US AND CANADA

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Eligible American men will soon be automatically entered into the nation's military draft database, marking a significant change in how the government prepares for potential national emergencies.

The new policy affects men between the ages of 18 and 26, who previously were required to register themselves with the Selective Service System. Under the updated approach, federal agencies will instead gather existing data to ensure enrollment happens automatically.

The shift stems from provisions included in the latest National Defense Authorization Act, which directed officials to streamline the process. Supporters say the change will improve efficiency, reduce administrative costs and increase compliance rates, which have slightly declined in recent years.

Officials noted that millions of eligible individuals already interact with federal systems, making automatic registration a logical next step. Rather than relying on individuals to meet legal requirements, the responsibility will now rest with the government.

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The US Supreme Court has taken a significant step that could bring an end to the legal case against Steve Bannon, paving the way for his contempt of Congress conviction to be dismissed. The court issued a brief and unsigned order that effectively sends the case back to a lower federal court in Washington DC, where dismissal now appears likely.

Bannon, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, was convicted in 2022 after refusing to comply with subpoenas issued by lawmakers investigating the January 2021 Capitol riot. His refusal to provide testimony and documents led to charges of contempt of Congress, and a jury ultimately found him guilty. The conviction was later upheld by an appeals court, reinforcing the legal consequences of his defiance.

However, the latest move by the Supreme Court changes the trajectory of the case. By citing the pending motion to dismiss the indictment, the justices have effectively nullified the appeals court decision and returned the matter to a lower court for reconsideration. This procedural step signals that the case may soon be formally dismissed.

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Melania Trump has marked a significant legal milestone following the first conviction under the Take It Down Act, legislation she strongly supported to combat online abuse involving explicit imagery.

The development came after James Strahler II, a 37-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty in a U.S. District Court on April 7 to several cyber-related offences. His charges included harassing at least six adult women through the use of both real and artificially generated explicit images, as well as issuing threats of violence. Authorities confirmed that his actions involved creating and distributing manipulated content designed to intimidate and harm his victims.

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A beloved pizza chain that served Minnesotans for 50 years abruptly shut its doors and filed for bankruptcy.

Gina Maria's Pizza closed the doors of all four locations to the public back in October, leaving hungry customers with lots of questions.

The pizza business owners had nearly $3 million in debts, with only a mere $64,000 in assets, according to a March 26 bankruptcy filing.

Northern Brands Inc, the parent company, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which will likely result in the business being liquidated rather than restructured.

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Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is no longer expected to testify in a congressional deposition tied to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, following her removal from office.

The U.S. Department of Justice informed the House Oversight Committee that Bondi will not appear for her scheduled April 14 testimony because she was subpoenaed in her official role, which she no longer holds.

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NASA will lose contact with its astronauts for 40 minutes tonight as their spacecraft passes behind the moon.

The Artemis II crew are on their final approach to the lunar surface ahead of this evening's flyby, which will see them break the record for the farthest distance ever travelled by humans.

As part of the mission, the team will be taking photos and videos of our celestial neighbour and recording their observations.

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The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week halt in hostilities following weeks of escalating conflict, with Washington pausing planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure. The announcement came after urgent diplomatic outreach and mounting global concern over the risk of wider war.

A key condition of the agreement is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Iranian officials say passage will be coordinated by their military, allowing vessels to move through the waterway under controlled conditions during the pause.

Pakistan has invited both sides to Islamabad for talks expected later this week, positioning the ceasefire as a short-term measure to create space for negotiations aimed at a broader settlement.

The agreement follows a dramatic shift in tone after warnings of imminent large-scale attacks raised fears of catastrophic consequences. Earlier deadlines and threats gave way to last-minute բանակցations, with both sides presenting the outcome as a strategic win.

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Savannah Guthrie was back at NBC’s “Today” show anchor desk on Monday for the first time in more than two months since her mother’s disappearance, saying “it is good to be home.”

“Here we go, ready or not,” Guthrie said as the show opened. “Let’s do the news.”

Guthrie has acknowledged that she’s a changed person and that it’s hard to go forward not knowing what happened to Nancy Guthrie, who authorities believe was taken against her will from her Arizona home.