live Pentagon official says U.S. war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far - Wednesday, 29 April
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 bi...
The United States is pulling out of UNESCO once again under President Donald Trump, citing anti-Israel bias, rising Chinese influence, and what the White House calls a 'woke agenda.'
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will withdraw from UNESCO, accusing the UN cultural agency of promoting 'anti-American, anti-Israel views and a woke agenda.'
The decision follows a 90-day internal review and reverses President Biden’s 2023 move to rejoin the organization and repay more than $600 million in back dues.
White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly stated, “President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO — which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes.”
UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted 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% of its budget from Washington, she said.
The administration also objected to initiatives like the 2023 'anti-racism toolkit' and the 2024 'Transforming MEN’talities' campaign, which they claimed “promote divisive social causes.”
Concerns were also raised about China’s growing influence within UNESCO. “China has leveraged its influence over UNESCO to advance global standards that are favorable to Beijing’s interests,” an official said, pointing to Chinese nationals in senior leadership and funding contributions.
This marks the third U.S. exit from UNESCO, following previous withdrawals under Ronald Reagan in 1983 and Donald Trump in 2017, both times citing politicization and anti-Western bias.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
A Pentagon official provided the first official estimate of the cost of the U.S. war in Iran on Wednesday (29 April), telling lawmakers that $25 billion had so far been spent on the conflict, most of it on munitions. Earlier, Donald Trump said that the U.S. had "militarily defeated" Tehran.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
The death toll from a train collision near Indonesia’s capital Jakarta rose to 14 women on Tuesday (28 April), with 84 people injured, after rescuers completed efforts to free passengers trapped in the wreckage, the state rail operator said.
Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the western state of Nayarit, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Monday (27 April).
Two Jewish men have been stabbed in London in an incident that British police are treating as a terrorist attack.
Reversing a decade of restrictions, New South Wales has opened new areas for gas exploration in its remote west. The move reflects growing concern over future energy supply across Australia’s east coast.
Travel demand across China is expected to remain robust during the upcoming five-day Labour Day holiday starting 1 May.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 29th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Mali’s military leader, Assimi Goita, has said the situation is “under control” in his first public remarks since a wave of coordinated attacks shook the country last weekend.
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