Latest news with #Unesco
Muscat Daily
28 minutes ago
- General
- Muscat Daily
Omani navigator Ibn Majid's manuscript earns Unesco honour
Paris – Oman has received official recognition from Unesco for inscription of the manuscript Al Nuniyah al Kubra (The Great Nuniyah) by renowned Omani navigator Ahmad ibn Majid in the Memory of the World register. The certificate was handed over during a meeting in Paris on Tuesday between H E Amna bint Salem al Balushi, Oman's Permanent Representative to Unesco, and Dr Tawfiq al Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at the organisation's headquarters. Inclusion of The Great Nuniyah is the result of joint efforts by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in coordination with the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and Oman's Permanent Delegation to Unesco. The manuscript is regarded as a landmark in the field of marine science and navigation. Inscribed in April 2025, The Great Nuniyah is the second Omani manuscript to be recognised under Unesco's Memory of the World programme. The first was The Mine of Secrets in Oceanography by navigator Nasser bin Ali al Khadouri, added in 2017. Ibn Majid's work documents maritime geography and ancient shipping routes in detail. It also records societies encountered during his voyages and provides insight into anchoring techniques and marine life. Significantly, while earlier scholars divided the Earth into seven northern regions, Ibn Majid extended the classification by introducing seven regions in the southern hemisphere. The Memory of the World programme was established by Unesco in 1992 to safeguard documentary heritage at risk of loss. Manuscripts are selected based on criteria such as historical importance, rarity, authenticity and cross-cultural impact.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Trump pulls US out of Unesco over ‘anti-Israel bias'
President Donald Trump is pulling the US out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) over its 'anti-Israel bias'. In February, Mr Trump ordered a 90-day review of America's membership of the heritage group, probing any 'anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organisation'. Now Mr Trump is set to cut ties with the agency after the review uncovered alleged pro-China and anti-Israel bias, as well as the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, according to The New York Post. 'President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from Unesco – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the common-sense policies that Americans voted for in November,' White House deputy spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the newspaper. 'This president will always put America First and ensure our country's membership in all international organisations aligns with our national interests.' The US is home to numerous celebrated Unesco heritage sites, including the Everglades National Park, the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty. Mr Trump's withdrawal from the agency is not expected to affect their status as protected sites. Unesco board members forced through anti-Israel actions, such as designating Jewish holy sites as 'Palestinian World Heritage' sites, a White House official claimed. According to the review, Unesco frequently states that Palestinian territory is 'occupied' by Israel and condemns the Jewish state's war against Hamas without criticising the terrorist group. It added that Beijing holds significant sway over Unesco as its biggest donor and through having Chinese nationals such as deputy-director general Xing Qu in top leadership positions. 'China has leveraged its influence over Unesco to advance global standards that are favourable to Beijing's interests,' the official said. Unesco has come under criticism for apparently glossing over the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) persecution of Uyghur Muslims. The organisation has also been accused of promoting 'woke' social justice causes. In 2023, Unesco published an 'anti-racism toolkit' which urged member states to adopt 'anti-racist' policies and engage in a 'race to the top' to be social justice leaders, address questions about the history of racism in their country and strive towards racial equality. The following year, the organisation's 'Transforming MEN'talities' initiative highlighted its work in India addressing 'how men think about gender issues', including 'harmful gender norms'. It also published research looking at how video games could 'promote gender equality '. Gabriela Ramos, Unesco's assistant director-general for the social and human sciences, said at the time: 'It is not only about controlling the negative impacts, but also relying on video games to address socio-cultural stereotypes and encourage positive, anti-discriminatory behaviours.' Mr Trump first withdrew the US from Unesco in 2017 amid allegations of anti-Israel bias. Joe Biden then rejoined the heritage group in 2023, claiming US presence was needed to push back against the rising influence of China. Audrey Azoulay, the director-general of Unesco, said: 'I deeply regret president Donald Trump's decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from Unesco. 'However regrettable, this announcement was anticipated, and Unesco has prepared for it. 'In spite of President Trump's first withdrawal in 2017, Unesco stepped up its efforts to take action wherever its mission could contribute to peace and demonstrated the pivotal nature of its mandate. 'Unesco's purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and will always be welcome.'
News18
2 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Explained: Trump Pulled US Out Of UNESCO In Blow For UN Culture And Education Agency
The US will quit the United Nations' culture and education agency Unesco, the US state department has said, as Donald Trump continues to pull out of international institutions.'Unesco works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN's sustainable development goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy,' a state department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, move is a blow to the Paris-based global organisation, founded after the second world war to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science and Mobile App -
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
US to exit Unesco again, citing anti-Israel bias and 'globalist agenda'
PARIS: The United States said Tuesday it would quit Unesco, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best known for establishing world heritage sites, is biased against Israel and promotes "divisive" causes. President Donald Trump had already ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation once before, in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership. "Continued involvement in Unesco is not in the national interest of the United States," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. Unesco called the US departure – which it said will take effect in December 2026 – regrettable, but unsurprising, and said its financial impact would be limited. "I deeply regret President Donald Trump's decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from Unesco," Director-General Audrey Azoulay said, adding the move contradicted fundamental principles of multilateralism. "However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and Unesco has prepared for it," she said. In recent years, Azoulay said, Unesco had "undertaken major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources", including with private and voluntary governmental contributions. The US share of Unesco's total budget currently stands at eight percent, she said. This compares to an estimate of nearly 20 per cent a decade ago, according to a Unesco source who asked not to be named. No staff redundancies were planned, Azoulay said. Bruce described Unesco as working "to advance divisive social and cultural causes" and being overly focused on UN sustainability goals, which she described as a "globalist, ideological agenda." Bruce also highlighted what she said was the body's anti-Israeli position in admitting Palestine as a state. "Unesco's decision to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation," Bruce said. The administration has also objected to Unesco's recognition of heritage sites in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem as Palestinian. Azoulay said the reasons put forward by the United States "are the same as seven years ago" although, she said, "the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and Unesco today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism." Washington's claims "contradict the reality of Unesco's efforts", she added, "especially in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism." The source at Unesco described the US move as "purely political, without any real factual base." The organisation had already been "forced" to do without US money for several years after their departure in 2017, the source told AFP. Unesco adapted but new sources of funding would still need to be found, the source said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed on X the US decision: "This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel's right for fair treatment in the UN system." "The United Nations requires fundamental reforms in order to remain relevant," he said. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called Unesco "an organisation that has lost its way" and praised the US for demonstrating "moral clarity in the international arena." French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that Unesco had his "unwavering support" that would not weaken after the US departure. The UN organisation describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding. It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Acropolis of Athens and Pyramids of Egypt. Twenty-six world heritage sites are located in the United States. The Unesco source said that the United States will continue to be represented on the world heritage committee even after leaving the organisation formally, just as it had in 2017. Trump was not the first to pull the United States out of Unesco. President Ronald Reagan ended US membership in the 1980s, saying the agency was corrupt and pro-Soviet. The United States reentered under the presidency of George W. Bush. The American return under Biden was a major success for Azoulay, who became Unesco chief in 2017, also because it included a pledge to pay back the US's contribution arrears to the tune of US$619 million. On Tuesday, Azoulay said the United States could always return to the fold in the future.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Trump pulls US out of UN cultural agency Unesco
US president Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the UN culture and education agency Unesco on Tuesday, repeating a move he had ordered during his first term, which had been reversed under Joe Biden . The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after the second World War to promote peace through international co-operation in education, science and culture, will take effect on December 31st, 2026. 'President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from Unesco – which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out of step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November,' White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. [ Donald Trump could be swallowed up by an Epstein conspiracy he helped create Opens in new window ] The US state department said remaining in Unesco was not in the national interest, accusing it of having 'a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our United States First foreign policy'. Unesco chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted Mr Trump's decision, but that it was 'expected, and Unesco has prepared for it'. The agency had diversified its sources of funding, receiving only about 8 per cent of its budget from Washington, she said. French president Emmanuel Macron wrote on the social media platform X: 'Unwavering support for Unesco, universal protector of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage. 'The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment to those who are fighting this battle.' Unesco was one of several international bodies Mr Trump withdrew from during his first term, along with the World Health Organisation, the Paris agreement global climate change accord and the UN Human Rights Council. During his second term he has largely reinstated those steps. [ Donald Trump's threats: 'Taco' trade gives way to paradox Opens in new window ] Unesco officials said the US withdrawal would have some limited impact on programmes the United States was financing. Israel welcomed the US decision to quit Unesco. The US state department said one of the reasons for the withdrawal was Unesco's decision to admit Palestine as a member state, which was 'contrary to US policy and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation'. Unesco officials said all relevant agency statements had been agreed with Israel and the Palestinians over the past eight years. 'The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the organisation are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded and Unesco today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism,' Ms Azoulay said. 'These claims also contradict the reality of Unesco's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against anti-Semitism.' Diplomats said it was felt at Unesco that the withdrawal was inevitable for political reasons, given that Mr Biden had brought the US back and had promised to repay arrears from the first time Mr Trump pulled out. Unesco, whose full name is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, is best known for designating world heritage sites, including the Grand Canyon in the United States and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. The US initially joined Unesco at its founding in 1945 but withdrew for the first time in 1984 in protest against alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-US bias, returning in 2003 under president George W Bush, who said the agency had undertaken needed reforms. In 2011 the United States stopped funding Unesco after it voted to include Palestine as a full member. The move was because of US legislation requiring a complete cut-off of American financing to any UN agency that accepted Palestine on such terms. The lack of money deprived Unesco of nearly a fifth of its budget, forcing it to slash programs. In 2017 the Trump administration went further and announced that it was withdrawing from the organisation, citing anti-Israel bias. The US remained a non-member observer after that. Tammy Bruce, a US state department spokeswoman, said in a statement on Tuesday that continued involvement in Unesco was 'not in the national interest of the United States'. Ms Bruce accused the organisation of promoting 'divisive social and cultural causes' and of maintaining an 'outsized focus on the UN's sustainable development goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy'. She also cited 'the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation' as one of the reasons for withdrawal. In the past, the organisation has faced similar accusations of political bias on matters related to Israel and the Palestinians. (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025
