World news (also known as international news or even foreign coverage) is the news media jargon for news that is not directly related to a nation-state’s domestic politics. This may include global events such as wars, summits of multinational organizations or natural disasters affecting many countries at once.

On this edition of WORLD, we’re covering the latest stories that are making headlines around the globe. Whether it’s the release of 13 Israeli prisoners and four foreign nationals held by Hamas in exchange for 39 Palestinians, or the discovery of a new species of “fish-like salamander” in Mexico, this week’s news is full of interesting and relevant topics.

We’re also following the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 5 storm and was then blamed for at least 10 deaths. The US-led military effort against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has ended, with the United States announcing the end of its combat mission. We’re also looking at what has been a year of political upheaval in the Middle East, including the escalation of the Gaza-Israel conflict and the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Catastrophic natural disasters have included the fifth-deadliest earthquake in the 21st century, Cyclone Freddy – the longest-lasting tropical cyclone in history – leading to more than 1,400 deaths in Malawi and Mozambique, and a massive iceberg that broke away from the Antarctic coastline and stranded several tourists. The listeners and readers of WORLD are thoughtful believers who aim to competently talk about the news, pray about it, and choose to act in light of what they learn. You can support their work by subscribing to this sound journalism or giving a tax-deductible donation.