Why has the PKK ended its armed struggle?
Members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party lay down their arms after decades of war with Turkiye. It’s one of the longest-running conflicts in the Middle East – and it’s about to come to an end. Members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have started laying down their arms at a ceremony in northern Iraq. It comes two months after the group said it would end its armed struggle against Turkiye and shift to democratic politics. Reaction has been mixed: Some Kurds think it could pave the way to peace. Others argue it’s a concession with no gains. So how will this process play out in Turkiye and in the wider region? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Galip Dalay – nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs David L Phillips – director of the Program on Peace-building and Human Rights at Columbia University Mohammed Salih – nonresident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute who specialises in Kurdish affairs Adblock test (Why?)
Lebanon says Israeli strike kills one as Beirut rules out normalisation
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun says his country seeks peace with Israel, but is not ready to normalise ties. Lebanon’s president says his country wants peace but not normalisation with Israel, as health authorities said an Israeli air strike killed one person in the south of the country. As well as causing one death on Friday, the drone attack on a car in Nabatieh district wounded five other people, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. It comes as Israel continues to launch regular strikes against sites in Lebanon, particularly in the south, despite a November 27 ceasefire agreement between it and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Under the terms of the truce, Hezbollah had to retreat to the north of the Litani River, which is about 30km (20 miles) from the Israeli border, while Israel had to fully withdraw its troops, leaving only the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers in the area. However, Israel still occupies five strategic locations in southern Lebanon. Speaking on Friday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed a desire for peaceful relations with his country’s neighbour. But he stressed that Beirut was not currently interested in normalising ties with Israel, something mentioned as a possibility by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar last week. “Peace is the lack of a state of war, and this is what matters to us in Lebanon at the moment. As for the issue of normalisation, it is not currently part of Lebanese foreign policy,” said Aoun, who urged Israel to withdraw completely from Lebanon. Smoke billows from the Nabatieh district, following Israeli strikes, as seen from Marjayoun, in southern Lebanon, on June 27, 2025 [File: Karamallah Daher/Reuters] In a reference to the US’s ongoing call for Lebanon to fully disarm Hezbollah, the Lebanese president also expressed Beirut’s desire to “hold the monopoly over weapons in the country”, but he did not give further details. Advertisement Hezbollah, which is considerably weakened after more than a year of hostilities with Israel, has dismissed questions about disarmament. “We cannot be asked to soften our stance or lay down arms while [Israeli] aggression continues,” its leader Naim Qassem told crowds in southern Beirut on Sunday. On Wednesday, the Israeli military confirmed that some of its troops had entered southern Lebanon, with the army saying they sought to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and to stop the group from “reestablishing itself in the area”. The following day, a man was killed by an Israeli drone strike on a motorbike in the village of al-Mansouri near Tyre, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said. Two others were injured in the attack, it added. Adblock test (Why?)
New scam targets mobile phone users, doesn’t require any clicks, here’s how you can avoid it
New scams keep cropping up at a pace that it’s becoming increasingly hard to keep up. Now, another type of scam is targeting mobile phone users without even requiring them to click on any suspicious links. Read on to know more about it.
Texas leaders have repeatedly claimed the state’s voting maps are race blind. Until the Trump DOJ disagreed.
Gov. Greg Abbott has acknowledged DOJ concerns that some districts were drawn “along strict racial lines.” Critics say it’s a political ploy.
FBI’s Dan Bongino thinking of resigning after clash with AG Pam Bondi over Epstein files fallout: Source
FBI deputy director Dan Bongino is considering resigning over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a source told Fox News Digital, noting that Bongino took a day off from work on Friday due to his frustrations. Bongino has not been seen in the office since Wednesday, a source told Fox News Digital. He has yet to make a final decision about his future, the source said. The latest revelation comes on the heels of a heated argument between Bongino and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that occurred on Wednesday at the White House, two sources confirmed. BONDI UNDER SIEGE AFTER DOJ REVEALS NO EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have been in touch several times during the past few days and are on the same page, a source told Fox News Digital. Sources close to Bondi say she has no intention of stepping down and is proud of the department and its work. Patel, too, says he is happy with his job and has no intention of leaving, a source in close contact with the director told Fox News Digital. “President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims. This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity,” White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital. “Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.” Earlier on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back on reports of internal strife. “I worked closely with @FBIDirectorKash and @FBIDDBongino on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files,” Blanche posted on X. “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. “The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI on Sunday released a joint review that ended theories about an alleged Epstein client list, concluding there was no such list detailing the names of the world’s elite who allegedly took part in Epstein’s history as a sexual predator. The DOJ also concluded the disgraced financier committed suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting further sex trafficking charges. The latest revelation comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s quip to a White House reporter during a cabinet meeting, in which he called the late sex criminal and financier a “creep.” “Can I just interrupt for one second?” Trump said after a reporter directed an Epstein question at Bondi. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?” HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLLING “This guy’s been talked about for years. You’re asking.… We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people are still talking about this guy, this creep?” Trump asked. “That is unbelievable.” Public outrage ensued following the release of a prison surveillance video that the administration used to prove that no one entered Epstein’s cell in the hours leading up to his death. The 10-hour video, though, has one minute missing, which has fueled conspiracy theories that the administration is participating in a cover-up involving Epstein’s death. “President Trump is proud of Attorney General Bondi’s efforts to execute his Make America Safe Again agenda, restore the integrity of the Department of Justice, and bring justice to victims of crime. The continued fixation on sowing division in President Trump’s Cabinet is baseless and unfounded in reality,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Who is Ashley Williams, the longtime Biden aide grilled by House GOP investigators Friday?
Former White House aide Ashley Williams is the latest ex-Biden administration official to appear in the House Oversight Committee’s probe. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is investigating allegations that Biden’s former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president’s full knowledge. Biden allies have pushed back on those claims. Williams is the third member of Biden’s White House inner circle to show up, though she said nothing to reporters on her way into the room late Friday morning nor during a brief lunch break in the afternoon. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP She’s a longtime Biden ally whose time with the Democrat goes back to assisting then-second lady Jill Biden during the Obama administration, according to a 2019 profile of Biden staffers. Williams later worked for both Biden’s 2020 campaign and presidential transition team. She served as his trip director before being hired to the White House as deputy director of Oval Office Operations and a special assistant to the president. Williams ended her White House tenure as deputy assistant to the president, senior advisor to the president, and director of Strategic Outreach, according to her LinkedIn page. Notably, the social media page also says Williams still works for the ex-leader as senior advisor in the Office of Former President Joe Biden. Williams is a graduate of Georgetown University, and received a doctorate of Law from the University of Pennsylvania. She also got a Master’s degree in political management from George Washington University. She was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee last year in Republicans’ investigation into Biden’s cognitive health, but GOP investigators say the White House blocked her from giving any information. COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ “The Biden White House obstructed the Committee’s investigation and refused to make the aides available for depositions or interviews,” the committee said in a press release this year. Williams’ Friday appearance was not forced under subpoena, however. She appeared voluntarily for her closed-door transcribed interview. The Trump White House waived executive privilege for Williams along with several other former Biden aides last month.
Texas Tech University System leader says he will retire this year
Texas Tech Chancellor Tedd Mitchell has led the 64,000-student university system since 2018. His departure will mark the latest shake-up in the state’s higher ed leadership.
Court throws out plea deal for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, two other terrorists
A divided federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Friday tossed out an agreement that would have allowed 9/11 terror mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to plead guilty in another failed effort to end a years-long legal saga surrounding the military prosecution of men held at Guantánamo Bay. The 2-1 D.C. Circuit appeals court decision upheld then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to undo the plea deal approved by military lawyers and senior Pentagon staff. The deal would have carried life without parole sentences for Mohammed and two co-defendants, potentially taking capital punishment off the table. FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS ATTEMPTED DEPORTATION OF ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL MAY BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL Mohammed, a Pakistani national, is accused of spearheading the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and another commercial jetliner that crashed in Pennsylvania. Austin said a decision on whether to take the death penalty off the table could only be made by the Secretary of Defense. However, legal concerns stemmed from whether the original plea deal was legally binding and whether Austin waited too long to get it dismissed. TRUMP FOE JUDGE BOASBERG RULES DEPORTED MIGRANTS CAN CHALLENGE REMOVALS, IN BLOW TO ADMINISTRATION The court found Austin indisputably had legal authority to withdraw from the agreements because the promises made in the deal had not yet been fulfilled, and the government had no adequate alternative remedies. Since the appeals court put the agreement on hold, the defendants were not sentenced Friday as previously scheduled, marking a temporary victory for the Biden administration. Judges Patricia Millett and Neomi Rao, of the majority opinion, noted the government “adequately explained that Secretary Austin delayed action to avoid an unlawful influence challenge, waiting to see what type of agreement, if any, would result from the negotiations and only then deciding whether intervention was necessary.” Citing previous unlawful influence allegations against various government officials, including the secretary of defense, Millett and Rao found Austin was “reasonable” to withdraw from the agreements to avoid additional litigation. “Having properly assumed the convening authority, the Secretary determined that the families and the American public deserve the opportunity to see military commission trials carried out,” the judges wrote. “The Secretary acted within the bounds of his legal authority, and we decline to second-guess his judgment.” ANTI-ISRAEL RINGLEADER MAHMOUD KHALIL’S FREE SPEECH LAWSUIT AGAINST US GOVERNMENT MUST BE HEARD: JUDGE Judge Robert L. Wilkins, in dissent, argued that siding with the government would be an overreach. “The Court’s holding is stunning,” Wilkins wrote. “Not only does the majority believe that Respondents [prosecutors who negotiated the plea deal] did not begin performance, but it holds that the government established a clear and indisputable right to a writ of mandamus or prohibition. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “It is impossible for me to conclude that the government has shown it is clearly and indisputably entitled to relief,” he continued. “That demanding mandamus standard is even further out of the government’s reach where the government cannot cite binding on-point precedent in support of its claims and we are constrained to reviewing for clear error both the Military Judge’s finding that the PTAs encompassed the relevant promises and his application of the withdrawal regulation. But even on de novo review of those findings, the government has not met its burden.”
Newsom donor’s cannabis farm under federal investigation for ‘child labor violations’
FIRST ON FOX: The President of Glass House Farms, the cannabis farm that federal immigration authorities raided in California on Thursday despite protests, has donated thousands to Democrats in California. Co-founder, president, and board director Graham Farrar, who self-identifies on social media as residing in Santa Barbara, California, has made numerous political donations to the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee’s federal political action committee and Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., according to Federal Election Commission records. According to California public campaign finance records, he also donated $10,000 to California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018, and his most recent public political donation was to California Democratic Assemblymember Gregg Hart in July 2023. IMMIGRATION OPERATION AT CALIFORNIA CANNABIS FARMS LEADS TO CLASH BETWEEN FEDERAL AGENTS AND PROTESTERS Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott tweeted that the farm is “now under investigation for child labor violations” and the Department of Homeland Security told Fox News on Friday that nine unaccompanied children in the U.S. illegally were rescued. “So glad our law enforcement could rescue another child,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated. Glass House Brands said in a statement that they complied with the federal warrants issued. “Yesterday, Glass House Brands received immigration and naturalization warrants. As per the law, we verified that the warrants were valid and we complied. Workers were detained and we are assisting to provide them legal representation,” the company tweeted. GOV GAVIN NEWSOM: TRUMP IS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR DEMOCRACY. DO NOT LET HIM “Glass House has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors. We do not expect this to affect operations moving forward. We will provide additional details when applicable.” “Know there are lots of questions, we have a lot of them too, as we get more information we will update. Our team has been continually on site and we are focused on taking care of our people and our plants,” Farrar posted to X. Farrar’s X feed also shows him retweeting Republicans, such as former Rep. Matt Gaetz, in support of cannabis policy reforms. CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE Protesters clashed with federal authorities in Camarillo on Thursday during an immigration operation. Federal authorities had a warrant for illegal employees, Fox News has learned. Another raid also occurred at another Glass House Farm in Carpinteria. In addition, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli said the FBI has offered a $50,000 award for information leading to the conviction of an unknown suspect who appeared to fire a pistol at federal law enforcement officers near Camarillo. ICE OFFICERS ASSAULTED DURING RAID THAT NABBED 70 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AT MEAT PLANT: DHS People were seen confronting the agents, who used tear gas and smoke bombs. Federal personnel used gas to push back protesters who arrived on the scene after getting word of a raid. Military helicopters were also seen flying low over the fields, a maneuver generally used to flush out people hiding. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “It is becoming increasingly apparent that the actions taken by ICE are bold and aggressive, demonstrating insensitivity towards the direct impact on our community,” Luis Mc Arthur, the mayor of nearby Oxnard, said in a social media post. “These actions are causing unnecessary distress and harm. I remain committed to working alongside our Attorney General and the Governor’s office to explore potential legal avenues to address these activities.” When the governor was asked his thoughts on the footage of somebody firing a gun at federal authorities by right-wing social media account Libs of TikTok, Newsom replied “Of course I condemn any assault on law enforcement, you sh* poster. Now do Jan 6.” “California prosecutes child exploiters and traffickers. Trump tear-gasses children, rips them from their parents, and deports farmworkers. Priorities,” Newsom tweeted in response to Scott’s post about the child labor allegations against the farm. Fox News reached out to Glass House and Newsom.
Jasmine Crockett rips Trump ‘regime,’ vows ‘solidarity’ with Biden witnesses during House probe
Progressive firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, made a second surprise appearance at the House Oversight Committee’s closed-door discussions with former Biden administration aides this week, once again criticizing President Donald Trump on the way out. Crockett surprised reporters when she arrived roughly 15 minutes after House investigators’ transcribed interview with former White House advisor Ashley Williams began, declining to speak on the way in. The Texas Democrat emerged just over 30 minutes later, saying little about what went on inside but telling reporters she still had “absolutely” no concerns about Biden’s mental fitness while in office. She said it was important to “be there physically” for Biden allies being interviewed in the GOP probe – even going as far as suggesting the Trump administration created a threatening environment for members of Congress and its own political opponents. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP “It is important…in my mind, to be there for these witnesses. Unfortunately, we know what happens when this regime gets going. We know about the threats that come upon them, that come upon us as members of Congress,” Crockett said. “I think it is important to stand there in solidarity and to at least be there physically so that they don’t feel like they’re alone as they are enduring egregious attacks consistently from this administration.” Crockett was the only lawmaker seen going in or out of Williams’ meeting with investigators on Friday. The transcribed interview was expected to be staff-led, and lawmakers were not required to attend. “Right now, the Republicans continue to act as if this is a main priority. Yet none of them are showing up,” she said. “I do think that it is important that I show up because if they are going to make allegations about the former commander-in-chief, egregious allegations they continue to wage. I want to make sure that I’m in the room to correct the record, because a lot of times they like to mischaracterize things.” COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’ When asked by Fox News Digital if the interview was still ongoing as she exited, however, Crockett answered, “It’s still going. I’m leaving early. I’ve got to get to another thing.” A source familiar with the ongoing proceeding told Fox News Digital that Crockett came in during Republican investigators’ round of questioning and so was unable to make inquiries herself. Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett for a response. Williams was the former Director of Strategic Outreach under the Biden administration. She did not speak to reporters on the way into her transcribed interview. Crockett initially caught reporters and potentially even staff off guard when she arrived for the closed-door deposition of Biden’s former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., was there as well, as is the norm for sworn depositions. Williams, unlike O’Connor, is not on Capitol Hill under subpoena. During her Wednesday appearance, Crockett declared she never had any concerns about Biden’s mental state while he was president, though she did raise similar claims about Trump. White House spokesman Harrison Fields told Fox News Digital in response to Crockett questioning Trump’s mental acuity: “The Democrats’ rising star has done more to cement the party’s demise than the President she breathlessly supported, the decrepit and feeble Joe Biden. Jasmine continues to prove she’d be better suited as a reality TV star on VH1 than an elected official on Capitol Hill.” Comer is investigating accusations that Biden’s former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president’s full knowledge. Biden allies have pushed back on those claims.