All posts tagged: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Films Make SXSW London 2026 Splash With No Need for Borat

Kazakhstan Films Make SXSW London 2026 Splash With No Need for Borat

Published by Daniella Wilson

If you think that film from Kazakhstan equals Borat, the fictional character created by Sacha Baron Cohen, you may want to think again – and come out to the Screen Festival at SXSW London 2026 for the latest cinematic evidence. After all, Kazakhstan is back in town and ready to make a splash. Anna Bogutskaya, the head of screen at SXSW London, and her team have booked an eclectic mix of theatrical and series offerings. But Kazakhstani cinema features more prominently than most would expect from the Central Asian country with a population of about 21 million. “We’ve got two features from Kazakhstan this year,” which both get to celebrate their U.K. premieres at the fest, highlights Bogutskaya, along with a short. “That is a territory that is just exploding. There’s so much [going on].” The one film is Zhannat Alshanova’s debut feature Becoming, about teenage swimmer Mila (portrayed by Tamiris Zhangazinova), who takes care of the family home and her kid sister while her mother pursues affairs and opportunities. It premiered at Locarno 2025. ‘Becoming’ film …

Russian-Led Economic Union Considers Suspending Armenia Over EU Ambitions

Russian-Led Economic Union Considers Suspending Armenia Over EU Ambitions

Published by Sam Flores

By Guy Faulconbridge and Lucy Papachristou MOSCOW, May 29 (Reuters) – A Russian-led economic ⁠union ⁠of former Soviet republics said on Friday ⁠it would consider suspending Armenia for seeking European Union membership and called on Yerevan ​to hold a referendum so its people could vote on which path to take.  Russia, distracted by the war in Ukraine, is trying to ‌keep Armenia in its orbit but Armenian ‌Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who faces an election on June 7, has tried to plot a path westwards while criticising Moscow ⁠in public. After ⁠a meeting in Astana, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) said it will consider suspending Armenia ​later this year out of concerns its pursuit of EU membership jeopardises the union’s economic security. The leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan said that Armenia’s westward integration posed “significant risks to the economic security” of the EAEU, and that its continued membership would be reviewed at the ​group’s next meeting in December. They also called on Yerevan to hold a popular referendum on joining the EU, and …

Italy, Belgium set to lose gas supply after world’s biggest LNG plant bombed – POLITICO

Italy, Belgium set to lose gas supply after world’s biggest LNG plant bombed – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Nothing to see here Earlier on Thursday German Energy Minister Katherina Reiche had downplayed the impact of the war, saying: “What we in Europe don’t have is a physical bottleneck.” She insisted the EU’s gas supplies are still flowing from Norway, the U.S., Kazakhstan and other countries. But Reiche said while she doesn’t believe the current situation is as serious as the 2022 shock following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “the current situation is also causing us concern,” and that it’s critical for Europe to continue to “monitor this crisis and make careful decisions.” Her comments came as EU leaders met for high-level talks in Brussels on Thursday, with energy one of the top issues. In 2022 Germany depended on Russia for more than half of its gas, but now relies on Norway and the Netherlands for the majority, importing some LNG from the U.S. It is not dependent on Qatari LNG. Other EU countries including Poland, Italy and Belgium depend on the Middle East country for a larger percentages of their LNG. Poland said Thursday …

Club Brugge fans jailed for impersonating Borat in Kazakhstan | Football News

Club Brugge fans jailed for impersonating Borat in Kazakhstan | Football News

Published by Sam Flores

Club Brugge were in Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. Published On 22 Jan 202622 Jan 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Club Brugge ‌supporters who wore “mankinis” made famous by the satirical character Borat for ‍their team’s Champions ‍League clash against Kairat Almaty on Tuesday have been jailed in Kazakhstan for five days for showing disrespect, Belgian media reported on Thursday. The trio were arrested in the stands at the Astana ⁠Arena in the swimwear, which was worn by English actor-comedian Sacha Baron Cohen ​in his film: Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit ‍Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, which mocks Kazakhstan and the United States. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list More than 500 Club Brugge supporters made the journey of almost 6,000km (3,700 miles) to watch Tuesday’s tie ‍with the trio ⁠in the stands, stripping down to the flimsy luminous green costumes before being taken away by police. “Three men committed acts during a football match that showed …

Kazakh court jails 3 Belgian football fans who dressed up as Borat – POLITICO

Kazakh court jails 3 Belgian football fans who dressed up as Borat – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

A spokesperson for Belgium’s foreign ministry told POLITICO on Thursday that it was “monitoring” the case together with the Belgian embassy in Astana. “We are providing our fellow citizens with the necessary consular support,” the spokesperson said. British actor Sacha Baron Cohen created the character Borat, a fictional Kazakh journalist, in a satirical TV show that lampooned attitudes in the U.K. and the U.S. A 2006 movie adaptation, in which Cohen appeared as Borat in a neon-green mankini, became an international hit. The movie initially angered Kazakh officials, who banned it. Years later, Kazakhstan’s then-foreign minister said he was “grateful” for the character’s role in attracting tourists, and when a second film was released in 2020 the country embraced Borat’s catchphrase “Very nice” in tourism campaigns. Club Brugge won the match 4-1, keeping it alive in the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s top football competition. Source link

Russia Says Attack on Oil Tanker Near CPC Was Carried Out by Ukrainian Drones

Russia Says Attack on Oil Tanker Near CPC Was Carried Out by Ukrainian Drones

Published by Sam Flores

MOSCOW, Jan ‌14 (Reuters) – ​Russia’s defence ‌ministry said on Wednesday ​that an attack ‍on the oil ​tanker ​Matilda ⁠in the Black Sea on January 13 was carried out by two Ukrainian ‌strike UAVs about 100 ​km from ‌the city ‍of Anapa ⁠in Russia’s Krasnodar region. Drones struck two oil tankers in the Black Sea on ​Tuesday, including one chartered by U.S. oil major Chevron, the companies involved said, as they sailed toward a terminal on the Russian coast. Reuters was unable ​to immediately verify the report.  (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Anastasia ​Teterevleva; editing by Guy Faulconbridge ) Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters. Photos You Should See – January 2026 Source link

The Holy Spirit is Moving Among the Uyghur in Kazakhstan – OpentheWord.org

The Holy Spirit is Moving Among the Uyghur in Kazakhstan – OpentheWord.org

Published by Sam Flores

Uyghur celebration in ChinaCredit: Liang Li, Wikipedia, Public Domain One of the more intriguing moments in the crucifixion of Christ was the dream that Pontius Pilate’s wife1 received about Jesus. It was so troubling, that she sent a message to her husband warning him to have nothing to do with this case:  And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” (Matthew 27:19 NASV) Though this dream didn’t change Pilate’s decision, it shows that the Holy Spirit uses dreams to communicate truth to those who are not believers. Over the past several years, stories have emerged of how the Holy Spirit is using dreams and visions to draw Muslims to Christ. Recently CBN reported on how dreams are contributing to a spiritual revolution among the Uyghur living in Kazakhstan. The country is located in Central Asia, and borders China on its Eastern border. It has a population of 21 million and about 70% …