World news is the term for international coverage of events. It can refer to stories sent in by foreign correspondents, or – more recently – to stories that are broadcast or published through distance communication technologies such as satellite TV or the Internet.
World News Now is a weekly overnight news program presented by ABC News. It airs from 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. ET each weekday morning and is tape delayed for many ABC affiliates. The program is a competitor to NBC News Overnight and, like its predecessor NBC Nightside, features a mix of general and offbeat news stories interspersed with weather forecasts and feature segments.
The first segment of each show is a recap of the most significant news of the previous day, and each episode ends with an overview of the major news stories to be covered on that evening’s World News Tonight or Good Morning America. World News Now also occasionally rebroadcasts primary story packages from either of those programs or from other ABC News programs such as This Week and This Day in History.
Unlike most other American television news programs, World News Now is known for its lighthearted and irreverent tone. It frequently features humoristic or satirical segments such as the “World News Polka” played by comedian Barry Mitchell on the accordion, video footage of dancing camels (for Wednesdays) and laughter coming from off-camera. The program has also featured a variety of local news stories, including reports on unusual places such as Cicely, Alaska or Twin Peaks, Washington.