World news, also called international or foreign coverage, is news that originates from a country or global subject. World news includes news sent by news agencies and foreign correspondents, as well as information gathered through distance communication technologies. In the United States, the most widely known subfield is war journalism. In other countries, world news may be divided into several subfields. For example, international news may focus on global issues, while national news might focus on a specific country.
Major news agencies prepare and sell articles to other news organizations. They often distribute these articles in bulk electronically through wire services. While telegraphy was originally the method of exchange for news articles, wire services are now commonly used for sending news stories. Individuals, corporations, and intelligence agencies may subscribe to wire services. The news agencies also create and compile databases of relevant news stories. The content of these services is critical to global health, international politics, and societal health.