Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon today killed more than 356 people and injured at least 1,200 others, marking a major escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Also, two new studies this week add to existing research that has found microplastics in nearly every organ in the human body. And, Sri Lanka’s new leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, won the presidential election on a Marxist platform, riding a wave of anger against the former president's handling of the island nation's economy. Plus, Kenya’s government is taking steps to curb injuries and deaths from snakebites.

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A new report by Mediazona and the BBC finds that more than 70,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war in Ukraine. Also, Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire as US President Joe Biden calls for comprehensive peace deal. And, a top official of the European Commission discusses regulating Big Tech. Plus, how the song, “We Are the World” changed the life of a musician from Uganda.

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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech in Lebanon acknowledging the deadly attacks this week that caused pagers and walkie-talkies to explode across the country. He called it a "severe blow,” but also promised that Hezbollah will continue attacking Israel until the war in Gaza ends. Also, the US and Chinese militaries are talking to each other again, but can more face time avert a dangerous conflict? And, Mexican drug cartels don’t actually rely on migrants crossing the border illegally to bring fentanyl into the US. Instead they’re recruiting a growing number of high school and college students. Plus, a man who's lived in Maine for over a decade is now hoping he can make a difference by becoming president of Jubaland state in Somalia.

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