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ByteDance has pledged to curb its AI video tool Seedance after legal threats from Disney. The move follows complaints from several Hollywood studios over alleged copyright infringement. Seedance’s latest version has gone viral for its realistic clips.

According to Reuters, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing ByteDance of using a “pirated library” of copyrighted characters. These include figures from Marvel and Star Wars. Disney’s lawyers described the alleged action as a “virtual smash-and-grab” of intellectual property.

ByteDance said it respects intellectual property rights and is strengthening safeguards. The company did not give details on what measures it plans to introduce. It had earlier paused the option allowing users to upload images of real people.

Reuters reported, the Motion Picture Association demanded the tool immediately stop infringing activities. SAG-AFTRA accused Seedance of blatant infringement, while Paramount Skydance reportedly sent its own legal notice.

The controversy adds to wider tensions between AI firms and the entertainment industry. Last year, Disney and NBCUniversal sued Midjourney over copyright claims. Meanwhile, Disney has a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to use selected characters on its AI platforms.

Flights were delayed on Monday at Kenya’s main airport after workers began a planned strike. AP reported, the action follows a labor dispute with authorities over pay and working conditions. Departures and arrivals were affected.

Kenya Airways issued a travel advisory to passengers. According to AP, the airline said air traffic control delays were disrupting schedules. It urged travelers to confirm their flight status before going to the airport.

The Kenya Airports Authority said contingency measures were in place. It added that it was engaging stakeholders to resolve the strike. Officials stressed they were open to dialogue. Workers gave a seven-day strike notice last week. They cited problems in implementing a collective bargaining agreement. They are demanding better pay, improved benefits and safer working conditions.

The strike has disrupted operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The airport is a key hub for regional and international travel, trade and tourism.

Heavy rain and strong winds disrupted daily life across New Zealand’s North Island on Monday. Flights, trains and ferries were cancelled. Many roads were closed due to flooding and fallen trees. Tens of thousands of homes lost power, reported Reuters.

Images online showed flooded neighbourhoods and damaged roads. Trees fell onto vehicles and homes were inundated. Marilyn Bulford from Bunnythorpe described the storm as “absolutely terrifying” in an interview with the The New Zealand Herald. She said she had never seen trees blowing so violently before.

According to Reuters, emergency services received 852 calls overnight. The Wellington region accounted for more than half of them. Authorities said more than 30,000 properties were without electricity. Several schools were closed and residents were urged to stay off the roads.

The storm is expected to move toward the South Island’s east coast on Tuesday. Officials warned of further heavy rain and disruption. The severe weather comes weeks after a deadly landslide at Mount Maunganui, where six people died during heavy rains.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reflected a feeling of profound change among European leaders at this weekend's Munich Security Conference when she said: "Some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore".

Transatlantic ties have already been strained over the past year by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But the U.S. president’s push to annex Greenland dramatically increased European doubts about Washington’s commitment to protect the continent through the NATO alliance, Reuters reports ​​​. 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered limited reassurance to Europeans in his conference speech. Rubio said the U.S. wanted to work with Europe and used a warmer tone than Vice President JD Vance last year. But he was critical of Europe's recent political course and did not mention NATO, Russia or Moscow’s war in Ukraine - issues on which a gulf has emerged between the U.S. and its partners in the alliance.