About this Episode
Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. imports, matching Washington’s recent levies after talks collapsed. Ottawa said the measures — aimed at industries from steel and appliances to dairy and electronics — will take effect in early September and will be paired with a multibillion-dollar aid package for affected workers and businesses. The move follows U.S. decisions to impose steep duties on Canadian goods in August and threats of further increases on vehicles. Officials framed the dispute as a response to unfair treatment and urged support for domestic industries. The tit-for-tat escalation has strained the Canada–U.S. trade relationship and puts the future of their continental trade agreement under increased uncertainty.
China condemned new US sanctions widening penalties on Iran and its trading partners, calling the measures “illegal unilateral sanctions” and vowing to protect its interests. Beijing defended its trade with Tehran as lawful and warned it would take “all necessary measures.” The US Treasury framed the package as the largest financial offensive yet, threatening to isolate banks and firms that sustain Iran’s economy. Washington sanctioned nearly 60 entities tied to Iran’s evasion networks. Analysts say immediate impact may be limited since about 90% of Iran’s oil already goes to China.
Spain will reform its immigration and asylum laws to align with the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum as the unresolved Ceuta crisis continues. Around 5,000 migrants — roughly 2,000 of them minors — remain in the Spanish enclave after about 80,000 crossed from Morocco in one day in July. The draft bill, which introduces the EU “screening” procedure, also targets irregular arrivals to the Canary Islands. Madrid declared the situation a national security issue and created a single command to manage the response, but disagreements persist between the national government, Ceuta’s authorities and the opposition over handling unaccompanied minors and returns. The European Commission urges lawful returns while protecting minors’ rights.
US country music legend Dolly Parton has died at 80, her family announced. Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, confirmed her passing in a video shared on her official social channels, saying Parton had asked for that announcement years earlier. Her publicist said she died after a brief battle with cancer at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, surrounded by loved ones. Parton, the voice behind enduring songs such as “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” was a defining figure in country music whose influence extended across popular culture through songwriting, acting and philanthropy. Tributes poured in, including from the U.S. president, who ordered flags lowered for a week in her honor. Her chosen farewell: “I will always love you.”
