The world is a big place and there are many fascinating stories to keep track of. World news, also called international or foreign news, covers global events such as wars, terrorism and natural disasters. It also includes major political happenings, such as elections and treaty negotiations. World news is often sourced from local newspapers, radio and television broadcasts and news agencies. A specialized type of journalist who reports on foreign events is a foreign correspondent, or “correspondent.”

Correspondents generally have no permanent contract with a particular newspaper, magazine or radio or TV station. Instead, they work for a news agency that supplies the bulk of its articles to a variety of publications. A news agency usually prepares hard news and feature stories that can be used with little or no modification by different news outlets. News agencies often sell their stories to governments, corporations, organizations and intelligence agencies as well as individual readers. In the era of digital technology, many news agencies now prepare and distribute their stories online as well as through traditional channels such as print and radio or television. In the past, they delivered their reports through telecommunication technologies like telephone and telegraph. News agencies are also sometimes referred to as wire services. UNESCO’s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development series offers a macro-level perspective on the state of global media in terms of freedom, pluralism, independence and the safety of journalists.

A conflict between nations, or between two factions within a nation, that involves the use of military force to achieve political ends. Often war involves several belligerents, and can last for years or even decades. It may involve civilians and non-combatants, including prisoners of war, medical and religious personnel, and families of soldiers killed or wounded in a conflict. War may also involve significant economic costs, such as destruction of property and loss of production.

A large number of theories have been developed about the causes of war. One of the most important has been that war is an inevitable consequence of the inherent competition and rivalry between human groups. This theory is based on man’s innate drives, as espoused by ethologists who draw analogies with animal behaviour, and by psychologists and psychoanalysts.

Other theories have focused on the influence of culture. Some believe that the rise of civilised societies has reduced the tendency towards war, but only because of an increased awareness of the moral and ethical consequences of violence, and the more effective use of intelligence to acquire critical resources and to neutralise threats.

Yet despite this change in the moral sensibilities of human societies, it seems unlikely that the nature of war will change completely. There have always been chance events and friction that can cause a change in the direction of a war, and such occurrences can arise from human error (such as misreading intelligence or misunderstanding adversaries), technological failure, unexpected weather conditions, or even a change in the political climate.

In the past, many of these changes in war’s nature were heralded by the introduction of new weapons and techniques. The invention of gunpowder and the subsequent constant improvements in firearms are among the most widely cited examples of this. But the nature of war remains a dynamic process, in which the development of different types of weapons, the evolution of rivals’ interests and motives, and the dynamic interaction between adversaries creates unpredictable ebbs and flows that can have dramatic effects.

Although there are now more belligerents than ever before, and a larger range of methods of warfare than at any time in history, war continues to be an inescapable part of the human condition. Its enduring features are violence, enmity and passion, fear, honour, interest, survival, uncertainty and risk, bellicose culture, rationalised political objectives, and dynamic interaction between adversaries. This reflects the fundamental fact that war is still about power. And that power, ultimately, still lies with the State.

As the world war dragged on, over 65 million men volunteered or were conscripted into mass citizen armies. Invading armies fought battle after bloody battle, and victory or defeat depended on the strength of their people. Attacks on civilians grew more common as nations attempted to break their opponents’ home morale and reduce popular support for the war. Propaganda demonised entire nations and attacked their ‘national character’.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914 set off a chain reaction. Austria blamed Serbia for the attack and hoped to use it as justification for settling the question of Slavic nationalism once and for all. Serbia sought the support of Russia and Germany. Germany wanted to invade France through Belgium.

Britain and Germany greatly increased their navies. Great Britain needed its superior numbers of ships to ensure that it could maintain a naval blockade that prevented Germany from getting food or other supplies from overseas.

Many European countries practised imperialism, a form of expansionism whereby a country seeks to control and govern territories beyond its borders. This led to tension and rivalry as countries such as Germany and France fought for influence and riches. These issues and the practice of secret alliances helped lead to a situation where one international event could spark a full-scale world war. Soon after Germany sunk four American merchant ships in April 1917 President Woodrow Wilson went before Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany.

Ukrainian culture is renowned for its rich traditions, particularly when it comes to food. The country is surrounded by fertile soil (chornozem) that’s ideal for growing wheat, sugar beets, corn, sunflowers, and soybeans. This abundance of produce is one reason why Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of Europe. Breads made from rye and wheat flour are a mainstay of every meal, as are hearty stews and soups.

The nation is also famous for its beautiful cathedrals and churches, many of which are adorned with gold and other precious metals. The city of Kyiv is home to several notable examples, including Saint Sophia’s Cathedral and the Pokrovsky Church. Kharkiv is a religious center as well, with numerous cathedrals, including the Annunciation Cathedral and Assumption Cathedral.

A peaceful mass protest referred to as the “Orange Revolution” in late 2004 and early 2005 forced the government to overturn a rigged presidential election, allowing new internationally monitored elections to sweep in a pro-Western reformist slate under President Viktor YANUKOVYCH. YANUKOVYCH’s backtracking on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU, combined with blatant corruption, triggered a popular uprising in early 2014 that led to the overtaking of government forces by civilians who occupied the central square in Kyiv for three months. The violence that followed, international condemnation, and a failed political deal with Russia enabled pro-West President Petro POROSHENKO to take office in June 2014.

An important historic landmark is the Chernobyl nuclear plant, located near the city of Pripyat. The plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown in 1986 due to a flaw in its reactor’s containment vessel. The radioactive fallout spread to 500 kilometers, causing deaths and structural damage. It is now possible to visit the site, though you will need a special permit to do so.

One of the more unique aspects of Ukrainian cuisine is borscht, a vibrant beet-based soup. The recipe varies across regions, but it always features tomatoes, beets, garlic, and onion. It’s usually served cold and can be paired with a variety of meats, fish, or vegetables.

There are many different variations of borscht, but it’s best to enjoy it with some type of bread or pita. For a deliciously savory option, try deruny, which is a savory pancake made from grated potatoes, onions, and mushrooms mixed with a batter of flour, eggs, and sour cream. It’s then fried in a skillet until both sides are golden brown. It’s a popular breakfast item, but it can be enjoyed as an appetizer or side dish as well.

If you’re in the mood for some traditional Ukrainian dishes, there are many Ukrainian restaurants in Toronto. Check out our list below, and show your support for these locally-owned businesses by grabbing a bite at one of them!

As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, tensions between America and Russia are reaching Cold War levels of suspicion and brinksmanship. The Pentagon has released video footage of a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with a US drone and forcing it to ditch in the sea, puncturing Moscow’s denials that the aircraft was not targeting the drone.

The United States military’s global force and technological advantage would clobber the Russian military in any toe-to-toe conventional fight, experts agree. But most believe any fight between the two superpowers will be far more complex than a traditional battle of a few armed forces against a single enemy. It could draw in allied troops from countries that border four NATO member nations and share the Black Sea littoral with two others. And if the conflict escalates to a nuclear exchange, it could trigger far more devastating consequences.

The American public is divided on how to deal with these developments. Americans have generally favorable views of NATO, particularly among older Americans, Democrats and those who think it is important that the U.S. work with other nations to advance its interests. But support for Ukraine and Russia is more mixed. Across party lines, majorities have very unfavorable opinions of Putin and say that Russia is an enemy. A similar pattern is true of Xi Jinping: 57% of Republicans have no confidence at all in the Chinese leader, and a majority of independents also have very unfavorable opinions.

Russia (also Russian Federation or Rossiiskaia Federatsii) is a transcontinental country spanning much of northern Eurasia and holding the world’s ninth-largest population. It is the largest country by area, and one of the most geographically diverse. Formerly the Soviet Union, the country regained its independence in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.

Despite its forbidding climate, Russia is rich in food and natural resources. It is also a great producer of oil and natural gas. Historically, the fortitude of its people has kept foreign invaders at bay. Yet, its extreme cold and unforgiving terrain often made it difficult for the many to enjoy the benefits of such wealth.

The great nobles who formed the aristocracy of early Russia shared Slavic ethnic origins with their peasant relatives but also absorbed significant amounts of Byzantine culture. This mixture of eastern and western influences shaped the Russian character.

By the thirteenth century, a few wealthy nobles controlled nearly half of all Russia. It was not until the seventeenth century that the czars established themselves as a national ruling class. The rise of Peter the Great (1672-1725) consolidated autocracy and played a vital role in bringing Russia into the European state system. By the time of his death, it was a powerful empire stretching from the Baltic to the Pacific and three times as large as continental Europe.

Russia can be divided into two main regions on the basis of geologic structure and relief. In the western section, which covers about two-fifths of its total area, lowland plains predominate, bounded by the central uplands and morainic ridges. In the eastern part of the country, permafrost is widespread, except in western Siberia.

There are a variety of ways to learn Russian, including in-person classes, online courses, and apps. Online resources such as Italki have over 900 Russian teachers who are available to teach you. Many teachers offer a discounted trial lesson.

Another non-traditional way to practice Russian is through podcasts. Listening to a podcast while doing chores or exercising can be an effective way to pick up vocabulary and improve pronunciation. Some of the best podcasts to start with are RussianPod101, Slow Russian, and Russian With Max.

In addition to practicing your Russian through listening and reading, you can also immerse yourself in the language by watching movies and TV shows. By committing to learning the subtitles, you will be exposed to Russian pronunciation and vocabulary that you would not have otherwise encountered. You will also be able to pick up on colloquial phrases that are likely to be lost in translation.

There are a lot of reasons to learn Russian, from its beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage to the famous faces that call it home. Keeping in mind what motivates you to learn the language can help speed up your journey and make it a success. Reminding yourself of how learning Russian will benefit your life can keep you focused and help you stay motivated through even the toughest days.

Democrat and Liberal are two political words that can have different meanings depending on era of American history and the ideologies and positions of specific political parties. Generally speaking, Democrats are typically associated with liberalism (a belief in progress) and Republicans are typically linked to conservatism (a belief in tradition).

Historically, Democratic policies have been centered around social welfare programs such as Medicaid and food stamps. They have also often favored civil rights for ethnic and religious minorities, environmental protection programs, less-strict immigration laws, and progressive taxation systems (e.g., higher taxes for those who earn more money). In terms of foreign policy, they tend to favor increases in military spending and are generally considered more hawkish than their Republican counterparts.

In addition to modern liberal principles, there are many Democratic voters who consider themselves moderates rather than conservative or liberal. As a result, the ideological make-up of the party has changed significantly over the past three decades. In 1994, 26% of Democrats thought of themselves as liberal, and by 2022 that share had grown to 54%. In contrast, the proportion of self-identified conservative Democrats dropped from 33% to 17%.

As for the GOP, the percentage of its voters who consider themselves moderates has remained more stable over time. But the overall share who identify as either conservative or liberal has fallen from 33% to just 10%, a significant change. This suggests that there is a growing gap between the views of the two major parties, with independents leaning more towards the Democratic side than the Republican.

World News is a category of news reporting that covers events outside the borders of a single country. It is often distinguished from “national” news, which covers events related to the internal affairs of a nation and its government, such as foreign wars, or summits of international organizations that affect the interests of a particular region.

At the dawn of modern journalism, the distinction between world and national news was not clear: even in 17th-century Europe, where nation-states were still emerging, most daily newspapers carried a large proportion of foreign news. This can be seen in the courants of that time, which included the likes of the Daily Courant (England), the Nieuwe Tijudinger (Antwerp), the Relation or Zeitung (Strasbourg) and the Avisa Relation oder Zeitung (Wolfenbuttel).

Whether you need footage of a global sporting event where the whole world is watching or bespoke regional features, our World news collection has everything you need. From breaking news clips and expert interviews to training sessions, player signings and more, SNTV has the latest in world news to keep your audiences engaged.

In Russia, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenary group pulled back from a march on Moscow after his mutiny was defused by talks with the government. The move revealed cracks in Russia’s leadership as the mercenary group’s boss challenged Putin’s authority. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the failed uprising was a “direct challenge” to the Russian president.

Meghan Markle’s public image as the new royal wife has been a source of controversy. The former actress is reportedly struggling to find her feet at the Palace. But a PR expert says she should focus on building her future as an individual rather than doing it as part of a couple.

A rollercoaster accident at a Stockholm amusement park has killed one person and injured nine others. The accident is being investigated by police.

The US is preparing for a military offensive in Ukraine, but Russian forces are already in the country, ready to fight. An analyst explains why Washington’s strategy has so far failed.

Russia Vs Ukraine

For years President Vladimir Putin has had a fundamental interest in undermining democracy and suppressing the political independence of Ukraine, a neighboring Slavic country that he sees as a potential threat to his own power and influence. He tried to do so through covert political actions and, since 2014, by promoting forces of separatism in the country’s eastern regions. But when those limited tactics proved insufficient, he launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine because he erroneously believed that it would enable him to quickly establish a Kremlin-controlled puppet regime in Kyiv.

In truth, he misjudged the strength of Ukraine’s willingness to fight for its national autonomy in the face of an enemy that was far more sophisticated than Ukraine’s military and had a tremendous advantage in weaponry. He also failed to recognize that Ukrainians’ deep resolve to fight for their nation’s independence was the single most important factor that has driven the success of their war against Russian aggression.

The salience he and other members of Russia’s elite have assigned to the idea that Ukrainian (and Belarusian) identities are artificial and fragile echoes an approach that has been a default view of many Russian thinkers since the era of imperial conquest when ideas about “Russian unity” were promoted by writers such as Innokenty Gizel. These theories, which emphasized the organic unity of Great Russian, Little Russian, and White (Belarusian) peoples, were intended to deny the agency of people seeking to break away from tsarist or Soviet domination.

World news is a specialization for journalists, although in many countries, particularly in the United States, there is often no clear distinction between world news and national news (news that affects the citizens of a particular country). Typically, a reporter who specializes in world news covers a region, a nation or sometimes an entire continent. The correspondent gathers information for his or her stories from local officials and members of the community, local media, and events that he or she directly witnesses. The main subfields of world news are conflict journalism (which often includes war reporting) and diplomacy.

The boss of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group has agreed to stop the advance of his troops towards Moscow, in a sudden climb down. Vladimir Putin appears to have survived the greatest threat yet to his rule.

Cathay Pacific’s 777 jetliner has been evacuated, and at least 11 people have been injured. The cause is not yet known, but the airline says there was no fire or explosion.

Hundreds of news sources, governments and organizations—including ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, NPR and the Parliament of Canada—rely on our comprehensive news summary and background articles to frame their coverage of current events. For more than eight decades, World News Digest has been the first place to turn for global perspective. Subscribe today to see how we can help you meet the needs of your research. It’s free!