North America

Artemis II Crew Makes History in Space
North America Diya Sethi North America Diya Sethi

Artemis II Crew Makes History in Space

The Artemis II Crew, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, made history on Monday, April 6, becoming the first people to travel 252,756 miles from Earth. During a planned 40-minute communications blackout with NASA, they completed their lunar flyby, also becoming the first people to observe certain regions of the far side of the Moon.

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NASA’s Artemis II Gives the US-Canada Alliance a Lunar Stage
North America Kaitlyn Fung North America Kaitlyn Fung

NASA’s Artemis II Gives the US-Canada Alliance a Lunar Stage

Artemis II splashed down on Friday, April 11, 2026, concluding a record-breaking mission that brought the Canadian-American alliance to new heights. Serving as Artemis II’s Mission Specialist, astronaut Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian, and first non-American, to participate in a lunar mission, ​marking a lighter moment in U.S.-Canadian relations. These ties have been strained under ‌U.S. President Donald Trump amid ongoing trade tensions between the two countries. 

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Iranian War Escalates: American Troops in the Mideast Surge to 50,000 Amidst Possible American War Crimes in Force Placement
North America Kaitlyn Fung North America Kaitlyn Fung

Iranian War Escalates: American Troops in the Mideast Surge to 50,000 Amidst Possible American War Crimes in Force Placement

The war in Iran continues to escalate as two Marine Expeditionary Units, aboard the USS Tripoli and the USS Boxer, sail towards the Middle East. Together, these deployments will add approximately 5,000 troops to a regional buildup that already includes the 82nd Airborne Division and the USS Abraham Lincoln. This growing U.S. presence comes amid mounting questions of U.S. war crimes in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as Washington struggles with relocating troops against Iranian drone attacks. 

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Op-ed: The Next Phase of the Iran War Will Be Decided by Economic Pressure, Not Airstrikes
North America, Op-ed Andy Wang North America, Op-ed Andy Wang

Op-ed: The Next Phase of the Iran War Will Be Decided by Economic Pressure, Not Airstrikes

The administration claims that its strikes have significantly degraded Iran’s military capacity. But as long as Tehran can pressure oil flows and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Washington faces a more difficult test: how much economic pain can the United States absorb before it turns toward de-escalation? The central question is not simply how many more sites the United States can hit or how many more commanders Iran can lose. It is whether military pressure can achieve political results without a ground war, or whether the economic blowback to the United States will force Washington toward a deal first.

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U.S. Defense Spending and NATO: What the Future Holds
North America Cyrus Toosi North America Cyrus Toosi

U.S. Defense Spending and NATO: What the Future Holds

European security has long depended on the United States, including its role in NATO, commitment to defense spending, and conflict involvement. In recent U.S. presidential elections, the prospect of a new administration has raised questions about potential shifts in defense strategies and budget priorities. This election features former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, each representing contrasting approaches to defense and NATO contributions.

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