Under UNESCO rules, the US had until Friday morning to resume funding or submit an explanation for its arrears.

Neither happened and the US was losing its vote automatically, according to a UNESCO official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the dispute.

The loss of the vote means the US cannot participate in funding decisions for the agency, which may be best known for its program to protect the cultures of the world via its Heritage sites, which include the Statue of Liberty and Mali's Timbuktu.

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