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Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill was officially written into law Tuesday, allowing same-sex couples to legally wed.

The law was published in the Royal Gazette after endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and will come into effect in 120 days. This means LGBTQ+ couples will be able to register their marriage in January next year, making Thailand the third place in Asia, after Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex marriage.

THAILAND'S SENATE APPROVES HISTORIC BILL LEGALIZING SAME-SEX MARRIAGES

The bill, which grants full legal, financial and medical rights for marriage partners of any gender, sailed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April and June respectively.

"Congratulations to everyone’s love," Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra wrote on X, adding the hashtag #Love Wins.

Thailand has a reputation for acceptance and inclusivity but struggled for decades to pass a marriage equality law. Thai society largely holds conservative values, and members of the LGBTQ+ community say they face discrimination in everyday life.

The government and state agencies are also historically conservative, and advocates for gender equality had a hard time pushing lawmakers and civil servants to accept change.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said last week that the city officials will be ready to register same-sex marriages as soon as the law gets enacted.

The legislation amended the country’s Civil and Commercial Code to replace gender-specific words such as "men and women" with gender-neutral words such as "individual."

The government led by the Pheu Thai party has made marriage equality one of its main goals. It made a major effort to identify itself with the annual Bangkok Pride parade in June, in which thousands of people celebrated in one of Bangkok’s busiest commercial districts.

The organizers of Bangkok Pride announced on Facebook that it will organize a wedding for couples who wish to register their marriage on the very first day that the law becomes effective.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to the podium at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the third time since Russia’s deadly invasion began more than two and half years ago, though this time he took direct aim at nations aiding Moscow: China, North Korea and Iran. 

Zelenskyy – who has long toed the line when it comes to maintaining murky geopolitical relations amid the war – for the first time called out not only the nations supplying direct arms to Moscow, but those who have remained complacent in their refusal to back Ukraine’s demands that Russian President Vladimir Putin withdraw his troops. 

"We need to make it clear the war is over. This is the peace formula – what part of this could be unacceptable to anyone who upholds the U.N. Charter?" he questioned. "If someone in the world seeks alternatives…it likely means they themselves want to do a part of what Putin is doing. [It] reveals the desire they are hiding." 

ZELENSKYY WARNS VANCE’S PLAN TO GIVE RUSSIA SEIZED LAND WILL LEAD TO ‘GLOBAL SHOWDOWN’

"And when the Chinese-Brazilian duo tries to grow into a choir of voices with someone in Europe, with someone in Africa, saying something alternative to a full and just peace, the question arises – what is the true interest?"

Zelenskyy’s comments referred to a monthslong attempt by China to enlist the backing of other nations for a six-point peace plan it introduced in coordination with Brazil in May, rather than backing the 10-point plan Ukraine first introduced in 2022.

China's plan has not been embraced by Western nations as it not only lacked concrete steps to actually end the war, but it did not explicitly call for Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine. 

Chinese representatives have not addressed the U.N. body, though Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday said he encouraged the joint plan.

In a similarly assertive tone, Zelenskyy called out Iran and North Korea for providing direct military aid to Russia – a step he has not taken before at the international meeting despite Tehran having provided Moscow’s war chest with drones for over two years. 

IRAN SPOUTS 'PROPAGANDA' FROM UN PODIUM, CALLS ON MIDDLE EAST TO UNITE BEHIND TEHRAN

One topic the Ukrainian leader has regularly touched on, and once again drew attention to, is the threat Russia poses to nuclear security. 

Zelenskyy in years past has reminded the UNGA that nuclear security is not only a concern for Ukraine, and on Wednesday, he warned that "radiation will not respect state borders."

Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s energy sector in a move to cut the nation from its power sources, especially during the winter months.

"Russia has destroyed all our thermal power plants and a large part of our hydroelectric capacity. This is how Putin is preparing for winter, hoping to torment millions, millions of Ukrainians," he said. 

Zelenskyy said that now, not only is Putin looking to employ the same strategy as winter looms, but he is also planning to target nuclear power plants in a move to disconnect the plants from the power grid – a tactic he is allegedly employing by relying on satellite images supplied by other nations, though Zelenskyy did not specify which ones. 

"Since Russia can't defeat our people's resistance on the battlefield, Putin is looking for other ways to break the Ukrainian spirit," Zelenskyy warned. 

UNITED NATIONS, New York - El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly warned that society is "moving toward a scary inflection point" as the world goes through a "dark period." 

Bukele told the General Assembly that while his country is small, it has proven a great example for other nations to follow, highlighting that it does "not imprison our opposition; we do not censor opinions; we do not confiscate property from those who think differently."

"We do not arrest people for expressing their ideas," Bukele said. "In El Salvador, your freedom of expression, as well as your private property, will always be protected."

"In El Salvador, we prioritize the safety of our honest citizens over the comfort of criminals," he added. "Some say that we have imprisoned thousands, but the reality is that we have freed millions." 

DANNY DANON: UN ABDICATES ROLE OF MIDDLE EAST PEACEMAKER BY BACKING TERRORISTS

Elon Musk took to social media platform X to praise Bukele for his "great speech," highlighting the portion in which the president discussed "the dark times coming" and the need to "shelter from the coming storm to maintain hope." Bukele last week toured the Tesla Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, ahead of his appearance at the United Nations. 

"As a Salvadoran, I recognize these symptoms because we have experienced them all," Bukele said. "We saw the collapse of our nation step by step and we are seeing the same steps, but this time on a global scale." 

ARGENTINA'S MILEI BLASTS UN OVER SUPPORT FOR COVID LOCKDOWNS, APPEASING ‘BLOODY DICTATORSHIPS’

Bukele rose to international prominence after clamping down severely on his country’s crime problem, transforming what was once the "murder capital of the world" by building a super prison that holds tens of thousands of prisoners and allowing authorities – who received expanded powers – to clear the streets of anyone even suspected of gang or criminal activity.

Bukele attributed the swift and significant turnaround to his people remembering "that freedom is something that you take; it isn’t given to us," going a step further and urging others to come and see El Salvador and "contribute to our vision." 

IRAN SPOUTS ‘PROPAGANDA’ FROM UN PODIUM, CALLS ON MIDDLE EAST TO UNITE BEHIND TEHRAN

"It won't be easy to do this," Bukele said. "The next step, in fact, is perhaps harder than the previous steps that we've had to take: We have freed our country, but we need to maintain this freedom and do so in a world that is increasingly less free."

"El Salvador has left its past behind, but we never wish to return to it again," he added, saying that "it’s not too late to build a bridge and to escape the dust storm."

As tensions continue to mount between Israel and Lebanon, Jerusalem on Wednesday called up reserve brigades to its northern border and ordered them to be "prepared" as Israel stares down a "new phase of the campaign."

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a "number" of reservists were called up for "operational activities in the northern arena."

Fox News Digital could not confirm the exact number of Israeli soldiers being called to the northern border, though government-sponsored public broadcasting Israeli news outlet KAN reported that at least two reserve brigades had been mobilized. 

"You hear the jets overhead. We have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah," Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, chief of the General Staff, said while speaking to his troops on the northern border. "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response."

ISRAEL STRIKES WITHIN LEBANON AFTER HEZBOLLAH BALLISTIC MISSILE FORCES MILLIONS IN TEL AVIV INTO BOMB SHELTERS

"Prepare yourselves," he added. "Today, we will continue. We are not stopping."

The IDF said the order to mobilize reservists would further its combat operations against Hezbollah, as well as continue to secure the north to ensure Israelis can return to their homes in the region.  

"We have entered a new phase of the campaign, and we must be fully prepared for maneuvering and action," Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, head of the Northern Command, said following his assessment of the troops on the border Tuesday.

"We are now in Operation ‘Northern Arrows,’" he continued. "Facing this, we need to change the security situation, and we must be fully prepared for maneuvers and action."

Israel has not formally announced any plans for a land invasion into Lebanon, but security experts have been warning for weeks that this is the likely next step as Jerusalem continues to ramp up its aerial campaign against Hezbollah. 

Leaders from around the world have met at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to address the world’s most pressing issues, and Israel’s war in Gaza, as well as its strikes in Lebanon, have dominated the week’s debate.

HOW A US-BACKED UN RESOLUTION FAILED TO STOP HEZBOLLAH TERROR TAKEOVER: 'BIPARTISAN FAILURE'

Earlier this month, the Israeli prime minister’s office said Benjamin Netanyahu would be attending the top meeting in New York, though as the fighting along the northern border escalated over the last week it became increasingly unclear if he would actually make the trip.

Netanyahu’s office confirmed Wednesday that the prime minister will leave for the meeting Thursday instead of this evening as previously planned, and will address the UNGA on Friday with the intention of returning to Israel on Saturday.

It is unclear why exactly he postponed his departure, though it coincides with reporting Wednesday that said the entire Political-Security Cabinet will now convene this evening – a move that suggests proposals could be put forward that require a vote, according to KAN reporting.

Netanyahu’s office also confirmed Wednesday morning that the prime minister "will hold consultations with security officials in order to discuss the continuation of the attacks in Lebanon."

In a statement to reporters, Netanyahu said, "I cannot elaborate on everything we are doing, but I can tell you one thing: we are determined to return the residents of the north safely to their homes.

"We are inflicting blows on Hezbollah that he did not imagine. We do it with power, we do it with guile. I promise you one thing – we will not rest until they return home," he added.

By Wednesday afternoon local time, Israel had hit more than 280 Hezbollah targets in a one-day period and was continuing to conduct strikes against weapons storage facilities and other targets. 

The barrage of missile fire came after Hezbollah launched what it claimed was a ballistic missile toward the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency in Tel Aviv. 

The missile, which was intercepted, was fired by the terrorist network one day after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi in an airstrike in Beirut. 

The exchange of fire continued after Lebanon saw its deadliest day of conflict since 2006 on Monday with nearly 500 people killed, according to local authorities, including more than 90 women and children.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has warned Americans against re-electing former President Trump.

"What I’d say in a respectful way to Americans is: I don’t think you realize that the rest of the world is watching because we’ve got skin in the game," Khan reportedly said in an interview with Politico. 

"What happens in America is the metronome… that sets the beat of what happens across the globe," Khan, who is in his third term as mayor of London, told the outlet while in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. "It sets the beat for how other politicians behave in an election campaign."

Khan, a left-leaning Labour Party member, claimed that Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and rhetoric about women and immigrants are dangerous, according to Politico. He encouraged Americans to consider Trump's first term. 

LONDON MAYOR URGES FOREIGN LEADERS TO CONDEMN TRUMP AS RACIST, SEXIST, HOMOPHOBIC

Compared to other United Kingdom leaders, such as Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Politico said Khan could more boldly support Vice President Kamala Harris as president of the United States. Starmer became the first Labour Party member to address their annual conference as prime minister in 15 years this week, the Washington Post reported. His speech referenced a need for "joy" – a catchphrase promoted by the Harris campaign. 

Khan, who has been engaged in public feuds with Trump in the past and has outwardly called the Republican presidential nominee a racist, a sexist and a homophobe, categorized the upcoming American election as one of significant importance. Trump has also been critical of Khan, describing the mayor in 2019 as a "stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London." 

"Make sure you’re registered to vote and make sure you vote," Khan told Politico this week. "Because the election that happens on Nov. 5, in my view, is the most important election in my lifetime." 

Politico also asked Khan about some of the worst unrest the United Kingdom had seen in years following the mass knife attack in Southport this summer. 

The mayor argued that British and American politicians should focus on responding to issues surrounding health care, housing and education, "not to play on people’s fears.' 

"The oldest trick in the book is to blame the other," Khan said. "The oldest trick in the book is to pick on one community and one minority, manufacture a situation where they’re blamed for the problems."

LONDON MAYOR PRESSED BY PIERS MORGAN IN INTERVIEW TO DEFINE 'WOMAN'

London was gripped with mass protests, arson and rioting in response to three young girls being stabbed to death during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Southport neighborhood. Authorities blamed speculation online suggesting the attacker was a migrant Islamic extremist as driving "far-right" protests and violent clashes with the police. Nearly 1,000 people were arrested, reports say. 

The July 29 knife attack left eight other children and two adults seriously injured. Authorities later identified the assailant as Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, a 17-year-old born in Cardiff to parents from Rwanda, the BBC reported. He is facing three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. 

In the interview, Khan also defended Starmer, who has been mired in controversies in his first three months in office involving accepting donor gifts, slashing winter fuel allowances for retirees and low approval ratings. 

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"It has been tough. Of course, it’s tough. Running things is tough, but I’d rather Keir Starmer make those tough calls, tough decisions, to be straight with the British people now, rather than having things being covered up and buried away," Khan told Politico. "And that means sometimes making decisions that in the short term are unpopular, but leading to medium-term, long-term benefits."

Board games have long been a favored pastime, even thousands of years ago. 

The ancient game called "Hounds and Jackals," also called "58 Holes," has long been thought to have originated in Egypt.

An archaeological discovery recently published in the European Journal of Archaeology by Walter Crist and Rahman Abdullayev suggests that the game could have different origins. 

ANCIENT PLANT LIFE UNEARTHED IN 53-MILLION-YEAR-OLD FOREST IN TASMANIA

Boards have been found spread across Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Iran and Anatolia, the study notes.

The game is played on a board covered in holes meant for the peg-shaped pieces. Players must navigate their way along the board, which is constructed of two parallel lines of tiny holes and an arc of 38 holes around them.

The player who reaches the end first is declared the winner. The ancient board game operates similarly to the far more modern game "Chutes and Ladders." 

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER UNIQUE ARTWORK IN ENGLAND DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 2ND CENTURY

The new study explains that six boards were found at several different archaeological sites in modern-day Azerbaijan. 

One board each was found at Çapmalı, Yenı Türkan and Dübəndi, while three boards were found at Ağdaşdüzü, per the study. 

"Six boards bearing this game's distinct pattern were found at sites on the Abşeron Peninsula and Gobustan Reserve in Azerbaijan. Their presence there not only indicates that the region was connected to societies to the south, but also demonstrates the game's popularity across cultures and socioeconomic groups. Its supposed first appearance in Egypt is questioned in favour of a south-western Asian origin," the study notes. 

"While much attention has focused on the origin, typology, layout, and potential rules of the fifty-eight holes game and boards, less attention has been paid to the cultural processes that influence the transmission of games between regions," the study further explains. 

FOSSILS DATING BACK 9 MILLION YEARS UNEARTHED DURING CONSTRUCTION AT HIGH SCHOOL

The findings of these ancient boards suggest that the origins of the game could lie in southwestern Asia, dating back to the late third, early second millennium B.C. 

Additionally, "the Abşeron Peninsula's connection to exchange networks suggests that the game of fifty-eight holes spread through trade rather than conquest," the study states. 

"Whatever the origin of the game of fifty-eight holes, it was quickly adopted and played by a wide variety of people, from the nobility of Middle Kingdom Egypt to the cattle herders of the Caucasus, and from the Old Assyrian traders in Anatolia to the workers who built Middle Kingdom pyramids," the study further states.

While this finding makes a strong case about the game's origins, the study acknowledges that more evidence is needed to fully understand where the game got its start.

China fired a missile into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday following a speech on the international stage by President Biden, in which he called for security in the region.

The Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China announced that its military had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday morning.

The missile, which carried a dummy warhead and was not targeting any nation, fell into the ocean without incident. The People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force claims that the launch was part of its routine military training calendar.

Just hours prior, Biden made his final address to the United Nations in New York City, running through a series of security concerns for the international body.

BIDEN ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR LAST TIME AS DICTATORS, DESPOTS COME TO NEW YORK

Biden specifically noted the threat posed against Western interests by China and urged efforts for peace.

"We also need to uphold our principles as we seek to responsibly manage the competition with China so it does not veer into conflict," he said. "We stand ready to cooperate on urgent challenges for the good of our people and the people everywhere."

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF US RESEARCH DOLLARS MAY HAVE AIDED CHINESE MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, GOP-LED REPORT SAYS

"We recently resumed cooperation with China to stop the flow of deadly synthetic narcotics," Biden continued. "I appreciate the collaboration. It matters for the people in my country and many others around the world."

Biden specifically referenced the need to combat the forces of "military coercion" being applied to Taiwan and others in the region.

"On matters of conviction, the United States is unabashed, pushing back against unfair economic competition and against military coercion of other nations in the South China Sea, in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, in protecting our most advanced technologies so they cannot be used against us or any of our partners," the president said.

Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, after Hezbollah launched a long-range projectile toward Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah said it launched a ballistic missile toward the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency. Millions of people in Tel Aviv received warnings and fled to bomb shelters, though Israel says it ultimately intercepted the missile.

The exchange comes one day after Israel killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi in an airstrike in Beirut. Qubaisi was a top commander in Hezbollah's missile and rocket force.

The Israeli military has vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to repel Hezbollah from their northern border, but top officials say they are not seeking to escalate into all-out war.

KIRBY SLAMS HAMAS CHIEF SINWAR AS 'THE MAJOR OBSTACLE' TO CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

Qubaisi's death came amid a two-day bombing campaign from Israel, which they say targeted Hezbollah cells and weapons caches. Lebanese officials say the attack killed at least 560 people.

US SENDING MORE TROOPS TO MIDDLE EAST, NETANYAHU WARNS LEBANESE AS ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT HEIGHTENS

Israel has now conducted five targeted airstrikes in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut since the start of the Israel-Hamas War. Three of those targeted airstrikes have come in the last five days.

On Friday, IDF officials said another airstrike in Beirut killed Ibrahim Aqil, who headed Hezbollah’s operations and was commander of its Radwan Force.

ISRAEL SAYS IT CONDUCTED RETALIATORY STRIKES AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, STRUCK HAMAS IN GAZA

The U.S. announced an additional deployment of American troops to the Middle East on Monday. The U.S. already had 40,000 troops in the region.

"In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics," Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters during an off-camera gaggle Monday.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to the people of Lebanon, saying Hezbollah is using them as "human shields," and urging them to get out of harm's way.

"Israel's war is not with you. It's with Hezbollah. For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields. It placed rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garages," Netanyahu said. "Those rockets and missiles are aimed directly at our cities, directly at our citizens. To defend our people against Hezbollah strikes, we must take out those weapons."

Fox News' Danielle Wallace and the Associated Press contributed to this report

Argentinian President Javier Milei, in his first address before the United Nations General Assembly, blasted the organization, saying it "has transformed into a Leviathan with multiple tentacles that intends to decide not only what each nation-state should do but also how all the citizens of the world should live."

He added, "This is how we moved from an organization that pursued peace to an organization that imposes an ideological agenda on its members," according to a Reuters translation.

He then took aim at the world body's latest offering, calling its "Pact for the Future" "twisted," saying the policy was the "wrong course" to follow. 

"The adoption of this agenda is fully in line with these privileged interests, and, looks beyond the principles that were set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is therefore twisted the role of this organization and set it on the wrong course," Milei said during his impassioned speech.

Milei accused the U.N. of turning into "one of the main proponents of systemic violations of freedom," citing the organization’s support for the COVID pandemic lockdowns and allowing "bloody dictatorships" such as Venezuela to sit on the Human Rights Council "without reproach." 

"For this reason, I'd like to officially express our dissent on the pact for the future that was signed on Sunday, and I invite all nations of the free world to support us, not only in the U.N. in relation to this pact, but also in the establishment of a new agenda for this noble institution that is the agenda for freedom," Milei declared. 

UN SILENT AS GUTERRES CALLS FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE, RECEIVES ‘THUNDEROUS’ APPLAUSE ON GAZA

"As the ‘Pact for the Future’ purports to dictate, this long list of errors and contradictions has led to a loss of credibility for the United Nations before the citizens of the free world," Milei said. "I'd like to issue a warning here we are coming to the end of a cycle: Collectivism and moral posturing and the woke agenda is coming up against reality. There are no further credible solutions to the real problems of the world."

The "Pact for the Future" was the centerpiece of the Summit for the Future, which kicked off the high-level week for the U.N. General Assembly this week. The pact serves as the culmination of policies and mission statements issued by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres over the past few years.

The pact aims to expand the scope and focus of the U.N. and its members to handle "global shocks," such as "disruptions to global flows of goods, people or finance." 

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Milei compared these new policies, which he alleged amounted to overreach by the organizations, to the original mission and achievements of the U.N., going on to blast the celebration of countries who "punish their women just for showing their skin in this same house that have voted against the State of Israel, which is the only country in the Middle East to defend a liberal democracy." 

Israel’s returning Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon applauded Milei’s challenge to the General Assembly and Guterres’ pact, calling Milei "a true friend of the State of Israel."

"In this hall where they slandered Israel all day, you expressed courage and supported Israel!" 

IRAN'S LEADER TO ADDRESS UN AMID THREATS OF ASSASSINATIONS AGAINST US POLITICIANS, ELECTION INTERFERENCE

Milei insisted that if the current agenda should fail, the U.N. members must ask "whether or not this was an ill-conceived program from the outset." 

"We should accept this reality and change what we’re doing," he argued. "The same thing always happens with ideas that come from the Left … When individuals freely decide to act otherwise, they have no better solution than to restrict, repress or cut off their freedom." 

"In Argentina, we’ve seen with our own eyes what they have done at the end of this path of envy and sad passion: Poverty, anarchy and a total lack of liberty," Milei said. "We still have time to choose another direction."

Milei ended with his often said slogan, ""Long live freedom, damn it! Thank you very much."

Reuters contributed to this report. 

JERUSALEM — As Israel’s air force continues to pound the Hezbollah terrorist movement in some of the most intense clashes since the 2006 war, United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 1701 is facing new criticism for failing to disarm the Lebanon-based terrorist organization. 

The U.S. and other world powers passed Resolution 1701 at the United Nations Security Council in 2006 in an attempt to prevent a third war between Israel and the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hezbollah. Israel fought Hezbollah in 1982 and in the summer of 2006.

Two key elements of Resolution 1701 have proved to be largely ineffective, according to experts on Lebanon and the U.N.

HEZBOLLAH BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN HAMAS TO ISRAEL: ‘CROWN JEWEL IN THE IRANIAN EMPIRE OF TERROR’

The first part involved the 10,000 peacekeeping (with added personnel) U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that was expanded in 2006 to aid the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in assuming military control over the region, replacing Hezbollah, between the Litani River and the southern border in Lebanon. 

UNIFIL was tasked to work with the LAF to ensure the area was "free of any armed personnel, assets, and weapons." However, Hezbollah’s growing absorption of the Lebanese state has turned it the de facto ruler over the country, according to many experts, or a heavily armed "state within a state." 

The second crucial element of 1701 was to disarm Hezbollah. Yet, the Lebanese terrorist entity has dramatically re-armed itself to the point where it now has at least 150,000 missiles and rockets aimed at Israel.

ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS

Walid Phares, who has advised U.S. presidential candidates, said 1701 is a "limited resolution and cannot work by itself." He added, "Everybody is hiding behind 1701 and cannot resolve the issue." He said even within the presence of UNIFIL, Hezbollah would come back.

Phares, who has extensively written on Hezbollah, proposed enforcement of the 2004 UNSC Resolution 1559 to compliment 1701 because it "expressly asked for a disarming and dismantling of Hezbollah as a militia. That is basically the comprehensive resolution that can serve the purpose of a cease-fire or of actually getting to peace."

"The Lebanese opposition should be calling on the execution of 1559. What does that mean? The Lebanese government will help to disarm Hezbollah from the center, but that Lebanese government is controlled by Hezbollah, so that government cannot execute 1559. Who can do it? The Lebanese people themselves," he said.

Phares noted that some Lebanese Christians, Druze and Sunnis have been doing it themselves over the last few days by "refusing access to Hezbollah" in a number of their areas. "But they need someone to represent them."

Rich Goldberg, a former member of then-President Trump’s National Security Council, told Fox News Digital, "This is a bipartisan American failure as much as it is a U.N. failure. The Bush administration signed off on 1701 with an obvious poison pill: that UNIFIL could only take action at the request of the Lebanese Armed Forces. No request ever came, no enforcement ever occurred, all while the U.S. pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into both UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces. We held all the cards and used none for 18 years, and Iran took full advantage."

"The lesson for today is that whatever comes after Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, it cannot rely on UNIFIL or the Lebanese Armed Forces for verification or enforcement," said Goldberg, a senior adviser for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "The only party capable and willing to disarm Hezbollah is the Israel Defense Forces."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., echoed Goldberg’s comments on Monday in the Senate chamber, "The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon allowed Hezbollah to build up massive stockpiles on Israel's border in clear, clear preparation for war."

IRAN TRIED TO INFLUENCE ELECTION BY SENDING STOLEN MATERIAL FROM TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO BIDEN’S CAMP, FBI SAYS

"Why has the U.N. looked the other way as Hezbollah has expanded its corrosive influence over the institutions of Lebanon’s government?" he continued. "But setting aside the failures of the so-called international community, this past weekend once again cast a spotlight on America’s own naivete toward the glaring facts of Iran-backed war on our friend, Israel."

Hezbollah launched rocket attacks at Israel on Oct. 8, a day after its ally, Hamas, invaded Israel from the Gaza Strip and slaughtered nearly 1,200 people, including more than 30 Americans, and took about 250 hostages.

Middle East analyst and expert Tom Gross told Fox News Digital, "In many senses, Israel would be forgiven for never trusting the U.N. again. Its utter bias during this conflict, its eagerness to believe whatever fabrications Hamas and Hezbollah feed it, including wildly unreliable civilian death stats and false reports of mass starvation in Gaza, as well as its abysmal failure to enforce previous resolutions (including 1701) designed to stop rocket fire into Israel, mean that almost no one in Israel trusts the U.N."

On Monday, France requested an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to address the Lebanon and Israel conflict.

"I have requested that an emergency meeting of the Security Council be held on Lebanon this week," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced. He urged all parties to "avoid a regional conflagration that would be devastating for everyone." 

France had a colonial ruler presence in Lebanon from 1920 to 1946. Paris has vehemently opposed classifying all of Hezbollah’s movement as a terrorist entity, in sharp contrast to Germany, Canada, Austria, the United Kingdom and many additional European and Latin American countries that have condemned Hezbollah’s entire organization as a terrorist group.

When approached for comment about the alleged failure of 1701, the U.S. State Department referred Fox News Digital to remarks by U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood in late August at the Security Council to extend the UNIFIL mandate. He said at the time that "Hezbollah made the escalatory decision to bombard communities in northern Israel. And for the past 11 months, it has done so on nearly a daily basis.  It is wrong that this council has yet to condemn Hezbollah for these repeated destabilizing actions, and we regret that a small minority of the council members blocked the council from doing so in this mandate renewal." 

Wood added, "There is no dispute that Iran, in clear violation of the arms embargo in Resolution 1701, provides Hezbollah with the majority of the rockets, missiles and drones that are fired at Israel." He called for the "need to push for Resolution 1701’s full implementation, including by establishing an area south of the Litani River that is free of any armed personnel, assets or weapons other than those of the Lebanese government and UNIFIL."

A statement released by UNIFIL on Monday noted, "It is essential to fully recommit to the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which is now more critical than ever to address the underlying causes of the conflict and ensure lasting stability."

In an address to the 79th United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed to be the one playing peacemaker in the Middle East and, in a juxtaposition, accused Israel of supporting terrorism.

Pezeshkian called on the U.N. to "examine" modern history and said, "Iran has never initiated a war. It has only defended itself heroically against external aggression, causing the aggressors to regret their actions," Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran does not "occupy" territory or exploit resources for other countries. 

"It has repeatedly offered various proposals to its neighbors and international fora aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability," he said. "We have emphasized the importance of unity in the region and establishing a strong region."

UN SILENT AS GUTERRES CALLS FOR HOSTAGE RELEASE, RECEIVES 'THUNDEROUS' APPLAUSE ON GAZA

Iran’s claims of playing peacemaker in the Middle East are in stark contrast to its repeated involvement in proxy wars across the region, in which it has been heavily involved in Syria and Yemen, drawing deeper the lines of division between it and other powerful Sunni nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

But Iran’s deep involvement in the Middle East extends to one other area not generally endeavored by a nation state — terrorism. 

While Pezeshkian claimed from the podium Tuesday that Israel both "covertly and overtly" supports the Islamic State, Tehran is widely known to have not only backed terrorist organizations ardently opposed to Israel like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, but it has also helped build bridges between the Taliban and al Qaeda, providing the terrorist networks with arms, funding and even safe haven.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to safeguard its own security, not to create insecurity for others," Pezeshkian also claimed. "We want peace for all, and seek no war or quarrel with anyone."

Iran, which has also increasingly aligned itself with top adversarial nations of the West like Russia and North Korea, attempted to claim it has not chosen a side when it comes to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, despite it having provided Moscow with drones and, most recently, short-range ballistic missiles for its war effort.

"We seek lasting peace and security for the people of Ukraine and Russia. The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes war and emphasizes the urgent need to end military hostilities in Ukraine. We support all peaceful solutions, and believe that dialog is the only way to resolve this crisis," the Iranian president said. 

KIRBY SLAMS HAMAS CHIEF SINWAR AS 'THE MAJOR OBSTACLE' TO CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

"We need a new paradigm to address global challenges. Such a paradigm must focus on opportunities, rather than being obsessed with perceived threats," he added. 

Pezeshkian called on "neighboring and brotherly countries" to unite with Iran to advance what is best for the Middle East.

But the Iranian president also spoke directly to the U.S. and said Tehran is looking to "transcend" the obstacles of the past and move forward with Washington, despite its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement under President Trump and the subsequent sanctions and trade restrictions that have, in large part, cut it off from the rest of the world. 

"My message to all states pursuing a counterproductive strategy towards Iran is to learn from history," Pezeshkian said before calling the U.S.’s sanctions a "crime against humanity."

"We have the opportunity to transcend these limitations and enter into a new era," he added.

But Pezeshkian’s comments rang hollow for some and, according to Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran expert and senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, they were riddled with "propaganda."

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"Short but certainly not sweet," he told Fox News Digital. "Pezeshkian dangled the prospect of a renewed diplomatic agreement, something which his regime will use as a literal shield against pressure on its expanding nuclear program and accountably against supporting a multi-front war against Israel."

"By blaming former President Trump in his speech and by bringing along technocratic staff involved in the JCPOA back in 201[8], Pezeshkian hopes to win support with certain crowds in Washington and Europe and run the clock against SnapBack, which expires in 2025," Ben Taleblu added. But despite Pezeshkian’s honeyed comments on renewing diplomatic conversations with the U.S., they are not expected to curry much favor with either side of the political aisle as it continues to ramp up its development of nuclear weapons.

A New South Wales, Australia man pleaded guilty to a serious charge after tossing a beloved and respected chicken named "Betty White" from a wildlife park, into an alligator pen, simply to feed the reptile, according to reports.

Nine News in New South Wales reported that 58-year-old Peter Smith of Hunterview pleaded guilty in Raymond Terrace Court to a single count of aggravated animal cruelty, which has a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of nearly $25,000.

Smith’s attorney, Bryan Wrench, said in court the case was a "very unusual matter," adding that his client simply wanted to feed a chicken to a hungry alligator in the Oakvale Farm and Fauna World at Salt Ash, in New South Wales.

Wrench told Magistrate Kirralee Perry there was the old adage, "never smile at a crocodile," but in this case, the alligator was happy after eating Betty White.

IRISH ROOSTER WITH A VIOLENT PAST KILLS MAN WITH ATTACK TO THE BACK OF HIS LEG, COURT SAYS

Smith’s criminal record is non-existent, Wrench said, adding his client is a grandfather, grew up in the country and "just wanted to feed an alligator."

Perry reportedly told Wrench she was not sure making light of the situation was appropriate, saying, "These are serious allegations."

The magistrate then said aggravated animal cruelty in New South Wales has a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and a fine of $24,084.

SLEEPY TOWN THRUST INTO CHAOS AS OUT-OF-CONTROL CHICKENS RUIN FAMILIES' EVERYDAY LIVES

With such stiff penalties, Perry reiterated to the attorney that this was "nothing to make fun of, then."

Wrench told the magistrate 750 million chickens are killed each year, making clear he was not making light of the situation.

After pleading guilty, the judge adjourned the case until Nov. 20, when Smith will be sentenced.

According to court documents obtained by Nine News, police allege Smith committed the act of aggravated animal cruelty on "a silkie bantam chook," which is a breed of chicken.

CROCODILES BAITED WITH ‘NAUSEA-INDUCING CHEMICAL’ TO PREVENT THEM FROM EATING TOXIC, INVASIVE TOAD

The act occurred between 2:57 and 3:10 p.m. on Jan. 2 at Oakvale Farm and Fauna World.

Police responded to reports that the chicken known as "Betty White" was taken from an enclosure and tossed into the alligator pen, shocking families who witnessed the unplanned feeding.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Oakvale Farm for comment.

Oakvale Farm owner Kent Sansom released a statement after the hen was killed, saying staff and management were "deeply saddened" by the death of Betty White.

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"This is the first time in our 43 years that we have had a member of the public (allegedly) engage in such cruelty in what is an animal sanctuary," Sansom said in the statement obtained by the station. "Betty White was hand-raised at the park and had played a crucial role in our endangered species breeding program for the bush stone curlew and other species by providing surrogacy to the chicks.

"Her quiet nature means she would not hesitate to approach a customer for some animal pellets, making her an easy target for (an alleged) ruthless perpetrator," Sansom added.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer made an unfortunate gaffe during a speech at his party's conference Tuesday when he mistakenly called for the return of "sausages," instead of hostages, held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 

Starmer was speaking at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool when he called for a de-escalation between Lebanon and Israel, as well as a cease-fire in Gaza. 

He also called for the return of hostages being held by the terror group when he slipped up, before quickly recovering. 

"I call again for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the return of the sausages — the hostages — and a recommitment to the two-state solution: a recognized Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel," he said.

ISRAEL SAYS IT CONDUCTED RETALIATORY STRIKES AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, STRUCK HAMAS IN GAZA

The mistake quickly went viral.

During his remarks, Starmer was also heckled by a spectator in the audience who shouted about Gaza. 

"This guy's obviously got a pass from the 2019 conference. We've changed the party," Starmer joked in response, Reuters reported. "While he's been protesting, we've been changing the party. That's why we've got a Labour government."

UK GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF CRACKING DOWN ON FREE SPEECH: ‘THINK BEFORE YOU POST’

Multiple hostages are still being held in Gaza nearly a year after the group attacked Israeli communities Oct. 7, sparking the latest conflict between Hamas and the Jewish state. 

Israel has proposed ending the war if Hamas releases the remaining hostages, along with the demilitarization of Gaza and the establishment of an alternative governing body. Hamas has rejected several offers to end the conflict. 

Israel has bombarded Gaza and pledged to hunt down those responsible for the deadly attack. Meanwhile, it has also had to defend itself on a second front against shelling in its north from Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

Israeli forces said they have continued to carry out dozens of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets within Lebanon and that artillery and tanks continue to hit targets close to the border.

The tone was set Tuesday in the hall of the United Nations in New York City after the General Assembly reacted to Secretary-General António Guterres' contempt for Israel’s attacks in Gaza, but sat silent during his condemnation of Hamas' near-year-long capture of Israeli hostages. 

"Let’s be clear, nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 or the taking of hostages, both of which I have repeatedly condemned," he said as the General Assembly sat and watched. "And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people."

The secretary-general’s comments were followed by applause by the international body before he continued and said, "The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General."

BIDEN ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR LAST TIME AS DICTATORS, DESPOTS COME TO NEW YORK

Israel's ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, immediately called out the international body for "hypocrisy" following its resounding condemnation of Israel’s fight in Gaza.

"When the U.N. secretary-general speaks about the release of our hostages, the U.N. assembly is silent, but when he speaks about the suffering in Gaza, he receives thunderous applause," he said in a statement. "This is the opening signal for the annual charade of hypocrisy."

The tone of the overall assembly was particularly dark after Guterres warned the "state of our world is unstainable" and said, "We can’t go on like this."

But despite the range of issues he addressed, including the more than two-year war in Ukraine, the civil war in Sudan, female oppression worldwide, the wrath of climate change and global hunger, it was the war in Gaza that dominated the addresses that followed.

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who opened the assembly’s debate following Guterres' opening remarks, called out Israel and argued that it is Jerusalem’s fault there are still 101 hostages in the hands of Hamas.

"There have been over 40,000 fatal victims, mostly women and children," the Brazilian president said regarding the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza, though the figure does not differentiate between civilians and Hamas terrorists killed. "The right to defense has become the right to vengeance, which prevents an agreement for the release of the hostages and postpones the ceasefire."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has long been critical of Israel, openly drew parallels between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Nazi leader Adolf Hilter and called Israeli prisons "concentration camps."

IRAN'S LEADER TO ADDRESS UN AMID THREATS OF ASSASSINATIONS AGAINST US POLITICIANS, ELECTION INTERFERENCE

"Just as Hitler was stopped by an alliance of humanity, Netanyahu and his murder network must be stopped by an alliance of humanity," Edrogan said. 

Erdogan, like the other nations who followed him, accused Israel of flouting international law and questioned when the nations of the U.N. were going to do something about it.

"I call out to the United Nations Security Council, what are you waiting for to prevent the genocide in Gaza?" He questioned before positioning his next question at nations like the U.S.: "How long are you going to be able to carry the shame of witnessing this massacre?"

When asked by Fox News Digital about the overall tone of the morning’s debate, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N. called it "shameful" and said it was the "most hostile" environment he has seen in his roughly 10 years of attending the general debate. 

The King of Jordan, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, echoed the warnings issued by Guterres and said the U.N. is "under attack," arguing Israel’s continued assault with the backing of the U.S. was to blame. 

"I cannot recall a time of greater peril than this," he said. "Our United Nations is facing a crisis that strikes at its very legitimacy and threatens a collapse of global trust and moral authority." 

"For years, the global community has taken the path of least resistance, accepting the status quo of the ongoing military occupation of Palestinians all the while paying lip service to the two-state solution," Al-Hussein added in direct reference to comments made by President Biden just minutes prior. 

UN RESOLUTION DEMANDING ISRAEL EXIT 'OCCUPIED TERRITORIES' CAN HURT 'HIGHLY VOLATILE' SITUATION, EXPERT SAYS

The leader of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, echoed the criticisms of his predecessors, accusing Israel of committing "a crime of genocide" and hitting at the heart of the U.S.’s continued support for Jerusalem.

"We oppose violence and the targeting of innocent civilians by any party," he said. "But after a year of the war…it is no longer tenable to talk about Israel's right to defend itself in this context without being complicit in justifying the crime."

Like his predecessors, the Qatari leader argued that Israel’s allowance by the international community to continue to carry out strikes in Gaza questions the legitimacy of the United Nations as a whole and has "inflicted serious damage on the credibility of the post-World War II concepts on which the international community was founded."

Qatar has played a major role alongside the U.S. and Egypt in an attempt to engage Hamas and Israel in cease-fire negotiations. Though he argued this will not be achieved until Israel stops its occupation in not only Gaza, but elsewhere. 

"There is no point in talking about security, peace, and stability in the Middle East region…if not backed by concrete steps leading to an immediate ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories," he said in reference to Palestinian lands identified under U.N. Resolution 181, like Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the Golan Heights which Israel seized from Syria following the Six Days War in 1967.  

A Russian military patrol aircraft violated Japanese airspace near Hokkaido's Rebun Island on three separate occasions on Monday, prompting Japan's Self-Defense Force to dispatch aircraft in an emergency response and to fire flares.

RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT DETECTED, MONITORED FLYING THROUGH AIR ZONE CLOSE TO U.S.: NORAD

It is the first time Japan's SDF aircraft has fired flares in "an anti-airspace violation action", government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.

The SDF fighter jets – F15 and F35 – warned the Russian military over the radio before firing the flares during the third incursion, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters.

The Japanese government has protested to Russia via diplomatic channels and demanded that it prevent any recurrence of such violations.

An Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed a top Hezbollah commander, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Tuesday, one day after hammering hundreds of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

The strike killed Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, commander of Hezbollah’s missiles and rockets force, along with other Hezbollah commanders, the IDF said.

Israel has now conducted five targeted airstrikes in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut since the start of the Israel-Hamas War. Three of those targeted airstrikes have come in the last five days.

On Friday, IDF officials said another airstrike in Beirut killed Ibrahim Aqil, who headed Hezbollah’s operations and was commander of its Radwan Force.

ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH RESUME MISSILE LAUNCHES AFTER CONFLICT'S DEADLIEST DAY SINCE 2006

Israel and Hezbollah resumed trading missile strikes against each other on Tuesday, intensifying concern that the conflict could escalate into an all-out war.

Hezbollah said it launched missiles at eight different targets within Israel. The Israeli military said it tracked some 100 projectiles fired out of Lebanon toward Israel.

US SENDING MORE TROOPS TO MIDDLE EAST, NETANYAHU WARNS LEBANESE AS ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT HEIGHTENS

On Monday, Lebanese officials said a massive Israeli barrage killed at least 558 people.

The strikes come as Lebanon reels from a wave of deadly explosions of hundreds of communication devices largely used by Hezbollah members last week. Lebanon blamed the attacks on Israel, but Israel did not confirm or deny its responsibility.

Fox News’ Matthew Borowski and Anders Hagstrom, along with The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to address the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday afternoon in New York City amid a wash of stories involving Tehran’s involvement in assassination attempts against U.S. politicians and election interference. 

Pezeshkian, who turned heads this week for his 40-member strong delegation which reportedly includes his adult children, has already made headlines upon his arrival for comments he made suggesting Israel is looking to start an all-out war in the Middle East by turning Lebanon into the next Gaza.

BIDEN TO ADDRESS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR LAST TIME AS DICTATORS, DESPOTS COME TO NEW YORK

"We do not wish to be the cause of instability in the Middle East as its consequences would be irreversible," he told reporters Monday, according to Reuters. "We want to live in peace, we don't want war.

"It is Israel that seeks to create this all-out conflict," he added. 

His comments to the General Assembly are expected to largely focus on the ongoing fight in the Middle East as Israel finds itself pitted against Iran's terror proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

Pezeshkian's comments are likely to draw focus on the high number of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza, and recently the Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, where nearly 500 people were killed, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, reported the BBC early Tuesday. It's not known how many of the dead are Hezbollah terrorists.

IRAN TRIED TO INFLUENCE ELECTION BY SENDING STOLEN MATERIAL FROM TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO BIDEN’S CAMP, FBI SAYS

While the U.N. has condemned Israeli attacks on civilians, the Iranian president’s comments are likely to ring hollow among some at the international body as Tehran has substantially backed the terrorist organizations that have engaged in the fight against the Jewish state.

There is the other matter of Tehran’s exposed plot to assassinate Donald Trump, as well as potentially President Biden, Nikki Haley, along with other "politicians, military people or bureaucrats," according to FBI documents released by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, earlier this month. 

The FBI further confirmed last week that Iran hackers attempted to supply the Democratic presidential campaign with stolen communication files from the Trump campaign. 

While it appears the Iranian attempts to mimic the Russia-style hack-and-leak operations utilized during the 2016 campaign was a failed push to cause turmoil in the U.S. ahead of the elections, the assassination plot was likely due to the 2020 killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani during Trump’s time as president. 

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Pezeshkian's trip to the U.S. for the top U.N. meeting drew condemnation from U.S. lawmakers last month. They encouraged Biden to block his visa over concerns his presence would "raise serious security issues" for the U.S. and its allies.

Hunger strikers were also reported at a notorious female prison in Iran in protest of the Iranian president’s address amid Tehran increasing the number of executions and in a call for the release of all political and ideological detainees, according to Iran International. 

Multiple people have been arrested in Switzerland in connection to the seemingly willing use of a "suicide capsule." 

Police officials of Schaffhausen canton in northern Switzerland announced on Tuesday that multiple people have been detained following a tip indicating individuals were helped to kill themselves in a cabin in Merishausen. 

An investigation into possible incitement and accessory to suicide is underway, and the premeditated death could be attributed to the first-ever use of a Sarco-brand suicide capsule.

TERMINALLY ILL MISSOURI WOMAN, 79, TAKING TRIP TO SWITZERLAND FOR ASSISTED SUICIDE

The Sarco pod is a suicide machine developed by Netherlands-based pro-euthanasia group Exit International.

The group seemed to take responsibility for the alleged crime in a statement, announcing the willful euthanization of an elderly woman who is a U.S. citizen and suffering from an intense immune disease.

"In Switzerland on Monday, a 64-year-old woman died in a specially designed ‘suicide capsule’ containing nitrogen gas. It is the first time ever that this suicide capsule, called the Sarco, was used," Exit International boasted in an online press release. "The capsule, an airtight cabin the size of a coffin, offers, according to its creators, a ‘quick, peaceful and reliable death’ without the assistance of a doctor or medication."

PHYSICALLY HEALTHY DUTCH WOMAN DIES BY ASSISTED SUICIDE AT AGE 29

"It is still unclear how Swiss justice will react to this," the pro-suicide group's statement continued. "The conditions set by the country are that the person with the death wish is mentally competent, that they carry out the final deadly act themselves and that the people who help have altruistic motives."

Exit International founder Dr. Philip Nitschke announced Tuesday that he was "pleased that the Sarco had performed exactly as it had been designed […] to provide an elective, non-drug, peaceful death at the time of the person’s choosing."

Exit International said Nitschke personally "confirmed" the U.S. woman's death.

Switzerland was the first country in the world to legalize assisted dying, legislating the accomodation in 1941. 

Swiss law allows patients to be accommodated while killing themselves only if they do so without "external assistance" and are not aided by individuals with a "self-serving motive."

The Sarco capsule is designed to fill itself with Nitrogen gas, putting victims to sleep before suffocating them within 10 minutes of activation.

It is 3-D printed and was first unveiled at the Venice Design Festival in 2019.

Israel and Hezbollah resumed missile strikes against one another Tuesday morning following the deadliest day in Lebanon since 2006.

Lebanese officials say a massive Israeli barrage killed at least 560 people on Monday, leading thousands to flee southern Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy terrorist organization, remain on the brink of all-out war.

Hezbollah says it launched missiles at eight different targets within Israel early Tuesday. The Israeli military said it tracked 55 rockets fired out of Lebanon and landing in Israel.

Israeli forces say they have continued to carry out dozens of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets within Lebanon, and that artillery and tanks continue to hit targets close to the border.

KIRBY SLAMS HAMAS CHIEF SINWAR AS 'THE MAJOR OBSTACLE' TO CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL WITH ISRAEL 

Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah cells as well as weapon stashes across the country.

Data from American fire-tracking satellites analyzed Tuesday by The Associated Press showed the wide range of Israeli airstrikes aimed at southern Lebanon, covering an area of over 650 square miles. 

These satellites, a part of NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System, are typically used to track wildfires across rural areas of the U.S., but can also be used to track the flashes and burning that follow airstrikes. That’s particularly true when an airstrike ignites flammable material on the ground, such as munitions or fuel.

ISRAEL SAYS IT CONDUCTED RETALIATORY STRIKES AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON, STRUCK HAMAS IN GAZA

Top Israeli officials maintain that they do not want the conflict with Hezbollah to escalate into all-out war. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Sunday that the consolidation of weapons and equipment at the Israel-Lebanon border is not preparation for an invasion.

Meanwhile, the aircraft carrier USS Truman, two destroyers and a cruiser set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, headed to the Mediterranean on a regularly scheduled deployment, opening the possibility that the U.S. could keep both the Truman and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is in the Gulf of Oman, nearby in case further violence breaks out.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held back-to-back calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend as he pressed for a cease-fire and a reduction of tensions in the region.

"Given the tensions, given the escalation, as I highlighted, there is the potential for a wider regional conflict. I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s a dangerous situation," Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

In an interview over the weekend with the New Yorker, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced some of his harshest criticisms against any U.S. official since Russia’s war began when pressed about Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance. 

Zelenskyy has pointedly toed the line when it comes to the contentious 2024 U.S. presidential election and has spoken to each of President Biden, Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Harris and GOP nominee former President Trump.

But the gloves came off Sunday in an interview with the New York-based publication when Zelenskyy called Vance "radical" and warned that his proposal to bring an end to the war in Ukraine would instead prompt a "global showdown."

REPUBLICANS GROAN AT BIDEN ADMIN'S LAST-MINUTE REQUEST FOR MORE TIME TO SEND UNUSED $6B TO UKRAINE

Vance said this month that if elected to the White House, Trump would work with Russia, Ukraine and European leaders to establish a "peaceful settlement" that would grant Moscow the territory it has illegally seized since its 2022 invasion. 

Upon Kyiv’s agreement to gift the land to Russia, there would then be the creation of a demilitarized zone along the current front lines, Ukraine would be fortified to deter a third Russian invasion, and Kyiv would agree to give up its plans to join NATO – a proposal that Western security experts have said would be a substantial win for Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

"If this were a plan, then America is headed for global conflict," Zelenskyy said. "It would imply that whoever asserts control over territory – not the rightful owner but whoever came in a month or a week ago with a machine gun in hand – is the one who’s in charge."

The Ukrainian president warned that this attitude would not only be costly for Kyiv and the Ukrainian people, it would jeopardize world order everywhere, including in the Middle East and wherever China threatens Western interests. 

"We’ll end up in a world where might is right," Zelenskyy said. "It will be a completely different world, a global showdown."

Despite his criticism of Vance, Zelenskyy looked to highlight that he has had a different experience in his dealings with the chief Republican candidate for president.

REPUBLICANS DIVIDED ON RUSSIA'S SECURITY THREAT AS VANCE JOINS TRUMP PRESIDENTIAL TICKET

"I should say that it hasn’t been like this with Trump. He and I talked on the phone, and his message was as positive as it could be from my point of view," Zelenskyy told the New Yorker, detailing the platitudes issued by Trump like "I understand" and "I will lend support." 

Trump has drawn criticism for failing to detail what his administration would do in the way of aiding Ukraine, though he has been loudly critical of the amount of aid Washington has supplied Kyiv. 

The former president has said that if elected, he will end the war between Ukraine and Russia before even taking up the top job come January 2025, though he has not explained how he will do this. 

"Trump makes political statements in his election campaign," Zelenskyy said. "My feeling is that Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war, even if he might think he knows how."

UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIA CAUSES EARTHQUAKE-SIZED BLAST PICKED UP FROM SPACE

"With this war, oftentimes the deeper you look at it the less you understand," Zelenskyy added. 

Zelenskyy, who is in the U.S. to attend the United Nations General Assembly, said he will meet with Biden to present a "victory plan" that looks to unite the Western allies further against Russia and secure Ukraine to a greater extent.

The Ukrainian president did not detail what is in the plan, though it is expected to include calls for additional military aid and the lifting of long-range strike bans, though it could also include plans to expedite Kyiv’s accession into the EU and other such alliances. 

"A strong Ukraine will force Putin to the negotiating table. I’m convinced of that," Zelenskyy said. 

There are concerns that Biden could turn down the calls for more U.S. aid to Ukraine with the presidential election just over a month and a half out. 

"That’s a horrible thought. It would mean that Biden doesn’t want to end the war in any way that denies Russia a victory. And we would end up with a very long war, an impossible, exhausting situation that would kill a tremendous number of people," he added.

But Zelenskyy also said Ukraine is used to "living in Plan B" and he doesn’t "blame" Biden for how the war turned out.

"At the end of the day, he took a powerful, historic step when he chose to support us at the start of the war, an action that pushed our other partners to do the same," he added. 

Though Zelenskyy also warned that a diplomatic end to the war could only be accomplished if Kyiv is given what it needs to be in a position to adequately negotiate with Moscow.

"If you don’t want this war to drag on, if you do not want Putin to bury us under the corpses of his people, taking more Ukrainian lives in the process, we offer you a plan to strengthen Ukraine," he said. "It is not a fantasy and not science fiction, and importantly, it does not require the Russians to cooperate to succeed.

"The plan spells out what our partners can do without Russia’s participation. If diplomacy is the desire of both sides, then before diplomacy can be effective, our plan’s implementation depends only on us and on our partners," Zelenskyy added.

Vance's campaign did not return Fox News Digital's request for comment.