Today's briefing

Monday, August 24, 2026

UK PM Burnham visits Kyiv with missile technology pledge

Andy Burnham has arrived in Kyiv on his first foreign trip as UK prime minister, timing the visit to coincide with Ukraine's independence day as Russia threatens consequences over British drone use. Britain will share classified information on Storm Shadow components to help Ukraine manufacture its own long-range missiles. Moscow has warned of retaliation, but Burnham is pressing ahead regardless.

MarketRussia x Ukraine ceasefire agreement by June 30, 2027?55%

World

Iran parliament advances Strait of Hormuz shipping fees

Iran's parliament has moved forward a draft law that would charge foreign ships for passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply. The move comes as the US ramps up sanctions and Trump warns of crushing economic measures against Tehran. If enacted, the fees would escalate tensions with both Western nations and Gulf states that depend on the strait.

MarketStrait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by December 31?33%

Climate

US plans deep-sea mining leases near Mariana Trench

The Marine Mineral Administration has released a plan to lease millions of hectares of Pacific seabed near the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam for critical mineral extraction, drawing immediate opposition from those US territories. The move is part of a broader race with China for control of deep-sea mineral resources. Pacific island governments argue the plan threatens fragile ecosystems they were never meaningfully consulted on.

Economy

Shein targets $27bn valuation in September London IPO

Fast-fashion giant Shein has set its sights on a valuation of almost $27 billion for its stock market debut on 1 September, a steep drop from the $100 billion it commanded in private fundraising just four years ago. The listing has been dogged by scrutiny over labour practices and supply chain transparency. The gulf between those two numbers is essentially a price tag on how much investor appetite for controversy has shrunk.

MarketWill Anthropic have the highest IPO Market Cap 2026?43%

World

Guinea landfill collapse kills 30 in Conakry

A massive waste dump in Guinea's capital Conakry collapsed after heavy overnight rains, killing at least 30 people whose tents and shacks were buried beneath the debris. The disaster came less than a week after the government had publicly promised to close and relocate the site due to the danger it posed during rainy season. The dump sits in a densely populated area of Conakry where informal settlements have grown up around it.

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