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Faye Hall, American detained by Taliban, has been released
An American woman who had been detained by the Taliban since February has been freed, a source with knowledge of the release told Fox News on Saturday.
American citizen Faye Hall was released on Thursday and received at the Qatari embassy in Kabul. She has been confirmed to be in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks, the source said. Arrangements are currently underway for her return to the United States.
The Taliban agreed to release Hall after President Donald Trump removed multimillion-dollar bounties on senior members of the militant group, according to a report by the Telegraph.
Faye Hall, an American woman who had been detained by the Taliban since February, has been freed a source with knowledge of the release told Fox News Saturday. (Diplomatic source in Afghanistan)
TALIBAN FREES AMERICAN HOSTAGE GEORGE GLEZMANN FOLLOWING NEGOTIATIONS WITH US, QATAR
Trump agreed to remove millions of dollars of bounties on three senior members of the Haqqani network, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban government’s interior minister, the outlet reported, noting that Washington was offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Fox News Digital wasn’t immediately able to confirm the nature of the agreement and has reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.
Her release was initiated following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar serving in its role as the United States’ protecting power in Afghanistan, the Fox News source said.
Hall, along with the British couple, Peter Reynolds, 79, his wife Barbie, 75, and their interpreter were arrested on Feb. 1, the outlet reported.
Faye Hall pictured with Qatari officials following her release. (Diplomatic source in Afghanistan)
FAMILY OF THIRD AMERICAN HELD BY TALIBAN CALLS FOR HIS IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ‘WE ARE CONCERNED’
The Associated Press previously reported that the British couple ran education programs in Afghanistan via Rebuild, an organization that provides education and training programs for businesses, government agencies, educational organizations and nongovernmental groups.
The Sunday Times said one project was for mothers and children. The Taliban severely restricts women’s education and activities in the country.
It is unclear what relationship Hall had with the couple or their group.
The couple’s detention was not based on any violations of local laws or religious customs, but was a political move by a faction to increase international pressure on the government and Haibatullah Akhundzada, its supreme leader, the Telegraph reported.
Trump agreed to remove millions of dollars of bounties on three senior members of the Haqqani network, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban government’s interior minister, the Telegraph reported.
The couple’s children wrote a letter to the Taliban pleading for their release, saying that the couple respected and obeyed the laws.
«They have chosen Afghanistan as their home, rather than with family in England, and they wish to spend the rest of their lives in Afghanistan,» the letter reads in part, according to the Associated Press.
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Hall’s release comes after the Taliban released American hostage George Glezmann, 65, last week after holding him for more than two years. That deal was also struck after negotiations between the Trump administration and Qatari officials. Glezmann was abducted while visiting Kabul as a tourist on Dec. 5, 2022.
Two other Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, were released earlier this year in exchange for a Taliban member in U.S. custody in a final-hour deal struck by the Biden administration.
Fox News’ Caitlin McFall and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Former Rep. Louie Gohmert blasts Jack Smith for allegedly targeting his personal phone records in J6 probe
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EXCLUSIVE: Former Rep. Louie Gohmert blasted ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith for allegedly targeting his personal phone records as part of his investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots, telling Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that his action «destroys the checks and balances that the founders counted on.»
Fox News Digital exclusively reported Thursday morning that Smith targeted then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s personal, private phone records, as well as Gohmert’s.
JACK SMITH SOUGHT THEN-HOUSE SPEAKER MCCARTHY’S PRIVATE PHONE RECORDS IN J6 PROBE, FBI DOCS REVEAL
Fox News Digital exclusively reviewed the document that FBI Director Kash Patel recently shared with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson containing the explosive revelations. Grassley and Johnson have been leading a joint investigation into Smith’s «Arctic Frost» probe.
UNITED STATES – JUNE 13: Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, leaves the House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on Wednesday morning, June 13, 2018. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
According to the document, Smith, on Jan. 24, 2023, allegedly sought the «toll records for the personal cell phones of U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (AT&T) and U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (Verizon.)»
The information was included as part of a «significant case notification» drafted by the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division May 25, 2023.
«It is astounding that Jack ‘Frost’ Smith went on this persecution,» Gohmert told Fox News Digital Thursday. «Apparently, this guy has never read the Fourth Amendment because you have to describe with particularity what it is you’re going after — there should be probable cause, and they had no probable cause. They were going on a witch hunt.»
Smith had sought Gohmert’s personal cellphone records from November 2020 through the end of January 2021.
«They don’t have any regard for the Fourth Amendment,» he said. «It makes Watergate look like school yard folly.»
But Gohmert said it is the «principle.»
Then-Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on an unsealed indictment including four felony counts against former President Donald Trump Aug. 1, 2023, in Washington. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
«It is the separation of powers that is the problem,» Gohmert explained. «People and whistleblowers contacted me regularly from within the DOJ and the FBI about overreach within the FBI and DOJ. By grabbing my records, they could stifle reporting of potential crimes by people within the agencies.»
JACK SMITH TRACKED PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS, CALLS OF NEARLY A DOZEN GOP SENATORS DURING J6 PROBE, FBI SAYS
«You can’t just go seize members of Congress’ records even with a warrant because of that separation of powers,» Gohmert said. «There has to be a wall and that’s what troubles me more than anything.»
Gohmert told Fox News Digital that he didn’t remember who he spoke with during the time period Smith sought records, but said that «the last thing I want is for someone who trusted me to keep their name private to have some jack-booted thug like Jack ‘Frost’ Smith grab my records and find out who is tattle tailing on him.»
He added: «It violates and destroys the checks and balances that the founders counted on.»
Gohmert, though, told Fox News Digital that he trusts the current Justice Department and FBI leadership.
«I trust the DOJ and trust the people running the FBI,» he said. «We’ll see if there were any crimes committed and, if following the Constitution, they can be properly prosecuted.»
HAGERTY PRESSES VERIZON OVER FBI’S ACCESS TO HIS PHONE RECORDS DURING JACK SMITH PROBE
Meanwhile, McCarthy said he will take legal action against Smith.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, as the House is considering President Joe Biden’s $1.85 trillion-and-growing domestic policy package. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) (AP)
«Jack Smith’s radical and deranged investigation was never about finding the truth,» McCarthy told Fox News Digital. «It was a blatant weaponizing of the Justice Department to attack political opponents of the Biden administration. Perhaps no action underscores this point more than the illegal attempt to access the phone records of sitting members of the House and Senate — including the Speaker of the House.»
«His illegal targeting demands real accountability,» McCarthy continued. «And I am confident Congress will hold hearings and access documents in its investigation into Jack Smith’s own abuses.»
HAGERTY PRESSES VERIZON OVER FBI’S ACCESS TO HIS PHONE RECORDS DURING JACK SMITH PROBE
«At the same time, I will ask my own counsel to pursue all areas of redress so this does not happen to anyone else,» McCarthy said.
The revelations come after Fox News Digital exclusively reported in October that Smith and his «Arctic Frost» team investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots were tracking the private communications and phone calls of nearly a dozen Republican senators as part of the probe, including Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and GOP Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania.
An official told Fox News Digital that those records were collected in 2023 by Smith and his team after subpoenaing major telephone providers.
Smith has called his decision to subpoena and track Republican lawmakers’ phone records «entirely proper» and consistent with Justice Department policy.
«As described by various Senators, the toll data collection was narrowly tailored and limited to the four days from January 4, 2021 to January 7, 2021, with a focus on telephonic activity during the period immediately surrounding the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol,» Smith’s lawyers wrote in October to Grassley.
Grassley, R-Iowa, and Johnson, R-Wis., have been investigating the matter.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., have been investigating the matter. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
An FBI official told Fox News Digital that «Arctic Frost» is a «prohibited case,» and that the review required FBI officials to go «above and beyond in order to deliver on this promise of transparency.» The discovery is part of a broader ongoing review, Fox News Digital has learned.
Smith, after months of investigating, charged President Donald Trump in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., in his 2020 election case, but after Trump was elected president, Smith sought to dismiss the case. Judge Tanya Chutkan granted that request.
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Smith’s case cost taxpayers more than $50 million.
Smith did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
house of representatives politics,justice department,fbi
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State Department warns Americans in Japan as deadly bear attacks kill 13 people since April: ‘Be diligent’
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The State Department is warning Americans in Japan to be aware of their surroundings amid an increase in bear sightings after 13 people have been killed by the wild animal in the country since April.
Japanese officials have closed Maruyama Park in Sapporo, which is adjacent to the U.S. Consulate General, for two weeks following a bear sighting in the park, read a State Department alert Wednesday.
HIKER’S FRIEND WATCHES IN HORROR AS BROWN BEAR DRAGS MAN INTO BUSHES ON MOUNTAIN: REPORT
A warning sign is seen at the closed walking trail to the observatory in the Shirakawago district, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on October 7, 2025 in Hida, Gifu Prefecture of Japan. The State Department issued a warning Wednesday to Americans about bear sightings in Japan. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
JAPAN DEPLOYS MILITARY AFTER RECORD BEAR ATTACKS ACROSS COUNTRY
«Bear sightings and attacks have increased in parts of Japan, especially in municipalities close to or adjacent to populated zones,» the alert states. «Although the Consulate is located outside of the park, we encourage all visitors for routine or other services to be diligent and aware of your surroundings.»
Since April, 13 people have been killed by bears in Japan, AFP reported.
In response, Japan has deployed troops to the northern Akita region on Nov. 8, following the most recent attack there.
TRAGEDY STRIKES AT POPULAR NATIONAL PARK AS CLIMBER MEETS FATAL END ON MOUNTAIN
A hiker was found dead in August in Japan after a brown bear allegedly attacked and dragged him into the bushes, authorities said. (iStock)
The troops didn’t carry firearms and did not harm any bears, AFP reported.
Instead, they carried bear sprays, sticks, shields, goggles, bullet-proof jackets and net launchers in an attempt to restore a sense of safety in the area.
A poor acorn harvest resulted in a boom to Japan’s bear population, as they move closer to residential areas to seek out food.
A member of Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) stands next to military vehicles during a practice setting up a bear trap in Kazuno, Akita Prefecture, Japan, November 5, 2025. (Tom Bateman/Reuters)
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Residential areas in Hokkaido and Akita have also reported bear sightings, which could lead to more park closures, the alert said.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo urged Americans to avoid areas where bears have been sighted and to report sightings to authorities.
state department,japan,wild nature,us
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