A Middle East Dealmaker Fights for Credibility in Silicon Valley
June 20th, 2024
Courtesy of The Information, a look at how the venture arm of Mubadala, the United Arab Emirates’ giant sovereign wealth fund, has elbowed its way into tech’s clubby investing circles under the leadership of Ibrahim Ajami. But missteps with its European dealmaking and skepticism about its direct investments in startups show it still has progress […]
Read more »The West Is Laser-Focused on Central Asia’s Middle Corridor. So Is China.
June 20th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a look at the Middle Corridor but – for more commodities to move west from Central Asia – better infrastructure, more inter-agency cooperation, and modern customs systems are necessary: The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Kathleen Tai visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in mid-June, the first time a USTR has ever visited the Central Asian region. […]
Read more »Monaco has the Oldest Population in the World, Niger the Youngest
June 20th, 2024
Via Voronoi, a graphical look at the world’s oldest and youngest countries by median age, per 2024 estimates from the CIA World Factbook: Key Takeaways Monaco and Japan—two countries with high life expectancies and low birth rates—have some of the highest median ages (50+) in the world, indicating that the population as a whole is […]
Read more »Japanese Ice Cream Melts Hearts in Asia with Record Exports
June 20th, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, a look at the growing popularity of Japanese ice cream melts hearts in Asia, where Taiwan is top overseas market, with Malaysia emerging as new battleground: Japan’s ice cream industry has been hot since last summer, fueled by scorching temperatures and record-high shipments to Taiwan and other markets. Sales of the frozen […]
Read more »China Is Building Europe Battery Supply in Morocco
June 20th, 2024
Via Bloomberg, a report that China is building its European battery supply in Morocco: Less-expensive LFP batteries gaining use in electric cars Jorf Lasfar site aims to produce cell materials next year China is building a battery supply chain for Europe in Morocco, as the continent struggles to develop its own industry to feed electric-car […]
Read more »The Truth About the Afghan Economy Under the Taliban
June 20th, 2024
Via International Policy Digest, a look at Afghanistan’s economy: More than two years have elapsed since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Since then, the Taliban have been developing a growing narrative suggesting that they are exceeding expectations in managing the economy. This narrative is misleading. The Taliban’s rule paints a picture of a fragile and unsustainable economic situation. […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.