World Watch

World Watch: Foreign Aid, A Moral Imperative

By Susan Gunn | December 1, 2025

We’re witnessing the largest contraction in humanitarian assistance in history. Earlier this year, the United States abruptly shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which distributed over $38 billion in aid in 2023 alone — which was less than 1% of the U.S. budget. European donors also have cut their foreign aid amid d...

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A girl releases paper lanterns on the Motoyasu River to commemorate the World War II atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. (CNS/Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters/Japan)

World Watch: Back From the Brink

By Thomas Gould | September 2, 2025

Experts and advocates for nuclear disarmament warn of the ever-increasing threat to humanity by the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

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Members of the group RainDrop, which is part of the RainDrop Impact global network, plant trees in a forest of Ahuachapán, El Salvador, for a project supported by Catholic Relief Services. (OSV News/Oscar Leiva, Silverlight for CRS/El Salvador)

World Watch: Climate Action Must Continue

By Thomas Gould | June 2, 2025

As the U.S. withdraws from the fight against climate change, local leaders here and around the world recommit to caring for creation.

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A member of the Maasai pastoralist community walks past his emaciated cattle at a traditional homestead near Bisil, Kenya. (CNS/Thomas Mukoya/Reuters/Kenya)

World Watch: Global Debt Crisis Needs a Jubilee

By Thomas Gould | March 3, 2025

Pope Francis has called on world leaders to consider debt cancellation for poor countries as a way to honor the Jubilee Year.

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Stella Maris volunteers Cecilia Huang and Roberto Canta (in yellow vests) approach crew members aboard a cargo ship docked in Manila, the Philippines. (Courtesy of Joyalito Tajonera/Taiwan)

World Watch: Modern Slavery at Sea

By Thomas Gould | December 2, 2024

In Taiwan, Maryknoll Father Joyalito Tajonera convened 130 leaders from 17 countries last year for the Conference on Fisher’s Welfare.

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Attorney José Bayardo and Maryknoll Sister Patricia Ryan work for the organization DHUMA, which has won a landmark victory for water rights. (Susan Gunn/Peru)

World Watch: Water Rights Victory in Peru

By Thomas Gould | September 3, 2024

Maryknoll Sister Patricia Ryan and the organization she founded in the Andes of southern Peru have won a landmark case for water rights.

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A vendor arranges vegetables at a market in Manila. The Philippines is one of 13 Indo-Pacific countries joining the U.S. in a trade agreement. (Dondi Tawatao/Reuters/CNS/Philippines)

World Watch: Indo-Pacific Economic Prosperity?

By Thomas Gould | June 3, 2024

The new trade deal among 14 countries, currently under negotiation, has the potential of affecting 28% of U.S. global trade.

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A young Sudanese woman who fled the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region takes refuge in a camp of makeshift shelters in Borota, Chad. (OSV News/Zohra Bensemra/Reuters/Chad)

World Watch: Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan?

By Thomas Gould | March 4, 2024

Charges of ethnic cleansing in Sudan have surfaced as two warring generals vie for power and the country’s people pay a heavy price.

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Children sit in front of a home near a flooding sea wall in Serua Village, Fiji, where the 80 villagers face a painful decision whether to move away. (CNS photo/Loren Elliott/Reuters)

Climate Action: Loss and Damage

By Thomas Gould | December 4, 2023

Thomas Gould writes on how Climate change can be costly and often leaves damage affecting those who contribute the least to causing it.

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