Don’t forfeit sure-thing date with your crush

Middle Eastern wars: wait for September

Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told journalists that the United States and Iran are “in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal.”

On Wednesday, after an American helicopter gunship crashed in the Strait of Hormuz, presumably downed by Iranians, he declared angrily that “They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!”

Later on the same day, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqai took on the role of ‘only grown-up in the room’, saying that the United States is “damaging the diplomatic process through the contradictory messages it sends, its repeated shifts in positions and demands, and, worst of all, through repeated violations of the ceasefire.”

The pattern is pretty clear by now. Trump oscillates between wild optimism and frustrated fury, while the Iranian negotiators keep their voices down, never shift their positions, and display performative patience. That enrages Trump even more, and I suspect the Iranians secretly enjoy it.

IG Wealth Management to sell longtime Portage Avenue HQ

The downtown IG Wealth Management building will soon be up for sale.

The Winnipeg-based financial services company is moving its headquarters after nearly 40 years at 447 Portage Ave., across from the former Hudson’s Bay flagship store.

By current timelines, staff will move into a newer downtown tower — 360 Main St. — in 2028.

Roughly 1,100 employees will make the transition, according to Nancy McCuaig, executive vice-president of IGM Financial, IG Wealth Management’s parent company.

Shattered windows at E.K. Islamic centre result of gunfire, members of Muslim community say

Officers are investigating damage to the Rahma Islamic Centre on Watt Street Wednesday night that members of the city’s Muslim community say was a drive-by shooting in which no one was injured.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said several windows at the building located at 574 Watt St. were shattered shortly after 11:30 p.m., causing an estimated $3,000 in damage.

Chancy made no mention of shots being fired, and no suspects have been identified.

He said there had also been a report that earlier Wednesday evening, the occupants of a vehicle that drove past the centre had shouted slurs at people outside.

Pallister signals move from code red to orange

After four months at code red, Manitoba's premier plans to lower the COVID-19 pandemic alert level despite a rise in cases, some of which involve highly contagious variants.

"We're now in a position to consider moving the province to level orange, or restricted, on the pandemic-response system,” Brian Pallister told a news conference Thursday, flanked by chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin.

"The future is in all of our hands. If we continue to follow the advice of Dr. Roussin and public-health officials... we're going to have more good days ahead."

Roussin proposed a suite of alterations to the current public-health orders, allowing more flexible restaurant dining, the resumption of indoor organized sports, opening casinos and movie theatres and changing travel restrictions.

Each of city's historic bridges has unique story

They span the muddy waters from which Winnipeg derives its name. They connect neighbourhood to neighbourhood. They’re a fundamental feature of our city.

Winnipeg has a reputation as a “River City,” but many don’t know the stories behind the bridges they use every day.

While a bridge may seem to be a boring piece of basic infrastructure, many of Winnipeg’s have fascinating histories that go back more than 100 years.