the second phase of its Kam Sheung Road Station mixed-use project, valued at around HK$5.7…
Huawei joins booming market for AI glasses
Huawei Technologies launched its first AI smart glasses, featuring voice interaction, payment functions, and live streaming, priced from 2,499 yuan. This move positions Huawei to…
'Progress or Remain in Sevens’ Shadows' Senior Rugby Figure on HK
World Rugby’s general manager confirmed that Hong Kong’s return to top-tier international rugby sevens depends on their competitive results within a merit-based system tightened to…
Gaza needs $71.4bn to rebuild, report says
A joint report from the EU, UN, and World Bank estimates that Gaza needs $71.4 billion over the next decade to rebuild after extensive damage…
EU’s defence spending is ‘magnet’ for criminals, says fraud chief
The director of the EU’s anti-fraud agency, Olaf, has warned that increased defence spending across Europe is leading to a rise in procurement-related fraud and…
QXO to buy insulator TopBuild in $17bn deal
Brad Jacobs’ company QXO will acquire insulation specialist TopBuild for about $17 billion in a mixed cash and stock deal, creating a combined firm with…
Digital tokens have real uses in world of finance
Digital tokens are increasingly being adopted to represent a wide range of financial assets, enabling faster, borderless, and programmable transactions that could transform global finance.…
Europe’s right is pivoting away from the US
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's electoral defeat signals a waning alignment between Europe's right-wing parties and the U.S., particularly the faction influenced by former President…
ESF official gets 25 months in jail for taking bribes
Fatima Rumjahn, a former ESF administrator, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for accepting over HK$640,000 in bribes to fraudulently elevate children’s rankings in…
LUZON IN LINE FOR HI-TECH HUB TO COUNTER CHINA
The United States will create a 1,619-hectare economic security zone on Luzon, Philippines, to support the development of the local semiconductor industry and counter China’s…
HK can set standards
Hong Kong held its first Global AI Governance Conference to position itself as a key player in shaping international AI regulations beyond the U.S.-China rivalry.…
Actor nets 91% gain on Mid-Levels home sale
Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat sold his Mid-Levels apartment for HK$7.5 million, realizing a 91 percent profit after more than 30 years of ownership. This…
Fund pitches whisky as alternative investment
Hong Kong-based Rare Whisky Holdings is raising up to $50 million for its second private equity-style fund focused on whisky investments amid a 40% price…
Title Race Starts Now, Defiant Arteta Says
Arsenal suffered a crucial 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, reducing their lead at the top of the Premier League to three points with five games…
Turkey plots new trade links to bypass Hormuz
Turkey is advancing plans to reopen its border with Armenia to create alternative trade routes bypassing vulnerable chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, as part…
FTSE bosses given 18% pay bump in global fight for talent
FTSE 100 chief executives have seen their pay increase by nearly 20% over the last year, with average compensation rising from £3.59 million to £5.89…
China puts Meta’s ‘conspiratorial’ $2bn Manus purchase under fresh scrutiny
Chinese authorities have launched an extensive investigation into Meta’s $2 billion purchase of AI startup Manus, citing national security and technology transfer concerns. The probe…
Blue Owl co-founders are no longer pledging shares for personal loans
Blue Owl’s co-founders, Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz, have stopped using their company shares as collateral for personal loans, according to recent regulatory filings. This…
America’s coming revolt is in the ‘wired belt’
Research from Tufts University predicts that AI could displace up to 9.3 million jobs worth $757 billion in income over the next five years, with…
‘Bargaining space exists’ between US, Iran despite war
The U.S. Navy fired on the Iranian cargo ship Touska after it allegedly ignored orders to stop, marking the first use of force since the…
Japan to drive lunar rover after American U-turn on building orbiting space station
NASA has paused development of the Lunar Gateway space station to prioritize building a lunar surface base, prompting concern in Japan about the future of…
Spain’s outreach to Beijing offers a viable model for Europe
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Beijing for the fourth time in four years, where Spain and China agreed to establish an annual strategic dialogue…
Hesai adds colour to lidars in race to upgrade car tech
Hesai Group has introduced a 6D full-color lidar platform that adds color detection to traditional spatial and velocity measurements, aiming to enhance object identification for…