US cuts UNESCO funding after move to admit Palestine
The United States State Department announced it would cease funding the United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural Organization, UNESCO, following the organization's vote to include Palestine as a full member.
Legal requirements mandate the U.S. to cut financial ties with any organization that recognizes Palestine as a sovereign nation. A current UN resolution proposes to give Palestine full membership rather than its current observer status, and many other member states have voiced support for Palestine's proposal for recognition.
The U.S. has been clear it will veto the resolution should it pass the Security Council.
NATO ends Libyan military mission
After seven months on the ground in Libya, NATO declared Monday it will terminate the military endeavor it started March 31.
NATO originally planned to enforce a no-fly zone, conduct air raids and maintain an arms embargo as mandated by the United Nations and carried out almost 10,000 strikes, destroying nearly 6,000 military targets.
NATO's decision to retract its forces comes in spite of Libyan requests for the organization to stay in-country until the end of the year.
Chinese spacecraft launches, marks mission to assemble space station
The Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou-8, unmanned, launched early Tuesday from the remote Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, located in the Gansu province.
China has plans to establish a permanent space station within a decade and has scheduled two visits for astronauts next year.
World population reaches 7 billion
The world population reached at least seven billion people Monday according to an estimate by the United Nations. Newborns around the world seen as symbols of the milestone were celebrated as seven-billionth babies.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said in a press conference Monday the world's newest babies have been born into a world of terrible contradictions, where there is plenty of food yet one billion people continue to go hungry.
"I am one of seven billion," he said. "You are also one of seven billion. Together, we can be seven billion strong, by working in solidarity for a better world for all."
Greece to hold referendum on new debt deal with European Union
For the first time, Greek citizens will be able to vote on austerity measures intended to solve the country's debt problems.
Cuts to Greece's social programs the government has claimed are necessary to absolve the small country's multi-billion dollar debt have fueled fiery riots and violent protests for months.
Many citizens have been upset by their government's willingness to allow the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Union (EU) to dictate the recourse needed to secure a bailout.
Prime Minister George Papandreau announced the referendum Monday.