Everything you need to know about UNESCO: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Comprised of 193 member states and six associate members, UNESCO is the largest specified agency of the United Nations with the purpose to safeguard some of the most indispensable aspects of human life through various measures. It also gives world status to the heritage and monumental sites of the world thus improving the status and importance of the monuments among the people. It came in to existence in 1945 before India got independence with its headquarters in Paris. The activities of UNESCO are classed in 5 sectors namely- education, Natural sciences, social and human sciences, Culture and communication as well as information. In addition, prizes and awards (regarded as some of the top most awards in the world) are also given by UNESCO to the individuals having achieved excellence in some particular fields. The governing body of the organization consists of three levels ?The General Conference comprised of all representatives of all the members, The Executive Board of 58 members nominated by the general conference for 4 years, and the Director-General and his staff who is held responsible for the daily activities of the organization. The conventional purposes of the UNESCO are to promote and enrich social peace, tranquility, international collaboration and cooperation as well as justice for the growth of education, culture, law and human rights for the well living of human beings. Koichiro Matsura is the Director-General of UNESCO who carries out all its activities both directly as well as indirectly.
Darjeeling (West Bengal), May 22 (ANI): Tourists, both domestic and foreign, are making a beeline for Darjeeling, to escape the scorching heat of the plains.
Jerusalem, May 21 (IANS) Israel has cancelled a planned visit by a UNESCO delegation to Jerusalem due to the efforts of Palestinian factions to politicise it.
Beijing, May 13 (IANS) China conducted a tsunami drill Sunday as part of the transnational and pan-Pacific drill, the country's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) announced.
Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said that the assurance regarding the Nalanda University has given in Parliament would definitely be implemented and it will continue to receive all central assistance in the next ten years
Managua, May 10 (IANS/EFE) UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova inspected two of the three biosphere reserves in Nicaragua to get a firsthand look at their condition, first lady Rosario Murillo said.
New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) Governments and businesses cannot build a sound future without co-opting the $2.7 trillion creative and culture industry that accounts for 6.1 percent of the world's output and eight million direct jobs, says a leading think tank that seeks to promote cultural diversity.
Grove (England), May 2 (IANS) Williams Formula 1 team has signed an agreement with Kazakh investment firm TAK Group that will see the Kazakhstan capital, Astana, promoted as part of the arrangement.
London, May 2 (ANI): The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is likely to categorize the iconic Japanese volcano of Mount Fuji as a World Heritage site.
The Earth Day is being celebrated on 22-April every year worldwide with an objective to protect environment. Today on 22-April-2013, the 43rd anniversary of the Earth Day is being celebrated across the globe and over 192 countries are taking part into it and organizing different types of events to create awareness among the people. The main objective of celebrating Earth Day every year is to spread awareness among people about the need to protect our environment.
Gaya (Bihar), April 19 (ANI): A large number of Buddhist monks organised special prayers in Gaya, Bihar, for world peace and for the protection of the heritage sites as they celebrated 'World Heritage Day this week.
Islamabad, Apr. 5 (ANI): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has released its much-awaited annual report, revealing a grim picture of the human rights situation in Pakistan.
Asuncion (Paraguay), April 2 (IANS/EFE) Paraguay's old steam locomotives and workshops, relics of what was a state-of-the-art company at the end of the 19th century, are now a draw for tourists in a country that lacks rail service.
London, Mar. 20 (ANI): A UK-based website is offering travellers the chance to visit every World Heritage Site in the world on one two-year itinerary.
Moscow, March 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Russian government Monday said it will give the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) extra funding with the aim of gaining clout at the organisation in the run-up to hosting next year's Winter Olympics.
New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) 'Solar grandmothers' from as far as Africa and Latin America Friday marked International Women's Day with song and dance as they celebrated the Indian government's unique initiative that has helped light up their lives and homes and of many others.
Islamabad, Mar. 7 (ANI): Banned militant organisations, state's security institutions and political parties have been identified as the key elements responsible for attacks on media persons in Pakistan.
Tel Aviv, Feb 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The head of Russian presidential property management department has confirmed that the Kremlin will be soon equipped with a helicopter landing pad to help top officials avoid Moscow's heavy traffic jams.
Patna, Feb 12 (IANS) A special provision of funds will be made in the union budget for the upcoming Nalanda University in Bihar, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Tuesday.
Patna, Feb 12 (IANS) The ruins of the ancient Nalanda University in Bihar should be in the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites, External Affairs Minister Salman Kuurshid said Tuesday.
Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Feb 8 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived here Friday to pray at a temple site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, on the first day of a two-day trip to India.
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) Legendary 20th century artist Amrita Sher-Gil is back in the spotlight on her birth centenary with the release of a special cover of her 1935 painting "Three Girls" here Thursday.
Washington, Jan. 29 (ANI): Fleeing Islamist extremists torched a public library containing historic manuscripts in Timbuktu, as French and Malian forces closed in on Mali's fabled desert city.
London, Jan. 29 (ANI): French troops have seized the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali after advancing north into an area held by Islamist militants.
Patna, Jan 26 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar Feb 8 to pray at the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, an official said Saturday.
Sydney, Jan. 23 (ANI): The Great Barrier Reef near Australia could be stripped of its heritage status and placed on a UN list of world treasures in danger if action is not taken to better protect the natural icon from coal and gas developments, environment groups have warned.
The International Association of Educators of World Peace (IAEWP) Tuesday has honoured to Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with Life time achievement award for peace at a glittering function at the India International Centre (IIC)...................
Patna, Jan 14 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday demanded that the ruins of the state's ancient Nalanda university be included in Unesco's list of World Heritage Sites.
Abu Dhabi, Dec 26 (IANS/WAM) UNESCO and Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have held discussions over ensuring closer ties between them.
Paris, Dec 13 (IANS) Parties to the International Convention against Doping in Sport have agreed to a unified list of prohibited substances and practices in sport and the 2013 Prohibited List will come into effect on Jan 1, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) announced.
Paris, Dec 12 (IANS/WAM) Pakistan and UNESCO have signed an agreement to establish Malala fund to support the education of girls in Pakistan and other countries.
New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS) Choreographer Terence Lewis is conducting dance master classes across eight cities in the country. He says it is aimed at spreading awareness among people to take up dance as part of their lifestyle.
NOIDA (Uttar Pradesh), Dec. 3 (ANI): An Amity International Model United Nations (AIMUN) Conference organized recently by Amity Educational Resource Centre together with Amity International Schools in support with UNESCO and UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan.
New Delhi, Nov 28 (IANS) India and France are set to further their diplomatic and cultural ties January 2013, as the French festival in India, "Bon Jour", opens again under the aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Patna, Nov 23 (IANS) India's five reputed architectural companies have showed keen interest to develop and beautify the over 1,500?year?old Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Buddhist holy town of Bodh Gaya, an official said Friday.
New Delhi, Nov. 11 (ANI): Asserting that India has emerged as a global leader and a strong nation at the turn of this century, Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju on Sunday said education is the key to the task of nation building as well as to provide requisite knowledge and skills required for sustained growth of the economy and to ensure overall progress.
New Delhi, Nov. 11 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee took the occasion of National Education Day to release and dedicate to the nation, the innovative and modestly-priced Aakash version 2.0 tablet, here on Sunday.
New Delhi, Nov.9 (ANI): In a landmark announcement, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today officially launched the UNESCO Chair on "Climate Science and Policy" at TERI University.
New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Ministers and officials from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico and Nigeria will chalk out an action plan for quality education for all in the next two years at the E-9 Initiative meet here from Friday.
New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) The Celtic Connection, one of the Scotland's biggest roots music and arts festival supported by the government Scottish Arts Council has inked an agreement with the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) Sunday to promote exchanges between roots musicians of Rajasthan and the Celtic regions of Britain.
New York, Oct. 19 (ANI): The Director-General of UNESCO has praised the bravery of 14-year-old girl Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousufzai, who was attacked by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on October 9.
Islamabad, Oct 18 (IANS) There are 5.1 million Pakistani children who are out of school, with 63 percent of them being girls, a UN report said Thursday.
Washington, Oct. 18 (ANI): U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich has called the attack on Pakistani teen education campaigner Malala Yousufzai "heartbreaking".
New Delhi, Sep 14 (ANI): Asserting that if we want the Indian democracy to be strong and progressive, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said 'we should respect Hindi and regional languages in the working of central and state governments respectively'.
New Delhi, Sep 11 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday said India will continue to support Palestine's bid for full and equal membership of the United Nations.
New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrives in India Monday night on a state visit during which he will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the two sides will also sign three pacts.
Paris, Sep 7 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the UNESCO have signed an agreement on the operation of the the Sharjah-based Regional Centre for Educational Planning (RCEP).
New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) Amid the flux in West Asia, India will reinforce its commitment to the Palestinian cause and will sign three pacts during the visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas next week.
Washington, September 5 (ANI): The effects of coastline erosion as a result of rising sea-level rise in the vicinity of inlets, such as river estuaries, have until now been dramatically underestimated, researchers have found using a new model.
New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS) Niue? What's new? Last week, India quietly established formal diplomatic relations with Niue, a South Pacific island of 1,400 inhabitants, which is better known as the world's first "Wi-Fi nation", in which free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the country.
New Delhi, Sep 4 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and Niuean Premier Toke Talagi signed a Joint Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Niue, at Cook Islands, on August 30.
Bamako, Sept. 2 (ANI): Militant Mali Islamist rebels have seized the strategic town of Douentza, extending the area they control in the north of the country.
Manama, Sep 1 (ANI): More and more Saudi Arabian women are earning global recogniton in the field of science and medicine, according to a report.
London, Aug 25 (ANI): Exactly 1,933 years after an eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii beneath a blanket of ash, the final 24 hours of the Roman city were relived on Friday through Twitter.
Beijing, Aug 15 (IANS) A 600-year-old religious building in central China will be raised 15 metres above ground by the year-end to prevent its inundation due to a water project.
Moscow, Aug 14 (IANS /RIA Novosti) Russian physicist and popular science TV show host Sergei Kapitsa died Tuesday in Moscow. He was 84.
NOIDA (Uttar Pradesh), July 31 (ANI): It was a rare moment for the students, film makers and film enthusiasts when several luminaries from United Nations, UNICEF, academia and industry graced a glittering award ceremony of the ninth edition of the "We Care" film festival at the India International Centre here on Tuesday.
Sydney, July 30 (ANI): Despite enduring more than 40 years of bloody terror and dictatorship, a Libyan tourist organisation believes the country has what it takes to be the next top tourist spot.
Moscow, July 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's Arctic Floating University has possibly discovered a new branch of the Gulf Stream in the Barents Sea during its inaugural trip this summer, programme managers said Tuesday.
Beijing, July 11 (IANS)Two Chinese provinces are making a joint bid to have their ancient distilleries of baijiu, or Chinese liquor, recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage sites, according to authorities.
Sydney, July 9 (IANS) Top marine scientists have sounded an alarm over the plight of coral reefs worldwide and the livelihood of millions of people dependent on them.
Guwahati, July 7 (IANS) Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain Saturday said the government had asked experts to work out a mechanism to reduce animal deaths during floods.
Panaji, July 5 (IANS) A rampaging iron ore mining industry and colluding officials are behind the shocking exclusion of Goa's forests from a cluster of 39 areas in the Western ghats region that were included this week in Unesco's World Heritage list, according to a leading green campaigner.
India's 1600-km long eco-sensitive Western Ghats mountain chain along with west coast of India have been added into the coveted list of prestigious United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) world heritage sites, adding another feathers into India's rich heritage and culture at a meeting held on Russia on June 01, official site informed on Monday........
St. Petersburg (Russia), July 3 (IANS/EFE) The landscapes of Rio de Janeiro have been entered onto the World Heritage List, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said.
New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): India's Western Ghats have been added to the prestigious list of the United Nation's cultural agency, UNESCO's world heritage sites.
St. Petersburg, July 2 (IANS) A site containing fossilised remains of 200 prehistoric marine species in China has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, Xinhua reported.
Mali, July 1 (ANI): Islamist fighters in Mali have damaged shrines of Muslim saints in the city of Timbuktu.
Puducherry, June 29 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will undertake a two-day visit of Puducherry from this evening.
Shimla, June 20 (ANI): In a first of its kind, engineers of Indian Railways have pioneered solar lighting system in the heritage toy train that runs on the narrow gauge from Kalka to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.
Washington, June 15 (ANI): Uranium-series dating has revealed that the practice of cave art in Europe began up to 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, indicating the paintings were created either by the first anatomically modern humans in Europe or, perhaps, by Neanderthals.
London, June 14 (ANI): The church, which has been built where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born, could become the Palestinian Territory's first World Heritage site, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Melbourne, June 2 (ANI): The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the future of the Great Barrier Reef and has demanded an immediate halt of development activities on it.
Washington, June 1 (ANI): Google is now offering a virtual tour of famous sites across the world, including that of Stonehenge and Jerusalem.
Jakarta (Indonesia), May 21 (Xinhua-ANI): A traditional farming and irrigation system used in Bali known as "subak" has been included in the world-heritage by UNESCO, media reported here on Monday. "The subak tradition of Bali has eventually been named as a UNESCO world-heritage activity," Education and Culture Deputy Minister Windu Nuryanti was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.
los Angeles, May 19 (IANS) British comedian Russell Brand says he still loves Katy Perry and thinks she is beautiful.
London, May 18 (ANI): Sacha Baron Cohen has revealed that he had to run for his life when he was chased by a furious rock-wielding gang as they tried to stone him.
London, May 18 (ANI): 'X Factor' bosses dramatically called off talks with Dannii Minogue after she turned down Simon Cowell's final offer to be a judge on the show.
Washington, May 18 (ANI): Jenny McCarthy is set to pose nude for Playboy magazine again after nearly 20 years.
London, May 18(ANI): Chelsea's first ever foreign manager Ruud Gullit has claimed owner Roman Abramovich might be hoping secretly that his side loses the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on May 19.
Washington, May 18 (ANI): Miranda Kerr, who is famed for her amazing figure, has revealed that she exercises every day to keep in shape.
Washington, May 18 (ANI): Madonna has revealed that her 11-year-old son Rocco is teaching her to breakdance and has introduced her to dubstep music, which she is now a fan of.
Washington, May 18 (ANI): The makers of the AK-47 assault rifles are said to be in talks with the family of the gun's namesake, Mikhail Kalashnikov, to obtain the rights to the Kalashnikov brand.
London, May 18(ANI): London Olympics chief Lord Coe has denied putting any pressure on Team Great Britain football coach Stuart Pearce to select former Manchester United star David Beckham.
Los Angeles, May 18 (IANS) Actress Cameron Diaz says she loves getting older and can't wait to hit 40.
Los Angeles, May 18 (IANS) After playing suphero character in "The Avengers", actress Scarlett Johansson is likely to star in her own Black Widow movie.
Moscow, May 18 (IANS) A court in the US has told an American woman, who sent her adopted son back to Russia, to pay $150,000 in damages, child support, and legal fees, a media report said.
London, May 18(ANI): Fast bowler Chris Old, who was a part of England's legendary 1981 Ashes team, is earning six pounds an hour in the magazine section of Sainsbury's in Truro, Cornwall after hitting tough times.
Sao Paulo, May 18 (IANS/EFE) Spain's foreign minister lobbied here Thursday for strengthening "economic diplomacy" to tighten economic and trade links between his country and Brazil.
London, May 18 (IANS) Singer Jennifer Lopez will reportedly step down from the judging panel of the singing reality show "American Idol" after the current season.
Moscow, May 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Electoral ratings of Russian President Vladimir Putin have grown to 55 percent returning to 2010 levels, according to a pollster Thursday.
Los Angeles, May 18 (IANS) Actress Angelina Jolie still has a soft corner for ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton. The 36-year-old says Thornton, whom she divorced almost 10 years ago, has a big beautiful heart.
Los Angeles, May 18 (IANS) Rapper 50 Cent has reportedly been hosptialised with a stomach virus.
Moscow, May 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti) As many as 11 people, including four Taliban fighters, were killed and over a dozen others injured after militants attacked a provincial governor's compound in Afghanistan Thursday, media reports said citing Afghan officials.
London, May 17 (ANI): Cover Drive singer Amanda Reifer has challenged pal Rihanna to a "Booty Olympics".
London, May 17 (IANS) No effort was spared by the US military before its Navy Seals raided Al-Qaeda's former chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last May, shows a detailed scale model of his Abbottabad city-located compound.
London, May 17 (ANI): Jennifer Lopez has admitted that she enjoys reading gossip showbiz stories like any normal girl would.
London, May 17(ANI): World number four tennis player Andy Murray has admitted he swears too much on court, but believes since he speaks in English, therefore, he gets penalized more.
Beijing, May 17 (ANI): Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has said Beijing has agreed to issue him a passport within 15 days, which will allow him to go to the United States.
Bangkok, May 17 (Xinhua-ANI): Bangkok Metropolitan Police said Thursday that 1,200 police will be deployed during the Red-shirts gathering on Saturday.
Washington, May 17 (ANI): American rapper 50 Cent has been admitted to hospital for surgery.
