Golden Arches in a War Zone: McDonald’s Thrives in Ukraine
June 28th, 2025
Courtesy of the New York Times, a look at how the American fast-food giant plans to open about 10 new restaurants in Ukraine this year, a testament to the country’s rebounding economy and its enduring love of Big Macs: For decades, the onion-shaped golden domes of an Orthodox Christian monastery kept watch over this lush […]
Read more »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 »Investing in Ukraine: Folly or Wisdom?
May 3rd, 2025
Via CSIS, commentary on the planned discussions of a mineral security deal between the U.S. and Ukraine: The Trump administration has now threatened twice to walk away from negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The third time could mean disaster—an end to U.S. aid for Ukraine and, with it, lost business opportunities, lost talent, and lost […]
Read more »Minerals Become Ultimate Bargaining Chip in Trump’s Diplomatic Deals
April 5th, 2025
Via the Wall Street Journal, an article onWashington’s desire to establish critical mineral pacts worldwide: President Trump is pressing for access to mineral rights across the globe, hoping to outduel China in a global competition for raw materials to fuel U.S. military and industrial might. He has pushed the State Department to make mineral deals […]
Read more »U.S.-Backed Miner TechMet Seeks To Develop Ukraine Lithium Site
March 11th, 2025
Courtesy of The Financial Times, a look at one US miners plans to develop a Ukrainian lithium deposit: US-backed mining company TechMet wants to develop a major lithium project in Ukraine, in what could be one of the first projects built under the US-Ukraine minerals deal that is close to being finalised. TechMet chief executive […]
Read more »The Age of Metals Diplomacy: Critical Minerals Take Center Stage In Global Politics
March 5th, 2025
Via Reuters, commentary on how critical minerals are taking centre stage in world politics: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump today to sign a critical minerals deal as a way of securing continued U.S. backing in the war against Russia. It initially started as a rare earths deal […]
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.