NWS North America Desk
Articles by NWS
Has Trump Given Up On Zelensky?
US President Donald Trump has said Ukraine may need a new president, and several recent US decisions suggest a more cautious stance towards Kyiv. NWS looks at what has changed, how Europe is responding and what it could mean for the war.
Global Poverty Rises for First Time Since 2010 as UN Counts 1.2 Billion
Children make up more than half of those affected, but 33 countries show that fast progress is possible.
US Piles Pressure on Kyiv Over Russian Refinery Strikes After Trump's Surprise “Energy Ceasefire”
Washington is threatening to cut Ukraine’s weapons channel and intelligence sharing, days after Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel, as Moscow stays silent on the ceasefire.
Trump Opens US Market to Russian Diesel After Passing Law Targeting India, China
European envoys were in Miami for Ukraine talks when Washington announced the waiver. The deal came weeks after the US Congress passed a law authorising the President to impose 100 per cent tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy, including India and China.
Trump Halts Green Card Sponsorship at Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, TCS
Eight firms are suspended from the PERM programme as Washington squeezes legal migration. Indian IT firms say they have already cut back, but longer waits loom for skilled workers.
How a Cornell Sexual Assault Case Has Exposed an Accountability Gap Across Universities
A lawsuit, a reopened criminal inquiry and an extraordinary student hearing have turned one alleged assault into a wider reckoning over who holds universities accountable for sexual violence on campus.
Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ Shows in Dublin, Paris and London Sell Out Instantly
Rapper says all three arena dates went immediately and “art will always be a form of resistance”; Dublin tickets reportedly gone in five minutes as Sheeran's resale prices slump
US Troops Exit Iraq After 23 Years, Raising Fears of Iran’s Growing Influence
Washington completes its Iraq withdrawal as Baghdad hails ‘sovereignty’, while Kurds warn of security risks and Iran-aligned groups celebrate the US exit.
Hate posts against South Asians on X up 240%, US Think Tank Reveals
H-1B visa anger, the community’s rising wealth and visibility, and official messaging have made South Asians a target, the CSOH report says.
Leaders of AI Companies Think AI Can Endanger Human Life in Near Future. This Is Why
As AI becomes more autonomous, its creators are warning of risks ranging from cyberattacks and blackmail to biological threats and autonomous warfare.
US Govt Sent Arms Worth $21.6 Billion to Israel in Last 20 Months
Trump administration has sent $21.6 billion worth of arms to Israel, with Congress mostly bypassed. More than 73,000 people were killed, and 174,575 were wounded due to Israeli military strikes.
Xi-Trump Washington Summit Ends in Truce, Not Resolution
Behind the White House pageantry, Xi’s pointed nod to a theory of great-power conflict exposed how far the two leaders remain from settling their rivalry.
Calls Grow to Remove Pink as UNICEF Ambassador Over Her Criticism of Macklemore
Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem has backed a petition seeking the removal of Pink from her UNICEF ambassador role. The Jewish American pop star faces criticism for appearing to side with Israel over her comments about rapper Macklemore.
US Judge Smacks Down Trump’s White House Press Ban in Fiery Late-Night Ruling
Timothy Kelly, appointed to the bench by Donald Trump himself, rejected the national security defence and ordered CNN, Politico and MS NOW back through the gates within hours.
Britain Freezes Chagos Islands Handover to Mauritius After Trump Rejects Deal
The future of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean, hangs in the balance as London scrambles to find a formula that Washington will accept.
UN’s Guterres Begs for Peace, Trump Threatens to “Annihilate” Iran Hours Later at UNGA
Outgoing UN chief’s farewell plea for multilateral restraint collides with a defiant US president who dismisses the body's authority to rein him in.
Netanyahu Slashes New York Visit to Hours Amid Mamdani Arrest Threat and UN Protests
Israeli PM skips JFK, drops Texas stop with Musk and leaves Trump meeting off the table as Gaza’s death toll nears 74,000 ahead of October’s election.
American Press vs Trump TV: CNN, MS NOW and Politico Sue as White House Builds Its Own Channel
A First Amendment showdown now heading to federal court, as the president’s own 24/7 stream races to fill the void left by a press corps in revolt.
Trump Wanted Greenland’s Ownership, But Settled for Security Deal
Trump wanted Greenland outright, but he got a security deal instead. After months of threatening annexation, even force, Trump announced that the US, Denmark and Greenland have struck a pact expanding American military access on the Arctic island.
Trump Locks Out CNN, Politico and MS NOW – Testing the Limits of a Free Press
Press-freedom groups vow legal action as the president formalises his media grievances into policy – and a permanent online “offenders” list.
US Grants Iran’s President UN Visa, But Denies Palestinian Chief Abbas Again
Gaza, Ukraine and a fresh push for Palestinian statehood are set to dominate discussions when world leaders gather for the high-level United Nations General Assembly meeting starting September 22.
UN Finds US Likely Guilty of War Crimes in Deadly Iran School Bombing
A UN fact-finding mission has concluded the US likely targeted a primary school that killed 150 people in February. The same report accuses Tehran of crimes against humanity in its crackdown on nationwide protests.
Ed Sheeran’s US Tour Loses All Support Acts After Macklemore’s Removal Over Gaza Remarks
Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga withdraw from the Loop Tour after Macklemore is dropped following his pro-Palestinian statements at MetLife Stadium.
The Fold Wars: Inside China’s Answer to Apple’s Late Arrival
Years of American sanctions were meant to keep Huawei out of cutting-edge phones. Instead, they got a five-year head start on the one design Apple hadn’t cracked.
The US Helped Create the New World Map, Then Rejected It Alone at the UN
A week after 164 nations backed the Equal Earth projection over the 450-year-old Mercator map, Washington is still explaining its lone “no”.
US Lawmakers Push to Blacklist Indian Hack-for-Hire Firms Over Qatar-Linked Espionage
A bipartisan letter accuses BellTroX, CyberRoot and Appin's corporate successor of a decade-long spying campaign – and names a former GOP lawmaker’s family among the targets.
George Clooney Defends Mark Ruffalo at Venice, Capping Two Years of Growing Gaza Advocacy
Ruffalo has emerged as one of Hollywood’s boldest activist voices this year, leading industry pushback against the Paramount-WBD merger. When backlash followed his Gaza comments, George Clooney backed him, and more than 180 prominent Jewish figures publicly rallied behind him.
Why the US Senate’s 86-11 Russia Sanctions Bill Looks Dead on Arrival in the House
The Russia sanctions bill, Ukraine’s biggest legislative win in Washington this year, looks stalled. Five reasons the Bill – cleared by the Senate 86-11 in August - may not reach the House floor before the midterms.
One in Five Children Faced Online Sexual Abuse Last Year: UNICEF Report
Nearly one in five children aged 12 to 17 experienced sexual exploitation or abuse online in the past year, a new UNICEF report has found, with victims four times more likely to report suicidal thoughts and self-harm than their peers.
China Blocks G20 Consensus as Trade Rift with Washington Deepens
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that 19 nations back curbs on Chinese-style surpluses as Russia’s return to the Asheville summit draws European pushback.
India’s Sun Pharma Signs Trump’s Drug-Pricing Pact to Dodge US Tariffs
The agreement ends months of uncertainty over whether Indian pharma would keep its tariff exemption – and shows what Washington wanted in return.
Russia’s Return to G20 Talks Marks a Sharp Departure From Four Years of Isolation
As Washington quietly reopens financial, diplomatic and intelligence lines to Moscow, Europe fears that the US is racing ahead of its allies on Russia.
Venezuelan Leader Maduro’s First Prison Photos Surface on Social Media Eight Months After US Capture
The images, reportedly taken in June, raise fresh questions over how photographs from a US federal detention centre reached Maduro’s social-media accounts.
Trump Renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’, Sparking Canadian Backlash Amidst Tariff War
From billboards to boycotts, Ottawa is answering every jab with a counterpunch of its own – and neither side is backing down.
How the US Took Control of 65 Billion Barrels of Venezuelan Oil?
The U.S. has secured control of 65 billion barrels of Venezuela’s oil reserves under a 100-year lease, with proceeds funneled through U.S-controlled bank accounts before Caracas sees a cent. Chevron stands to benefit first, with Exxon, oilfield-service firms, and refiners lining up behind it.
Canada Announces ‘Dollar-for-Dollar’ Retaliatory Tariffs on US as High as 50 per cent
Ottawa’s move deepens a rupture with Washington that has been building since October, with both governments now dug in and no fresh talks in sight.
Trump Renews SAVE Act Push, Citing India’s Voter ID System – Even as Critics Call India’s Own Poll Body Compromised
The irony runs both ways: India’s opposition wants the ballot paper back, its top court says voter ID isn’t proof of citizenship, and Trump’s own mail-in vote sits awkwardly with his pitch.
Trump’s Harvard Antisemitism Lawsuit Dismissed as University Funding Fight Escalates
The judge said that incidents cited by the administration were too isolated to establish an ongoing civil-rights violation, dealing a fresh blow to the White House’s campaign against elite universities.
El Niño Spreads Weather Extremes Across Three Continents, Shows New Studies
Berkeley Earth now puts the odds of 2026 becoming the hottest year on record at 69 per cent, as this year’s El Niño grips Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe together.
Trump Revives Push to Restrict Birthright Citizenship with Two New Executive Orders
The new orders are part of the larger anti-immigration campaign by Trump, and subvert the judiciary which has stood firm in defence of the country’s Constitutional principles.
Meta Fined $567 Million Over Child Harm in New Mexico as India Probes CSAM Ads
The penalty brings Meta’s total liability in the state to US$942 million and requires stricter age verification and limits on data collected from minors. The company says it plans to appeal.
US Revokes Brazilian Ambassador’s Visa as Trump-Lula Diplomatic Feud Escalates
Behind the standoff lies a tangle of tariffs, Trump’s open backing of the Bolsonaro family, and Brazil’s insistence that its elections are off-limits to outside interference.
UN Experts Urge Canada to Protect Sikh Activist Amid Alleged Indian Threats
Five UN rapporteurs cite a pattern of transnational repression as Ottawa’s warming ties with New Delhi face fresh scrutiny.
Trump Administration Locks In Visa Bond Rule for Travellers from 50 Nations
The US has made its visa bond rule permanent – Bangladesh and Nepal are on the list, but India remains exempt. Here’s what the $20,000 deposit requirement means.
Netanyahu to visit Washington amid bipartisan strain over Israel
Trump confirms Netanyahu's Washington visit next week, as talks on Gaza, Iran and Saudi Arabia unfold against falling US public support for Israel — now at a record low, as per new Pew survey.
Trump’s New Tariffs Meet an Oil Shock, Raising Fresh Global Inflation Risks
As crude surges past $100 a barrel on Middle East tensions, Trump’s fresh Section 301 tariffs threaten to pile fresh cost pressure onto goods worldwide – from clothing in Bangladesh and India to electronics in Vietnam.
World Cup Diplomacy: Gaza Fault Lines Emerge in Who Congratulated Spain – and Who Didn't
From Sánchez's Palestinian solidarity to Milei's pledge to move Argentina's embassy to Jerusalem, Spain's World Cup win exposed how deeply the Gaza conflict has seeped into global diplomacy.
Mamdani's Netanyahu Arrest Vow Faces Legal Reality Check Ahead of UN Visit
New York's mayor says his administration is reviewing whether it can act on his long-standing pledge to detain the Israeli PM — but jurisdiction, federal law and diplomatic immunity stand firmly in the way.
Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs on Canada Over Wildfire Smoke Choking US Cities
Nearly 900 fires are burning across Canada, sending thick smoke deep into the US and putting more than 100 million Americans under air quality alerts.