American Central Reference Lab in Almaty to study plague. China's Ambitions in Xinjiang and Central Asia. Haifa battles back to draw in Kazakhstan

Tengri News - American Central Reference Lab in Almaty to study plague - The Lab will be launched under the aegis of the U.S. Defense Department. The project is worth over $102 million. The U.S. Department will finance and manage the facility via the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

The Hollywood Reporter - Nagima: Busan Review - Kazakh director Zhanna Issabayeva returns with a stark portrayal of the social alienation among the young have-nots of her country.

KAZINFORM - China may raise price bid for Kazakh oil, Kazakhstan says - China may offer a higher price for oil from Kazakhstan's Kashagan project as it competes for the crude with other countries surrounding the Central Asian state.

The Jerusalem Post - Haifa battles back to draw in Kazakhstan - Maccabi Haifa fought back from two-goals down to draw 2- 2 at Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan on Thursday night, picking up a creditable point to kick start its Europa League Group L campaign.

The Market Oracle - China's Ambitions in Xinjiang and Central Asia - In mid-September Chinese President Xi Jinping rounded out a 10-day tour of Central Asia that included state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek. At each stop, the new president made hearty pledges of financial support and calls for further diplomatic, security and energy cooperation. In Turkmenistan, Xi inaugurated a natural gas field. In Kazakhstan, he agreed to invest $30 billion in energy and transportation projects. In Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, he made similar promises to increase investment and cooperation in the coming years.