kazakhstan
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Milestones in Nation Branding: Kazakhstan to Ditch the Stan?

Feb 9, 2014
Kazakhstan's president is worried the final syllable of the country's name is scaring off tourists and investors; Edward Snowden was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Norwegian lawmakers who may have felt slighted by Obama's choice of ambassador to Oslo; and now there is an app for Google Glass that will identify you at a glance. These discoveries and more after the jump.

Meet Frank Giustra, Mining Magnate and Clinton Chum

Jan 31, 2008
The name Frank Giustra may not ring any bells with those outside the international mining industry, but Thursday's New York Times brings Giustra (pictured with Clinton) out of relative obscurity into sharp focus with its startling report about the Canadian entrepreneur, who boldly inserted himself into the uranium business in Kazakhstan (!) and into Bill Clinton's inner circle.

Hypocrisy Alert: Bush to Embrace Kazakhstani Autocrat

Aug 29, 2006
Just after launching an initiative to combat international kleptocracy, President Bush is scheduled to meet with the leader of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, a man who stands accused in U.S. courts of high-level bribery and who runs his country as a repressive despot. Nazarbayev just happens to rule an oil-rich country. Above, Dick Cheney meets with Nazarbayev in May.