A Kazakh court jailed the publisher of an opposition newspaper Thursday for failing to pay damages in a libel case that government critics contend is politically motivated.

A Kazakh court has imprisoned the publisher of an opposition newspaper for failing to pay damages from a libel suit in a case his supporters call politically motivated.

Kazakhstan’s cycling federation said Thursday it will resume paying salaries to Lance Armstrong’s Astana team now that it has received money owed by its sponsors.

Kazakhstan announced Thursday it was pulling out of the Central Asian power grid to protect its energy supplies, a move that forced rolling blackouts and electricity rationing on Kyrgyzstan, its tiny, power-starved neighbor.

Kazakhstan increased uranium production by almost one-third in 2008, but fell short of its previous output projection of more than 9,000 tons amid falling demand, the state-owned nuclear energy company said Thursday.

Kazakh lawmakers approved legislation Thursday to guarantee at least two political parties are represented in parliament, a move designed to improve the Central Asian nation’s tarnished democratic credentials.

Kazakhstan’s lower house of Parliament approved controversial legislation Wednesday to increase government control over religious groups, drawing criticism from a major international group Kazakhstan is to lead in 2010.

Kazakhstan has slashed its revenue forecast for next year by $2.5 billion amid falling world oil prices, the country’s Economy Minister said Tuesday.

Kazakhstan’s government approved a $10 billion financial rescue package Tuesday that it hopes will lead the oil-rich country out of economic crisis over the next two years.

Energy-rich Kazakhstan will trim government spending plans for the next three years because of falling oil prices, the prime minister said Monday.