News Roundup - August 3, 2007

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: Islamic Group Members On Trial For Terrorism
Kazakhstan has so far escaped major problems with Islamic groups that have plagued the country's Central Asian neighbors, though there are signs that people branded as "Islamic extremists" are becoming more active in Kazakhstan...
The Journal of Turkish Weekly: A proposition By Kazakhstan: A Canal Between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev proposed building a canal between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea to ease Central Asian trade with world markets...
Reuters: Kazkommerts Chairman Ups Stake in Bank to 41 Percent
The chairman of Kazakhstan's biggest commercial bank, Kazkommertsbank, has raised his ownership of the bank to nearly 41 percent after buying shares in a holding company, the bank said on Thursday...
BBC News: Trade Dilemma on China-Kazakh Border
Trade is booming on the Kazakh-China border. But Kazakhstan's increasing economic ties with its huge neighbour can sometimes prove negative as well as positive, says the BBC's Central Asia correspondent Natalia Antelava...
Eurasia Insight: Tour De France Doping Scandal
Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador may have cinched the 2007 Tour de France, but for Kazakhstan’s media, the doping scandal surrounding Team Astana captain Alexander Vinokourov continues to linger on. While some have voiced conspiracy theories about alleged moves to rid the race of a strong team in favor of rivals, others see the action as regrettable, but justified...
Reuters: Indicators - August 3, 2007
Kazakhstan's economic indicators based on data provided by the State Statistics Agency, government institutions, the central bank and exchanges...