Glance at the latest figures for polio incidence and it would appear that the world is within touching distance of eradicating the disease.

BBC: Bill Gates: The world can defeat polio

Ask him if he feels different, with the world championship almost within touching distance, and he does not hesitate.

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Heir to the throne

The world premiere, a touching and intelligent co-production by Playwrights Horizons and Primary Stages, opened Sunday night at Playwrights Horizons.

WSJ: Review: 'The Call' is a touching adoption saga

The world premiere theatre performance of Black Diggers presents the touching, never-before-told stories of 1, 000 Indigenous soldiers who fought in WWI, while The Shadow King is a poignant and thought-provoking Indigenous re-working of King Lear, performed through a mix of live rock music using both English and Kriol (an Indigenous Australian dialect).

BBC: Sydney��s epic arts fest returns

American Nathan Adrian took the lead early, touching the wall ahead of Australian and current 100-meter world champion James Magnussen.

WSJ: Menu

One famous individual that has crossed that barrier into being influential is Bill Gates, who started the world's biggest private foundation dedicated to improving health and reducing poverty thereby touching the lives of millions particularly in Africa.

BBC: African viewpoint: Fame and influence

Today, huge volumes of data, touching almost every aspect of the world in which we live in, are available at virtually the click of a mouse.

FORBES: Big Data, Small Bets

There are few fireworks or tears in Flahive's touching, funny and beautiful play, whose world premiere is produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club and opened Tuesday at New York City Center.

WSJ: Review: Edie Falco shines in touching 'The Madrid'

Endless television and radio talk shows pick over France's deteriorating image abroad, touching not only the Romanies but also the strike by the national football team at the World Cup this summer and the Bettencourt affair, a political-favours scandal involving Eric Woerth, the labour minister.

ECONOMIST: France's poor image