Axios

The Biden administration is highly concerned that a rocket attack from Lebanon that hit a soccer field in the Golan Heights and killed 12 children and teenagers could lead to an all out war between Israel and Hezbollah, U.S. officials tell Axios.

The big picture: The administration for months has worried that both Israel and Hezbollah are miscalculating as they escalate their rhetoric and fighting on the ground while thinking they can avoid an all-out war.

American swimming great Katie Ledecky finished behind Australian rival Ariarne Titmus and Canada's Summer McIntosh, capturing the bronze medal in the women's 400 meter freestyle swimming final on Saturday.

Why it matters: The match had been a highly anticipated one between Ledecky, the Olympic record holder and Titmus, the world record holder.

Soccer's governing body announced Saturday it is docking six points from the Canadian women's soccer team at the Paris Olympics and suspending its head coach and two others for a year over a drone spying scandal.

Why it matters: The incident had already cast a shadow over Canada, the defending gold medalists from Tokyo, and the stiff penalty puts a major dent in the team's hope for a repeat gold in Paris.

Israel delivered to the U.S. on Saturday its updated proposal for the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, according to an Israeli senior official and two other sources with knowledge of the issue.

Why it matters: The negotiations over the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal are at a critical juncture.

The Paris Olympic Games culminate years of effort by organizers that have been punctuated by sometimes controversial labor action and political demonstrations.

Why it matters: It's not unusual for Olympic Games to be mired in protests, but the breadth of issues hotly debated ahead of the 2024 Games underscores the turbulent political context surrounding this year's Games.

Venezuelans will head to the polls on Sunday to vote for the country's next president in an election mired with allegations of electoral interference.

Why it matters: Years-long political and economic destabilization has forced millions of Venezuelans to flee to nearby countries and the U.S.

Athletes representing 184 countries sailed through the Seine River for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Friday.

The big picture: Dignitaries and fans watched as participants paraded across 3.7 miles of water on more than 90 boats, instead of the traditional march into a stadium.

PARIS — France's high-speed rail networks have been disrupted by what authorities labeled "coordinated" attacks, including arson, hours before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.

Why it matters: The attacks have stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers. They come as organizers and French officials try to secure Paris as much as possible while still conducting an ambitious opening ceremony along the Seine River, rather than in a stadium.

Former President Trump met on Friday in Mar-a-Lago with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Why it matters: It is the first time Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has met Netanyahu since a rift formed between them after the U.S. presidential elections in 2020.

CIA director Bill Burns is expected to meet on Sunday in Rome with senior Israel, Qatari and Egyptian officials in an effort to bring the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal to a close, U.S. and Israeli officials told me.

Why it matters: The negotiations over the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal are at a critical juncture.

Nearly all of the world's oceans are in the midst of "unusual warmth," warns a leading NOAA scientist who notes this has contributed to the extreme heat baking much of the Northern Hemisphere this summer.

Why it matters: "Even small rises in temperature can disrupt marine ecosystems, cause some species to relocate, and increase disease risks," said Stats NZ's Stuart Jones in a statement. "It also contributes to sea-level rise as the warmer water expands."

PARIS — When the Paris Olympics kick off Friday, 200+ Samsung smartphones will provide a unique lens to viewers as athletes from around the world travel by boat along the Seine River.

Why it matters: The first-of-its-kind opening ceremony brings new challenges. But Olympics sponsor Samsung also saw an opportunity to incorporate its technology into the broadcast.

Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics — but not under their country's flag.

Why it matters: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) imposed strict restrictions on the athletes because of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year.

All eyes are on Paris with the 2024 Olympics — an action-packed and star-studded schedule of sporting events.

The big picture: More than 10,000 athletes from around the world will compete for a chance to bring home gold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protested to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan Thursday about sanctions the Biden administration recently imposed on Israeli settlers who are involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, two Israeli and U.S. officials said.

Why it matters: The settlers and Netanyahu's ultranationalist coalition partners are growing increasingly concerned about the U.S. sanctions and by the fact that many Western countries have followed suit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was upset by Vice President Kamala Harris' on-camera statement after their meeting and is concerned it will harm the negotiations over a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said in a briefing with reporters.

Why it matters: Harris' meeting with Netanyahu took place at a critical moment in negotiations over a possible deal.