US to withdraw from UNESCO over policy disagreements
United States announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO, just two years after rejoining the UN cultural agency.
The State Department cited concerns over the agency’s focus on “divisive social and cultural causes,” particularly in relation to the Israel-Palestine issue, as the reason for its exit, Xinhua reported.
Air India completes fuel control switch inspections, reports no faults
Air India has completed precautionary inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, finding no issues. The checks were carried out following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued after a Boeing 787-8 crash on June 12 that killed 260 people and injured 67, according to Xinhua.
The inspections, which began voluntarily on July 12, were completed by the DGCA’s July 21 deadline. The directive was based on a US FAA bulletin warning of potential FCS disengagement. Preliminary findings from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau indicated engine shutdown due to switch confusion, though no major faults were found with the aircraft or its engines.
21 children die of starvation as humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza
At least 21 children have died from starvation in Gaza in the past 72 hours, with nearly 900,000 now facing severe hunger, according to BBC.
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that Gaza’s humanitarian system is collapsing rapidly. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the situation “grotesque” after reports of hundreds killed while seeking aid.
The WHO says its operations are severely affected by Israel’s renewed offensive in central Gaza. Israel claims its forces were under fire and had coordinated with aid agencies, BBC reported.
Iran’s FM says nuclear enrichment will continue, but open to talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment programme, despite severe damage from recent US and Israeli airstrikes, calling it a matter of national pride.
In an interview with Fox News, Araghchi said Iran is open to indirect talks with the US and willing to take steps to prove its nuclear programme is peaceful. In return, he urged Washington to lift sanctions, stressing that a negotiated solution remains possible.
