With regard to famine: the word "news" means "new things". It is literally the plural of "new". Famines are typically long-term events that have built up over t

With regard to famine: the word "news" means "new things". It is literally the plural of "new". Famines are typically long-term events that have built up over time. Famine in (parts of) Africa? Old story. Famine in New York? New, and therefore "news".