Disney invests $1B in OpenAI in deal to bring characters like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI video tool

Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will bring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Luke Skywalker to the AI company's Sora video generation tool, in a licensing deal that the two companies announced on Thursday.

At the same time, Disney went after Google, demanding the tech company stop exploiting its copyrighted characters to train its AI systems.

The OpenAI agreement makes the Walt Disney Co. the first major content licensing partner for Sora, which uses generative artificial intelligence to create short videos.

Under the three-year licensing deal, fans will be able to use Sora to generate and share videos based on more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters.

Open AI, Microsoft face lawsuit over ChatGPT’s alleged role in Connecticut murder-suicide

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The heirs of an 83-year-old Connecticut woman are suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI and its business partner Microsoft for wrongful death, alleging that the artificial intelligence chatbot intensified her son's “paranoid delusions” and helped direct them at his mother before he killed her.

Police said Stein-Erik Soelberg, 56, a former tech industry worker, fatally beat and strangled his mother, Suzanne Adams, and killed himself in early August at the home where they both lived in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The lawsuit filed by Adams' estate on Thursday in California Superior Court in San Francisco alleges OpenAI “designed and distributed a defective product that validated a user’s paranoid delusions about his own mother.” It is one of a growing number of wrongful death legal actions against AI chatbot makers across the country.

“Throughout these conversations, ChatGPT reinforced a single, dangerous message: Stein-Erik could trust no one in his life — except ChatGPT itself," the lawsuit says. “It fostered his emotional dependence while systematically painting the people around him as enemies. It told him his mother was surveilling him. It told him delivery drivers, retail employees, police officers, and even friends were agents working against him. It told him that names on soda cans were threats from his ‘adversary circle.’”

Robert Archambeau and the value of artistic legacy

When I last visited Robert Archambeau’s ceramics studio in Bissett — long after the kiln had cooled and after Robert himself had left us — I found myself standing in a place that felt both haunting and profoundly alive.

Local entrepreneur's time-tracking app Construction Clock ticking along

As a self-described blue collar construction worker, David Peters says he felt like a charlatan when he first became a tech founder.

“At the beginning, when you have no tech experience and you’re trying to convince the world, your customers, your investors that you’re the one that’s going to pull this off, yeah — you definitely feel like you’re selling a dream that you don’t know if you can pull off,” Peters said.

In 2022, the Winnipeg entrepreneur launched Construction Clock, a time tracking app for the construction industry.

The thing that gave him confidence in spite of his imposter syndrome, he said, was the amount of money he invested in the business.

Denmark plans to severely restrict social media use for young people

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — As Australia began enforcing a world-first social media ban for children under 16 years old this week, Denmark is planning to follow its lead and severely restrict social media access for young people.

The Danish government announced last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15. Such a measure would be the most sweeping step yet by a European Union nation to limit use of social media among teens and children.

The Danish government's plans could become law as soon as mid-2026. The proposed measure would give some parents the right to let their children access social media from age 13, local media reported, but the ministry has not yet fully shared the plans.

Many social media platforms already ban children younger than 13 from signing up, and a EU law requires Big Tech to put measures in place to protect young people from online risks and inappropriate content. But officials and experts say such restrictions don’t always work.

Danielle Smith becomes first Alberta premier in 90 years to face citizen recall

EDMONTON - Danielle Smith has become the second Alberta premier – and the first in almost 90 years – to face a citizen-led petition drive to get her removed from her seat in the legislature.

Smith and two more of her United Conservative Party caucus members saw recall campaigns officially approved and launched Wednesday by Elections Alberta.

In total, 20 in the 47-member UCP caucus are facing recall petitions. A formal signature-gathering drive has also been launched against one Opposition NDP member, Amanda Chapman.

Heather VanSnick is leading the petition drive in Smith’s southern Alberta riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat. VanSnick needs to collect just over 12,000 signatures to move the process forward.

Canada wraps up G7 tech ministers’ meeting after signing EU, U.K. deals

OTTAWA - Canada ended a two-day meeting of G7 industry, digital and technology ministers Tuesday after signing agreements with European partners that are taking a tougher stand on regulating artificial intelligence than the United States.

The memorandums of understanding with the European Union, Germany and the U.K. focused on digital issues, including artificial intelligence. While the U.S. sent representatives to the meeting, no such deal with the United States was announced.

During the closing press conference, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said Canada has a robust trade relationship with the U.S. but it is deepening its relationship with European countries.

"What we want to do strategically as well, as we move from reliance to resilience, is expand our trade. And we did that this past number of days," he said.

Full steam ahead for Winnipeg sauna start-up

Three longtime friends are pursuing their dream of helping others let off some steam.

Jonathan Dyck-Lyons, Anthony Kowalczyk and Jonathan Mutch are the founders of Saunder Sauna Tents Inc., a Winnipeg start-up that aims to make saunas portable and accessible.

Launched earlier this fall, the company’s flagship product is an all-season sauna that retails for $2,299. The 50-kilogram package includes a tent made with insulated, quilted fabric and a stainless steel stove. No tools are required during set up, which Dyck-Lyons said takes half an hour.

“From start to sweat in 30 minutes,” he said.

16,000 fossil footprints in central Bolivia reveal dinosaur behavior

TORO TORO, Bolivia (AP) — Legend once had it that the huge, three-toed footprints scattered across the central highlands of Bolivia came from supernaturally strong monsters — capable of sinking their claws even into solid stone.

Then scientists came here in the 1960s and dispelled children's fears, determining that the strange footprints in fact belonged to gigantic, two-legged dinosaurs that stomped and splashed over 60 million years ago, in the ancient waterways of what is now Toro Toro, a village and popular national park in the Bolivian Andes.

Now, a team of paleontologists, mostly from California’s Loma Linda University, have discovered and meticulously documented 16,600 such footprints left by theropods, the dinosaur group that includes the Tyrannosaurus rex. Their study, based on six years of regular field visits and published last Wednesday in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, reports that this finding represents the highest number of theropod footprints recorded anywhere in the world.

“There’s no place in the world where you have such a big abundance of (theropod) footprints,” said Roberto Biaggi, a co-author of the study led by Spanish paleontologist Raúl Esperante. “We have all these world records at this particular site.”

Métis federation launches second class action over ’60s Scoop

The Manitoba Métis Federation has launched a second court action over the apprehension of Métis children during the ’60s Scoop.

The federation and Albert Beck, a Métis man who was adopted by a non-Indigenous family, filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the Manitoba government in the Court of King’s Bench last week.

The proposed class action seeks damages over the harm suffered by Métis kids who were taken into care and placed with non-Indigenous families in Canada and the United States over several decades.

“The (‘60s) Scoop caused significant, irreparable harm to the Red River Métis children that were removed from their homes and communities. They suffered trauma and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse,” reads the proposed class action.

Gull-Masty signals go-slow approach to changing First Nations status eligibility

OTTAWA - Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says the Assembly of First Nations sent a strong signal to her government to end the second-generation cutoff in the Indian Act, but her government won't make that change without broad consultations with leaders.

At a special assembly in Ottawa last week, First Nations chiefs voted to support Senate amendments to a government bill that would expand eligibility under the Indian Act by eliminating the second-generation cutoff — which prevents individuals from registering for status under the law if they have a parent and a grandparent who did not have status.

The resolution, which passed by consensus during the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Ottawa, also calls on Ottawa to commit to increased funding to offset the cost to their communities of absorbing new members.

The AFN works as an advocacy body for 600 First Nations chiefs who attend biannual meetings to discuss issues and pass resolutions directing the executive committee on how to lobby governments.

WRENCH’s Cycle of Giving provides bikes to children in need

The same thing that motivated Gerry Hagglund to participate in a bike building marathon 14 years ago brought him back to the event on Sunday.

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” he said.

Hagglund was one of more than 100 volunteers who participated in the WRENCH’s 15th annual Cycle of Giving, which sees the organization take bicycles bound for the landfill, restore them and give them to children in need.

More than 350 bicycles were brought back to life during the 24-hour event, which started Saturday at noon.

Students aim to brighten season for struggling young Winnipeggers

A group of students from the University of Manitoba wants to help underprivileged Winnipeggers this month — and assist holiday shoppers along the way.

The 5 Days committee is raising money for Resource Assistance for Youth, an organization on Sherbrook Street that supports homeless young people up to the age of 29 through a variety of programs.

The committee is holding a gift wrapping fundraiser at CF Polo Park every Saturday until Christmas. Shoppers can bring their gifts to the second floor of the mall, close to where Hudson’s Bay used to be located, where volunteers will wrap them in exchange for a donation.

Volunteers are also running a coat check service at the booth.

Mythical quest takes audiences on wild ride in The Lightning Thief

Manitoba Theatre for Young People plunges a full house of mortals into the shadowy underworld as it presents the Greek myth-infused The Lightning Thief.

The musical holiday production (90 minutes including intermission) is based on American author’s Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson fantasy novel series, featuring a heavenly, all-local cast that would make any god or goddess proud.

After being expelled from school for his “fifth time in six years,” 12-year-old Percy Jackson, a “half-blood” son born of a human mother, Sally Jackson, and Poseidon, god of the sea, embarks on a hero’s quest to rescue a powerful lightning bolt stolen from Zeus.

We follow Percy into Camp Half-Blood, where he learns he’s a demigod, before setting out with his half-blood chums Annabeth and Grover to various locales, including Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with all roads ultimately leading to Hades.

Indigenous artifacts from the Vatican collection return to Canada

MONTREAL - First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders welcomed back dozens of Indigenous artifacts released from the Vatican collection at Montreal's airport Saturday.

The 62 items will ultimately be returned to their communities of origin as an act of furthering reconciliation.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said it was an important and emotional moment for all First Nations, and she hoped it would be important for all Canadians.

"We've come a long way, and we have a long way to go," she said at the airport.

À travers le Punch de Noël, l’esprit de la communauté revient en onde

L’émission Le Punch de Noël, fera son grand retour cet hiver sur les ondes d’Envol 91 fm.

C’était une émission phare, animée par feue Denise Lécuyer. Pendant ses 28 années de bénévolat à la radio communautaire, Denise Lécuyer animait chaque samedi le Punch aux fruits. Ce rendez-vous hebdomadaire, qu’elle ne manquait sous aucun prétexte, Denise Lécuyer l’avait aussi décliné pour l’adapter à la période des fêtes de fin d’année.

Pendant 20 ans, le Punch de Noël a été un évènement immanquable pour une partie de la communauté francophone. La sœur et le mari de Denise Lécuyer, Michelle Lécuyer-Hutton et Randy Magirowski ont donc pris la décision de reprogrammer l’émission ce 20 décembre 2025.

À l’époque, les studios de la radio se transformaient en une grande assemblée pendant le Punch, “c’était vraiment fou là-dedans,” se souvient Michelle Lécuyer-Hutton, avec affection. Randy Magirowski, laisse échapper un rire.

City cracking down on artistic woodwork in St. Vital forest

People walking through the Bois des Esprits Forest will soon be greeted by a sign asking them not to carve the trees.

The city will soon erect a sign at the forest’s entrance, in both English and French, letting people know they are not allowed to carve any trees in the park located along the Seine River in South Winnipeg near the Royalwood subdivision without authorization.

The first carving appeared in 2004 in a tree that had been marked for removal because of Dutch elm disease. “Woody” appeared after the bark was stripped off to prevent disease transmission. Portions of the large carving are now displayed in Le Musee Saint-Boniface.

A couple of artists were authorized to create artwork on dead trees through the years, but the city and area residents became concerned recently after unapproved carvings appeared on both living and dead in the park.

Beleaguered parents of young children with diabetes ask province for help in schools

Parents of children in elementary school with Type 1 diabetes pleaded for help from the province Tuesday at the legislature.

Two mothers — one who has to leave her job at lunch, the other who had to quit her job altogether — in order to get to their children’s schools in time to make insulin-pump adjustments say other provinces, including B.C. and Nova Scotia, have trained school staff to help.

“It’s heartbreaking to have to gauge whether or not I can maintain my livelihood or my child’s health care,” said Christy Peterson, whose five-year-old daughter Lillian is on an insulin pump.

The pumps support better blood-glucose management, help reduce the risk of long-term diabetes complications and their use results in fewer insulin injections.

‘We’re going up, up, up’: K-pop dominated Canada’s YouTube viewing trends in 2025

If YouTube’s year-end data is any clue, Canada is deeply in its K-pop era.

The streaming platform says Netflix’s hit animated musical film “KPop Demon Hunters” was a major driver of engagement in 2025, with several of its tracks becoming Canada’s most-watched music videos and shorts.

Meanwhile, “APT” — American singer Bruno Mars’ collaboration with K-pop star Rosé — ranked as the country’s top song of the year. It also became the fastest K-pop track to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, beating "Gangnam Style."

“KPop Demon Hunters” songs including “Golden,” “How It’s Done” and “Soda Pop” also cracked the top songs list, with the latter additionally ranking among the country’s most-watched shorts, which are YouTube's vertical short-form videos.