Voters in the city of Jerusalem go to the polls this week for municipal elections. The current mayor is expected to win another five-year term. But this is not a typical election, with the war in Gaza now well into its fifth month. Plus, every year the world uses up to 50 billion metric tons of sand, according to a United Nations Environment Program report. This is not sustainable and it's already having a negative environmental impact. And in Dubai, where temperatures regularly rise above 100 degrees, the city has set up destination night beaches. And they are thriving. 

The United States has been Ukraine's single biggest provider of military aid. But crucial funding is being held up in Congress. Ukraine is now focusing on drone production in an effort to become more self-reliant. And, as the Israel-Hamas war grinds on, more and more desperate Palestinians are resorting to paying bribes to leave Gaza. Some are crowdsourcing thousands of dollars to pay a network of Egyptian agencies that promise to coordinate their departure. Also, a global scheme to scan as many human irises as possible in exchange for cryptocurrency is setting off alarms in Europe. Privacy advocates say poor people are being preyed upon without knowing what they're signing away. Plus, Out of Eden Walk: Djibouti and the Red Sea.

US President Joe Biden warned Russia in 2021 that it would face “devastating” consequences if opposition leader Alexei Navalny were to die in prison. The White House has vowed it will follow through on that pledge and is expected to announce new Russia sanctions on Friday. And, across Ukraine, many schools have switched to remote learning amid the ongoing war with Russia. In the eastern city of Kharkiv, one school is fully operating underground, within the city's subway system. Also, investors in China are completely abandoning massive property developments across the country. We hear from a reporter sent to explore one abandoned development. Plus, China will return two panda bears to the US.

The case of Julian Assange is back before Britain’s high court in what's likely to be the WikiLeaks founder's last-ditch attempt to avoid extradition to the US. Assange is wanted by US authorities for disclosing secret military files in 2010 and 2011. And, online shoppers around the world can’t seem to get enough cheap consumer goods from the China-based platforms Temu and Shein. The two companies are gobbling up so much air-cargo space that they’re causing soaring shipping costs and derailing supply chains. Also, for Ukrainian soldiers who have lost a limb in battle, adjusting to this new reality can be tough. But some have found their way back to sports with the country's first soccer team for amputees. Plus, 546 words in English for getting drunk.

Alexei Navalny was very much the face of the opposition in Russia. Now that he has died in prison, will the movement he helped build, survive? Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, who lives in exile, has vowed to carry on his work. And, in Haiti, a judge responsible for investigating the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has indicted his widow, Martine Moise, along with 50 others, accusing them of "complicity and criminal association." Also, on Tuesday at the United Nations, the United States used its veto power on the Security Council to block a draft resolution for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. This is the third time the US has used its veto to prevent a call for a cessation in the fighting since the war began on Oct. 7. Plus, 200 years of dinosaur science.

As the United States honors Presidents' Day, The World takes a close look at notable presidents and heads of state around the world, from South Africa's Nelson Mandela to Guatemala's Bernardo Arévalo. And, we hear about Honduras' first female president. Also, we learn more about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, who may be next in line as the country's leader. Plus, an exploration of some of the world's oldest leaders.

Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin's biggest political opponent in Russia, has died at the age of 47. Navalny, who decided to return to Russia after being poisoned by Russian intelligence with the nerve agent Novichok, had been serving time in an Arctic prison. And, Egypt is building walls and clearing an area near its border with Gaza in preparation for a possible Israeli offensive in neighboring Gaza. In the past, Egypt had refused to accept any displaced Palestinians from Gaza. But new reports suggest Egypt may take a number of refugees in return for financial or other incentives. Also, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is under fire. In the past week, his allies, the country's president and a former justice minister, were forced to resign over a sex-abuse cover-up scandal. Plus, to combat gangs, Ecuador adopts an iron-fist strategy. 

US President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday protecting most Palestinian immigrants in the US from deportation. It comes on the heels of unprecedented US sanctions against Israeli settlers. And, Russia is rapidly making advances to its stockpile of space weaponry, according to the US government. And that's cause for concern in Washington. Also, sexism has long been an issue in the chess world, where women only make up about 10% of licensed players globally, according to the International Chess Federation. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, online chess has been taken more seriously, but it also means that anonymous, sexist comments have increased. Plus, a salute to Black women at Rio's Carnival.

Ukrainian Volodymyr Tsema-Bursov was captured a few months after Russia's full-scale invasion and spent the next 20 months in Russian captivity. He is now back in Ukraine after being released in the biggest prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine since war began. And, Prabowo Subianto, a former army general with links to Indonesia's days under dictatorship, is a favorite for Indonesia's next president. But he will have to work overtime to convince skeptics that he has truly abandoned his autocratic ways. Also, Israel carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday after rockets launched from there killed and injured several people. As Israel and Hezbollah trade tit-for-tat strikes, a new French proposal aims to end the fighting. Plus, why do children struggle with long COVID-19? 

French authorities are accusing Russia of orchestrating a campaign to spread disinformation. France's Viginum, a government watchdog, pointed to nearly 200 websites that have been set up to spread Russian disinformation. And, Valentine's Day flowers are big business not just for US florists, but for growers in countries such as Ecuador, Kenya, Colombia and Ethiopia. We hear how the US holiday affects flower production in Latin America. Also, Senegal has been known as a beacon of political stability in West Africa for several decades. But now, the outgoing president is delaying presidential elections, sparking deadly protests. Plus, a story about how daunting it can be to move to a new country.