The Biden administration is flooding the zone in the Middle East with high-level diplomats ahead of a key meeting on Thursday. Getting a ceasefire for Gaza is the immediate goal. But this is also about bringing down the temperature in a region that's on edge after Israel assassinated two top leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas. Also, the British prime minister has vowed to come down hard on rioters involved in violent far-right protests in the UK last week. Some offenders have already been sentenced to time in prison. But British prisons are already at 99% capacity. And, German authorities issued an arrest warrant for a Ukrainian national named Volodymyr Z. His last name is protected by Germany privacy law, but he's a suspect in the explosions that destroyed the natural gas pipeline running beneath the Baltic Sea. 

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The Ukrainian military has invaded Russia's Kursk region. The incursion has prompted the Russian military to pull some of its troops out of eastern Ukraine to defend itself. Host Marco Werman speaks with Wall Street Journal reporter Yaroslav Trofimov about what's happening on the ground inside of Kursk and how Russian officials and citizens are reacting. Also, the humanitarian situation in Sudan has reached a breaking point. That's especially true in parts of Darfur, which might be experiencing famine, according to the latest report by international experts at the Famine Review Committee. As The World's Halima Gikandi reports, each side of the conflict blames the other for the bleak conditions. And, wrapping up our Olympics coverage: The International Olympic Committee and France tried to minimize the environmental impact of the 2024 Summer Games, foregoing air conditioning, creating a greener Olympics Village — even cleaning up the Seine. But climate change calls the future of the Olympics themselves into question. The World's Gerry Hadden brings us the story.

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Greece is on fire. About half of the country is on red alert, after dozens of fires broke out — including several close to the capital, Athens. A prolonged drought and soaring summer temperatures are making it hard for authorities to contain the blazes. Also, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is threatening to restart production of intermediate range nuclear weapons. This is in response to plans by the US to position long-range missiles in Germany. And, we have a wrap-up on the Olympics in Paris, where the closing ceremony and final events took place on Sunday.

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Russian strikes in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region have killed around a dozen people and injured 37 others. It comes as Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory continues into its fourth day. Also, Japan Meteorological Agency has issued its first-ever advisory warning of the risk of a huge earthquake along the Pacific coast to help focus people on earthquake readiness. And, with tensions high across the Middle East, we talk to people in Israel, Lebanon and Iran as they face the possibility of a full-blown war. Plus, dark skies are getting harder to find, but some places, like in Denmark, are are now trying to protect their dark nighttime skies by fighting light pollution.

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Episode 9 is almost ready. But not quite.

Authorities in Austria have canceled a series of Taylor Swift shows after learning of an alleged ISIS plot to attack the music venues along her much-hyped Eras Tour. Also, after preparing themselves for an evening of violent far-right protests, police in the UK encountered peaceful anti-racism rallies overnight. And, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. Plus, thousands of bagpipe enthusiasts have gathered for the annual bagpipe festival in a village in Bulgaria.

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Hamas has a new leader, Yahya Sinwar, who is said to be one of the main planners of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Also, US Ambassador Rahm Emmanuel will skip the ceremony in Japan this week that remembers the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, because of a decision by Tokyo to exclude Israel. And, China agrees to crack down on some precursor chemicals used by cartels to make fentanyl. Plus, young musicians from South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East convene at New York City's Carnegie Hall for World Orchestra Week.

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In Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of the country's interim government after the army  stepped in following anti-government protests that pushed a long-serving prime minister out of power. Also, public health officials warn that some diseases are seeing concerning spikes in Gaza. And, a federal judge in the US has ruled that Google has a monopoly on the internet search. Plus, what is the relatively new Olympic event, sport climbing?

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Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule came to an end today after weeks of violent clashes with protesters left more than 300 people dead. Jubilant scenes emerged from the capital, Dhaka, after Hasina resigned and fled the country. Also, it's been five years since India revoked the special status of Kashmir. And, nearly 400 people were arrested in about a dozen cities across the UK over the weekend, after the murder of three young children sparked anti-immigrant riots. Plus, a look at the largest drumming orchestra in the Americas as hundreds of drummers play together in downtown Florianopolis, Brazil.

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A UNICEF official talks about what humanitarian aid workers are doing in Gaza to help Palestinian civilians. Also, Vladimir Putin met released Russian prisoners on a red carpet at the airport on Thursday. We'll hear about Moscow's view of the historic prisoner exchange. And Thailand’s wildlife is fantastically diverse. Its elephants, primates and wild tigers are a source of national pride. But one native species that is not loved is the water monitor. It's a dog-sized creature with snakelike fangs and is widely despised by Thais. But one group of young people wants to convince society to start loving this four-legged creature. Also, our reporters serve up samples of the food and drink people enjoy across the globe, when weather heats up.