logo
US officially leaves UNESCO

US officially leaves UNESCO

Al Bawaba2 days ago
Published July 22nd, 2025 - 12:18 GMT
ALBAWABA - The United States announced leaving the UN cultural and education agency, UNESCO.
According to the US, the decision to leave UNESCO, which is familiar for establishing world heritage sites, was due to the agency being biased against Israel and promoting "divisive" causes.
"Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," the State Department spokesperson announced in a statement on Tuesday.
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
© 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israel launches a new wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon
Israel launches a new wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon

Al Bawaba

time15 minutes ago

  • Al Bawaba

Israel launches a new wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon

ALBAWABA- Israeli warplanes launched a new wave of air strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting several locations in a fresh escalation that further undermines the fragile ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah reached in November. Also Read Israeli strike kills 3 people in Lebanon The latest Israeli raids struck the areas of Mahmoudiya, Zaghrin, the outskirts of Sajd, Ansar, and Zarariya, with additional air strikes reported on the Reyhan Heights and the heights of the Tuffah region, according to circulating footage and local sources. These attacks mark a continuation of Israel's cross-border operations in violation of the ceasefire deal, intensifying concerns over a broader regional conflict. While Israel has not formally commented on the raids, the strikes come amid ongoing tensions and retaliatory exchanges along the Lebanon-Israel border. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the Lebanese Army Command announced the arrest of three Lebanese citizens during a series of security operations carried out by the Intelligence Directorate. Also Read Thai airstrikes kill 12 Cambodians in escalating border clash The detainees were allegedly part of a terrorist cell affiliated with the Daesh (ISIS) organization. "Preliminary investigations revealed that the cell was planning to carry out attacks against the army under the direction of external Daesh leaders," the army statement read. It confirmed that follow-up efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional members linked to the group.

Thai airstrikes kill 12 Cambodians in escalating border clash
Thai airstrikes kill 12 Cambodians in escalating border clash

Al Bawaba

timean hour ago

  • Al Bawaba

Thai airstrikes kill 12 Cambodians in escalating border clash

ALBAWABA- Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have erupted into deadly violence, with Thai airstrikes killing at least 12 people, including 11 civilians and one soldier, in the most serious military escalation along their disputed border in years. The strikes, confirmed by both sides, targeted Cambodian military positions, including a road near the Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing international concern over potential war crimes, as reported by CNN. The conflict flared Thursday, a day after a Thai soldier lost his leg to a landmine near the contested zone. In apparent retaliation, Thailand launched F-16 airstrikes on multiple flashpoints, intensifying a border dispute that has simmered for decades. The two countries share a 500-mile (800-kilometer) frontier, drawn during French colonial rule, and frequently marred by military standoffs and nationalistic tensions. Thailand accused Cambodia of firing rockets into Thai civilian areas, while Cambodia's Defense Ministry condemned the Thai strikes as "brutal, barbaric, and violent aggression." It claimed that the bombing of the Preah Vihear temple and its surroundings caused "significant damage" to the sacred 11th-century site, calling it a "cultural disaster and moral tragedy" that "may constitute war crimes" under international law. In a strongly worded statement, Cambodia's Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts decried the attack as a 'grave and unacceptable violation of international law,' and a 'blatant disregard for obligations to protect cultural heritage.' The ministry demanded an immediate halt to military activity near the temple, warning of "far-reaching consequences" for global heritage and Cambodian national identity. The outbreak of violence comes amid political turmoil in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended earlier this month and faces possible dismissal. Her political future was thrown into question after the leak of a phone call with Cambodia's influential former leader Hun Sen, in which she reportedly criticized Thailand's military handling of the dispute. The timing of her suspension has added to suspicions of internal divisions within Thailand's leadership as the border conflict intensifies. Tensions between the two nations had been escalating since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a brief firefight in the contested Emerald Triangle, where Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos meet. Also Read Turkey unveils hypersonic ballistic missile TAYFUN Block-4 While both armies claimed self-defense, they have since engaged in saber-rattling, troop buildups, and diplomatic downgrades. Despite earlier calls by military officials on both sides to de-escalate, the current clashes mark a dangerous new phase, one that now threatens not only civilian lives but also the shared cultural heritage of Southeast Asia. Cambodia has yet to release a civilian casualty figure, but the damage to the Preah Vihear site has already drawn international alarm.

Israel says intercepted missile fired from Yemen
Israel says intercepted missile fired from Yemen

Jordan Times

time4 hours ago

  • Jordan Times

Israel says intercepted missile fired from Yemen

JERUSALEM — Yemen's Huthi rebels launched two attacks targeting Israel's main airport, the latest on Tuesday, with the Israeli army intercepting both, a day after striking the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeida. Israel has repeatedly struck Huthi-held parts of Yemen after the Iran-backed rebels began targeting the country with missile and drone attacks, claiming solidarity with Palestinians over the Gaza war. The Huthis targeted Ben Gurion International Airport "using a 'Palestine 2' hypersonic ballistic missile", according to military spokesman Yarya Saree, who had hours earlier claimed a similar attack on the airport. On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said "Yemen's fate will be the same as Tehran's" after hitting Huthi targets in Hodeida port in an attack aimed to prevent any attempt to restore infrastructure previously hit. A Huthi security official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that "the bombing destroyed the port's dock, which had been rebuilt following previous strikes." The Huthis recently resumed deadly attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting ships they accuse of having links to Israel, to put pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store