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The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned some 35 individuals involved in laundering money for Iran on Friday as the administration seeks to make a deal with Iran over its nuclear weapons program.

A State Department spokesperson said in a statement that,"This network has laundered billions of dollars through Iranian exchange houses and foreign front companies to sustain Tehran’s campaigns of terror that undermine international peace and security and line the pockets of regime elites."

Meanwhile, tensions with Iran continue, with the Associated Press reporting that Western powers are considering a resolution at the IAEA that would formally declare Tehran in non-compliance with its nuclear obligations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the move a "strategic mistake" and accused the U.K., France, and Germany of choosing "malign action" over diplomacy. "Mark my words as Europe ponders another major strategic mistake: Iran will react strongly against any violation of its rights," he wrote on X.

IRAN'S KHAMENEI REJECTS US ZERO URANIUM ENRICHMENT DEMAND AS '100% AGAINST' ITS INTERESTS

The draft resolution, expected to be introduced next week, would mark the first time in two decades that Western nations bring such a motion against Iran at the IAEA. 

As U.S. and Iranian negotiators engage in fragile talks, voices from within Iran reveal a grim paradox: while many citizens desperately seek relief from crushing economic hardship, they fear any deal may only tighten the Islamic Republic's grip on power.

"Right now, people in Iran do not have any hope for anything," said a female journalist in Tehran, who spoke anonymously out of fear for her safety. "The economy is collapsing. We sometimes don’t have electricity or water. The value of the rial is falling. Life is becoming unlivable."

Like many Iranians, she believes an agreement could temporarily ease inflation and halt the country's economic freefall. But she—and many others—fear the unintended consequences. "If the regime reaches a deal, it could become more powerful and more confident in suppressing people. That’s what frightens us the most," she said.

Under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has faced growing unrest at home, triggered by economic pain, political repression, and widespread mistrust. As negotiations proceed, Iranian citizens are watching closely—but not with optimism.

WHITE HOUSE URGES IRAN TO ACCEPT NUCLEAR DEAL AS IAEA REPORTS URANIUM ENRICHMENT SPIKE

"People in Iran are caught in a dilemma," said another Tehran resident, a man who also requested anonymity. "On one hand, they want the regime to fall. On the other, the economic burden is so heavy that any deal offering relief feels like a lifeline. But the truth is, even if a deal is signed, ordinary people won't benefit. We’ve seen this before."

He pointed to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Obama-era nuclear agreement that promised economic benefits but, according to many Iranians, never delivered meaningful change for the public. "Only those connected to the regime gained anything," he said. "For the rest of us, life stayed the same."

While Iranian leaders claim the nuclear program is peaceful, the U.S. and allies remain concerned about uranium enrichment levels nearing weapons-grade levels. Trump has demanded a full halt to enrichment, while Khamenei insists on retaining it. 

"I’m a journalist, and we work under extreme censorship," said the woman in Tehran. "We’re not allowed to mention U.S. or Israeli military capabilities. We can’t publish anything about the talks without approval."

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OPEN TO ALLOWING IRAN TO CONTINUE SOME URANIUM ENRICHMENT: REPORT

She described a system where state censors dictate what reporters can and cannot say—down to the vocabulary. "It’s not just the content—it’s the individual words. And that makes journalism almost impossible."

In the interviews with Fox News Digital, Iranians expressed deep skepticism that Khamenei would abide by any agreement. "He lies," the journalist said bluntly. "What he says publicly is never what he actually does. He manipulates both the public and foreign governments. No one should trust a dictator like him."

The man echoed the sentiment. "The regime's survival depends on its hostility toward the U.S. and Israel. If it truly committed to a deal, it would undermine its own ideological foundation. That’s why no one believes it can last."

Recent months have seen a resurgence of protest activity in Iran, including a growing nationwide strike by truck drivers demanding fair wages and lower fuel prices. Though largely ignored by international media, these strikes follow years of widespread protests—most notably the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody. 

That movement, along with economic demonstrations in 2019 and 2021, was met with violent crackdowns, mass arrests, and internet blackouts. The pattern has left Iranians wary that any sign of instability is met with brutal suppression.

An Iranian student pointed to the truckers’ strikes currently roiling parts of Iran as a sign of grassroots unrest. "These strikes are a direct message from the people," he said. "They’ve been largely ignored by the media, but they are powerful and legitimate. This is how change begins—if it’s allowed to."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Israel is facing a deepening political crisis that could soon bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, as one of its key ultra-Orthodox partners threatens to leave the government and back an opposition-led motion to dissolve parliament next week. 

Recent Israeli opinion polls indicate that Netanyahu's coalition would likely lose power if elections were held today.

The crisis centers on long-standing tensions over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) men. While most Israelis are required to serve – three years for men, two for women – Haredi men have long been granted exemptions, a policy increasingly seen as untenable amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

TRUMP ADMIN STANDS BY ISRAEL, REJECTS UN RESOLUTION BACKED BY UK AND FRANCE

Haaretz political correspondent Amir Tibon said, "The real crisis shaking Netanyahu’s coalition isn’t just religion versus state – it’s the war in Gaza, and who will be forced to fight it. Discrimination against those who serve in the military is one of the few issues that unites a vast majority of Israelis – and they want it to end."

According to IDF estimates, there are approximately 60,000 ultra-Orthodox men of conscription age.

"The crisis stems from the October 7 massacre," said Amit Segal, political correspondent for Israel’s Channel 12. "Before the war, many Israelis already resented Haredi draft exemptions. Now, with the IDF short on soldiers, that anger has reached a boiling point."

Segal said Netanyahu’s coalition is currently eyeing Oct. 21, 2025, as a possible election date, but warned that if the ultra-Orthodox parties leave, early elections could become inevitable. "It’s unlikely the ultra-Orthodox parties will topple the government – they’re in their ideal coalition," he stated. "But if they do leave, elections in October are likely."

In March, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the draft exemptions were unconstitutional and ordered the government to resolve the issue. But Netanyahu’s coalition – which relies heavily on the 18 seats held by the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism – remains split. The Haredi parties are demanding new legislation that would enshrine the exemptions in law. Without it, they threaten to quit.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR LASHES OUT AT UN OFFICIAL, CONDEMNS UK, FRANCE, CANADA STATEMENT ON AID

If those parties walk, Netanyahu’s coalition could collapse, Segal explained, "The prime minister has seven weeks until the Knesset enters a months-long recess and will fight to survive until then. But with a bill to dissolve the Knesset set to be presented next week, there’s no guarantee he’ll reach July 27 as prime minister."

The bill, introduced by opposition party Yesh Atid, led by former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, is set for a vote on June 11. It needs 61 votes to pass – a number that could be reached if even a few coalition members defect.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has announced a political comeback with a new party, tentatively called "Bennett 2026." Israeli media polls suggest Bennett would win 24 to 28 seats if elections were held today, overtaking Netanyahu’s Likud, which is projected to receive only 19 to 22 seats.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told President Donald Trump he is in a "strong position" to stop Russia’s war in Ukraine, to which the president suggested maybe the world needs to "let them fight for a little while."

"America is again in a very strong position to do something on this war and ending this war," Merz said, while also referencing the U.S.’s role in ending World War II on the eve of the anniversary of D-Day, which marked the turn of events that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. "So let's talk about what we can do jointly, and we are ready to do what we can."

Merz called for more pressure to be placed on Russia in coordination with European allies. 

GERMANY'S MERZ TO 'ADAPT' TO TRUMP DURING HIGH-STAKES MEETING ON TARIFFS, DEFENSE

Trump responded by providing an analogy of two kids fighting, and suggested perhaps it was "too early" to break up the fight between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy – they hate each other, and they're fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart, they don't want to be pulled," Trump said.  "Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart."

Trump said he gave that analogy to Putin in his call with him on Wednesday and said he told the Kremlin chief "maybe you're going to have to keep fighting and suffering a lot."

RUSSIA DRONE STRIKE KILLS 5 IN UKRAINE AFTER PUTIN PROMISED RETALIATION IN TRUMP CALL

Reporters asked Merz, who has been an ardent supporter of Ukraine and recently lifted Germany’s existing strike bans, if he agrees with Trump that "fighting it out" was the way to proceed. 

"I think we both agree on this war and how terrible this war is. And we are both looking for ways to stop it very soon," Merz said. "I told the president before we came in that he is the key person in the world who can really do that now by putting pressure on Russia, and we will have this debate later on again, how we can proceed jointly between the Europeans and the Americans. 

"I think we are all… having the duty to do something on that now, to stop it after three and a half years, which is really terrible," he added, making it clear without directly contradicting the president that he did not agree with Trump. 

"We are on the side of Ukraine, and we are trying to get them stronger and stronger just to make Putin stop this war. This is our approach," Merz added.

Russia is vowing Thursday to repair the warplanes damaged by Ukraine in a massive drone attack earlier this week, with an official claiming they were "not destroyed but damaged." 

The comments from Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov come after Ukraine said its forces destroyed 40 of Russia's most powerful bomber jets and surveillance planes in "Operation Spider's Web," a series of coordinated drone strikes Sunday penetrating deep into Russian territory. 

"As the defense ministry said, these aircraft were not destroyed but damaged. They will be repaired," Ryabkov was quoted telling Russia’s state-run TASS news agency. 

However, satellite images of Russian airfields show extensive damage to the planes. 

RUSSIA DRONE STRIKE KILLS 5 IN UKRAINE AFTER PUTIN PROMISED RETALIATION IN TRUMP CALL 

Video released by Ukraine also showed the parked aircraft bursting into fireballs after being struck by the drones. 

Two U.S. officials told Reuters that the U.S. believes up to 20 warplanes were hit and 10 destroyed in the operation. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally oversaw the strike, which sources told Fox News was more than 18 months in the making. The White House confirmed to Fox News that the Trump administration was not informed about the attack in advance.  

CONDOLEEZZA RICE REVEALS CONCERNING SHIFT IN PUTIN’S BEHAVIOR, CALLS HIM ‘DESPERATE’ 

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Security Service said Ukraine carried out a massive underwater blast targeting a bridge linking Russia to Crimea.  

The same day, Zelenskyy said Russia launched a "savage strike" on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, "directly targeting the city and its ordinary streets with rocket artillery."

President Donald Trump also said Wednesday that he spoke over the phone with President Vladimir Putin, who said Russia would have to respond to the drone strikes. 

"We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." 

Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace, Jasmine Baehr, Alex Miller and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. 

Pope Leo XIV has made a direct plea for peace with Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin in their first call since the American pontiff took up the highest seat in the Catholic Church last month. 

Following the call on Wednesday, the Vatican said the pope emphasized the "importance of dialogue" though it is unclear if he encouraged Putin to engage in direct discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which the Kremlin chief has so far refused to do.

While the pair also discussed humanitarian issues, prisoner exchanges and aid, Putin also apparently accused Kyiv of "escalating" the war during the phone call.

UKRAINE TARGETS BRIDGE LINKING RUSSIA TO CRIMEA WITH MASSIVE UNDERWATER BLAST, VIDEO SHOWS

Putin apparently told the pope "that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the conflict and is carrying out sabotage against civilian infrastructure sites on Russian territory."

The claim was in reference to a recent attack on the Kerch Bridge this week, which links Crimea, the Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, and Russia. 

The attack came after a massive drone operation targeted Russia’s military complex and destroyed dozens of warplanes capable of deploying cruise missiles. 

RUSSIA DRONE STRIKE KILLS 5 IN UKRAINE AFTER PUTIN PROMISED RETALIATION IN TRUMP CALL

The attack reportedly prompted Putin to question the value of peace talks, though the Kremlin has already been accused of failing to participate in ceasefire attempts in good faith as it continues to pound Ukrainian cities with drone and missile strikes. 

In a readout of the call, the Kremlin also apparently called on the Vatican to "take a more active role" in advocating for religious freedoms in Ukraine when it comes to members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has historic links to Russia.

Criminal proceedings have been levied by Ukrainian authorities against clergy members over suspected sympathies for Moscow.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry in April also accused Russia of religious oppression in occupied territories, where hundreds of churches have been destroyed, and some 67 clergy members killed since the start of the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron has asked his ministers to come up with responsive measures after a "government-commissioned" report determined that the Muslim Brotherhood poses a danger to "the fabric of society and republican institutions" in France.

Though the French government stated it would not publish its full report, Reuters said it "accuses the Muslim Brotherhood of waging a covert campaign via local proxies to subvert France’s secular values and institutions." That campaign is said to focus on local government, schools and mosques as a means to influence change on local and national levels, particularly regarding issues of gender equality and secularism.

The report’s claim that "the reality of this threat, even if it is long-term and does not involve violent action, highlights the risk of damage to the fabric of society and republican institutions."

FRANCE CLAMPS DOWN ON MUSLIM EXTREMISTS BY HALTING APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN CLERICS

Christopher Holton, senior analyst and director for state outreach at the Center for Security Policy, told Fox News Digital that the French internal security service report "came as a surprise," given that European intelligence agencies "have been in denial about the Islamization of Europe" for "a quarter-century or so." 

"The Muslim Brotherhood is one of the most influential organizations in the entire Islamic world," Holton said. "This report acknowledges that, and that’s something that no official government report in the West that I’m aware of has really acknowledged.

"They don’t conceal their philosophy. They don’t conceal their plans. They’re pretty transparent," Holton said of the Muslim Brotherhood, pointing to the final portion of the group’s motto, which he said is "Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope." 

There is less transparency, however, about various groups’ affiliations with the Muslim Brotherhood. However, the French intelligence report claims that the Muslims of France are the "national branch" of the Muslim Brotherhood. Politico reported the group called the accusations "unfounded."

Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital that "the Muslim Brotherhood’s model is pretty similar across Europe." Because of its "mixture of open association and clandestine connections," Mendoza says, "it is difficult to know the exact degree of Muslim Brotherhood penetration." 

U.S. WEIGHS DESIGNATING MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD A TERRORIST GROUP

Mendoza says the Muslim Brotherhood today "is therefore a particular menace for European Muslim communities as it seeks to radicalize religious thought, and for European countries because it is interested in a separate identity for European Muslims within states." Mendoza said this is "part of the reason we are seeing increased sectarianization within European societies."

The Muslim Brotherhood’s presence in the U.S. is coming under increased scrutiny once again.

Earlier this week Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., announced on X, "In the coming days, I will be circulating and re-introducing a modernized version of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, which I have been pushing for my entire Senate career." Cruz said that "the Muslim Brotherhood used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence, but the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to avoid the threat they pose to Americans and American national security."

In April, Jordan outlawed the group and in so doing joined several other countries where it was banned or restricted. Those countries, according to an Al Arabiya report, include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Reuters contributed to this report.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israeli-backed group, has been the subject of backlash since before it began distributing aid last month. Since the beginning of its operations there have been reports of violent incidents near distribution sites. Recently, the IDF admitted that troops shot "suspects" who failed to heed orders to back away from the soldiers.

One of the most vocal critics of GHF has been the United Nations, with U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher urging the world to let his agency handle the situation. However, Israeli officials have pushed back on the U.N. narrative, saying that GHF is distributing aid without letting Hamas benefit.

US-BACKED GAZA AID GROUP PAUSES FOOD DISTRIBUTION AFTER DAYS OF VIOLENCE

"Hamas is doing everything that it can to sabotage this effort to distribute aid directly to the people," Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told Fox News Digital.  He also said that the terror group is "extremely afraid" that if the GHF is successful, it will "lose its grip" on the population of Gaza.

Marmorstein blamed Hamas for spreading "fake news" and "fake information" to take down the GHF.

On Wednesday, the U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Strip. Israel has repeatedly asserted that without limitations on aid entering Gaza, Hamas would be able to enrich itself and keep control over the area.

In remarks ahead of the veto, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Dorothy Shea criticized the resolution, saying it failed to "acknowledge the disastrous shortcomings of the prior method of aid delivery, which allowed Hamas to enrich itself at the expense of Palestinians, and failed to get food and water to those who needed it most."

TRUMP ADMIN STANDS BY ISRAEL, REJECTS UN RESOLUTION BACKED BY UK AND FRANCE

She also urged U.N. member states to support GHF "to help it safely deliver aid without it being diverted by Hamas."

Shea is not alone in her criticism of the U.N.’s approach to GHF. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon recently accused the international body of employing "mafia-like" tactics against NGOs that worked with GHF.

"Without any discussion, without due process, the U.N. removed those NGOs from the shared aid database. That database is the central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza," Danon told the Security Council on May 28. "This is the gravest violation of the U.N.'s own principles. It is extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring."

The GHF closed its distribution sites on Wednesday, saying it was working to bolster security and would reopen on Thursday. However, the reopening was delayed because of maintenance work. The sites eventually resumed aid distribution later on Thursday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday as major geopolitical issues ranging from war in Europe, the Middle East and massive trade disputes are expected to be discussed.

Germany and the Trump administration, both during his first term and again upon re-election, have butted heads with both sides expressing public frustration with one another. 

But recent positive chats between Merz and Trump suggest the meeting on Thursday will remain cordial as Berlin looks to make headway when it comes to lifting Trump’s 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts, as well as the existing 10% tariff on all goods, which was temporarily lowered from 20% earlier this year. 

GERMANY'S CHANCELLOR ENDS WEAPONS RANGE LIMITS FOR UKRAINE DESPITE RUSSIAN NUCLEAR THREATS

The trip to D.C. this week is Merz’s first since becoming chancellor last month, and comes as European nations have increasingly banded together following Trump’s geopolitical positions regarding trade and defense since re-entering the White House. 

Nations like France and the U.K. have successfully toed the line when it comes to maintaining a relationship with Washington under the Trump presidency, while also drastically expanding relations to decrease future dependence on the U.S.

Germany’s Merz is also expected to attempt to strike this balance – a strategy he said he had already begun working on when speaking with German media earlier this week.

TRUMP EFFECT FORCES GERMANY TO REPRIORITIZE DEFENSE AS NATION PLAYS CATCH-UP IN MILITARY SPENDING

"It's always important that you don't talk for too long, but that you talk for a moment and let him talk too", Merz told German outlet WDR. "You have to adapt to him and get involved with him – and at the same time you can't make yourself smaller than we are. 

"That's my most important requirement anyway, that we can talk to him sensibly: We're not supplicants," he added. 

But despite efforts to bolster relations with Trump from afar, Oval Office meetings with the president are anything but predictable, as witnessed by the explosive interaction during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s February visit, as well as when the president accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of committing "genocide" last month, though no party in South Africa, including the party that represents the Afrikaners, have substantiated these claims.

One area where Merz could earn points with Trump is when it comes NATO defense spending and the president’s push for nations to not only increase spending on defense to the 2% threshold, but to spend 5% GDP on defense – a push the U.S. is not yet close to achieving. 

While Germany does spend more than 2% of its GDP on defense, Merz has backed the call to spend up to 5%, and he could use this to rally Trump to increase his support for Kyiv, and push for greater European involvement in future peace talks. 

A Russian drone strike in Ukraine left at least five people dead, including a 1-year-old and his mother and grandmother, in an attack occurring just hours after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke over the phone.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that six drones hit the city of Pryluky, sparking a rescue operation that ended in tragedy for one first responder in particular, who lost his wife, daughter and grandson in the attack.

RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST AERIAL ATTACK OF UKRAINE WAR, KILLING AT LEAST 12

"Last night, Russia struck Pryluky in the Chernihiv region with six attack drones. A rescue operation continued throughout the night. Unfortunately, there have been injuries and fatalities. One of the rescuers arrived to deal with the aftermath right at his own home — it turned out that a ‘Shahed’ drone had struck exactly his house. Tragically, his wife, daughter, and one-year-old grandson were killed. And this is already the 632nd child lost since the full-scale war began," Zelenskyy wrote on X after the attack.

In a now-deleted Truth Social post, Trump said that his conversation with Putin was "good" but that it was "not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace." Trump revealed that he and Putin discussed Ukraine’s recent attack on Russia’s warplanes and the Kremlin’s intent to respond. 

It now seems as though the attack in Pryluky was Moscow's response.

RUSSIA BLAMED FOR OVERNIGHT STRIKE ON KYIV THAT KILLED AT LEAST 9, INJURED DOZENS, INCLUDING CHILDREN

"We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace. President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields," Trump wrote.

On June 1, Ukraine launched a drone attack on airfields in Serbia and in the far north, where Russia keeps heavy bombers, according to Reuters. The outlet added that the U.S. assessed that up to 20 planes were hit in Ukraine’s attack. 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced on Thursday that the Russian planes hit in the Ukrainian attack would be repaired. 

Israel on Thursday recovered the bodies of two hostages who were abducted in the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre that ignited the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that the remains of Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein-Haggai had been returned in a special operation by the army and the Shin Bet internal security agency.

"Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the deaths of Weinstein and Haggai, both in their early 70s, in December 2023. 

The couple were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.

In the early hours of the morning, Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family.

The couple were survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

In a country facing war on two fronts, the Christian aid group Samaritan’s Purse is making a big impact. 

From building armored ambulance stations to promising a new trauma recovery center on the spot, the U.S.-based Christian humanitarian aid group is stepping into dangerous areas to help people still living with fear every day.

Edward Graham, chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse and grandson of Rev. Billy Graham, spent June 2 visiting Israel’s tense northern and southern borders. 

He met with survivors, soldiers, medics and local leaders still trying to recover from recent attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas.

EXCLUSIVE: FRANKLIN GRAHAM LEADS CEREMONY AS SAMARITAN’S PURSE GIVES ARMORED 'BULLETPROOF' AMBULANCE TO ISRAEL

"We go where other people don’t or won’t," Graham said during a visit to Arab al-Aramshe, a northern Israeli village hit by Hezbollah missiles and drones. "Not just because we love you, but because God loves you."

Before arriving, Graham flew low over the Jordan River Valley, just beyond the West Bank.

"These communities were hit up here, and they are also forgotten about," he said. "But Samaritan’s Purse hasn’t forgotten them. We’ve got great relationships with local community leaders and churches in the area. These people are hurting. That’s why we’re here — to let Israel know they’re not forgotten. And God bless them."

Arab al-Aramshe is still picking up the pieces after a deadly drone strike blew the roof off the local community center and killed a man who was trying to protect it. Shrapnel still scars the building. Samaritan’s Purse is building a new ambulance station in the nearby town of Shlomi to serve Arab al-Aramshe and surrounding communities.

ISRAEL HOSTAGE DEAL IN DOUBT AS HAMAS ADDS DEMANDS, US ENVOY CALLS TERMS ‘UNACCEPTABLE’

"We’re delivering ambulances throughout Israel to support communities like this one," Graham said. "We’re also building ambulance exchange points, safe places where medical teams can store ambulances and respond to emergencies. It’s about restoring confidence so people feel safe enough to move back."

"This was a dead zone filled with alarm every day," said Moshe Davidovitz, mayor of the Matte Asher Regional Council and head of the Northern Conflict Zone Forum. "We don’t just want to fix the place. We want to grow the place … but we need to be able to provide some safety.

"Thousands of people evacuated," Davidovitz added. "They are refugees in their own country. While they were gone, they didn’t know what happened to their home, to their dogs, everything they left behind."

That safety is arriving in the form of 42 armored ambulances donated by Samaritan’s Purse to Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA). One of them has already been assigned to Arab al-Aramshe.

Ali Wahid, a senior medic in the area, said the new ambulance makes a big difference. 

"We are not afraid to respond. But now we will feel safe when we respond," he said.

After visiting the north, Graham flew south over the Gaza Strip toward Israel’s southern border.

"Hamas came out and attacked the communities down here," he said. "Jewish and Arab communities were hit. Today I’m seeing another ambulance exchange point location. There are still a lot of displaced people. We want to bring back confidence and security, so people can come home."

In Nir Oz, a kibbutz where one in four residents were either kidnapped or murdered during Hamas’ brutal October 2024 attack, the damage is still overwhelming. Houses are burned and shattered. Posters show the faces of loved ones, including baby Kfir Bibas and 83-year-old grandfather Oded Lifshitz, both killed by Hamas.

"This is where they burned houses, pulled children from their parents, murdered babies," Graham said, standing in the ruins.

"You see the pictures of the people who are no longer here. Explosions have been going off the whole time I’ve been in this village. But the leaders here are rebuilding. They want to bring people back this summer. And Samaritan’s Purse just committed to help with a community clinic and resilience center."

Mayor Michal Uziyahu of the Eshkol region walked Graham through the destruction. Her region lost 244 people Oct 7. Half of the hostages still held by Hamas come from her communities.

"Seventy percent of the massacre happened here," she said. "Every fourth person was either murdered or kidnapped."

Still, she insists the region will not be defined by terror. 

"We are determined to make sure that the tragedy won’t define us," Uziyahu said. "This place will be filled with life again. The thing terrorists fear most isn’t tanks or fighter jets. It’s the sound of children laughing in our streets."

Graham, moved by what he saw, offered a simple message.

"There’s been so much pain, murder and brokenness here," he said. "But I’ve talked to the survivors and asked if they carry hate. And they don’t. They still love their neighbors. They want peace. I don’t even understand that myself. But I ask everyone, please keep praying for Israel. They need your prayers and our support."

Samaritan’s Purse is building a resilience center in the Eshkol region and another in the nearby Merhavim area, home to about 4,000 children, many of whom have experienced devastating trauma.

"We never define ourselves through the tragedy," Uziyahu said. "We define ourselves with life and hope."

Along with the trauma centers, Samaritan’s Purse is building two EMS stations, one near the Gaza border, where residents bled to death during the October attacks because medics couldn’t reach them in time. 

The group is also installing 25 bomb shelters across Israel, 11 in the north and 14 in the south.

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In the north, Graham met a mother, Sara Kleiman, and her 5-year-old son. They returned home months after fleeing Hezbollah rocket attacks.

"We try not to think about what could happen," she said. "But we wanted to come home. This is our home."

Vietnam has ended its two-child policy in hopes of a resurgence of youth in an aging population.

The communist country's National Assembly passed a new amendment that nullifies families from having a two-child limit, according to state media.

Vietnamese families are giving birth to fewer children and the birth rate has declined to 1.91 children per woman in 2024, state media said, and this is a trend that is especially true in the urban areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where there are higher living costs.

MORE BABIES BORN TO WOMEN OVER 40 THAN TEENS FOR FIRST TIME IN US HISTORY

Vietnam’s two-child limit originated in the 1960s in Northern Vietnam to help prevent overpopulation, the Guardian reported.

After the reunification of Northern and Southern Vietnam, the two-child policy was encouraged throughout the entire country to prevent overpopulation and bring about a "golden population."

It wasn’t until 1993 that the policy was formalized as a national policy with the goal of controlling overpopulation.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the proportion of citizens under 15 has declined dramatically from 43% to under 25% in comparison to the entire population.

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The study by the UNFPA shows that the population of citizens aged 15 to 64 years has increased from 53% to 69%.

According to a study by Macrotrends.com, birth rates continuously dropped until 2003, and then saw a steady rise until 2013, when the free fall began again.

According to state media, Vietnam's "golden population" started in 2007, and is expected to continue between 2038 and 2040.

Today, Vietnam’s population is estimated to be more than 101 million people, making it the 16th-most populous country globally and third-largest in Southeast Asia.

The Ministry of Health noted that gender-selective births have been one of the causes of the gender imbalance in Vietnam. The imbalance of male to female births grew from 103 boys per 100 girls in 2006 to 111 boys per 100 girls in 2024.

To help counter this, the ministry has proposed raising the fine from 30 million to 100 million Vietnamese dong — roughly $1,150 to around $4,000 — for gender-selective practices.

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According to The Associated Press, China imposed a one-child policy in 1979 amid worries about overpopulation. 

As the country has faced growing concerns about an aging population, it has been slowly easing the policy to allow a second child and then a third child in 2021, but with little success in boosting birthrates.

The U.S. rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, standing by Jerusalem. France, the U.K., Russia and China all supported the resolution, which received 14 votes in favor and one vote against, meaning it was not adopted by the council.

"It is inexplicable that many members of this council still refuse to acknowledge that Hamas could end this conflict tomorrow by surrendering and laying down its arms. It is unconscionable that the U.N. still has not labeled and sanctioned Hamas as a terrorist organization," U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Dorothy Shea said.

DANNY DANON: UN OFFICIALS FUELING BLOOD LIBELS AFTER DC TERROR ATTACK ON ISRAELI DIPLOMATS

In her remarks, Shea also stated that the Security Council could not "reward Hamas’ intransigence" after the terror group rejected multiple ceasefire proposals.

Hamas was not condemned in the draft resolution, which only included a demand that terror organizations in Gaza release the remaining 58 hostages.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon thanked the U.S. for voting against the resolution.

"We thank the United States for standing on the right side. For standing on the side of truth, justice, and moral clarity. Thank you for refusing to abandon the hostages and for refusing to legitimize the lies of this resolution," Danon said in a statement.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR LASHES OUT AT UN OFFICIAL, CONDEMNS UK, FRANCE, CANADA STATEMENT ON AID

U.K. Ambassador to the U.N. Barbara Woodward defended her country’s decision to vote in favor of the resolution, saying that "the intolerable situation in Gaza needs to end." She said that the U.K. is "determined to see an end to this war," condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and called on the Jewish state to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid.

Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust Anne Bayefsky slammed the resolution and its "obscene equation between the hostages — who have been starved, tortured and executed over the past 19 months — and Palestinian prisoners." However, Bayefsky argued that the resolution was not just about the U.N. attacking Israel, it’s about members of the international body taking a swipe at President Donald Trump.

"Make no mistake, this is an attack on the United States, and President Trump in particular, by the French and the British, who are attempting to use the United Nations to sideline and belittle the U.S.," Bayefsky told Fox News Digital.

Shea also had a warning for the world body. "Engaging in this performative process at a time when serious questions are being asked about the utility of the U.N., its funding and use of resources is shameful. This council should not be used in this way. This council must hold itself to a higher standard."

Earlier on Wednesday, Danon issued a statement against the resolution, saying it "undermines" humanitarian aid efforts and "ignores the reality on the ground."

"It ignores the one party still endangering civilians in Gaza: Hamas. The group that hijacks trucks and stockpiles the aid to their benefit," Danon said. "If you care about the people of Gaza, then stop protecting those who started this war and continue to prolong it. If you care about aid, then help ensure it reaches civilians and not terrorists."

Ultimately, Danon said that the resolution "betrays the very people it claims to protect."

More than 20,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes on Wednesday in Germany after three World War II-era aerial bombs were discovered. The operation would take the bomb squad hours to complete their task.

The three bombs were found during exploratory work in the German city of Cologne on Monday, resulting in what officials called the largest evacuation of the city since the end of World War II, the Associated Press reported.

According to a news release by city officials, two American 20-hundredweight bombs and one American 10-hundredweight bomb with impact fuses needed to be defused.

This operation prompted the evacuation of 20,500 residents from their homes in order to prepare for the operation.

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The Düsseldorf district government's explosive ordnance disposal service was activated to defuse the three 80-year-old bombs.

The evacuation also shut down numerous businesses, including the Eduardus Hospital, two retirement homes, the Cologne Messe/Deutz train station, schools and more.

Roadways were shut down and shipping lanes along the Rhine River were suspended.

Just after 7 p.m. local time, city officials posted on Facebook that the job was completed.

HUGE UNEXPLODED WORLD WAR II-ERA BOMB FOUND IN CROWDED PARIS RESIDENTIAL AREA

"The three World War II bombs in Deutz have been defused. At 7:19 p.m., the three unexploded bombs that had paralyzed large parts of the city were defused," the post read. "The closed streets and bridges are now gradually being reopened, and residents can return to their homes or are being brought back by ambulance or shuttle buses."

According to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Cologne was a frequent target for Allied air raids, with the first of 262 happening on a May 17, 1940, Royal Air Force bombing mission.

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During that time, 770,000 residents evacuated the city, leaving about 20,000 behind.

The final bombardment was on March 2, 1945. American tanks entered the city a few days later.

Israel said that it will "act accordingly" to stop the Freedom Flotilla Coalition carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is en route to the Gaza Strip.

Thunberg, 22, a Swedish eco-warrior, set sail this week aboard the Madleen hoisting a Palestinian flag with 11 other activists. It will try to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip to bring in some aid and raise awareness over the humanitarian crisis there. 

"We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying," Thunberg said.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Wednesday that it was monitoring the flotilla.

"For this case as well, we are prepared," IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told the Times of London. "We have gained experience in recent years, and we will act accordingly."

Defrin did not disclose any details of how Israel would respond to Thunberg's arrival. 

Among those joining the crew of the Madleen are "Game of Thrones" actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent. She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

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Last month, an earlier Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship was damaged just before arriving in the Mediterranean island of Malta to pick up Thunberg for a similar mission, the New York Post reported. The group accused Israel of attacking the vessel with drones.

During her voyage, which began in the Sicilian port of Catania in southern Italy, Thunberg has been filming content for social media, including swimming in the sea.

"Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the livestreamed genocide," she said before setting sail. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday came out swinging at the U.S.’ most recent proposal, which apparently included a call for zero uranium enrichment, to which the Iranian leader said was "100 %" against Tehran’s interests.

The issue of whether the U.S. would push a complete ban on uranium enrichment – a process that is needed to produce nuclear energy as well a warhead – came into question this week after reporting suggested a U.S. proposal submitted to Iran through Omani mediators on Saturday allowed for "low levels" of enrichment.

President Donald Trump appeared to refute this in a social media post this week, and on Wednesday, Khamanei, who did not comment directly on the specifics of the proposal, said that "In the current nuclear talks that are being mediated by Oman, the U.S.’s proposal is 100% against the spirit of ‘We can’." 

TRUMP REAFFIRMS HARD-LINE ON IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: 'WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM'

President Trump on Wednesday said he spoke with Russian President Putin on Iran's nuclear program and both were in agreement that Tehran "cannont have a nuclear weapon."

"President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion," Trump said in a readout detailing their discussion. "It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!"

The U.S. has not said how much time it will allow negotiations with Iran to continue for

Khamanei did not say that Iran was unwilling to continue negotiating with the U.S., though Tehran has repeatedly insisted that a zero-enrichment policy is a non-starter. 

"A nuclear industry without enrichment capabilities is useless, because we would then be dependent on others to obtain fuel for our power plants," he said.

Included in the proposal was apparently a call for a regional coalition for enrichment that could provide Iran with the uranium it needs for civilian projects, like energy. 

"What the U.S. is demanding is that you should have no nuclear industry at all and be dependent on them," Khamanei pointed out.

Iranian authorities said this week that this idea was not a new concept, and while Tehran is not opposed to being part of such a coalition, it would not serve as an adequate substitute even though Iran relies on nuclear energy for less than 1% of its energy consumption. 

WHITE HOUSE URGES IRAN TO ACCEPT NUCLEAR DEAL AS IAEA REPORTS URANIUM ENRICHMENT SPIKE

The Iranian leader said on Wednesday that Iran’s nuclear development has become a source of national pride and claimed, "The number of countries in the world that have achieved a complete nuclear fuel cycle is perhaps fewer than the number of fingers on a person’s two hands. 

"We're capable of producing nuclear fuel starting from the mine and all the way to the power plant," he added. 

Iran has also repeatedly claimed it does not intend to develop a nuclear weapon, though its near-weapons-grade enrichment levels and missile program have suggested otherwise and prompted immense concern among international security officials, including the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Khamanei’s comments regarding Iran’s possession of a nuclear weapon were among the most fervent he has issued and again called into question Tehran’s claims that it is not looking to make itself the 10th nuclear nation. 

"You Americans possess atomic bombs and have the massive destruction of the world at your disposal," he said in a series of posts on X. "What business is it of yours whether the Iranian nation should or shouldn’t have uranium enrichment or whether it should or shouldn’t have a nuclear industry?

"Why are you interfering and trying to say whether Iran should have uranium enrichment or not? That’s none of your business," Khamanei said. 

Israeli officials are speaking out against a draft resolution that is set to go before the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. The resolution, which has the support of Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia, calls for a renewed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the return of the hostages and the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The United Nations has issued a litany of criticisms of Israel’s handling of the war as Palestinians in Gaza struggled under the blockade that was reinstated after the ceasefire collapsed in March. Israel lifted restrictions on humanitarian aid in May.

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Israeli officials warn that the drafr resolution "undermines" humanitarian aid efforts while leaving Hamas in power. 

"This resolution doesn’t advance humanitarian relief. It undermines it. It ignores a working system in favor of political agendas. It ignores the one party still endangering civilians in Gaza: Hamas. The group that hijacks trucks and stockpiles the aid to their benefit," Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said ahead of the vote.

Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein told Fox News Digital that the resolution does not do enough to link the release of hostages to the establishment of a ceasefire. The Israeli official also said the resolution would allow Hamas to stay in power.

"So basically, what this proposal is favoring or offering to do is to enable Hamas to come up with another October 7th massacre," Marmorstein told Fox News Digital. He added that Hamas said it would carry out another violent attack like the one on Oct. 7, 2023.

US-BACKED GAZA AID GROUP PAUSES FOOD DISTRIBUTION AFTER DAYS OF VIOLENCE

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israel-backed aid organization, paused its aid distribution operations on Wednesday following days of deadly incidents near its sites. 

"GHF is actively engaged in discussions with the IDF to enhance its security measures beyond the immediate perimeter of GHF sites," a GHF spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We have asked the IDF to: introduce measures that guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks near IDF military perimeters; develop clearer IDF-issued guidance to help the population transit safely; enhance IDF force training and refine internal IDF procedures to support safety."

If passed, the draft resolution would be legally binding—unlike those that come out of the U.N. General Assembly. It is unclear, however, what impact it would have on Israel's current operations or policy.

The U.S. Mission to the U.N. did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

Several people were feared dead and many more injured in a stampede on Wednesday as crowds tried to make their way inside a cricket stadium in southern India’s Karnataka state.

The crush happened as thousands of cricket fans gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru city to celebrate the winners of the Indian Premier League, which is the world’s most popular T20 cricket tournament.

AT LEAST 18 KILLED IN STAMPEDE AT NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION IN INDIA AS HINDU PILGRIMS TRAVEL TO FESTIVAL

Indian authorities didn't immediately confirm the number of deaths. But India’s NDTV broadcaster reported at least 11 people had died in the crush, while The Times of India newspaper reported seven dead.

Local TV news channels showed some people stretched out on the ground and emergency personnel carrying people away on stretchers and into ambulances.

AT LEAST 30 DEAD IN STAMPEDE AT THE MASSIVE MAHA KUMBH FESTIVAL IN INDIA, POLICE SAY

Cricket fans across the city came out to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first Indian Premier League title win on Tuesday.

D.K. Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka state, told reporters that "the crowd was very uncontrollable."

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Stampedes are relatively common in India when large crowds gather. In January, at least 30 people were killed as tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to bathe in a sacred river during the Maha Kumbh festival, the world’s largest religious gathering.

On the 36th anniversary of the deadly attack on pro-democracy demonstrators in China’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, jabs exchanged between Washington and Beijing highlight the continued disconnect between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Western democratic values. 

In a statement Tuesday evening, which was Wednesday morning local time in China, Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement that said, "the world will never forget" the CCP’s brutal actions as it "actively tries to censor the facts."

"Today we commemorate the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms," Rubio said. "Their courage in the face of certain danger reminds us that the principles of freedom, democracy, and self-rule are not just American principles. They are human principles the CCP cannot erase."

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But the Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday clapped back at Rubio and accused him of "maliciously distort[ing]" historical facts. 

Chinese spokesman Lin Jian said Rubio had "seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs," and said Beijing had lodged a formal complaint with the U.S.

The 36th anniversary marks the day Chinese authorities deployed the People’s Liberation Army to stop a weeks-long student-led demonstration that called for greater political freedoms.

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Tanks opened fire on unarmed crowds of pro-democracy demonstrators.

The extent of the massacre remains unknown, though hundreds were believed to have been killed, with some estimates ranging as high as 1,000 civilian deaths.

The CCP has since sought to cover up the crackdown by refusing to publicly acknowledge the tragedy, scrubbing online references and barring media coverage of the event.

The communist leadership has acknowledged the anniversary by routinely ramping up security at the square, as well as the entrance to Wan'an Cemetery, where some of the victims of the attack were laid to rest, reported AFP.

Images of security forces lining Tiananmen Square again surfaced on Wednesday, though the square stood relatively empty. 

The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is pausing its aid distribution operations for one day as it seeks to bolster security around its sites. The pause is reportedly also intended to give GHF time to develop plans for accommodating larger crowds.

GHF’s break in operations comes after Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops reportedly shot at Palestinians who strayed from a pre-approved path to get aid three days in a row, according to the Times of Israel. 

TENSIONS RISE AS ISRAEL STRONGLY DENIES FIRING ON PALESTINIANS AT GAZA HUMANITARIAN SITE

"GHF is actively engaged in discussions with the IDF to enhance its security measures beyond the immediate perimeter of GHF sites," a GHF spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The organization said it has asked the IDF to "introduce measures that guide foot traffic in a way that minimizes confusion or escalation risks near IDF military perimeters, develop clearer IDF-issued guidance to help the population transit safely and enhance IDF force training and refine internal IDF procedures to support safety."

"These measures are part of our commitment to continuous improvements for civilian safety and risk reduction in one of the most complex humanitarian environments in the world," the GHF spokesperson added. "Our top priority remains ensuring the safety and dignity of civilians receiving aid. This is critical given that GHF is the only operation reliably delivering aid to the Gazan people at present."

DOZENS OF PALESTINIANS KILLED, NEARLY 200 WOUNDED WHILE ON THEIR WAY TO COLLECT AID IN GAZA

On Tuesday, the IDF said its troops "identified several suspects moving toward them, deviating from the designated access routes." The soldiers fired warning shots and then opened fire when the suspects would not retreat, according to the IDF. 

Contrary to the IDF’s account of events, several reports stated that at least 27 Palestinians were killed while trying to access aid on Tuesday. The Times of Israel reported that Hamas health authorities claimed 31 people were killed on Sunday, three on Monday and 27 on Tuesday, in addition to the many wounded in each incident.

While the GHF has enjoyed the support of the U.S. and Israel, several aid organizations and the United Nations have criticized the system, claiming that it militarizes aid. However, Israel has repeatedly praised GHF for distributing aid in Gaza without empowering Hamas.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordination Tom Fletcher, an outspoken critic of GHF, has routinely urged in interviews that his organization be allowed to do its work.

On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council is expected to vote on a demand for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as humanitarian access across Gaza, according to Reuters. 

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon has already voiced his objection to the resolution, saying that it "undermines" humanitarian aid relief and "ignores a working system in favor of political agendas."