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Lebanon Seeks to Distance State from Hezbollah After Cyprus Drone Incident

                                                         File photo: Youssef Ragg Lebanon has urged Cypriot authorities and the public not to conflate the Lebanese state with Hezbollah following a drone strike that originated from Lebanese territory and hit Cyprus six days earlier. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the attack was carried out independently by Hezbollah and does not reflect the policies, values, or intentions of the Lebanese government.  Raggi stressed that Lebanon rejects any attempt to use its territory for external agendas and reiterated that Hezbollah’s actions fall outside the state’s legal authority. He called on Cyprus to distinguish between the official Lebanese government and groups operating autonomously, noting that Lebanon has consistently affirmed its sovereignty ...
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Trump Withdraws U.S. from UNESCO Again, Citing Cultural and Political Disputes

 

President Donald Trump has announced the United States will once again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marking the second such move during his presidency and the third in U.S. history. The decision, set to take effect in December 2026, follows Trump's executive order to reassess international organizations that allegedly promote "radical or anti-American sentiment".

The White House cited UNESCO’s support for “woke, divisive cultural and social causes” and its 2011 admission of Palestine as a member state as key reasons for the withdrawal. Critics argue the agency has shown bias against Israel, a claim echoed by Israeli officials who praised the move.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed deep regret, noting that the organization has undergone reforms and now receives only 8% of its funding from the U.S., down from 22% in earlier years. French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed support for UNESCO, calling it a “universal guardian” of culture and science.

The U.S. previously exited UNESCO in 1984 and again in 2017 under Trump, only to rejoin in 2023 under President Biden. This latest withdrawal underscores ongoing tensions between U.S. administrations and multilateral institutions over ideological and geopolitical concerns.


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