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UNRWA officials lobby congressional staffers against Trump terrorist designation threat

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UNRWA officials lobby congressional staffers against Trump terrorist designation threat

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EXCLUSIVE: UNRWA officials urged congressional staffers to oppose a potential Trump administration move to designate the U.N. agency as a foreign terrorist organization, and discussed UNRWA’s ongoing operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including cash-based assistance, during a Dec. 17 briefing, Fox News Digital has learned.

The video conference was organized by UNRWA USA, the American nonprofit that supports the agency through advocacy and fundraising. UNRWA USA Executive Director Mara Kronenfeld opened the briefing by saying the goal was to make clear that UNRWA “is still on the ground” in Gaza and the West Bank despite what she described as “the Netanyahu government’s insidious efforts to systematically prevent UNRWA from continuing its life-saving humanitarian work.”

During the meeting, briefers also raised reports that the U.S. government was considering designating UNRWA as a foreign terrorist organization and discussed with congressional offices what steps could be taken to “help prevent that and support UNRWA in its critical work,” according to meeting details reviewed by Fox News Digital.

TRUMP ADMIN WEIGHS TERRORISM SANCTIONS AGAINST UN PALESTINIAN AID AGENCY OVER HAMAS ALLEGATIONS

A Palestinian boy walks near a UNRWA school sheltering displaced people that was hit in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City, July 5, 2025. (Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters)

Bill Deere, UNRWA’s director in Washington, said “press reports appear to be true” that the administration was considering a foreign terrorist organization designation for the agency.

“This would be unprecedented for a U.N. agency to consider this. It is certainly unwarranted,” Deere said, asserting that “four separate independent investigations” dispute Israel’s allegations regarding UNRWA’s workforce. 

Deere urged congressional offices to respond forcefully.

“You can loudly express your displeasure,” Deere said, arguing that the ramifications would extend beyond UNRWA and set a precedent affecting the broader U.N. system.

UN AMBASSADOR WALTZ REVEALS TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN IS ‘THE ONLY WAY FORWARD’

An UNRWA truck crosses into Egypt from Gaza

A truck, marked with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) logo, crosses into Egypt from Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah, Egypt, Nov. 27, 2023. (Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters)

“If they go ahead and do this, our recourse with regard to this is limited,” he said, adding that one step that could be taken is that “Congress can override the designation.”

The meeting featured UNRWA field leadership describing conditions and operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

Sam Rose, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, told participants that international staff were not entering Gaza because of the Israeli Knesset legislation, and that operations were being managed remotely.

Rose said that despite claims that UNRWA has been blocked, the agency’s services in Gaza haven’t stopped for a single day, pointing to primary healthcare, education, water and sanitation work, shelter operations and the use of UNRWA facilities as emergency shelters.

Rose also described the agency’s ability to operate programs that do not rely on immediate supply deliveries.

“Cash assistance and job creation programs are also able to continue,” he said and added, “we’re able to operate at scale.”

RUBIO SLAMS UNRWA AS A ‘SUBSIDIARY OF HAMAS,’ VOWS IT WILL NOT ‘PLAY ANY ROLE’ IN DELIVERING AID TO GAZA

UNRWA Gaza Headquarters

United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) building in Gaza, June 2023.  (Ahmed Zakot/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Roland Friedrich, introduced as director of UNRWA affairs in the West Bank, described UNRWA’s scale in the territory, including education, healthcare and assistance programs. He said UNRWA provides support to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees, including aid that “can be cash assistance,” along with other forms such as food vouchers and social protection payments.

Friedrich also described “cash for rent” assistance for displaced people, and argued that UNRWA’s presence plays a stabilizing role across multiple countries in the region.

The officials also discussed workarounds that allow UNRWA to keep operating under restrictions.

ISRAEL SAYS UN MISLEADS WORLD AS GAZA AID STOLEN AND DIVERTED FROM CIVILIANS

Lazzarini speaking

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) holds a press conference in Jerusalem, Oct. 27, 2023.  (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Rose said UNRWA was still able to receive fuel and that certain coordination occurred through third parties, describing indirect engagement involving U.N. channels. He said fuel could run power generators and water pumps and emphasized the importance of keeping basic services running.

On aid flows, Rose said Israel was reporting daily truck numbers that reached 600 per day, and he said he did not have reason to doubt the overall count. At the same time, he argued that the mix of goods entering had shifted, with commercial supplies playing a larger role while certain humanitarian items remained restricted for U.N. agencies. He described what he called a two-tier system, where some items blocked from U.N. use could enter through private channels.

Beyond the operational discussion, the briefing included explicit advocacy aimed at congressional offices.

Kronenfeld urged participants to support legislation described in the meeting as the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025, and she thanked offices already backing efforts to restore U.S. funding, describing the United States as historically UNRWA’s largest donor before the funding halt in 2024.

UNRWA USA did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital. UNRWA also did not respond.

William Deere, director of the UNRWA Representative Office in Washington, D.C., provided the following statement in response to a request for comment from Fox News Digital:

“UNRWA participates in briefings hosted by the UNRWA USA National Committee and attended by bicameral groups of Republican and Democratic staff from Capitol Hill, as well as think tanks and nongovernmental organizations. Briefings like these are important opportunities for the Agency to respond to the government of Israel’s ongoing disinformation campaign suggesting that UNRWA is no longer actively working in Gaza. Quite the opposite is true. Every day, UNRWA staff are delivering critical services in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In fact, in a recent letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, UNRWA thanked President Trump for negotiating the ceasefire, which allows the world to turn to Gaza’s future.”

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Palestinians protest outside the UNRWA in Gaza City

Palestinians protest outside the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza City against the reduction of food aid provided for the refugees, June 20, 2023. (Majdi Fathi/TPS)

Deere added: “In Gaza, UNRWA medical personnel deliver 40 percent of primary healthcare and play a critical role in distributing water, promoting public health through immunization campaigns, pest control, nutrition screenings, and the disposal of solid waste. UNRWA is also leading the way in Gaza education, stepping up its ‘back to learning’ program, with almost 70,000 children now accessing the Agency’s in-person learning activities. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is also a challenging area in which to work, especially given the various laws approved by the Israeli Knesset, and policymakers are always interested to hear the impacts of these laws firsthand from our experts.”

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.

Ex-NFL star JJ Watt criticizes Steelers’ players who shared details of Mike Tomlin’s emotional final meeting

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Ex-NFL star JJ Watt criticizes Steelers' players who shared details of Mike Tomlin's emotional final meeting

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Pittsburgh Steelers players shared details of Mike Tomlin’s emotional final meeting with the team, and former NFL star J.J. Watt took issue with the players.

Watt, whose brother T.J. Watt is mentioned in the report as being sad about Tomlin leaving as well, felt like the moment could have stayed in the locker room. J.J. Watt retweeted a paragraph of The Athletic’s report in which Aaron Rodgers told Tomlin he was sorry, through sobs.

“Feel like this moment could have stayed in the meeting room,” Watt wrote on X.

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J.J. Watt (99) of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the field during player introductions prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Jan. 8, 2023. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

T.J. Watt had always been a huge advocate for Tomlin, even saying in his contract talks that he didn’t want to play for anyone other than the longtime head coach. As Tomlin was telling the team that he was stepping down, Watt repeatedly said, “No,” as his eyes welled up.

J.J. Watt added that he would have preferred that those inside the room kept the intimate details to themselves instead of sharing them.

That meeting was the final one of Tomlin’s storied tenure with the Steelers. In 19 seasons, Tomlin went 193-114-2 and won the AFC North eight times, making the Super Bowl twice and winning once.

FOX SUPER 6 CONTEST: CHRIS ‘THE BEAR’ FALLICA’S NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND PREDICTIONS

T.J. Watt warms up

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 4, 2026. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

It is unclear if Tomlin wants to coach next season or if he wants to take a season off. The 53-year-old is coveted by a litany of TV networks who have shown interest in hiring him as an analyst, according to The Athletic.

The Steelers, who are running just their fourth head coaching search since 1969, have already completed interviews or have interviews scheduled with the following candidates, according to multiple reports:

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Jubilant Aaron Rodgers chats up Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) leave the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Nate Scheelhaase – Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator

Chris Shula – Rams defensive coordinator

Anthony Weaver – Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator

Jesse Minter – Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator

Brian Flores – Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator

Ejiro Evero – Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator

Jeff Hafley – Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator

Klay Kubiak – San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

Darlington hospital violated trans complaint nurses’ dignity, tribunal rules

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Darlington hospital violated trans complaint nurses' dignity, tribunal rules

Duncan LeatherdaleNorth East and Cumbria

PA Media Five women stand outside a court building. They are standing on steps and, as a result, are seen at different heights. Two are blond, three have dark hair and all their hair is about shoulder-length. They are all smartly dressed - four are wearing jackets (navy, cream, pink and gre) and one is wearing a black and white floral blouse.PA Media

The nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital launched employment tribunal proceedings against NHS bosses

Hospital bosses violated the dignity of a group of female nurses who complained about a transgender woman using their changing room, an employment tribunal has found.

Eight nurses from Darlington Memorial Hospital claimed they had been “penalised” by managers for objecting to Rose Henderson, a biological male who identifies as a woman, using the single-sex space.

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust claimed the nurses had “demonised” their colleague and the policy was in accordance with guidelines at the time.

In a partial victory for the nurses, the employment panel said the trust had created a “hostile environment”, but other elements of their claim were unfounded.

The nurses, who were supported in their claim by Christian Concern, said the ruling was a “massive vindication” and “victory for common sense”.

The tribunal, held in Newcastle in October and November, had heard Rose, an operating department practitioner who would be referred to by first name in the proceedings, had used the changing room since 2019.

Complaints were first made by female nurses from the day surgery unit (DSU) in August 2023.

Rose Henderson arrives at the tribunal. Rose has long blonde hair, glasses and is wearing a black and white stripy dress. On top of that is what looks like a black jacket or cardigan but the image is blurred so it's not clear.

Nurses at Darlington Memorial Hosptial have objected to Rose Henderson using the female-only changing room

The trust’s Transitioning in the Workplace policy allowed a person to use the single-sex space that conformed with their gender identity, and anyone of that sex who objected could change elsewhere.

Some 26 nurses signed a letter complaining of Rose’s use of and conduct within the changing room, with Rose telling the tribunal the allegations, which included staring at women getting undressed, were “false”.

In their 134-page judgement, the panel of three headed by employment judge Seamus Sweeney said the trust had harassed and discriminated against the nurses by requiring them to share a changing room with a “biological male trans woman” and then not taking their concerns seriously.

Lisa Lockey (l) and Bethany Hutchison (r) say organisations need to listen to women

But the panel found the nurse’s allegations about Rose Henderson’s conduct in the changing room to be “not well founded” and dismissed them, along with claims the women had been victimised.

The judgement said the trust’s policy had an “admirable and noble purpose”, but it had the effect of “violating the dignity” of the nurses and of “creating for them a hostile, humiliating and degrading environment”.

PA Media Two pairs of women are hugging, with a fifth watching. The pair nearest are both wearing cream coats and have blond hair. Next to them are two wearing maroon coats and with dark hair. The woman standing nearby has dyed red hair and is wearing black. They are all beaming with delighted smiles.PA Media

The nurses said they were delighted with the ruling

When the nurses raised their concerns, they “genuinely felt they were not being taken seriously” and were “being in essence fobbed off by senior management and seen as trouble-makers”, the panel said.

At no point did anyone in management or the trust’s HR department “seriously consider” how their policy “might constitute some form of discrimination against female employees”, the judgement said.

The panel also concluded the nurses were “correct in their belief” that management was “not going to address the core issue”, which was the use of the female changing room by a “biological male trans woman”.

David Robinson / Geograph A long, wide building with numerous windows stands in the centre, with ambulances outside an entrance, a sign reads 'Darlington Memorial Hospital'. A park sits in front. David Robinson / Geograph

Those involved in the tribunal all work at Darlington Memorial Hospital

Similarly, asking Rose to change elsewhere was “never on the cards” for managers, even though the “stark numerical reality” was that some 300 women used the changing room and Rose was the only trans person.

Asking Rose to change somewhere else would have been “reasonable and feasible”, the panel said.

Instead, a small cubicle adjoining a meeting room was converted into a changing room for those that complained.

Also, an HR manager told the nurses to “broaden their minds”, which “served to highlight to the nurses that they were not being taken seriously” and reinforced “the feeling they were seen as transphobic or bigoted”, the panel said.

The tribunal said the nurses were “entitled to a remedy” and encouraged all parties to agree on one without the need for further hearings.

The trust’s policy was withdrawn in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that ruled the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex, the panel said.

Six women sit at a long table with microphones set up in front of them. Behind them is a banner with the words "standing with the Darlington nurses" written on it

The nurses held a press conference at which they said they felt vindicated

Speaking after the judgement was released, Bethany Hutchison, one of the nurses, said it was a “victory for common sense” and a “turning point”.

She said women deserved access to single-sex spaces “without fear or intimidation” and the trust’s policy had been “degrading” and “dangerous”.

Ms Hutchison said she was “absolutely delighted” with the judgement, which was a “massive vindication”, and the ruling “showed we were in the right the whole time”.

Her colleague Lisa Lockey said organisations needed to “listen to women”.

We have experienced such a silencing, we weren’t allowed to complain and were gas-lighted by our trust,” she said.

She was made to feel like a “terrible person” for “having the audacity to complain”, she added.

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust said the organisation was “taking time to review the judgement” and would comment further “once we have had the opportunity to consider it in full”.

Rose has been approached for comment.

College football transfer portal trends: Prices rising

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College football transfer portal trends: Prices rising

  • Max OlsonJan 16, 2026, 10:25 AM ET

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    • Covers the Big 12
    • Joined ESPN in 2012
    • Graduate of the University of Nebraska

College football’s offseason transfer portal window was utter chaos as expected, a relentless two-week run that resulted in more than 6,700 Division 1 players entering their names in the portal.

On Friday, the transfer window comes to a close for most players. Players who want to enter the portal and play elsewhere in 2026 need to notify their school by midnight.

There’s no deadline for making a decision on where they’re going next. Players at Indiana and Miami will have an opportunity to transfer next week after the College Football Playoff National Championship. But for everyone else, this is the last chance to make a move.

The nonstop run of transfer transactions officially began on Jan. 2. As we approach the finish line, here are five takeaways from a portal window that coaches, general managers, staffers, agents and players agreed was the wildest one yet.

Overpay or lose

This January portal window was unlike anything we’ve seen since the transfer portal was first established in 2018. Reducing the offseason transfer window down to a two-week period and eliminating the spring transfer window meant teams had to get all their shopping for 2026 done as quickly as possible.

The resulting portal cycle played out precisely as expected: high speed, high pressure, high prices.

The price tag for the top returning quarterbacks moved into the $3 million to $5 million range this offseason, industry sources told ESPN, which was no shock. Several agents told ESPN they had no trouble finding deals for $1 million or more in the portal for the offensive tackles and defensive linemen they represented.

Industry sources say Colorado offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, the No. 1 uncommitted player in ESPN’s transfer rankings, can essentially name his price now that he’s officially on the open market. There’s very little precedent in the NIL era for a potential first-round NFL draft pick at left tackle entering the portal ahead of his junior year. Seaton visited Mississippi State on Thursday.

While players like Seaton and Cam Coleman, the No. 1 ranked receiver transferring from Auburn to Texas, are the rare outliers at their respective positions, the sense among front office staffers and agents surveyed by ESPN was teams knew they had to overspend now with no spring transfer portal to depend on later.

“These are your options,” one agent told ESPN. “If you’ve got holes, you can either not spend or you can overpay.”

Front offices and agents continued to operate with little fear of the College Sports Commission or NIL Go this month, particularly while the CSC participation agreements remained unsigned. They continue to strike deals funded by a combination of rev-share and third-party money.

It’s clear this will become an increasingly important topic in college athletics going forward as the CSC attempts to begin investigations and enforcement. But when the portal is open and hundreds of players are making commitments every day, schools can’t afford to hesitate. They’re paying whatever it takes to get the player signed now and will figure out the rest later.

Another packed QB carousel

The transfer quarterback market was extremely active as usual with nearly 200 FBS scholarship quarterbacks on the move. That’s not a record-setting number, but here’s the thing about this year’s portal QB crop: 40% were repeat transfers.

The timetable for making that first move is clearly getting moved up. After this QB carousel, 13 of the 17 quarterbacks in the 2024 ESPN 300 have transferred at least once with Air Noland (Memphis), Michael Van Buren Jr. (USF), Luke Kromenhoek (USF) and Hauss Hejny (Colorado State) moving on to their third school in three years.

And we’ve seen eight ESPN 300 quarterbacks in the 2025 class hit the portal with Deuce Knight (Auburn to Ole Miss) and Husan Longstreet (USC to LSU) making big moves after redshirting this season.

Since this is the much shorter list, let’s just go with this: Here are all of the top-50 quarterback recruits in ESPN’s rankings from 2020-2023 who haven’t transferred, changed positions or retired during their college careers.

2020 (4): Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Anthony Richardson Sr. (Florida), Garrett Greene (West Virginia)

2021 (5): J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Drake Maye (North Carolina), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Behren Morton (Texas Tech)

2022 (5): Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Drew Allar (Penn State), Gunner Stockton (Georgia), Sam Horn (Missouri)

2023 (7): Arch Manning (Texas), Christopher Vizzina (Clemson), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Marcel Reed (Texas A&M), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina), Emory Williams (Miami), Tucker McDonald (UConn)

Retention is not cheap

A common assumption entering this offseason portal cycle was that schools having the opportunity to lock in returning players on multi-year rev-share deals should help with roster retention and keeping priority players out of the portal.

Well, these players have agents. The agents are constantly communicating with GMs and receiving offers. Nobody needs to enter the portal first to determine their value. Reps are seeking raises for their clients regardless of performance. The backups and freshmen don’t come cheap anymore.

A common refrain when talking to GMs this month, especially those at top-25 programs: The public still doesn’t understand how expensive it is to retain the roster.

Fans frustrated that their team’s transfer portal class isn’t as star-studded as they hoped need to recognize how much time, effort and money is being directed towards putting out fires and keeping players out of the portal in December and January. In fact, some schools were still trying to make last-minute pushes this week for players who’d already re-signed.

Among the 18 programs that cleared 50% in Bud Elliott’s Blue-Chip Ratio for 2025, only five are getting through this two-week period with limited scholarship departures: Texas A&M (11), Clemson (12), Georgia (14), Notre Dame (15) and Miami (eight so far).

High-attrition offseasons were expected at LSU, Penn State, Florida, Auburn and Michigan amid head coaching changes, and Florida State losing 33 scholarship players after back-to-back losing seasons makes sense.

But Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, USC and Tennessee all had more than 20 scholarship players hit the portal in January. Even the programs that have serious resources must make tough decisions about which players they’re willing to pay up to keep and which ones are asking for too much.

High volume is now the norm

Remember when Deion Sanders brought in 50 transfers for his first year at Colorado and everybody (including yours truly) questioned the strategy? The Buffaloes went into that 2023 season with a nearly brand-new roster featuring nine returning scholarship players and 68 scholarship newcomers.

Years later, it’s only right to acknowledge Coach Prime was ahead of his time.

Some of the most extreme roster rebuilds you’ve ever seen are currently underway this offseason. Oklahoma State has brought in 49 transfers, including 17 from North Texas. Penn State imported 23 players and nine signees from Iowa State. The Cyclones needed to go get more than 40 transfers to replace who they’ve lost. UCLA, South Florida, Memphis and Arkansas are all bringing in more than 30 via the portal and LSU nearly there, too. West Virginia is attempting a massive flip for Year 2 with 75 newcomers on the way, including 27 via the portal.

But it’s not just them. This offseason just further normalized the trend of programs looking to bring in 20-25 transfers per offseason to rebuild or reload. According to SportSource Analytics and Tracking Football, 39 FBS programs have landed 20 or more transfers this offseason.

Athletic directors looked at the stunning success of Curt Cignetti at Indiana as proof that seemingly impossible levels of success can be unlocked very quickly by the right hires. Now we’re about to watch Aiden Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds, Elijah Sarratt and their fellow James Madison transfers play for a national championship on Monday.

The fascinating question going forward: Are Cignetti and the Hoosiers truly the one-of-one exception in this sport? Or is it possible we’ll see at least one of these teams engaged in rapid Year 1 rebuilds playing in the College Football Playoff in December?

Too many stuck in the portal

Entering the final day of the offseason transfer window, several agents told ESPN their work was finished now that each of their clients had found schools. The sense from GMs and DPPs surveyed was they still have a couple remaining needs to address over the next week, but spots were filling up fast.

Indiana and Miami players have a Jan. 24 deadline to enter the transfer portal after the national title game. But beyond those players, portal activity should slow down considerably in the days ahead as schools hit their enrollment deadlines.

What does that mean for all of the players who haven’t found a school?

There were still more than 1,200 unsigned FBS scholarship players in the NCAA’s transfer portal database as of Thursday night, sources told ESPN. It’s likely that group includes quite a few players who have verbally committed but haven’t officially signed yet.

Still, that’s a concerning number to see at this point in the process. It would mean more than one-third of the FBS scholarship players in the portal haven’t found a new home yet.

In the 2024-25 portal cycle, more than 97% of the scholarship players at Power 4 programs who transferred ended up matriculating to a new school. There’s no shortage of options at the FCS, Division II, D-III and junior college levels for players who are determined to keep playing.

But this cycle presented new challenges. Schools had to rapidly sort through the more than 6,500 Division I players who’ve hit the portal since Jan. 2 and sign who they wanted as fast as possible. If you were entering the portal with limited playing experience or were coming off an injury and all you had was practice film, good luck.

Another problem: Because pre-portal tampering was so rampant during the season and especially in December, players who didn’t have agents or representatives lining up offers and visits ahead of January were at a disadvantage. If you played by the rules and waited until Jan. 2 to begin your recruiting process, you were starting from behind.

Conversely, there’s no doubt there are also players stuck in the portal who were pushed out by their previous school or listened to bad advice from reps who could not deliver the dollars or destination they expected.

So where will these unsigned players go now? The challenge is deciding whether to sign with a Group of 5/FCS/D-II program now or sit out the semester and hope better options emerge in April. The elimination of the spring transfer window might help their chances, because these programs will still have injuries and depth concerns they need to address after spring practice.

After two intense weeks that felt much more like speed dating than recruiting to GMs and agents, there are still good college football players out there waiting to be picked up. Some programs are going to find some serious steals in the weeks ahead.

Zipcar to end UK operations affecting 650,000 drivers

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Zipcar to end UK operations affecting 650,000 drivers

Car-sharing firm Zipcar has confirmed it is stopping operations in the UK after launching a consultation late last year.

The move will hit the company’s roughly 650,000 drivers across the country.

On December 1, the US-based company told customers in the UK that it planned to suspend new bookings temporarily at the turn of the year.

The business, which had 71 UK employees at the end of 2024, launched a formal consultation with staff as a result.

On Friday, in a fresh email to customers, the business said it “can now confirm that Zipcar will cease operating in the UK”.

The company added: “In accordance with clause 7.5 of the member terms, please take this as your written notice that we will formally close your account in 30 days’ time.

“It’s not possible to make any new bookings with Zipcar UK at this time, but your account will remain open until February 16.”

It added that customers will be entitled to a pro-rated refund for any remaining periods on current plans or subscriptions, from the start of 2026.

Zipcar said this will be done automatically and will not require any action from users.

Accounts showed that the van and car hire firm saw losses deepen to £5.7 million in 2024 after a decrease in customer trips.

5 smart ways to use aluminium foil in your kitchen | – The Times of India

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5 smart ways to use aluminium foil in your kitchen | - The Times of India

Aluminium foil is among the most used kitchen items. However, most people are barely aware of its full potential. It is so much more than just wrapping food or leftovers or covering dishes. This sheet has many uses that can not only save time but can also make everyday cooking easier and less messier! There are many smart ways that people can use it in their kitchen. Let’s find five smart ways to use aluminium foil in your kitchen that actually work.Oven use

foils

canva

Among the many uses, one of the smartest uses of aluminium foil is protecting your oven from spills. You can use it when baking pies, or any other dish that bubbles. All you need to do is put a sheet of foil on the rack below the food—not directly at the bottom of the oven. This saves your oven from drips along with preventing burnt-on residue that is difficult to clean later. But make sure, you don’t line the oven floor with foil. Use it in the correct manner. Warm food and no overcookingAluminium foil is excellent at retaining heat. It can keep cooked food warm for a long time. You can wrap your rotis or grilled vegetables in foil paper and maintain temperature. But make sure you don’t wrap food tightly, the paper should be lightly wrapped. Tight wrapping can cause food to sweat which makes it soggy. A loose foil cover allows some moisture to escape while preserving warmth.Effective in cleaning burnt utensilsNot many must be aware of this magic of aluminum foil! You can scrub burnt pans or greasy trays with foil. All you can do is make a foil ball and scrub stubborn food residue from cookware like stainless steel or cast iron. You’ll be surprised to see how neatly it clears all the utensils. But remember, do not use this on non-stick cookware as it can damage the coating. Even cookingAluminium foil can help you cook food evenly if used smartly. Wrapping vegetables like corn, beetroot and potatoes, among others in foil helps them cook thoroughly while retaining their moisture. The foil can also be used in roasting fish, chicken or paneer as it locks in flavours. Foil can also be used as a temporary cover. Simply tent the dish with foil to slow down surface browning while allowing the inside to cook properly. Saves from overcooking. As a lining for baking trays

Foil Paper

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Foil papers can also be used as lining baking trays for easy cleanup. Once you’re done, simply discard the foil, leaving the tray clean and spotless. This is especially useful when roasting oily or sticky foods.An aluminium foil is one of the most versatile kitchen products. But it is crucial to use it wisely and smartly. You need to follow some precautions:Avoid cooking highly acidic foods in foils. Don’t store food for a long duration.These are of the smart uses of aluminum foil, making it a silent hero of the kitchen.Also there’s a whole lot of myth when it comes to “which side of the foil should face the food, the shiny or the matte”? There are some who say the shiny side is healthier and some believe the other one is good. But is it true? Well, the reason is rooted in how aluminum foil is made, and there is absolutely no “right” or wrong” side. Some foils are special, such as non-stick aluminum foil. Only in such cases, manufacturers recommend placing the non-stick side toward the food, else, there is hardly any difference.

New fossils uncovered at Dinosaur National Monument, leading to first excavation there in a century

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New fossils uncovered at Dinosaur National Monument, leading to first excavation there in a century


New dinosaur fossils were discovered at the Dinosaur National Monument, leading to the first excavation there in more than 100 years, officials revealed Friday.

The National Park Service said that parking lot construction was underway in September near the Quarry Exhibit Hall in the Utah side of the park when the dinosaur fossils were uncovered. Dinosaur National Monument is located on the border between Colorado and Utah, about 300 miles west of Denver.       

A portion of dinosaur-bearing sandstone was exposed when asphalt was removed on Sept. 16 by workers. Construction was immediately paused to allow paleontologists to assess and excavate the fossils.

“The fossils belong to a large, long-necked dinosaur, most like Diplodocus, which is common in this bonebed,” the NPS said in a statement.

Approximately 3,000 pounds of fossils and rock were removed during the excavation between mid-September and mid-October, the NPS said. The fossils are being cleaned and studied at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum in Vernal, Utah.

Workers are excavating dinosaur fossils and rocks at the Dinosaur National Monument in September and October 2025.

National Park Service


According to NPS, the bonebed area had not been excavated for fossils since the original excavations at the site ended in 1924. Meanwhile, the parking lot and road improvement construction project was completed once the excavation was done.

Research released last October suggests that dinosaur populations were still thriving in North America before an asteroid smacked the Earth 66 million years ago.

In January 2025, a nearly 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil was discovered during a parking lot project at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. It is the oldest dinosaur fossil ever found within Denver’s city limits.

“This fossil comes from an era just before the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, and it offers a rare window into the ecosystem that once existed right beneath modern-day Denver,” the museum’s Curator of Geology, James Hagadorn, said at the time.

Top Iran prayer leader who dubbed protesters ‘Trump’s soldiers’ calls for executions amid ongoing unrest

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Top Iran prayer leader who dubbed protesters 'Trump's soldiers' calls for executions amid ongoing unrest

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An Iranian cleric has called for the death penalty for protesters detained during a nationwide crackdown amid ongoing unrest against the Islamic regime. 

The cleric’s call follows President Donald Trump’s threats of U.S. intervention if protesters were met with violence.

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami’s sermon, which was broadcast by Iranian state radio, reportedly sparked chants from those gathered for prayers. The Associated Press reported that the chants included, “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!”

During his sermon, Khatami gave the first overall statistics of the damage from the protests, which began in late December, according to the AP. This information provides a look at the scale of the protests after the regime instituted a nationwide internet blackout on Jan. 8.

ARMED KURDISH FIGHTERS TRY TO BREACH IRAN BORDER AS REGIONAL THREAT GROWS AMID PROTESTS: REPORTS

Iranian senior cleric Ahmad Khatami delivers his sermon during the Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. (Ebrahim Noroozi, File/AP Photo)

The cleric claimed 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls and 20 other holy places had sustained damage, the AP reported. Khatami also claimed that 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, 71 fire department vehicles and another 50 emergency vehicles sustained damage.

Another 80 homes of Friday prayer leaders had also reportedly been damaged, the AP reported, adding that it could be a sign of demonstrators taking out their frustrations against the government as the leaders hold an important position within Iran’s theocracy.

“They want you to withdraw from religion,” Khatami said, according to the AP. “They planned these crimes from a long time ago.”

Protester holding sign in Tehran on Friday

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

POMPEO SAYS IRANIAN REGIME HAS ARRIVED AT ‘NATURAL TERMINUS’: ‘LET’S NOT WASTE THIS HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY’

Khatami, who was appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and serves on the country’s Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council, had previously spoken out against protesters. He described them as being “butlers” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers.”

Khamenei made similar remarks, saying that the protesters were “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” referring to Trump.

Anti-government protests in Iran

Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

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Trump has been vocal in his support for the Iranian people and said early on that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and ready to intervene if the regime used violence against protesters. It is unclear if and when the U.S. will take concrete action in Iran, but speculation has circulated following the bombing of the country’s nuclear sites in 2025 and the U.S. capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.

Budget 2026: Will Markets Be Open On February 1? Full Details Inside

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Budget 2026: Will Markets Be Open On February 1? Full Details Inside

New Delhi: Good news for investors and market watchers! Even though February 1 falls on a Sunday this year, the Indian stock markets will remain open for trading on Budget Day. Both the BSE and NSE announced on January 16 that trading will take place as per normal market hours on February 1 for Budget 2026. This special arrangement ensures that investors can react to Budget announcements in real time, without waiting for the next trading session.

The NSE clarified the special trading arrangement in a circular, stating, “On account of the presentation of the Union Budget, members are requested to note that Exchange shall be conducting live trading session on February 01, 2026, as per the standard market timings (9:15 am-3:30 pm),” said NSE in a circular.

Union Budget 2026 to be presented on February 1 at 11 am

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The Union Budget for 2026 will be presented at 11 am on Sunday, February 1, the Lok Sabha Speaker confirmed on January 12. In recent years, February 1 has become the fixed date for the annual Budget presentation, a trend that continued with the 2025 Budget as well. The upcoming Budget will also be a significant milestone for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as it will be her ninth consecutive Union Budget, placing her among finance ministers with the longest uninterrupted Budget tenures.

Trading details for Budget Day explained

While most core market segments will remain open during regular trading hours on Budget Day, some services will stay shut. The BSE has clarified that the T+0 settlement session and the auction session meant for settlement defaults will not be operational. At the same time, the NSE confirmed that trading in capital markets and derivatives will continue as usual.

Stock market holiday list remains the same

The stock market holiday calendar for 2026 remains unchanged, with Indian exchanges observing 16 public holidays apart from weekends. The next scheduled market closure this month will be on January 26. In the first half of the year, markets will remain shut on key occasions such as Holi (March 3), Ram Navami (March 26), Mahavir Jayanti (March 31) and Good Friday (April 3). Trading will also be suspended on Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), Maharashtra Day (May 1) and Bakri Id (May 28).

In the second half of the year, markets will close on Muharram (June 26), Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Dussehra (October 20), Diwali Balipratipada (November 10) and Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 24). Christmas, on December 25, will be the final market holiday of 2026.

Trump launches phase 2 of Gaza peace plan — but Hamas disarmament remains the real test

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Trump launches phase 2 of Gaza peace plan — but Hamas disarmament remains the real test

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President Donald Trump’s administration formally launched the second phase of its plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas this week, shifting from a ceasefire framework toward a post-ceasefire political and security phase for Gaza. The announcement immediately raised a central question that now dominates expert analysis: who will actually disarm Hamas.

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced Wednesday that phase two is underway, describing it as a transition “from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance and reconstruction.” He warned that Hamas must fully comply with its obligations under the deal, including the immediate return of the final deceased Israeli hostage.

“The U.S. expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of the final deceased hostage,” Witkoff wrote on X. “Failure to do so will bring serious consequences.”

As Washington announced the move to Phase Two before Ran Gvili’s return, his family, other hostage families, residents of Gaza border communities, police officers, and captivity survivor Agam Berger gathered Friday at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, urging that Gvili, who has been held captive for 833 days, be brought home before any transition to the next phase.

TRUMP FACES MIDDLE EAST TEST AS NETANYAHU BALKS AT ERDOGAN’S GAZA TROOP HOPES

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff acknowledges applause by members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on Oct. 13, 2025. (Saul Loeb / POOL / AFP=via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump reinforced the administration’s announcement on Thursday, writing on Truth Social that the United States had “OFFICIALLY entered the next phase of Gaza’s 20-Point Peace Plan,” following Witkoff’s remarks. Trump said that since the ceasefire, his team had helped deliver “RECORD LEVELS of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, reaching Civilians at HISTORIC speed and scale,” adding that “even the United Nations has acknowledged this achievement as UNPRECEDENTED.” 

Trump wrote that these developments had “set the stage for this next phase,” which he said would include backing a newly appointed Palestinian technocratic government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, to govern the territory during a transitional period. Trump described himself as chairman of the Board of Peace and said the committee would be supported by the board’s high representative. 

Ran Gvili

Ran Gvili was hailed a hero for his actions in fighting back the terrorists while injured, saving men, women, and children during the Oct. 7 terror attack. Gvili’s body remains held captive in Gaza by Palestinian terrorists. (Courtesy: Bring Them Home Now)

Trump again warned that Hamas must “IMMEDIATELY honor its commitments, including the return of the final body to Israel, and proceed without delay to full Demilitarization,” adding, “They can do this the easy way, or the hard way.” Trump concluded the post by saying, “The people of Gaza have suffered long enough. The time is NOW. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

The new phase envisions the establishment of a transitional technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza, while the United States works with Egypt and other regional partners to ensure compliance and stability. Yet the announcement offered few operational details, particularly regarding how Hamas would be disarmed after more than two decades of military control in the enclave.

MIDDLE EAST OFFICIALS LOOK TOWARD SECOND PHASE OF ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASEFIRE WITH TWO HOSTAGES LEFT IN GAZA

Gazans flee their homes amid Israeli air strikes

Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee their homes after Israeli air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip on May 16, 2025. (Mahmoud Issa/Reuters)

France backs ceasefire, aid and long-term demilitarization

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the ceasefire an “incredible achievement” and said phase two could help lay the groundwork for peace without Hamas.

“The Trump plan is establishing a ceasefire, which is an incredible achievement,” Bonnafont said. “It has to go to a massive reopening of humanitarian aid, and it is going to be announced within a couple of days.”

He said the next stage includes an international stabilization force that would support reconstruction and contribute to Hamas’s disarmament.

“That would help disarm Hamas, and that will help the Palestinian Authority return and democratically restart the management of Gaza as part of the Palestinian territory,” he said.

Bonnafont emphasized that France views Israel’s security as a priority, particularly in the face of regional threats. “We have always been on the side of Israel when it comes, for example, to the threats by Iran to the existence of Israel,” he said.

At the same time, he said France believes long-term security depends on the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state living in peace with Israel. “We believe that security for Israel in the long term comes with the creation of Palestine,” Bonnafont said. “A Palestine that has to be independent but demilitarized and in peace with Israel.”

The United Nations also welcomed the announcement of phase two, calling it “an important step” while emphasizing adherence to international law and existing U.N. resolutions.

ISRAEL SHUTS DOOR ON TURKEY IN GAZA AS TRUMP PRAISES ERDOGAN, PLAYS DOWN CLASH

gaza

Destroyed buildings are pictured in the west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on Feb. 11, 2025. (Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images)

A plan advances, but the hardest problem remains

Israeli and U.S. security analysts broadly agree that phase two cannot succeed without addressing Hamas’s weapons and coercive power.

Dr. Avner Golov, vice president of the Israeli policy institute Mind Israel, told Fox News Digital that, “The central challenge is Hamas’s demilitarization,” Golov said. “The only actors truly willing to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities are the Israelis, and as long as Hamas remains armed, there should be no rebuilding and no IDF withdrawal from the current defensive line.”

“In the end, there must be a credible military threat from the IDF against Hamas,” he said. “Without such a threat, I see no chance that Hamas will voluntarily disarm.”

Golov also pointed to what he described as a gap between diplomatic commitments and action by regional actors. “The key test is Turkey and Qatar,” he said. “They signed a document committing to Hamas’s disarmament, but since then they have not demonstrated real commitment to implementing it.”

US SEEKS UN AUTHORIZATION FOR GAZA INTERNATIONAL FORCE LASTING THROUGH 2027 UNDER TRUMP PLAN

trump and el-sisi hokding peace plan

President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hold the signed agreement of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters )

Reconstruction without security seen as unrealistic

Jonathan Ruhe, a fellow for American Strategy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), argued that phase two presents a detailed reconstruction framework but avoids the most politically difficult decision.

“The peace plan offers a detailed framework for rebuilding Gaza and promoting better governance,” Ruhe said. “But it’s silent on the ‘who’ and ‘how’ of disarming Hamas.”

“As long as Hamas can interrupt aid distribution, intimidate and kill Gazans who want a better future, and threaten renewed war with Israel, international investment in reconstruction and reform will be near zero,” he said.

While Trump’s plan calls for Hamas to disarm voluntarily, Ruhe also said Hamas has little reason to do so. “Hamas refuses because it thinks it won the war,” he said. “Now there is an urgent need to decide who will disarm Hamas forcefully.”

Ruhe noted that a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizes an International Stabilization Force to disarm Hamas, but he said no country has been willing to put troops in that role. Instead, he said the Trump plan outlines a more limited mission for international forces, focused on guarding aid sites and preventing Hamas resupply.

“Trump and Netanyahu both said Israel might have to disarm Hamas,” Ruhe said. “But the IDF ground forces need to rest and refit after two years of grueling combat, and a major offensive risks blowing up the international coalition needed for phase two.”

He suggested that well-vetted private military contractors, overseen by U.S. security officials rather than U.S. Central Command, could play a role, though he acknowledged such a move would involve “hard fighting.”

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IDF marks the Yellow Line in Gaza.

The IDF announced that as part of the ceasefire agreement and in accordance with the directive of the political echelon, IDF troops under the Southern Command have begun marking the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip to establish tactical clarity on the ground. (IDF)

A narrowing window

Despite diplomatic momentum, analysts interviewed by Fox News Digital cautioned that time may be working against the plan. “The status quo favors Hamas as it continues tightening its grip over its half of Gaza,” Ruhe said. “Announcing the Board of Peace serves important diplomatic purposes, but it won’t mean much on the ground unless and until Hamas is disarmed.”

Golov echoed that assessment. “As long as Hamas remains armed, there should be no rebuilding and no IDF withdrawal from the current defensive line,” he said.

Efrat Lachter is an investigative reporter and war correspondent. Her work has taken her to 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. She is a recipient of the 2024 Knight-Wallace Fellowship for Journalism. Lachter can be followed on X @efratlachter.

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