UN council abruptly ends video after speaker calls out several officials by name

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) abruptly cut off a video statement after the speaker began criticizing several United Nations officials, including one who has been sanctioned by the Trump administration. The video message was being played during a U.N. session in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday morning.

Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the and president of Human Rights, called out several U.N. officials in her message, including U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who is the subject of U.S. sanctions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against Albanese July 9, 2025, saying that she “has spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.”

“That bias has been apparent across the span of her career, including recommending that the ICC, without a legitimate basis, issue arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,” Rubio added.

“I was the only American U.N.-accredited NGO with a speaking slot, and I wasn’t allowed even to conclude my 90 seconds of allotted time. Free speech is non-existent at the U.N. so-called ‘Human Rights Council,'” Bayefsky told Fox News Digital.

Bayefsky noted the irony of the council cutting off her video in a proceeding that was said to be an “interactive dialogue,” an event during which experts are allowed to speak to the council about human rights issues.

“I was cut off after naming Francesca Albanese, Navi Pillay and Chris Sidoti for covering up Palestinian use of rape as a weapon of war and trafficking in blatant antisemitism. I named the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, who is facing disturbing sexual assault allegations but still unaccountable almost two years later. Those are the people and the facts that the United Nations wants to protect and hide,” Bayefsky told Fox News Digital.

“It is an outrage that I am silenced and singled out for criticism on the basis of naming names.”

Bayefsky’s statement was cut off as she accused Albanese and Navi Pillay, the former chair of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and Chris Sidoti, a commissioner of the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She also slammed Khan, who has faced rape allegations. Khan has denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Had her video message been played in full, Bayefsky would have gone on to criticize Türk’s recent report for not demanding accountability for the “Palestinian policy to pay to kill Jews, including Hamas terror boss Yahya Sinwar who got half a million dollars in blood money.”

When the video was cut short, Human Rights Council President Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro characterized Bayefsky’s remarks as “derogatory, insulting and inflammatory” and said that they were “not acceptable.”

“The language used by the speaker cannot be allowed as it has exceeded the limits of tolerance and respect within the framework of the council which we all in this room hold to,” Suryodipuro said.

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In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Human Rights Council Media Officer Pascal Sim said the council has had long-established rules on what it considers to be acceptable language.

“Rulings regarding the form and language of interventions in the Human Rights Council are established practices that have been in place throughout the existence of the council and used by all council presidents when it comes to ensuring respect, tolerance and dignity inherent to the discussion of human rights issues,” Sim told Fox News Digital.

When asked if the video had been reviewed ahead of time, Sim said it was assessed for length and audio quality to allow for interpretation, but that the speakers are ultimately “responsible for the content of their statement.”

“The video statement by the NGO ‘Touro Law Center, The Institute on Human Rights and The Holocaust’ was interrupted when it was deemed that the language exceeded the limits of tolerance and respect within the framework of the council and could not be tolerated,” Sim said.

“As the presiding officer explained at the time, all speakers are to remain within the appropriate framework and terminology used in the council’s work, which is well known by speakers who routinely participate in council proceedings. Following that ruling, none of the member states of the council have objected to it.”

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While Bayefsky’s statement was cut off, other statements accusing Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing were allowed to be played and read in full.

This is not the first time that Bayefsky was interrupted. Exactly one year ago, on Feb. 27, 2025, her video was cut off when she mentioned the fate of Ariel and Kfir Bibas. Jürg Lauber, president of the U.N. Human Rights Council at the time, stopped the video and declared that Bayefsky had used inappropriate language.

Bayefsky began the speech by saying, “The world now knows Palestinian savages murdered 9-month-old baby Kfir,” and she ws almost immediately cut off by Lauber.

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“Sorry, I have to interrupt,” Lauber abruptly said as the video of Bayefsky was paused. Lauber briefly objected to the “language” used in the video, but then allowed it to continue. After a few more seconds, the video was shut off entirely. 

Lauber reiterated that “the language that’s used by the speaker cannot be tolerated,” adding that it “exceeds clearly the limits of tolerance and respect.”

Last year, when the previous incident occurred, Bayefsky said she believed the whole thing was “stage-managed,” as the council had advanced access to her video and a transcript and knew what she would say.

VA Dems deliver on Spanberger affordability pledge — with 178% lawmaker pay raise

The Virginia State Senate and its Democratic majority may have voted to nearly triple their pay if a provision inserted into their final budget survives the House reconciliation process and reaches Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk.

The development comes as Spanberger has centered her campaign on “affordability,” with Richmond Democrats echoing that they are working to improve their constituents’ personal finances.

Virginia’s legislature itself was founded as a part-time, gentleman’s chamber, where lawmakers would return to their day jobs when Richmond wasn’t holding session.

Proponents of raising the current 1988-established salary of $18,000 for senators and $17,640 for delegates say the structure restricts who can afford to serve as a lawmaker today. Lawmakers also qualify for a $237 per diem, mileage reimbursements, and coverage of office, meeting and other expenses.

Senators’ new salary would be $50,000.

Republicans were quick to criticize the final budget, with the Virginia Senate Minority Caucus saying in a statement that “teachers got a 3% raise, but Democrats give themselves 300%.” The actual increase would be closer to 178%, though one could say the new salary would be 300% of the original. 

“The affordability hoax just gets worse and worse,” the caucus said, adding that the chamber’s majority killed a repeal of the car tax — something GOP gubernatorial nominee Winsome Sears ran on — while increasing the state budget by $1 billion overall.

Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, told WVTF it is the “wrong time” to address lawmaker pay.

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 “It’s supposed to be affordability for working families across Virginia, not members of the General Assembly,” he said.

Virginia’s legislature — the oldest continuous legislative body in the New World — has been making laws since its inception as the House of Burgesses in Colonial Williamsburg, where Spanberger gave the Democratic Party’s State of the Union response.

In her speech, she claimed President Donald Trump is the one “enriching himself, his family and his friends” and said Republicans are the ones “making your life more expensive.”

“I traveled to every corner of Virginia, and I heard the same pressing concern everywhere: costs are too high. In housing, healthcare, energy, and childcare,” she said.

“Americans deserve to know that their leaders are focused on addressing the problems that keep them up at night.”

“Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability — in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America,” Spanberger said Tuesday.

The pay raise could be moot if the Democrat-controlled House of Delegates does not amend its own budget proposal to include the provision.

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The House’s budget includes $137 million for expanded childcare access, a minimum wage increase to $13.75 in 2027 and $15 in 2029, and a $20 million appropriation for state employees’ and home health care workers’ collective bargaining, according to Washington’s ABC affiliate.

Fox News Digital reached out to the governor, as well as the House and Senate minority leaders, for further comment.

Team USA star Brady Tkachuk laid out on big hit, left bloodied on ice

The Ottawa Senators were back in action Thursday, and Team USA star Brady Tkachuk was right in the middle of things in the team’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

Tkachuk, 26, opened the scoring in the game when he ripped a shot from the slot on a power play to give the Senators a 1-0 lead in the first period.

While Tkachuk and the Senators were held off the score sheet the rest of the game, he was still involved in the action.

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In the second period, after the Red Wings tied the game on Dylan Larkin’s power-play goal, Tkachuk was bloodied on a hit.

Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson stepped into Tkachuk, dropping the Senators captain to the ice as he held his face. Tkachuk’s teammate, Dylan Cozens, took issue with Edvinsson’s hit and dropped the gloves.

Edvinsson landed a couple of solid punches and dropped Cozens to the ice. After the fight, Tkachuk was helped to the bench by a trainer, holding a towel to his face.

After Edvinsson and Cozens fought, numerous other Red Wings and Senators players were tangled up with one another. They eventually were untangled, and the referees were convening at center ice when Tkachuk skated off the bench and toward the Red Wings penalty box to talk to Edvinsson.

The referees quickly skated over to pull Tkachuk away and promptly handed him a 10-minute misconduct penalty. Once in the box, Tkachuk and Edvinsson stood and barked at each other.

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The teams played a scoreless third period, and the Red Wings won in overtime on Larkin’s second goal of the game.

The Senators will look to bounce back when they play the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET.

Bus stop murder suspect had a dozen arrests but prosecutors kept dropping charges

A Virginia murder suspect accused of fatally stabbing a woman at a bus stop earlier this week has a lengthy criminal history filled with multiple arrests, but was let back onto the streets nearly every time. 

Abdul Jalloh, 32, is charged with the Monday night killing of Stephanie Minter, 41, of Fredericksburg, at a bus stop shelter, the Fairfax County Police Department said. 

Minter was found by officers with stab wounds to her upper body and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. 

Jalloh, 32, who was seen on surveillance cameras exiting the bus with Minter at Richmond Highway and Arlington Drive, was arrested the next day. 

He was arrested at a liquor store after an employee called 911. At the time, officers arrested him for allegedly shoplifting. Investigators linked him to the murder a day later. 

Authorities were still trying to determine a motive for the killing and what led to the deadly stabbing. 

A search of online court records revealed Jalloh has more than a dozen arrests in northern Virginia, including on charges of petty larceny and malicious wounding. 

In most of the cases, prosecutors dropped the charges, FOX D.C. reported. 

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Laura Birnbaum, the chief of staff for Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, said Jalloh was known to the district attorney’s office and was “acutely aware of the risk he posed to the community.”

“That is why we convicted the defendant of a 2023 malicious wounding charge, and have since made every effort to hold him accountable each subsequent time that he has come in contact with the criminal justice system, including asking him to be held in custody whenever possible,” Birnbaum said. 

“Unfortunately, the defendant in this case also had a history of selecting victims with no fixed address – some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” she added. “In multiple cases, we were unable to move forward with prosecution because victims could not be located or contacted.”

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An obituary for Minter described her as a “happy, jolly” person. 

“A beam of light in dark places,” the obituary states. 

Hitmaker Neil Sedaka dead at 86 after six-decade career, family announces

Legendary singer, Neil Sedaka, died on Friday, Feb. 27 at the age of 86.

“Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather,” his family said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed.”

News of his death comes after reports first surfaced that the singer-songwriter was rushed to the hospital on Friday morning.

West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station personnel told Fox News Digital that deputies responded around 8 a.m., “regarding a medical request and a patient male adult was transported to a local hospital.”

Sedaka first rose to fame in the 1950s and ’60s, with hits such as “Oh Carol,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” and “Next Door to an Angel,” and is known as one of the original creators of the “Brill Building” sound, a sub-genre of pop music.

During this time, he and his partner, Howard Greenfield, also wrote hit songs for other artists, including “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are” for Connie Francis, and “Love Will Keep Us Together,” for Captain & Tennille.

According to the musician’s website, his popularity began to fade due to The Beatles changing “the direction of American music,” but three albums released by Sedaka in the early 1970s caught the attention of Grammy Award-winning singer, Elton John, who went on to sign him to his record label, Rocket Records.

“It had been like Elvis coming up and giving us the chance to release his records,” John was quoted as saying at the time, according to the website. “We couldn’t believe our luck.”

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Throughout his six-decade career, Sedaka received five Grammy Award nominations, had number one hits on the Billboard charts and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.

In 2016, Sedaka released his 22nd studio album, “I Do It For Applause,” which he called “the culmination of sixty-four years of writing.”

“This is a gift I was born with,” he said on his website. “My main objective is to always top the last collection, raise the bar and reinvent Neil Sedaka.”

Sedaka is survived by, Leba, his wife of over 60 years, and their two children, Dara and Marc.

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During an interview on “The Bob Lefsetz Podcast” in January 2025, Sedaka recalled meeting his wife when he visited the hotel her mother owned in the Catskill Mountains with his band, and seeing her working behind the desk, calling it an “instant romance.”

“She was sixteen,” he explained. “She was behind the desk and I said to my friend, the trumpet player, ‘I’m going to marry that girl.’ She’s sixteen years old. I said, ‘She’s very pretty. I’m going to ask her for a date.'” 

He then went on to try and “impress her” by telling her he had written “Stupid Cupid” for Francis, although she told him she had never heard it. “I saw her the next day and she said, ‘You were telling the truth. You are a songwriter,’ he said, and the rest is history. The two tied the knot in 1962 and are credited as having one of the most successful marriages in the entertainment industry.

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Demi Moore debuts dramatic bob, stuns fans with striking transformation

Demi Moore has gone viral after debuting a dramatic transformation for Milan Fashion Week.

The 63-year-old actress was photographed looking almost unrecognizable at the Gucci FW26 Fashion Show, which was held at Palazzo delle Scintille on February 27.

Moore showed off a blunt bob, styled in a way that appeared wet. This was a stark change from her signature long black hair. She tied her all-black leather look together with large, oversized sunglasses. Moore wore pointed black heels to the fashion show.

Moore’s Chihuahua, Pilaf, had one of the best seats of the night and sat on her lap during the fashion show. Stars such as Kate Moss, Emily Ratajkowski, and Karlie Kloss headlined the runway for Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2026 show. Models Alex Consani, Amelia Gray and Elsa Hosk also walked.

“The Substance” star’s stylist, Brad Goreski, uploaded a video of Moore just before she left for the Gucci show. He recorded Moore, head to toe, explaining that her entire outfit was Gucci.

Thousands of Instagram users commented on the post, praising the star for her look.

“Love the hair! 😍,” one user wrote.

Another added, “She looks so much better with this hairstyle ❤️.”

“The hair looks amazing! It’s been so long for so long and this just looks so fresh!” another person wrote.

Another user made a play on her latest movie, suggesting she looks younger than she did before. “Did you take the substance?” the user asked.

Another user seemed to agree, writing, “Oh man, 😞, she took the substance. Well, as long as she is happy. 👍”

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Moore previously debuted a new hair look for Gucci and cut bangs in October. “Bangs — now and then. Thank you @gucci for letting me bring back the fringe for the first time since the Striptease days!” she wrote, including a photo from the time she filmed the iconic 1996 movie.

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In January, she opened up to People about switching up her look — specifically rocking a bob in Taylor Sheridan’s “Landman.”

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“I like leaving room to play,” she said, adding that her hair “has lived many lives.”

The biggest hair transformation that gave her a new perspective on beauty was when she shaved her head for her role in “G.I. Jane” in 1997. Moore told the outlet that the look “probably was the most illuminating experience and one that deepened my appreciation for my hair!”

Moore told the outlet that no matter what, she will always return to her signature long hair.

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“It feels most like me. Being able to change my look with wigs and pieces feeds my need for change, but at the end of the day, I love taking it down, seeing my hair fall past my waist. It’s like coming home,” she told People.

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Rubio designates Iran over wrongful detentions, calls for immediate departures

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday designated Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, calling for Americans currently in Iran to “leave immediately.”

“When the Iranian regime seized power 47 years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini consolidated his control of power by endorsing the hostage taking of U.S. embassy staff,” Rubio wrote in a news statement. “For decades, Iran has continued to cruelly detain innocent Americans, as well as citizens of other nations, to use as political leverage against other states. This abhorrent practice must end.”

“President [Donald] Trump issued an Executive Order to Protect U.S. Nationals from Wrongful Detention Abroad last fall and Congress subsequently enacted the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, authorizing the Department to designate Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” he added.

Rubio said if Iran does not stop, the U.S. will be forced to consider “additional measures,” including a potential geographic travel restriction on the use of U.S. passports to, through, or from Iran.

“The Iranian regime must stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly detained in Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated actions. We encourage it to do so,” Rubio wrote. “No American should travel to Iran for any reason. We reiterate our call for Americans who are currently in Iran to leave immediately.”

Rubio’s comments came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran as they take part in indirect nuclear negotiations. 

Trump last week gave Iran roughly 10 to 15 days to reach an agreement, warning during his State of the Union address that the urgency to make a deal was backed by force.

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Trump told reporters on Friday that he is “not happy” with the way Iran is negotiating, but said he has not yet made a final decision on potential military strikes.

Eleven U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters recently arrived at Israel’s Ovda Air Base in the country’s south, Fox News reported, marking the first-ever operational deployment of American combat aircraft to Israel.

When asked how close a decision may be, Trump told a reporter, “I’d rather not tell you, you would have the greatest scoop in history, right?”

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The president noted that there is “always a risk” of long-term conflict in the Middle East.

“I guess you could say there’s always a risk,” Trump said. “You know, when there’s war, there’s a risk in anything both good and bad.”

Tapper’s reaction says it all as CNN staffers report panic over possible new boss

CNN host Jake Tapper’s reaction summed it up on Thursday when he told viewers the future of the network was affected by the decision of Netflix to back out of buying the cable channel’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.

“We have some breaking news in our national lead that affects everybody I’m looking at right now in the studio,” he said as he turned his head to look around the room.

“Moments ago, Netflix said it is declining to raise its offer for the purchase of Warner Bros. Studios and HBO, following the Warner Bros. Discovery board’s determination that Paramount, which is not just going for Warner Bros. Studios and HBO, but also the whole enchilada, including us here at CNN.

“Paramount has submitted a superior offer, according to Warner Bros. Discovery’s board. As I’ve noted, Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN.”

Netflix dropped its bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery Thursday after the company announced Paramount’s latest bid to buy all of its assets, including CNN, was “superior.” 

The sale would put Paramount CEO David Ellison in charge of CNN. Ellison has a close relationship with President Donald Trump and has angered liberals for installing Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News.

The mood inside CNN was “horrific” on Friday as network leadership sought to calm fears of anxious staffers worried about the possible corporate merger.

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“The mood is horrific,” a CNN insider told Fox News Digital. “People are very upset.”

A second CNN insider said staffers feel “a mix of despair, apprehension and curiosity.”

“Look, I think this is a place that has gone through a lot. A lot of mergers in the past decade. A lot of ‘fresh’ starts,” the insider said.

“I think there is an underlying fear of mixing two news divisions. Who is gonna get canned?”

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While most corporate mergers of this magnitude come with headcount reductions, many CNN staffers are well aware that CBS News has undergone both layoffs and directional changes since Ellison took over last year. 

Weiss, who was handpicked by Ellison, has bluntly told staffers they are “not producing a product that enough people want.” 

She has also taken steps to tamp down the liberal slant that was prominent at CBS News before the Ellison takeover. 

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Burger King makes changes to signature Whopper for first time in nearly a decade

Burger King is updating its signature Whopper for the first time in nearly a decade, the company announced Thursday.

After receiving feedback from customers, the fast-food chain said it will now serve the burger on a “more premium, better tasting bun,” and in a box instead of the current paper wrapper.

“Over the past several years, we’ve focused on strengthening our operations and modernizing our restaurants to build a more consistent foundation across the system,” said Tom Curtis, president of Burger King U.S. and Canada. “With that work well underway, we’re now in a position to thoughtfully elevate our core menu. The Whopper is an icon, so we didn’t set out to reinvent it. Instead, we elevated it based on direct Guest feedback.”

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The “elevated” burger will still be served with freshly cut onions and tomatoes, lettuce, tangy pickles, but will now have “better tasting mayo,” the company said. The burger patty will remain the same.

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The Whopper was created in 1957 after Burger King co-founders James McLamore and David Edgerton were on a return trip to Miami.

McLamore spotted a restaurant with a sign advertising a big hamburger that had a line of customers out front, according to McLamore’s autobiography. He ordered the burger, which consisted of a quarter pound hamburger patty on a big five-inch bun served with lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise, pickles, onions and ketchup, and later introduced a “big garnished hamburger” in the company’s Miami restaurants.

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The original Whopper sold for 37 cents, about $4.36 today.

“You don’t want to just tear up the playbook and start all over,” Curtis told CNN Business. “It’s like we’re putting our famous iconic burger in a tuxedo instead of a leisure suit.”

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The changes will cost Burger King franchisees an extra $4,000 per year, the outlet reported.