New information is coming in. Fariba Nawa and her team are running it down.

For The World's Independence Day special, we celebrate with a sort of "mixtape" of reprisals of summer-themed stories from across the globe about everything from music festivals to an old-school beach drink to palm trees in Iraq.

We have the latest on Hurricane Beryl as it hits Jamaica. Also, doping scandals and the invasion of Ukraine have barred Russian athletes from participating in the Olympics. We hear how some will still compete in Paris. Plus, China is doubling the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal, part of its global competition with the US. And chronically late German trains are testing a cultural stereotype and patience.

Israel's military ordered Palestinians in Khan Younis to evacuate, indicating that a new Israeli military offensive there could be imminent. Also, a law passed earlier this year in India created a new pathway for refugees to get citizenship. But the legislation is controversial because it excludes Muslims. Plus, Panama's new president is vowing to stop migration through the treacherous jungle region known as the Darien Gap. This won't be easy. Last year, more than 500,000 people passed through the Darien Gap, which is partly in Colombia. And we hear about "forest bathing," a concept created in Japan as a way for people to get away from work and its stresses by spending time in nature.

As predicted, the French president's election gamble is paying off — for his political rivals. Emmanuel Macron called for early elections and over the weekend, his centrist alliance came in third, while the far-right party of Marine Le Pen won the first round of voting with 33%. What it means for France, and for Europe. Also, he is on his way out as Mexico's president, but Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador still wants to complete a radical reform of the country's judiciary. And celebrations in Brazil called the June Festivals -or Festas Juninas run well into the month of July. These local events are held across the country, with each region doing so in its own different way, at schools, churches and town halls. 

Kenya begins its deployment of police to Haiti just as Kenyans are drawing attention to policing issues at home. When this week's demonstrations in Nairobi escalated, police were accused of excessive force in their response, which included widespread use of tear gas, as well as deadly shootings. Plus, Thursday night's US presidential debate drew strong reactions from throughout the globe. We'll hear global perspectives and takeaways on the televised representation of America's presidency and American democracy. And, the Olympics are coming to Paris for the first time in more than a century. We'll take a fun trip back in time, to see how much the Games have changed since then.

There's a convincing explanation for Mohammad Shabani's death, but the evidence is incomplete. While Fariba Nawa waits for a crucial piece of evidence to be analyzed, she tries to find out how far Iran will go to silence dissidents. A Turkish court case exposes an Iranian kidnapping ring and offers an answer. Fariba finds a source to guide her through some of the inner workings of the secret operation.

Many young Iranians say they plan to boycott Friday’s election to replace the late-President Ebrahim Raisi. Also, a look at the political fault lines behind the attempted coup in Bolivia. And, An appeals court in Paris has ruled that an international arrest warrant issued by France against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is valid. Also, who is Keir Starmer, the Labour party leader expected to be the British prime minister. Plus, scientists find new evidence that the painted lady butterfly is making the  2,600-mile trek across the Atlantic from West Africa to South America without stopping.

Kenya’s president concedes to protesters following a week of unprecedented demonstrations against a proposed finance bill. Also, outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been selected as the next secretary-general of NATO. And, WikiLeaks founder Jullian Assange walks out of a courtroom on the US territory of Saipan a free man after pleading guilty to a single charge of publishing US military secrets. Plus, French Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux releases her newest album, “Vida.”

Thousands of people have taken to the streets to reject a finance bill underway in Kenya’s parliament, with some demonstrations turning deadly. Also, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, effectively putting an end to a longstanding exemption for the group. And, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the US Department of Justice. Plus,  Cameroonian singer and guitarist "Irma" pays homage to the King of Pop 15 years after the death of icon Michael Jackson.

Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.