Rising sea levels are a threat to coastal regions everywhere, but especially for islands. No example stands out more than the South Pacific nation of Tuvalu.

Ely is known as “the sad elephant.” She’s been depressed since she was rescued from abusive conditions at a circus years ago. Now, there are efforts underway to improve her conditions at a Mexican zoo after the country’s high court ruled in her favor.

On this day 12 years ago, Pope Francis became the first pope from Latin America. Since then, in all of his travels around the world, he has never gone back to visit his home country, Argentina. Now, Pope Francis is facing health issues and has been hospitalized since Feb. 14. His followers in Argentina are praying for his recovery — and hoping that he will finally come back on a papal visit. 

Among Japan’s famous martial arts there lies one that has remained almost unheard of in the West. Kyudo, the martial art used with a bow and arrow, dates back thousands of years and is being kept alive by its many athletes.

Stand-up comedy has existed in Ukraine for less than two decades and has only recently become a mainstream form of entertainment. The comedians bringing stand-up culture to Ukraine are trying to figure out where comedy fits during wartime. For many, comedy is both therapeutic and a defense mechanism amid uncertainty.