Daily Digest — 19 Aug 2026

The US and Canada averted a fresh trade war late Tuesday, with Donald Trump pausing a 50% tariff on Canadian goods for three days after Ottawa agreed to a last-minute deal. The announcement came just before a midnight deadline, and stock futures were little changed as long-term bond yields held near multi-decade highs. The truce provides a brief window for negotiations, but markets remain wary of further disruptions to cross-border supply chains.

In the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham launched a £442m drive to house all rough sleepers by Christmas, likening it to the pandemic-era “Everyone In” initiative. Over 40 charities, meanwhile, warned ministers against cutting disability benefits for young people, as the government reviews eligibility rules. Elsewhere, Reform UK’s Tim Montgomerie vowed to fight his suspension, calling it a test of free speech within the party.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission surprised markets by proposing its first major crypto rule, while the Financial Accounting Standards Board suggested stablecoins could be treated as cash equivalents. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned the US is falling behind on crypto regulation, as Robinhood’s CEO urged a clear path for tokenized stocks. Cryptocurrencies edged higher, with Bitcoin at $⁠64,297 and Solana up 2%.

A blockbuster trial began in the US over Meta’s impact on children’s mental health, drawing parallels to big tobacco litigation. The US ambassador to Israel labelled settler violence in the West Bank “terror,” and an Israeli strike killed at least seven in Gaza City. In DR Congo, the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record is complicating containment efforts, while Ukraine launched nearly 800 drones into Russia, as Moscow threatened Britain over the use of UK-made drones.