Russia Seizes Key Lithium Field in Challenge for U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal
June 27th, 2025
Courtesy of the New York Times, a report on Russia’s seizure of a key lithium field, the capture of which highlights a core problem in the agreement. The more territory Moscow grabs, the fewer resources Kyiv can offer to Washington. Russian forces have seized control of a valuable lithium deposit in the Donetsk region of […]
Read more »Trump Has Once-in-a-Century Opportunity in Africa: Grand Inga Hydroelectric Complex
June 27th, 2025
Via Newsmax, commentary on a potential transformational infrastructure opportunity in Africa: At Congo’s Inga Falls, the world’s deepest river plunges down a 315-foot drop, releasing more raw hydraulic energy than any site on Earth. Engineers have long envisioned harnessing that surge through the Grand Inga hydroelectric complex — a seven-station project that, if fully built, […]
Read more »Kim Jong-un Hails New North Korean Beach Resort as One of Country’s ‘Greatest Feats’ This Year
June 25th, 2025
Courtesy of The Guardian, a report on a new North Korean beach resort, hailed as one of country’s ‘greatest feats’ this year: Kim Jong-un is more accustomed to overseeing ballistic missile launches and political purges, but this week the North Korean leader opted for a change of pace with a family visit to a new beach resort – […]
Read more »A Business Hub for Central Asia’s Elite? What to Expect From Alatau
June 25th, 2025
Via The Diplomat, a look at Alatau where Tokayev’s vision of a futuristic Singapore-style city is slowly getting started, but takes a different development approach than Astana did: In a late afternoon session at the Astana International Forum, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of National Economy Zhandos Shaimardanov stepped onto the stage for a long-awaited talk on […]
Read more »Taliban Cancel Oilfield Deal With Chinese in Afghanistan’s North
June 25th, 2025
Via Nikkei Asia, a report that the Taliban have canceled an oilfield deal with the Chinese in Afghanistan’s north due to slow progress: Afghanistan’s Taliban government has terminated a two-year-old oil extraction and development contract with a Chinese company due to alleged violations of contractual obligations, with some experts believing the move to be a […]
Read more »How Myanmar Plays A Critical Role in China’s Rare Earth Dominance
June 24th, 2025
Via CNBC, a look at how war-torn Myanmar plays a critical role in China’s rare earth dominance: Myanmar is one of the world’s largest suppliers of rare earth production, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Experts say that most of those rare earths are sent to China, especially the less abundant heavy rare earth elements. […]
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.