U.S. investor James Cameron has made a $5 billion offer to acquire Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a major Kazakh mining company, according to a letter sent to ERG's board. The offer comes as ERG, which is 40% owned by the Kazakh government, prepares to expand its involvement in Kazakhstan's rare earths sector.

ERG has been exploring deposits of rare earth and other critical minerals in the country. The interest from Cameron is partly driven by Kazakhstan's potential in this area, as the country aims to increase its output of rare and rare earth metals by 40% by 2028. Cameron's letter indicates that the financing for the deal would come from a combination of his own funds, as well as equity contributions from other investors in the U.S., Australia, and possibly the Middle East.

Despite the offer, ERG has stated that there are no ongoing sale talks. Goldman Sachs is in preliminary talks to advise on the potential deal, suggesting that Cameron's proposal is being considered seriously, though no immediate action is being taken by ERG.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit. He met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar to discuss cooperation in energy, trade, and security. The two countries signed multiple memoranda of understanding, including the establishment of a joint committee for consular affairs and a UAE-Pakistan Business Council. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner and has invested over $10 billion in the country in the past two decades.

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NASA astronaut Don Pettit, along with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft after completing a 220-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 72. The trio landed in Kazakhstan, marking a successful conclusion to their seven-month research assignment.

The landing occurred on Pettit's 70th birthday, making him NASA's oldest active astronaut to return from space. The spacecraft undocked from the ISS's Rassvet module and touched down southeast of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, after orbiting Earth 3,520 times and traveling 93.3 million miles.

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Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has announced plans to launch the country's first-ever state-licensed cryptocurrency and Bitcoin exchange. The initiative aims to establish a national crypto exchange with full regulatory oversight and investor protection, targeting millions of local investors. The pilot project is expected to begin in May 2025 and will operate under a sandbox model to test crypto trading features. Bybit, a prominent crypto exchange, is providing technological, compliance, and operational support for the project. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's government has also declared plans to launch a national Bitcoin and crypto exchange, reflecting a broader trend of crypto adoption in Asia. Additionally, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) plans to introduce Bitcoin perpetual futures in the second half of 2025, focusing on institutional and professional investors. SGX is the only official securities and derivatives trading platform in Singapore and is fully regulated.

Two participants died during the Almaty Half Marathon in Kazakhstan on Sunday. The victims were an 84-year-old man named Akkoyan Rsaliev and a 21-year-old runner named Nurbol Ahmadi. Both were experienced runners, according to the event's organizer, the corporate fund "Courage to Be First." The incident was confirmed by multiple sources, including the event organizers and news agencies.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit is scheduled to return to Earth on Saturday, April 19, after spending 220 days in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit will complete 3,520 orbits of the Earth and travel approximately 93.3 million miles during his mission. His return aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft will coincide with his 70th birthday, with the landing set for 9:20 p.m. EDT in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the ISS has a new commander as Pettit and two cosmonauts prepare to depart. The station is also preparing to receive a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft on Monday, April 21, carrying nearly 7,000 pounds of supplies, including food, experiments, an air quality monitoring system, and two atomic clocks for fundamental physics research. The Dragon mission, CRS-32, is targeted for launch at 4:15 a.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center. Additionally, SpaceX continues to make progress at its Starbase facility, with upgrades at Starship Pad B including installation of a flame bucket and water deluge plumbing. Tesla is advancing its commercial electric truck rollout, with Frito-Lay building an eight-stall Megacharger array at its Bakersfield, California factory to support Tesla Semi trucks. SpaceX is also preparing for multiple upcoming Falcon 9 launches, including the NROL-145 mission on Sunday, April 20, and the 32nd Dragon cargo mission to the ISS on Monday.

Dinara Dina Smailova, a Kazakh activist and founder of the non-profit organization 'NeMolchi.kz', was arrested in Budva, Montenegro, on April 14, 2025. Her arrest comes amid reports of threats from a Russian oligarch with connections to Montenegrin officials. The Montenegrin Supreme Court has denied Kazakhstan's request for her extradition. Following her arrest, a preliminary investigation hearing was held to determine the conditions of her detention, but the extradition hearing has yet to take place.

Kazakhstan's oil production reached 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2025, exceeding its OPEC+ quota by 332,000 bpd, according to an S&P Global Commodity Insights review. However, in the first 13 days of April, production declined by 3% from the March average, settling at approximately 1.82 million bpd. This decrease is attributed to reduced output at the Chevron-led Tengiz field. Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry confirmed the April figures and noted that the country must compensate for overproduction, totaling 1.3 million bpd. In contrast, Russia's crude oil production fell by 10,000 bpd in March to 8.963 million bpd, remaining below its OPEC+ quota, and it is required to compensate for 691,000 bpd of overproduction.

Meta has entered a two-year agreement with Kazakhstan's copyright community to utilize Kazakh music on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. This partnership aims to promote local content and enhance the user experience. Additionally, Meta plans to begin training its artificial intelligence models using public content shared by adults on its products in the European Union, starting this week. The initiative is part of Meta's broader strategy to enhance AI capabilities while ensuring compliance with EU regulations. The company aims to leverage user interactions, including posts and comments, to improve its AI systems.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on April 9, 2025, to participate in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Foreign Ministers Council meeting and the 8th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia and Central Asian states. The CIS meeting took place on April 11, with discussions focusing on regional cooperation, political and economic issues, cultural and security matters, and preparations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

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Kazakhstan's oil production has risen to 1.79 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, exceeding its quota and raising concerns about compliance with OPEC+ agreements. The country is reportedly on a collision course with the oil cartel, as it does not anticipate a major reduction in output for April. Analysts suggest that Kazakhstan's continued overproduction could lead to further scrutiny from OPEC+, particularly in light of Saudi Arabia's recent output increases, which are pressuring Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Iraq to adhere to their production quotas. The situation is critical as Kazakhstan and Iraq need to demonstrate improved compliance in the coming weeks to avoid potential repercussions from the OPEC+ group.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has resumed operations at all moorings in the Black Sea, following a temporary shutdown of two loading points. As of April 9, 2025, oil loadings are currently taking place at two moorings, with one of the halted moorings back online. The operator of Kazakhstan’s key oil export pipeline confirmed that there are no plans for significant cuts to oil output. The CPC is now operating at two of its three Black Sea oil loading points, indicating a return to normal operations after recent disruptions.

U.S. investor James Cameron has made a $5 billion offer to acquire Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a major Kazakh mining company, according to a letter sent to ERG's board. The offer comes as ERG, which is 40% owned by the Kazakh government, prepares to expand its involvement in Kazakhstan's rare earths sector.

ERG has been exploring deposits of rare earth and other critical minerals in the country. The interest from Cameron is partly driven by Kazakhstan's potential in this area, as the country aims to increase its output of rare and rare earth metals by 40% by 2028. Cameron's letter indicates that the financing for the deal would come from a combination of his own funds, as well as equity contributions from other investors in the U.S., Australia, and possibly the Middle East.

Despite the offer, ERG has stated that there are no ongoing sale talks. Goldman Sachs is in preliminary talks to advise on the potential deal, suggesting that Cameron's proposal is being considered seriously, though no immediate action is being taken by ERG.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a two-day official visit. He met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar to discuss cooperation in energy, trade, and security. The two countries signed multiple memoranda of understanding, including the establishment of a joint committee for consular affairs and a UAE-Pakistan Business Council. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner and has invested over $10 billion in the country in the past two decades.

Read more

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, along with Russian cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, returned to Earth aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft after completing a 220-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Expedition 72. The trio landed in Kazakhstan, marking a successful conclusion to their seven-month research assignment.

The landing occurred on Pettit's 70th birthday, making him NASA's oldest active astronaut to return from space. The spacecraft undocked from the ISS's Rassvet module and touched down southeast of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, after orbiting Earth 3,520 times and traveling 93.3 million miles.

Read more

Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has announced plans to launch the country's first-ever state-licensed cryptocurrency and Bitcoin exchange. The initiative aims to establish a national crypto exchange with full regulatory oversight and investor protection, targeting millions of local investors. The pilot project is expected to begin in May 2025 and will operate under a sandbox model to test crypto trading features. Bybit, a prominent crypto exchange, is providing technological, compliance, and operational support for the project. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's government has also declared plans to launch a national Bitcoin and crypto exchange, reflecting a broader trend of crypto adoption in Asia. Additionally, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) plans to introduce Bitcoin perpetual futures in the second half of 2025, focusing on institutional and professional investors. SGX is the only official securities and derivatives trading platform in Singapore and is fully regulated.

Two participants died during the Almaty Half Marathon in Kazakhstan on Sunday. The victims were an 84-year-old man named Akkoyan Rsaliev and a 21-year-old runner named Nurbol Ahmadi. Both were experienced runners, according to the event's organizer, the corporate fund "Courage to Be First." The incident was confirmed by multiple sources, including the event organizers and news agencies.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit is scheduled to return to Earth on Saturday, April 19, after spending 220 days in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit will complete 3,520 orbits of the Earth and travel approximately 93.3 million miles during his mission. His return aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft will coincide with his 70th birthday, with the landing set for 9:20 p.m. EDT in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, the ISS has a new commander as Pettit and two cosmonauts prepare to depart. The station is also preparing to receive a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft on Monday, April 21, carrying nearly 7,000 pounds of supplies, including food, experiments, an air quality monitoring system, and two atomic clocks for fundamental physics research. The Dragon mission, CRS-32, is targeted for launch at 4:15 a.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center. Additionally, SpaceX continues to make progress at its Starbase facility, with upgrades at Starship Pad B including installation of a flame bucket and water deluge plumbing. Tesla is advancing its commercial electric truck rollout, with Frito-Lay building an eight-stall Megacharger array at its Bakersfield, California factory to support Tesla Semi trucks. SpaceX is also preparing for multiple upcoming Falcon 9 launches, including the NROL-145 mission on Sunday, April 20, and the 32nd Dragon cargo mission to the ISS on Monday.

Dinara Dina Smailova, a Kazakh activist and founder of the non-profit organization 'NeMolchi.kz', was arrested in Budva, Montenegro, on April 14, 2025. Her arrest comes amid reports of threats from a Russian oligarch with connections to Montenegrin officials. The Montenegrin Supreme Court has denied Kazakhstan's request for her extradition. Following her arrest, a preliminary investigation hearing was held to determine the conditions of her detention, but the extradition hearing has yet to take place.

Kazakhstan's oil production reached 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2025, exceeding its OPEC+ quota by 332,000 bpd, according to an S&P Global Commodity Insights review. However, in the first 13 days of April, production declined by 3% from the March average, settling at approximately 1.82 million bpd. This decrease is attributed to reduced output at the Chevron-led Tengiz field. Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry confirmed the April figures and noted that the country must compensate for overproduction, totaling 1.3 million bpd. In contrast, Russia's crude oil production fell by 10,000 bpd in March to 8.963 million bpd, remaining below its OPEC+ quota, and it is required to compensate for 691,000 bpd of overproduction.

Meta has entered a two-year agreement with Kazakhstan's copyright community to utilize Kazakh music on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. This partnership aims to promote local content and enhance the user experience. Additionally, Meta plans to begin training its artificial intelligence models using public content shared by adults on its products in the European Union, starting this week. The initiative is part of Meta's broader strategy to enhance AI capabilities while ensuring compliance with EU regulations. The company aims to leverage user interactions, including posts and comments, to improve its AI systems.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on April 9, 2025, to participate in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Foreign Ministers Council meeting and the 8th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Russia and Central Asian states. The CIS meeting took place on April 11, with discussions focusing on regional cooperation, political and economic issues, cultural and security matters, and preparations for the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Read more

Kazakhstan's oil production has risen to 1.79 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, exceeding its quota and raising concerns about compliance with OPEC+ agreements. The country is reportedly on a collision course with the oil cartel, as it does not anticipate a major reduction in output for April. Analysts suggest that Kazakhstan's continued overproduction could lead to further scrutiny from OPEC+, particularly in light of Saudi Arabia's recent output increases, which are pressuring Kazakhstan, the UAE, and Iraq to adhere to their production quotas. The situation is critical as Kazakhstan and Iraq need to demonstrate improved compliance in the coming weeks to avoid potential repercussions from the OPEC+ group.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has resumed operations at all moorings in the Black Sea, following a temporary shutdown of two loading points. As of April 9, 2025, oil loadings are currently taking place at two moorings, with one of the halted moorings back online. The operator of Kazakhstan’s key oil export pipeline confirmed that there are no plans for significant cuts to oil output. The CPC is now operating at two of its three Black Sea oil loading points, indicating a return to normal operations after recent disruptions.