Astana

9 Stories

Borat-Worthy Stunt Ends Badly in Kazakhstan

6 Czech tourists detained for wearing mankinis

(Newser) - Six Czech tourists who dressed up in skimpy swimsuits made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat character have reportedly been detained by authorities in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana. Sporting lime-green "mankinis" and black wigs, the men had hoped to take a picture in front of the "...

Little-Known City May Become World's Next Hot Spot

2017 world's fair has begun in Kazakhstan capital of Astana

(Newser) - For many people, Kazakhstan is probably best known as the home of fictional newscaster Borat, who made a mockery of the former Soviet republic in the hit 2006 comedy film named after him. But while the country's capital, Astana, may not currently rank as one of the great travel...

27 Dead in Kazakhstan Military Plane Crash

Border security chief Turganbek Stambekov among those dead

(Newser) - Kazakhstan's acting border service chief was among 27 people killed in a military plane crash today near a southern city, authorities said. The An-72 crashed at 7:55am EST about 12 miles away from the city of Shymkent near the border with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan's Committee for National Security...

Contador Wins 3rd Tour
 Contador Wins 3rd Tour 

Contador Wins 3rd Tour

Spaniard makes mark as cycling's new star

(Newser) - He may have clinched yesterday, but Alberto Contador crossed over the finish line today, winning his third Tour de France and heralding the arrival of a new cycling superstar as seven-time champion Lance Armstrong finished the race for the last time. Mark Cavendish of Britain led a sprint to win...

Contador Takes Tour de France
 Contador Takes 
 Tour de France 

Contador Takes Tour de France

Spanish cyclist eclipses Armstrong in second Tour triumph

(Newser) - Alberto Contador won the Tour de France for a second time today, and Lance Armstrong capped his return to the race with an impressive third-place finish. Mark Cavendish of Britain became the first rider to win six Tour stages in a sprint, collecting his sixth stage win after the 101....

Armstrong Lives Strong for Kazakhstan?

(Newser) - Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling is great and all, but it’s a bit of a buzzkill to see him wearing the blue-and-yellow Astana Cycling Team shirt, writes David Roth of The New Republic. Armstrong’s basically made himself a rolling advertisement for the oppressive government of Kazakhstan, and...

Rivalry Grows Between Armstrong, Teammate
 Rivalry Grows Between 
 Armstrong, Teammate 
TOUR DE FRANCE

Rivalry Grows Between Armstrong, Teammate

(Newser) - Lance Armstrong is in third place going into the 10th stage of the Tour de France today—eight seconds behind the leader, and just two seconds behind Astana teammate Alberto Contador. The two cyclists have faced endless questions about a rift, reports the BBC, and it's unclear who will lead...

Armstrong Plays Second Fiddle to Teammate
 Armstrong Plays Second 
 Fiddle to Teammate 
TOUR DE FRANCE

Armstrong Plays Second Fiddle to Teammate

(Newser) - Lance Armstrong suffered a late setback today as a teammate made a last-minute push in the seventh stage of the Tour de France, the New York Times reports. Armstrong's Astana teammate Alfredo Contador didn't win the longest stage of the Tour—Brice Feillu did—and Rinaldo Nocentini still holds the...

Team's Strong Showing Puts Armstrong in 2nd Place
Team's Strong Showing Puts Armstrong in 2nd Place
TOUR DE FRANCE

Team's Strong Showing Puts Armstrong in 2nd Place

Fabian Cancellara hangs onto jersey

(Newser) - Lance Armstrong missed taking the yellow jersey by two-tenths of a second today as his Astana team hammered its rival in the Tour de France’s fourth-stage time trial, AFP reports. Though Astana beat Saxo Bank by 40 seconds, Fabian Cancellara held onto the lead. “It’s a little...

9 Stories