![US First Lady says 'proud' of return to UNESCO](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/a7/92/7c/US-First-Lady-says--proud--of-retur-542009.jpg)
-
Wolves' Kilman reunites with Lopetegui at West Ham
-
Schmidt reign off to winning start as Australia beat Wales 25-16
-
Russian wrestlers reject Olympics invitation
-
Raducanu rediscovers Wimbledon 'fun' factor after turbulent spell
-
Winning all that matters at Euro 2024 for Mbappe's minimalist France
-
Eight dead, two million affected by Bangladesh floods
-
Robertson pleased to 'find a way' past England in tough Test baptism
-
Martin sets lap record to secure German MotoGP pole
-
'Shattered' Germany set sights on World Cup after Euros exit
-
Olympic hope Pedersen pulls out of Tour de France
-
Djokovic eyes sweet 16 at Wimbledon as Swiatek takes on 'gangster'
-
End beckons again for Ronaldo after Portugal Euros KO
-
New Zealand edge England 16-15 in tense, brutal first Test
-
Turkey take on Dutch in politically charged Euros quarter-final, England face Swiss
-
Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
-
Cybercrime groups restructuring after major takedowns: experts
-
Activists hail Sierra Leone child marriage ban, urge action on FGM
-
Marsch relishing Canada's semi clash with Argentina
-
Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa semis
-
Iran reformist Pezeshkian holds early lead in runoff vote
-
Swiatek faces 'gangster' threat, Djokovic feels need for Wimbledon speed
-
France holds its breath ahead of uncertain vote
-
Starmer begins UK 'rebuild' after landslide election win
-
Paris's Moulin Rouge inaugurates new windmill sails ahead of Olympics
-
Pan, Rai share halfway lead in PGA John Deere Classic
-
'I was feeling terrible' in debate, Biden says in TV interview
-
France coach Deschamps savours ending penalty hoodoo, defends Mbappe
-
Thompson bids farewell to Warriors after exit
-
Portugal exit Euros with pride, will return stronger: Martinez
-
UK's new PM Starmer speaks to world leaders, names top team
-
Spain and France to face off in Euros last four, Turkey lament 'unfair' Demiral ban
-
Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
-
France beat Portugal on penalties to reach Euro 2024 semi-finals
-
Endrick to start for Brazil in Uruguay Copa clash: Dorival
-
Heartbreak for Germany fans after dramatic Euros exit
-
Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
-
Nagelsmann laments late penalty decision as hosts Germany exit Euros
-
Biden declares he's all in ahead of high-risk TV interview
-
Spain team 'is a winning horse', says De la Fuente
-
Bows at the ready, Chad villagers battle kidnappings
-
Alcaraz mimics Bellingham goal celebration after Wimbledon win
-
Olmo hopes Pedri can make speedy return for Euros semi-finalists Spain
-
Retiring Kroos hopeful despite Germany's 'bitter' Euros exit
-
Southgate turns on English 'entitlement' over claims of easy Euros draw
-
Merino extra-time goal sends Spain past Germany to Euro semis
-
Koeman demands Dutch silence fervent Turkish fans at Euros
-
Brad Pitt at Silverstone for filming of F1 movie
-
Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
-
California fires spread in July 4 weekend heatwave
-
Alcaraz wins five-set Wimbledon thriller as Gauff eases through
![US First Lady says 'proud' of return to UNESCO](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/a7/92/7c/US-First-Lady-says--proud--of-retur-542009.jpg)
US First Lady says 'proud' of return to UNESCO
US First Lady Jill Biden said on Tuesday she and her husband Joe were proud that their country had rejoined UNESCO, the UN cultural agency Washington had quit during the Trump administration.
In a speech at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Biden -- on her first official visit to France since Joe Biden became US president -- said that Washington's "fight for our values like democracy and equality and human rights" was made easier with America being part of the global community.
"The United States cannot do it alone, but we must help lead the way. That's why we're so proud to rejoin UNESCO," she said.
Former president Donald Trump announced in 2017 that he was pulling the United States out of UNESCO, accusing the body of bias against Israel. The decision took effect in 2018.
Audrey Azoulay, a former French culture minister who has headed UNESCO since 2017, made it a priority to bring the United States back.
Last month, an extraordinary session of the UN body's General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the country's return, but there were dissenting voices, notably China and Russia.
The United States, a founding member of UNESCO, was a major contributor to its budget until 2011, when the body admitted Palestine as a member state.
That triggered an end to the contributions under US law, leading up to the formal withdrawal announcement six years later.
Until the suspension of its contributions in 2011, the United States paid about 22 percent of UNESCO's budget, or $75 million.
The US Congress, then fully controlled by the Democratic Party, in December paved the way for the United States to restore funding, setting aside $150 million in the budget.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in March that the US absence from UNESCO was letting China write rules on artificial intelligence.
The United States had already withdrawn from UNESCO in 1984 -- under president Ronald Reagan -- and rejoined the organisation after almost 20 years in October 2003.
Washington will make payments over coming years to UNESCO to cover its debt, the organisation said last month.
Paris-based UNESCO is the United Nations' educational, scientific and cultural organisation.
Its work includes compiling a list of world heritage sites, defending press freedom, promoting sustainable development and running education programmes.
Earlier Tuesday, Jill Biden met with French First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Elysee Palace.
She is on Wednesday to travel to an American Cemetery in northwestern France to pay tribute to US soldiers who died in World War II.
The final stage of Biden's trip is the Mont Saint-Michel, a world heritage site, in the northwestern Normandy region.
F.Santana--PC