Kazakhstan's leader orders raid on oil fund to support growth”, “Poignant Kazakh film shocks Berlin audience”, "Russian lawmaker wants Santa banned”, “Kazakhstan pays 10 times what U.S. does for a gold medal”

reuters.com. “Kazakhstan's leader orders raid on oil fund to support growth” - Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered the central bank and government on Friday to allot 1 trillion tenge ($5.4 billion) from the country's National Fund, which collects windfall oil export revenues, to support economic growth.

themoscownews.com. "Russian lawmaker wants Santa banned”- A Russian nationalist lawmaker has asked the government to issue Ded Moroz state certification to keep the mythical winter figure from being conflated with Santa Claus – and said he’d like for Santa Claus to be banned outright.

sportsbusinessdaily.com. “Kazakhstan pays 10 times what U.S. does for a gold medal” - Standing on the podium during the medal ceremony is the immediate and obvious reward for Olympic greatness. However, many countries will further compensate their athletes in the form of monetary bonuses if they are able to reach that podium during the Sochi Olympics.

tengrinews.kz. “Poignant Kazakh film shocks Berlin audience”- Nagima embraces the poignant reality of loneliness becoming an epitome of helplessness and anguish. Issabayeva’s film engulfed the viewers at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival with its grim reality.

“Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev furious over People’s IPO delays”- At the extended government sitting on Friday Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev criticized both the Government and the Central Bank over delays of the People’s IPO Program and delayed launch of the State-run Single Pension Fund.

“Syrdarya River floods farms in southern Kazakhstan” - The Syrdarya River has flooded farmlands and pastures in South Kazakhstan Oblast, the Emergencies Department of South Kazakhstan Oblast reports. The water has spilled from the banks near Kozhatogai village because the water freeze up at the flood-gate of Koksarai water compensating reservoir. 

cnn.com. “Pistorius' girlfriend dies on Valentine's Day” - A week before her death, South African model Reeva Steenkamp talked about her secure, blissful environment. "I woke up in a happy, safe home this morning," she tweeted. "Not everyone did." Four days after she posted that message, neither did she. The 29-year-old model was found shot dead in her boyfriend's house in an upscale neighborhood in Pretoria.