“Threat of default in Kazakhstan assessed by analysts", “Kazakhstan and Iran plan to create free economic zone in Caspian Sea”, “Russian, Kazakh Currencies Fall With Price Of Oil”, “Minimalism to miserabilism: the best directors working in Kazakh cinema”

tengrinews.kz. “Threat of default in Kazakhstan assessed by analysts"- Despite the forecasts announced by investment group Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Kazakhstani experts say that the probability of a default in Kazakhstan remains low. Last week, the American bank placed Kazakhstan on the ninth place among ten countries with the highest likelihood of sovereign default. Experts in the country acknowledge certain risks exist but contend that a default is not on the horizon.

akipress.com. “Kazakhstan and Iran plan to create free economic zone in Caspian Sea" - Iran, Kazakhstan's provincial officials discussed mutual ties, including establishment of a free trade zone of energy, oil and gas in the Caspian Sea, AzerNews reported citing Fars News Agency.

rferl.org. “Russian, Kazakh Currencies Fall With Price Of Oil" - The national currencies of oil-dependent Russia and Kazakhstan has continued to fall, affected once again by the plummeting global price of oil. The shake up in the foreign exchange market of the former Soviet republics came as the price for Brent crude oil fell on August 19 to $47.22 per barrel.

theguardian.com. “Minimalism to miserabilism: the best directors working in Kazakh cinema" - An overlooked hotbed of film talent, The Calvert Journal selects five figures from a growing industry. Kazakhstan's film industry is growing impressively, producing both big-budget spectacles like Mongol and personal director-driven festival favourites. However the country's films still have a low international profile, while at home the situation isn't much better: the Kazakh film industry, which produces around 15 films a year, accounts for only 6% of the titles that screen in local theatres.