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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

The latest news and top stories on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. A prominent Paris, France based specialized agency of the United Nations, UNESCO is dedicated to promoting peace and security through international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. Its main areas of focus include advancing literacy, fostering scientific collaboration and preserving cultural heritage. The organisation is recognised for establishing World Heritage Sites, contributing to sustainable development and notably added the 24 Solar Terms system to its world intangible cultural heritage list.

Science

Pan Jianwei becomes first Chinese scientist to win top UN basic science prize

Father of quantum recognised for ‘seminal contributions to large-scale secure quantum communications and scalable quantum computation’.

13 Jul 2026 - 11:44PMvideocam

Australia

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef avoids ‘in danger’ listing by Unesco

4 Jul 2026 - 3:35PM

Malaysia

No more warnings for litterbugs as Malaysia’s Penang deploys bodycams

2 Jul 2026 - 1:51PM

China-Japan relations

Rising seas: Japan makes pitch to Pacific nations caught in US-China rivalry

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi tells summit that Tokyo is committed to helping regional partners strengthen ‘autonomy and resilience’.

3 Jun 2026 - 3:00PM

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (centre) poses with representatives from the region during the opening of the Island States Ocean Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

China education

‘Natural’ choice: why Unesco’s new STEM education centre is based in Shanghai

China is working with the UN agency to help the world’s least developed countries advance technical education and grow their talent pools.

24 May 2026 - 9:00AM

Tourism

Video | Tourist banned from China Unesco site for shoving monkey

Authorities barred the visitor from Sichuan’s Emei Mountain for three years after he was filmed pushing a macaque.

12 May 2026 - 9:34PM

Food and Drinks

Is this soup being culturally appropriated? Dispute boils between 2 nations

Greece and Turkey are arguing over a traditional soup’s origins as one restaurateur attempts to register it as a dish of Greece with Unesco.

19 Apr 2026 - 5:15PM

A woman prepares to eat traditional tripe soup known as “patsas” in Greek and “iskembe” in Turkish, at Epirus restaurant in central Athens, on Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Americas and the Caribbean

Stampede at historic fortress in Haiti kills 25 and injures dozens

Authorities in Haiti probe ‘severe overcrowding’ at Citadelle Laferriere following mountaintop crush.

13 Apr 2026 - 1:43PM

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong can become global hub for autism support: Unesco official

Chief Executive John Lee highlights importance of better understanding and acceptance of autistic people at event marking World Autism Awareness Day.

2 Apr 2026 - 8:43PM

Art

A riot of colourful artworks in Padua defines Italy’s Painted City

The World Heritage site’s colourful attractions include one of the earliest depictions of a kiss in Western painting.

29 Mar 2026 - 6:00AM

Meeting at the Golden Gate (circa 1305),
by Giotto, in Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel. Photo: Getty Images

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran says Hormuz closed for shipping to and from ‘enemy’ ports

The Revolutionary Guards said that they had turned back three vessels seeking to cross the transit point.

27 Mar 2026 - 8:22PMvideocam

People walk near Iranian missiles in a park in Tehran on Thursday. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Damage to Iran’s cultural and historical sites adds to costs of war

Since the US and Israeli strikes, Unesco is tracking damage to protected landmarks in Iran, as well as heritage sites in Lebanon and Israel.

16 Mar 2026 - 7:15PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Unesco-listed Iran palace damaged as US and Israel ramp up air war

Shockwaves from strikes on Tehran shatter glass and mirrors in the historic Golestan Palace, prompting reaction from the UN.

4 Mar 2026 - 9:24PMvideocam

Nepal

Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life

Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status.

21 Feb 2026 - 3:00PM

Archaeologists at work in Tilaurakot, Lumbini, Nepal. Photo: Department of Archaeology, Nepal

India

Death penalty for Indian trio who raped Israeli tourist, killed man in Hampi

The men had attacked a group of five people – including two tourists – who were stargazing near a Unesco World Heritage site in Hampi.

17 Feb 2026 - 5:28PMvideocam

Hampi is known for its rocky hillocks and sprawling temple ruins. Photo: SCMP

United Nations

Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring

The UN’s financial strain is a chance to rethink its structure, cut inefficiencies and empower local work that delivers more impact.

15 Feb 2026 - 5:30AM

Trip Inspiration

From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love

From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight.

31 Jan 2026 - 11:00AM

Luxury Hotels

Review | Old-world charm meets modern refinement at The Edison George Town, Penang

Set in a heritage colonial building dating back to 1906, the hotel underwent a 4-year restoration to bring it up to contemporary standards of luxury.

5 Jan 2026 - 11:46AM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Chingay parade dazzles George Town as Unesco bid gains steam

Once tied to Taoist deity processions, the parade has grown into one of Penang’s largest and most multicultural street festivals.

22 Dec 2025 - 6:32PM

Architecture and design

Building on waves: a Chinese triumph in temporary architecture

A Zhejiang pavilion takes top honours at the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards, alongside a Hong Kong finalist celebrating the beauty of impermanence.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:15PM

Food and Drinks

Unesco adds Italian cuisine and its rituals to world cultural heritage list

Italy’s culinary traditions have been recognised by the United Nations’ cultural agency as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

12 Dec 2025 - 5:14AM

A dish of Italian spaghetti alla carbonara. Unesco added the rituals surrounding Italian food preparation and consumption to its list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Photo: AFP

Tourism

Egypt’s Saint Catherine town is getting an overhaul. Not everyone is happy

A US$300 million project is under way to draw tourists to the biblical mountain town, but experts fear more harm is being done than good.

6 Dec 2025 - 12:15PM

Saint Catherine’s Monastery, in South Sinai, Egypt, pictured in September 2016. Hotels and other large building projects under construction in the Saint Catherine valley as part of Egypt’s “Great Transfiguration” tourism megaproject are sparking outrage among locals and heritage experts alike. Photo: AFP

Tourism

11 of the best Unesco World Heritage sites in the US to check out

The US boasts 26 Unesco World Heritage sites, some of which are globally famous, like the Grand Canyon, while others are less well known.

2 Dec 2025 - 12:45PM

United Nations

Language Matters | How multilingualism can help us work towards global peace and tolerance

Inclusion of and support for diverse languages are crucial for fulfilling goals of tolerance, peace, justice and building a future together.

26 Oct 2025 - 8:15AM

SCMP Highlights

Tourists throng Hong Kong park, China’s nuclear dilemma: 5 weekend reads

From origin of Venice’s winged lion to China’s issue with Saudi-Pakistan pact, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

6 Oct 2025 - 12:15PM

Some tourists on Sharp Island camped overnight and cooked during the National Day holiday. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong steps up patrols after ‘golden week’ tourists overrun Sai Kung island

Sharp Island back to normal as patrols stepped up, additional manpower deployed to clean up litter.

5 Oct 2025 - 8:00PM

Mainland Chinese tourists flock to Sharp Island during the golden week holiday. Photo: Dickson Lee

United Nations

UN heritage body opens virtual museum to spotlight artefact trafficking

Unesco’s online space will showcase hundreds of stolen cultural objects in the hopes of drawing attention to the vast illegal trade network.

30 Sep 2025 - 4:40AM

Fame and celebrity

Italian actress Claudia Cardinale dies aged 87

The actress, who starred next to leading men from Burt Lancaster to Henry Fonda, was the muse of Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini.

24 Sep 2025 - 6:59AM

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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

Pan Jianwei becomes first Chinese scientist to win top UN basic science prize

Father of quantum recognised for ‘seminal contributions to large-scale secure quantum communications and scalable quantum computation’.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef avoids ‘in danger’ listing by Unesco

No more warnings for litterbugs as Malaysia’s Penang deploys bodycams

Rising seas: Japan makes pitch to Pacific nations caught in US-China rivalry

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi tells summit that Tokyo is committed to helping regional partners strengthen ‘autonomy and resilience’.

‘Natural’ choice: why Unesco’s new STEM education centre is based in Shanghai

China is working with the UN agency to help the world’s least developed countries advance technical education and grow their talent pools.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | Tourist banned from China Unesco site for shoving monkey

Authorities barred the visitor from Sichuan’s Emei Mountain for three years after he was filmed pushing a macaque.

Is this soup being culturally appropriated? Dispute boils between 2 nations

Greece and Turkey are arguing over a traditional soup’s origins as one restaurateur attempts to register it as a dish of Greece with Unesco.

Stampede at historic fortress in Haiti kills 25 and injures dozens

Authorities in Haiti probe ‘severe overcrowding’ at Citadelle Laferriere following mountaintop crush.

Hong Kong can become global hub for autism support: Unesco official

Chief Executive John Lee highlights importance of better understanding and acceptance of autistic people at event marking World Autism Awareness Day.

A riot of colourful artworks in Padua defines Italy’s Painted City

The World Heritage site’s colourful attractions include one of the earliest depictions of a kiss in Western painting.

Iran says Hormuz closed for shipping to and from ‘enemy’ ports

The Revolutionary Guards said that they had turned back three vessels seeking to cross the transit point.

Damage to Iran’s cultural and historical sites adds to costs of war

Since the US and Israeli strikes, Unesco is tracking damage to protected landmarks in Iran, as well as heritage sites in Lebanon and Israel.

Unesco-listed Iran palace damaged as US and Israel ramp up air war

Shockwaves from strikes on Tehran shatter glass and mirrors in the historic Golestan Palace, prompting reaction from the UN.

Unearthed temple in Nepal sheds new light on Buddha’s early life

Archaeologists hope the newly discovered ruins at Siddhartha Gautam’s childhood palace will help secure Unesco World Heritage status.

Death penalty for Indian trio who raped Israeli tourist, killed man in Hampi

The men had attacked a group of five people – including two tourists – who were stargazing near a Unesco World Heritage site in Hampi.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring

The UN’s financial strain is a chance to rethink its structure, cut inefficiencies and empower local work that delivers more impact.

From devil-mouth caves to deer-filled parks, these sites deserve more love

From ancient temples in Bali to royal tombs in Korea, Asia’s World Heritage sites reveal rich histories beyond the spotlight.

Review | Old-world charm meets modern refinement at The Edison George Town, Penang

Set in a heritage colonial building dating back to 1906, the hotel underwent a 4-year restoration to bring it up to contemporary standards of luxury.

Malaysia’s Chingay parade dazzles George Town as Unesco bid gains steam

Once tied to Taoist deity processions, the parade has grown into one of Penang’s largest and most multicultural street festivals.

Building on waves: a Chinese triumph in temporary architecture

A Zhejiang pavilion takes top honours at the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards, alongside a Hong Kong finalist celebrating the beauty of impermanence.

Unesco adds Italian cuisine and its rituals to world cultural heritage list

Italy’s culinary traditions have been recognised by the United Nations’ cultural agency as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Egypt’s Saint Catherine town is getting an overhaul. Not everyone is happy

A US$300 million project is under way to draw tourists to the biblical mountain town, but experts fear more harm is being done than good.

11 of the best Unesco World Heritage sites in the US to check out

The US boasts 26 Unesco World Heritage sites, some of which are globally famous, like the Grand Canyon, while others are less well known.

Language Matters | How multilingualism can help us work towards global peace and tolerance

Inclusion of and support for diverse languages are crucial for fulfilling goals of tolerance, peace, justice and building a future together.

Tourists throng Hong Kong park, China’s nuclear dilemma: 5 weekend reads

From origin of Venice’s winged lion to China’s issue with Saudi-Pakistan pact, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Hong Kong steps up patrols after ‘golden week’ tourists overrun Sai Kung island

Sharp Island back to normal as patrols stepped up, additional manpower deployed to clean up litter.

UN heritage body opens virtual museum to spotlight artefact trafficking

Unesco’s online space will showcase hundreds of stolen cultural objects in the hopes of drawing attention to the vast illegal trade network.

Italian actress Claudia Cardinale dies aged 87

The actress, who starred next to leading men from Burt Lancaster to Henry Fonda, was the muse of Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini.

Video | Tourist banned from China Unesco site for shoving monkey

Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring