Spanning the globe, some stories were expected while others caught the world off guard. Some, including the Rohingya exodus, Arab Spring, BP oil spill and the melting of glaciers so massive they were visible from space through the satellite imagery of Maxar Technologies.

The storm also flooded parts of southwestern Louisiana.

Hurricane Florence's massive storm surge threatens to drown communities and sweep people, buildings and vehicles away in the Carolinas.

The idea of taxpayers footing the bill to protect refineries worth billions doesn’t sit well with some.

The names of four deadly hurricanes that slammed parts of the United States, Central America and the Caribbean last year are being retired.

County, state and federal records pieced together by The Associated Press and The Houston Chronicle reveal a far more widespread toxic impact than authorities publicly reported after the storm slammed into the Texas coast in late August and then stalled over the Houston area.

Politics wears many masks.

NOAA said western wildfires and hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma contributed to making 2017 the costliest year on record.

Here is a look back at the five biggest stories from around the world in 2017.

Mother Nature produced six major hurricanes, which contributed to making 2017 the costliest hurricane season on record.