“The great game that never ends: China and Russia fight over Kazakhstan”, “Russian PM joins marathon reading of Tolstoy's War and Peace”, “Kazakhstan women triumph", “Kazakhstan introduces short-term visa-free regime with Cuba”

brookings.edu. “The great game that never ends: China and Russia fight over Kazakhstan"- When Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed that China and Central Asia build a New Silk Road to boost economic cooperation—in a speech in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2013—analysts said: “China is making a pretty bold move." Bold indeed. The project, now called the “One Belt, One Road" initiative, has gained considerable steam. Last month, Astana was host to the inaugural meeting of the Astana Club—a platform for private dialogue among policy analysts, business figures, and political leaders about issues in Central Asia. Not surprisingly, the Chinese initiative topped the agenda.

tass.ru. “Russian PM joins marathon reading of Tolstoy's War and Peace" - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has joined the televised marathon reading of Leo Tolstoy's classic novel War and Peace, believed to be the most massive literature event of its kind ever. Medvedev read aloud live on television a fragment of the final chapters of Tolstoy's masterpiece from his room at the Gorki residence outside Moscow on Friday.

thehindu.com.“Kazakhstan women triumph" - In front of a big holiday crowd, the women from Kazakhstan showed they belonged to a different league. They hadn't dropped a set on their way to the final of the AVC Cup Asian central zone beach volleyball championships. Sri Lanka never looked like spoiling that record on Sunday, as Kazakhstan romped home 2-0. With Tatyana Mashkova coming up with winners through her smashes and blocks and Bakhtygul Samalikova proving an ideal foil for her, Kazakhstan-1 took the first match, against Geethika Lalani and Bogahalanda Gnanasagari in straight sets, 21-8, 21-9.

akipress.com. “Kazakhstan introduces short-term visa-free regime with Cuba” - Bishkek (AKIpress) - Kazakhstan and Cuba signed an intergovernmental agreement on short-term visa-free regime, the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan said. Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada with concurrent accreditation in Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic Konstantin Zhigalov visited Havana, where he held negotiations with the manager of the international department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba José Balager and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.