World News is the general term for news stories about events that occur outside a country or are of a global nature. This branch of journalism covers a wide range of topics and is often divided into subfields such as war reporting (although this can also be a national concern for the media in belligerent countries), international political issues, environmental concerns, humanitarian crises and other large-scale regional or worldwide events.

This type of news is usually reported through television and radio. In some cases, it is available in newspapers as well. Some newspapers have special sections that are devoted to world news. In addition, there are several international news agencies that prepare hard news and feature articles to be sold to other news outlets. These companies were founded in the 19th century when telecommunications such as the telegraph allowed news to be quickly spread and distributed. These included the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI) and Reuters.

Aside from major world events, there are also numerous lesser-known or developing stories that can have a significant impact on individuals and nations. Whether the topic is a famine in a small rural town, a new weapon that could kill many more people more quickly than conventional firearms, or even a viral photo causing a minor outcry over an insignificant matter such as a pizza slice, these stories have the potential to change lives, either directly or indirectly.

As a result, it is important to keep abreast of the current state of world affairs on a regular basis. This is especially true when writing essays, research papers or other academic assignments that require a greater understanding of current world events.