World News is the term used in news media jargon for news about a foreign country or global subject. Historically, this was a separate area of journalism from “national” news, but since the invention of telecommunications and especially the Internet, there has been more and more overlap between world and national coverage. World news may be delivered by foreign correspondents or – more recently – it can be gathered via distance communication technologies.

Among the first were the courants of 17th century Europe, which carried news of a far-flung world, as well as the international newspapers, such as the Agence France-Presse (AFP), Reuters and Avisa Relation oder Zeitung (Vienna). The advent of the telegraph made it even easier for this news to be spread. The world news was also a focus of the early pioneering news agencies, which prepared articles that could be sold to other news sources.

NPR’s Greg Myre explores the impact of Russia’s blockade on Ukraine’s grain exports. Plus, a back up driver for one of the self-driving cars that killed a pedestrian in Arizona is sentenced to three years probation. And an Indian version of a dark-haired, sari-clad Barbie isn’t such a hit.

As for politics, the US presidential election and its aftermath remain in the spotlight in many parts of the world. But some are turning their attention to local elections — including a by-election in England’s Selby and Ainsty, a tight race in Somerton and Frome, and a cliffhanger in Uxbridge. And some people are still mourning the death of Irish singer Bono. A selection of the week’s best images sent to us from across the globe.