In the news today: Artemis II update, Social media ban, Amazon surcharge

The 10-day flight saw humanity travel to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, and Hansen also made history during the mission as the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.

The Artemis program is setting the stage for a more permanent human lunar presence and laying the groundwork to send astronauts to Mars.

—

Ottawa “very seriously” considering social media ban for kids, minister says

Culture Minister Marc Miller says the federal government is “very seriously” considering introducing a social media ban for kids.

Miller told reporters that a ban could be an important tool, but it’s not a solution to the bigger problem of online harms.

Last December, Australia became the first country to pass a law enforcing age limits on social media accounts, and the idea has since gained traction elsewhere.

The government’s move to consider age restrictions for social media and AI chatbots received support from Conservative and NDP members of Parliament.

—

Amazon introduces fuel surcharge for Canadian sellers using fulfillment program

Canadian companies using Amazon to pick, pack and ship goods will have to start paying a new surcharge because of rising fuel costs.

The e-commerce giant says the 3.5 per cent surcharge on fulfillment fees will take effect on Friday.

Spokesperson Andrew Gouveia says Amazon felt the surcharge was necessary to partially recover some of the elevated fuel and logistics costs it was experiencing.

Gas prices have soared in the wake of the war in the Middle East, which has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key fuel passageway.

—

Russian missiles and drones bombard Ukraine at night, killing at least 16 people

Officials say Russia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 80 others in its biggest aerial barrage in almost two weeks.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media Thursday that Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily targeting civilians.

Sybiha says at least four people, including a 12-year-old, were killed in Kyiv, nine were killed in the southern port city of Odesa, three were killed in the central Dnipro region, and one was killed in Zaporizhzhia in the south.

Ukraine’s air force said 20 strike drones and 12 missiles hit 26 locations.

—

Lytton was razed by fire. Some fear financial ruin is next for the tiny B.C. village

Several residents of Lytton say they’re concerned the village in British Columbia is heading for financial disaster after the community was mostly wiped out by wildfire in 2021.

They worry it faces bankruptcy from the costs of maintaining more than $50 million in planned infrastructure funded by the federal government, saying the facilities will be overbuilt for the village that is currently home to about 75 people.

Former mayor Jan Polderman and current village councillor Jennifer Thoss say there are no clear answers to how much it will cost or how the village will pay to run the facilities, which include a $26-million community hub and swimming pool.

Thoss says Lytton was struggling before the fire with its operating budget and the planned facilities will strain its limited tax base.

—

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press