Brief

• The UN and humanitarian partners are providing emergency relief in Nepal and China following severe flooding that resulted in multiple deaths and missing persons. • Response teams are deploying essential personnel and critical supplies, including food, shelter, and medical equipment, to affected regions. • Satellite imagery is being utilized to assess the scale of the widespread destruction and coordinate the distribution of aid.

In today’s newsletter: A collapsing trade deal has united Canadians more than ever, in an existential confrontation with the US presidentGood morning. When the Guardian asked Canadian readers whether they planned to boycott US products after dramatic escalations in the ongoing DC/Ottawa trade war, we received more than 2,000 responses within 12 hours.This inundation is perhaps evidence of the existential crisis many Canadians feel they now face, something often lost in the granular reporting of trade negotiations: this is about so much more than the price of lumber.US news | Dolly Parton, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80.UK news | UK citizens will be told to stock up on tinned food and take steps to ensure they are prepared for national emergencies as part of a new government campaign to improve the nation’s resilience.UK politics | Andy Burnham will face an immediate test of his backing for electoral reform in his first week in parliament as prime minister, with almost 100 Labour MPs supporting a bid for a new national commission.Ukraine | A man from South Yorkshire is believed to be the first British citizen to die fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine.Climate crisis | The carbon emissions from just two planned datacentres in England will exceed all of the fossil fuel company ExxonMobil’s UK emissions, analysis has revealed. Continue reading...

• UN Secretary-General informed the Security Council that 2025 recorded the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War. • The report highlighted record-breaking levels of acute hunger globally, marking a critical humanitarian crisis. • In a "shameful milestone," the UN confirmed simultaneous famines in Sudan and Gaza for the first time this century.

• The Venice Film Festival has officially added the documentary "NAZA," which focuses on Gaza, to its competition lineup. • In other entertainment news, several high-profile figures are celebrating birthdays during the week of August 23-29. • Notable celebrations include actor Keke Palmer, actor Chris Pine, director Ava DuVernay, and comedian Dave Chappelle, who turns 53.

• The U.S. Treasury Secretary is set to announce a new series of economic sanctions and pressure measures targeting Iran. • In response, Iran has warned of "seismic" retaliation should the United States proceed with these economic threats. • Simultaneously, Canada has vowed to impose its own retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in a separate trade dispute.

• Over 600 political prisoners are currently held in Sheiban Prison in Ahvaz, where severe overcrowding has become a critical issue. • The report suggests that these conditions are a symptom of deeper structural crises and escalating internal conflicts within Iran's political system. • This situation highlights the ongoing human rights challenges and the instability of power centers within the Iranian government.

• Former President Donald Trump has renewed discussions regarding annexation following Canada's decision to withdraw from a previous deal. • Privacy expert Colin Bennett and journalist Marsha Lederman highlight the growing crisis of online monitoring and the shift toward state-led economic planning in advanced economies. • Global stock markets remained muted as investors weighed upcoming corporate earnings reports against the risk of impending U.S. sanctions on Iran.