Fariba Nawa is threatened by Ihsan Sağlam, the boss of a Turkish family who worked on kidnapping jobs for Iranian intelligence. Now that Fariba is forced into the story, she steers her reporting towards questions of impunity. The investigation into Iran's hunt for dissidents goes to the United Nations, inside a Turkish parliamentary hearing, and to the US State Department to find out if anyone will intervene.

American citizens have been freed from Russia on Thursday in a prisoner exchange, including the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Also, nearly 23 years after the attacks of Sept. 11, the man accused of planning those attacks — along with two accomplices — agreed to plead guilty. Plus, as the incumbent president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, faces accusations of election fraud, the legacy of a former president, Hugo Chávez, looms large over the country, even though he died more than a decade ago.

The Israeli army claimed responsibility for a missile strike that killed a Hezbollah commander in his Beirut apartment. At least three people were killed in that strike and some 70 wounded. Hours later, Hamas' leader-in-exile Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed as they slept in Tehran. Following the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah figures, there are fears about a wider conflict engulfing the Middle East. Also, some Brazilians along the southern coast of the country are celebrating the "day of the right whale." This is an endangered species of whale that has made a comeback in the region due to conservation efforts by the Brazilian government. And, efforts to make the Seine "swimmable" for this year’s Olympics draw on lessons from successful restoration projects in other parts of the world.

The Israeli army has confirmed that it struck a building in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, while targeting a Hezbollah commander. Israel's Defense Minister has said Hezbollah "crossed a red line" by killing children on a soccer field over the weekend. Also, Venezuelans are out in the streets in many parts of the country, disputing the results of Sunday's presidential election. Longtime leader Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner, but the opposition says it can prove its candidate actually got the most votes. Plus, the detention of nine Israeli soldiers, under investigation for the alleged abuse of a Palestinian inmate, has laid bare the polarized state of Israeli society. The inquiry has angered far-right lawmakers and protesters who broke into a detention facility on Monday.

A rocket from Lebanon killed 12 children and teens on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday, drawing international attention to the region and also to the Druze people living there. We look at how the Druze community fits into the fabric of Israel. Also, as the results of Venezuela's presidential elections continue to be contested, with both sides claiming victory, our reporter on the ground in Caracas brings us the latest on how people are feeling amid the uncertainty. And, the number of US students studying in China is way down compared to previous years. The pandemic is part of the reason. But there are other pressures, some of them related to the tense diplomatic relationship between the US and China.

The Olympic Games have begun in Paris, despite a massive sabotage campaign against France’s rail system. Also, Canada's wildfire season is well under way and has already sparked evacuations, destroyed homes and burned forests across national parks. And, two leading Mexican drug lords from the Sinaloa Cartel have been arrested by authorities in the US. Plus, a new study finds that scribes in ancient Egypt suffered from repetitive stress injuries.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.

The Sağlam family's kidnapping operation is caught in a police dragnet. The ensuing police investigation reveals an entire network of conspirators behind the Sağlams. When one conspirator is arrested and interrogated, he confesses. Fariba Nawa uses the confession to tell the story of Iran's behind-the-scenes involvement.To find the whole Lethal Dissent series in one place, go to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and search for "Lethal Dissent." Look for the red, yellow, and purple artwork.

Typhoon Gaemi is one of the strongest typhoons to affect the Asia-Pacific region in nearly a decade, and it's sparked massive evacuations in the Philippines, leaving flooding and landslides in its wake. Also, National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek talks about his walk through northern India. And, the civilian casualties tracking group Airwars has been gathering incident-by-incident documentation of civilians publicly reported killed in Gaza, and found that the figures reported by the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the war, have been reliable. Plus, Hong Kong’s government is spending millions on a campaign to get the city’s mojo back.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the US Congress for a fourth time. Also, Japan’s Nanmoku village has the oldest population in the world. And, a new study by scientists find wild sharks off the coast of Brazil that have tested positive for cocaine. Plus, host France wants the organizers of the Olympic Games to stick to the French language.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.

Soldiers and police are patrolling the streets of Paris as the city hosts the Summer Olympics. Parts of the city are off-limits, including much of the Seine river, as the “City of Light” goes on maximum alert to protect athletes and fans. Also, the UAE — where protests are banned — sentences 57 Bangladeshi residents to lengthy prison terms for demonstrating in solidarity with people in Bangladesh over job quotas. And, new rules at the US border have some dog owners concerned. Plus, an international group of scientists discovers "dark oxygen" 13,000 feet below the ocean's surface.Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.