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The long-promised wave of AI-driven filmmaking — cheaper and faster than productions involving human crews — has yet to materialize. Expectations surrounding tools like Sora have not translated into a meaningful shift in how movies are made or consumed, according to 404 Media.

Disney’s ambitious plan unravels

Just a few months ago, the Walt Disney Company unveiled a bold initiative tied to a reported $1 billion investment in OpenAI. The plan aimed to bring user-generated AI content to Disney+, allowing fans to create videos using Sora and ChatGPT image tools featuring Disney’s licensed characters, with a rollout expected...

A vast musical fountain complex covering around eight hectares is planned for construction in New Tashkent. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at the ambitious project by the Uzbek authorities.

Under the project plans, a 6.3-hectare pool will be built at the center of the complex, while the main fountain for water-and-light shows is planned to span 1.5 hectares.

The centerpiece of the complex will be a super fountain with a jet reaching up to 232 meters high and a platform 100 meters in diameter. A circular water screen with a diameter of 185 meters is also...

A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Meta and Google are liable for harm caused to a young woman who alleged she became addicted to their social media platforms as a child, the BBC reported.

The plaintiff, identified as Kaley, was awarded $6 million in damages, including $3 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages. Her lawyers argued that features such as infinite scrolling were designed to be addictive and that the companies targeted young users to increase engagement. Jurors agreed, finding that the companies acted with «malice, oppression, or fraud» in how their...

Testing of the light rail transit (LRT) line in Astana is underway. During the test operation on the line section between the Airport and Nurly Jol stations, the trains reached their design speed of 80 kilometers per hour (km/h), according to the city administration.

«Scheduled tests of rolling stock and infrastructure are underway on the LRT line between Airport and Nurly Jol stations as part of the line’s test operation. During the test runs, the trains reached their design speed of 80 km/h,» the Astana administration said in a statement.

The authorities noted that the...

Legendary American punk rock band The Offspring is set to perform in Almaty on Aug. 23, the final day of the Park Live Almaty 2026 international music festival.

In 1994, The Offspring broke into the U.S. top 10 with their album «Smash.» Since then, the band has stood among the most successful punk groups alongside Green Day and Rancid.

The Offspring played a crucial role in reviving punk rock’s popularity in the 1990s. As of today, their total album and single sales have surpassed 40 million copies, making the group one of the most commercially successful rock bands in music...

The government of Kazakhstan has approved a 7.5 trillion tenge (about $16 billion) national program to develop coal-fired power generation, including incentives such as preferential mortgages for plant employees, the cabinet said.

Plan aims to expand capacity and meet demand

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov signed the program, which runs through 2030 and is designed to address capacity shortages and modernize the country’s energy system.

Read also: Coal couture: Karaganda’s industrial mining product dazzles in Milan.

The plan calls for commissioning and upgrading 7.8 gigawatts of power capacity. Officials say additional...

Authorities in Astana have placed a blogger known as Ilyarchik (andersonchik1) on an international wanted list on suspicion of involvement in illegal online gambling, the Financial Monitoring Agency of Kazakhstan said.

Allegations of illegal gambling activity

The blogger, identified as Ilyar Yuvashev, born in 1998, has about 62,000 followers on Instagram. He is known for posting videos about life in Southeast Asia, including in Bali and Malaysia, as well as sharing personal experiences related to addiction, debt and self-improvement through sports.

Read also: The new ‘Mecca Ponzi’ scheme targeting...

Traditional clothing once worn mainly by older generations during holidays and public festivities is now increasingly embraced by younger people in Kazakhstan. Another emerging trend at large celebrations is the appearance of robots dressed in chapans with traditional patterns.

In Almaty, this year’s Nauryz festivities placed a strong emphasis on digital technologies. The city integrated artificial intelligence into key elements of the program as part of the Year of Artificial Intelligence, according to the mayor’s office.

Digital yurts at the main venue

The main celebrations took place at Astana Square, where six themed yurts were...

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov held talks with U.S. Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright at the CERAWeek international conference in Houston. The two sides discussed global energy security, the development of alternative export routes and the expansion of investment cooperation.

The officials emphasized the strategic nature of their more than 30-year partnership in the oil and gas sector. Over this period, U.S. investment in Kazakhstan’s energy sector has exceeded $60 billion. ExxonMobil and Chevron are key partners in the Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan projects, which together account for approximately 70% of the country’s oil production.

Kazakhstan is no longer considering the construction of a natural gas processing plant (NGPP) at Karachaganak under the final production sharing agreement (FPSA), according to PSA, the country’s authorized body overseeing the project.

According to PSA, construction of the NGPP by the project operator is impractical from a technical, commercial and legal standpoint. Kazakhstan has begun designing its own gas processing plant to handle Karachaganak gas in the interest of national energy security.

The agency clarified that the operator of the Karachaganak project, represented by Shell and Eni, failed to make a final investment decision on the NGPP. As a...

Police in Taldykorgan, southern Kazakhstan, have detained a 62-year-old woman on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Read also: Industrial hemp: 218 varieties you can cultivate in Central Asia.

Law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of about 5 grams of drugs before searching the suspect’s home. During the search, officers discovered a bag containing more than 5 kilograms of hashish in a shed on the property.

Authorities also found six additional bags of herbal narcotics inside the home.

Investigation underway

«A pretrial investigation is underway to...

Domestic manufacturers in Kazakhstan are facing a sharp decline in demand as Chinese online marketplaces gain market share, according to Inna Apenko, founder of local brands Mimioriki and Global Nomads.

Read also: Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and Pinduoduo expanding partnerships with Kazakhstan.

Speaking during a discussion on the impact of tax reforms, Apenko — who also serves as vice president of the Light Industry Association of Kazakhstan — said the challenges began even before recent policy changes.

She pointed to a noticeable drop in retail demand, driven by both...

This year marks 38 years since the revival of Nauryz, the traditional spring equinox holiday in Kazakhstan. Deeply rooted in the country’s cultural identity, the celebration symbolizes renewal, unity and the arrival of spring. Yet for much of the 20th century, it was absent from public life — returning only in the final years of the Soviet era, on the eve of independence.

From recognition to repression

Nauryz was first recognized as an official holiday on March 20, 1920, following a decree signed by Turar Ryskulov, then chairman of the Executive Committee of the...

When spring arrives and the Nauryz holiday — marking the spring equinox — approaches, one song is almost guaranteed to be heard in every Kazakh home: «Nauryz Duman.»

Performed by renowned Kazakh singer Roza Rymbayeva, the song has become a defining symbol of the national celebration. But its origins include surprising details that many listeners may not know.

Read also: Samal: Dimash captures a gentle breeze of love in his latest song.

In a recent interview with the Zamandas podcast, Rymbayeva shared how the song was created — and...

Work on launching the long-anticipated light rail transit (LRT) line in Astana continue to attract attention from both capital residents and social media users. Kursiv LifeStyle takes a look at how a video of rolling stock turned into a source of jokes about barge haulers and Ancient Egypt.

A video showing several workers in uniform pulling two LRT cars spread across social media. The footage shows cars being moved by hand using a rope. It is unclear exactly why the train had to be pulled in this way.

@janbolat158

Chuck Norris, a martial arts champion, action film star and pop culture icon known for his role in the TV series «Walker, Texas Ranger,» has died at age 86, CNN reported.

Medical emergency in Hawaii

Norris experienced a medical emergency Thursday while in Hawaii, media reports said. Further details about the incident were not immediately disclosed. His family expressed gratitude for the support and prayers he received during his hospitalization.

Family remembers his legacy

In a statement shared Friday on Instagram and Facebook, the family described Norris as a man guided by faith, purpose and devotion...

Many job seekers view salary negotiations as an uncomfortable exercise in haggling — something they must either push for or defend against. In reality, the most successful outcomes are built on a win-win approach. When negotiations are framed as a partnership rather than a competition, both sides benefit.

Read also: How to think like a millionaire: A guide to handling wealth.

Employers gain more than just a filled role — they secure a motivated employee whose goals align with the company’s objectives.

How to answer the salary expectations question

Recruiters often ask...

On March 20, Air Astana officially announced a collaboration with Sandyk, a restaurant serving authentic Kazakh cuisine, unveiling a new in-flight menu dedicated to the Nauryz holiday.

Among the guests at the event, hosted by actor Sanjar Madi in Almaty, were prominent Kazakh journalists Aigul Mukei and Dina Tolepbergen; popular bloggers Aizhuldyz Adaibekova and her husband, Saken Kagarov; Artur Askaruly; and interviewer Timur Balymbetov and his wife, among others.

Guests were welcomed by Air Astana CEO Peter Foster and Ibrahim Canliel, who will assume the role of the group’s CEO on April 1. A key highlight of the evening was...

According to the latest World Happiness Report, Kazakhstan placed 33rd among 147 surveyed countries, climbing 10 notches from last year and marking its best result to date. The report was conducted by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Finland topped the ranking for the ninth consecutive year, followed by other Nordic countries — Iceland in second place and Denmark in third. The top 10 then includes Costa Rica (4th), Sweden (5th), Norway (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Israel (8th...

The International Energy Agency (IEA) outlined a set of measures to ease pressure on consumers from rising energy prices, including working from home and limiting air travel, Reuters reported.

The recommendations come amid a surge in global energy costs linked to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which has raised concerns about inflation worldwide.

According to the IEA, the proposed steps are actions that governments, businesses and households can take to reduce oil demand and help offset the impact of higher prices. Suggested measures include working remotely where possible, lowering highway speed limits, and choosing less fuel-intensive forms of...

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump compared recent American strikes on Iran to Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Washington, Reuters reported.

At the White House, Trump highlighted the importance of surprise in military strategy and said Japan would understand, referring to the attack that brought the U.S. into World War II. He made the remarks after being asked why allies were not informed in advance of the strikes on Iran.

Takaichi, who sat next to Trump during the meeting, appeared visibly uncomfortable as he made the comparison. The...

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter was shown driving a tank during a public inspection, according to Reuters.

The girl, believed to be about 13 years old and often called Kim Ju Ae, was photographed looking out of the tank’s driver’s hatch.

She has appeared with her father more often in recent months, leading some observers to speculate that she may be getting prepared for a future leadership role. North Korean authorities have not officially confirmed her name or age.

Earlier in March, she took part in military activities, such as aiming a rifle at...

The World Boxing Executive Board approved the applications of nine national boxing federations to join the organization. Now, 168 countries hold membership, including Russia and Belarus, accepted under particular conditions.

World Boxing, headed by Gennadiy Golovkin, officially confirmed the endorsement of new members from Europe, Africa, and Oceania.

«The Executive Board of World Boxing has endorsed nine new applications to join the organization from the National Federations for boxing in Belarus, Cyprus, Mozambique, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Tanzania, Tonga and Zambia. The endorsements mean that World Boxing now has 168 member...

Significant shifts have occurred in the leading causes of death in Kazakhstan, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Deaths from diseases of the nervous system now exceed those caused by cancer.

Circulatory diseases remain No. 1

In 2025, diseases of the circulatory system remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 22.5% of all fatalities.

Diseases of the nervous system ranked second, making up 17.8% of deaths.

Cancer falls to third place

Neoplasms, or cancer — traditionally considered one of the most serious health threats — ranked third, accounting for...