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<p>The World Heritage Committee on Saturday inscribed five cultural sites, including one transnational property, in Saudi Arabia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 44th session held online and chaired from Fuzhou (China).</p>

<p>Few Indian sites including Dholavira, an archaeological site in Gujarat which represents the ruins of an ancient city of the Harappan civilization, and the Glorious Kakatiya Temples and Gateways in Telangana will also be examined for inscription on UNESCO's list.</p>

<p>Let's read about the sites which have been inscribed.</p>

<p><strong>Hima Cultural Area, Saudi Arabia</strong></p>

<p>Located in an arid, mountainous area of southwest Saudi Arabia, this site is on one of the Arabian Peninsula’s ancient caravan routes, Ḥimā Cultural The area contains a substantial collection of rock art images depicting hunting, fauna, flora and lifestyles in a cultural continuity of 7,000 years. The inscriptions here are in different scripts, including Musnad, Aramaic-Nabatean, South-Arabian, Thamudic, Greek and Arabic. As per UNESCO, the property and its buffer zone are also rich in unexcavated archaeological resources in the form of cairns, stone structures, interments, stone tool scatters and ancient wells. This location is at the oldest known toll station on an important ancient desert caravan route, where the wells of Bi’r Ḥimā date back at least 3,000 years and still produce fresh water.</p>

<p><strong>The Great Spa Towns of Europe in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland</strong></p>

<p>The transnational site of The Great Spa Towns of Europe comprises 11 towns, located in seven European countries. This includes Baden bei Wien in Austria, Spa in Belgium, Františkovy Lázně in Czechia, Karlovy Vary in Czechia, Mariánské Lázně in Czechia, Vichy in France, Bad Ems in Germany, Baden-Baden in Germany, Bad Kissingen in Germany, Montecatini Terme in Italy, and City of Bath in the United Kingdom.The towns have developed around natural mineral water springs.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Cordouan Lighthouse, France</strong></p>

<p>The lighthouse rises up on a shallow rocky plateau in the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. It has been built in white limestone dressed blocks at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.&nbsp;Designed by engineer Louis de Foix and remodelled by engineer Joseph Teulère in the late 18th century, it is decorated with pilasters, columns modillions and gargoyles. As per UNESCO, the architectural forms have drawn inspiration from ancient models, Renaissance Mannerism and the specific architectural language of France’s engineering school&nbsp;<em>École des Ponts et Chaussées.</em></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unesco-calls-on-us-to-end-construction-of-trumps-border-wall-400310"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;UNESCO calls on US to end construction of Trump’s border wall</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Mathuldenhohe Darmstadt, Germany</strong></p>

<p>Established in 1897 by Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, it is the highest elevation above the city of Darmstadt in west-central Germany. The buildings of the colony were created by its artist members as experimental early modernist living and working environments.&nbsp;The serial property consists of two parts including 23 elements, such as the Wedding Tower (1908), the Exhibition Hall (1908), the Plane Tree Grove (1833, 1904-14), the Russian Chapel of St. Maria Magdalena (1897-99), the Lily Basin, the Gottfried Schwab Memorial (1905), the Pergola and Garden (1914), the “Swan Temple” Garden Pavilion (1914), the Ernst Ludwig Fountain, and the 13 houses and artists’ studios that were built for the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony and for the international exhibitions. A Three House Group, built for the 1904 exhibition is an additional component.</p>

<p><strong>Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles, Italy&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The site is composed of eight religious and secular building complexes, within the historic walled city of Padua which houses a selection of fresco cycles painted between 1302 and 1397 by different artists for different types of patron. These include Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel fresco cycle. Other fresco cycles of different artists include Guariento di Arpo, Giusto de’ Menabuoi, Altichiero da Zevio, Jacopo Avanzi and Jacopo da Verona.&nbsp;</p>


The World Heritage Committee on Saturday inscribed five cultural sites, including one transnational property, in Saudi Arabia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 44th session held online and chaired from Fuzhou (China).

The World Heritage Committee on Saturday inscribed five cultural sites, including one transnational property, in Saudi Arabia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its 44th session held online and chaired from Fuzhou (China). Few Indian sites including Dholavira, an archaeological site in Gujarat which represents the ruins of an ancient city of the Harappan civilization, and the Glorious Kakatiya Temples and Gateways in Telangana will also be examined for inscription on UNESCO's list. Let's read about the sites which have been inscribed. Hima Cultural Area, Saudi Arabia Located in an arid, mountainous area of southwest Saudi Arabia, this site is on one of the Arabian Peninsula’s ancient caravan routes, Ḥimā Cultural The area contains a substantial collection of rock art images depicting hunting, fauna, flora and lifestyles in a cultural continuity of 7,000 years. The inscriptions here are in different scripts, including Musnad, Aramaic-Nabatean, South-Arabian, Thamudic, Greek and Arabic. As per UNESCO, the property and its buffer zone are also rich in unexcavated archaeological resources in the form of cairns, stone structures, interments, stone tool scatters and ancient wells. This location is at the oldest known toll station on an important ancient desert caravan route, where the wells of Bi’r Ḥimā date back at least 3,000 years and still produce fresh water. The Great Spa Towns of Europe in Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland The transnational site of The Great Spa Towns of Europe comprises 11 towns, located in seven European countries. This includes Baden bei Wien in Austria, Spa in Belgium, Františkovy Lázně in Czechia, Karlovy Vary in Czechia, Mariánské Lázně in Czechia, Vichy in France, Bad Ems in Germany, Baden-Baden in Germany, Bad Kissingen in Germany, Montecatini Terme in Italy, and City of Bath in the United Kingdom.The towns have developed around natural mineral water springs. Cordouan Lighthouse, France The lighthouse rises up on a shallow rocky plateau in the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Gironde estuary. It has been built in white limestone dressed blocks at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries. Designed by engineer Louis de Foix and remodelled by engineer Joseph Teulère in the late 18th century, it is decorated with pilasters, columns modillions and gargoyles. As per UNESCO, the architectural forms have drawn inspiration from ancient models, Renaissance Mannerism and the specific architectural language of France’s engineering school École des Ponts et Chaussées. Also read | UNESCO calls on US to end construction of Trump’s border wall Mathuldenhohe Darmstadt, Germany Established in 1897 by Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, it is the highest elevation above the city of Darmstadt in west-central Germany. The buildings of the colony were created by its artist members as experimental early modernist living and working environments. The serial property consists of two parts including 23 elements, such as the Wedding Tower (1908), the Exhibition Hall (1908), the Plane Tree Grove (1833, 1904-14), the Russian Chapel of St. Maria Magdalena (1897-99), the Lily Basin, the Gottfried Schwab Memorial (1905), the Pergola and Garden (1914), the “Swan Temple” Garden Pavilion (1914), the Ernst Ludwig Fountain, and the 13 houses and artists’ studios that were built for the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony and for the international exhibitions. A Three House Group, built for the 1904 exhibition is an additional component. Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles, Italy The site is composed of eight religious and secular building complexes, within the historic walled city of Padua which houses a selection of fresco cycles painted between 1302 and 1397 by different artists for different types of patron. These include Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel fresco cycle. Other fresco cycles of different artists include Guariento di Arpo, Giusto de’ Menabuoi, Altichiero da Zevio, Jacopo Avanzi and Jacopo da Verona.

Five sites inscribed on UNESCO’s world heritage list

South Korea is hoping four of its Getbol tidal flats will be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. About a million birds from 300 different species use the flats as a stopover each year, according to UNESCO.

South Korea's tidal flats considered for UNESCO World Heritage status

Australia said it will strongly oppose a China-chaired UNESCO plan to list the Great Barrier Reef as a heritage site “in danger” over deterioration caused by climate change.

Australia hits back at China-chaired UNESCO over Barrier Reef's heritage status

A bronze statue of the main God of the kingdom of Saba, located in what is now the Yemeni province of Marib, lies in a dark and fortified room of the Sanaa National Museum. The piece was made by a man named Hawtar Athat in the first half of the sixth century BC. It has been lucky enough to survive the latest war in Yemen. Many other artefacts have not.

As war destroys Yemen's present, museums struggle to preserve its past

Brussels decorated its 18-meter (59 feet) high Christmas tree on Sunday in the middle of the Grand Place, the UNESCO World Heritage main city square.

18-metre-high Christmas tree goes up in Brussels

As the world observes the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day on 18 April, we bring you top 5 breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are worth visiting.

Top 5 World Heritage Sites to Visit

Far into the westernmost land of China perches an intriguing mixture of heritage and modernity, passion and wilderness. That's where the city of Kashgar – the vibrant remnant of the ancient Silk Road – sits.

Chinese old city Kashgar's maze preserves slice of heritage

<p>An ancient tower dating back 2,000 years in the historic Afghan city of Ghazni collapsed this week, local officials said, raising concerns about the vulnerability of the country`s cultural heritage and the government`s ability to protect them.</p>

<p>The old citadel known as Ghaznain Fort originally had 36 towers, but 14 of the towers had collapsed in recent years due to decades of war, heavy rain and neglect.</p>

<p>The fort is one of dozens of unique historic sites in Afghanistan - ranging from the pre-Islamic Buddhist centre in the Bamyan valley to the 12th century minaret of Jam in a remote area of Ghor province - in urgent need of protection.</p>

<p>Officials in Ghazni, which nearly fell to the Taliban last year in some of the heaviest fighting seen in the war, said the tower collapsed on Tuesday following heavy rain. A short video posted on social media shows it crumbling but local residents say negligence also contributed to its collapse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The government paid no attention to the sites and didn`t build canals to divert flood water," said Ghulam Sakhi, who lives near the citadel.<br />
"We have warned the government about the dire condition of the citadel but no one visited," Sakhi said.</p>

<p>Mahbubullah Rahmani, acting director of culture and information in Ghazni, said heavy rain and recent fighting had contributed to the tower`s collapse but said the government was working on a plan to protect the site from complete destruction.</p>

<p>He said a German archaeologist had worked at the site as recently as 2013.<br />
Ghazni, a strategically vital centre on the main highway between Kabul and southern Afghanistan and two hour drive from the capital, is home to a range of cultural and archeological artefacts, some of which date back to pre-Islamic period.</p>

<p>The province and its cultural heritage was officially declared as Asian Capital of Islamic Culture in 2013 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a Morocco-based body created in 1981, supported by UNESCO.</p>

<p>The collapse of the tower in Ghazni follows concern over the condition of the 900-year-old Minaret of Jam, in Ghor, which has been on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Properties in Danger since 2002.</p>

<p>The Taliban during their austere regime from 1996-2001, before they were toppled by the US and coalition force in late 2001, blew up two giant Buddha statues in central Bamiyan province, calling them idols.</p>


An ancient tower dating back 2,000 years in the historic Afghan city of Ghazni collapsed this week, local officials said, raising concerns about the vulnerability of the country`s cultural heritage and the government`s ability to protect them.

An ancient tower dating back 2,000 years in the historic Afghan city of Ghazni collapsed this week, local officials said, raising concerns about the vulnerability of the country`s cultural heritage and the government`s ability to protect them. The old citadel known as Ghaznain Fort originally had 36 towers, but 14 of the towers had collapsed in recent years due to decades of war, heavy rain and neglect. The fort is one of dozens of unique historic sites in Afghanistan - ranging from the pre-Islamic Buddhist centre in the Bamyan valley to the 12th century minaret of Jam in a remote area of Ghor province - in urgent need of protection. Officials in Ghazni, which nearly fell to the Taliban last year in some of the heaviest fighting seen in the war, said the tower collapsed on Tuesday following heavy rain. A short video posted on social media shows it crumbling but local residents say negligence also contributed to its collapse. "The government paid no attention to the sites and didn`t build canals to divert flood water," said Ghulam Sakhi, who lives near the citadel. "We have warned the government about the dire condition of the citadel but no one visited," Sakhi said. Mahbubullah Rahmani, acting director of culture and information in Ghazni, said heavy rain and recent fighting had contributed to the tower`s collapse but said the government was working on a plan to protect the site from complete destruction. He said a German archaeologist had worked at the site as recently as 2013. Ghazni, a strategically vital centre on the main highway between Kabul and southern Afghanistan and two hour drive from the capital, is home to a range of cultural and archeological artefacts, some of which date back to pre-Islamic period. The province and its cultural heritage was officially declared as Asian Capital of Islamic Culture in 2013 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a Morocco-based body created in 1981, supported by UNESCO. The collapse of the tower in Ghazni follows concern over the condition of the 900-year-old Minaret of Jam, in Ghor, which has been on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Properties in Danger since 2002. The Taliban during their austere regime from 1996-2001, before they were toppled by the US and coalition force in late 2001, blew up two giant Buddha statues in central Bamiyan province, calling them idols.

Ancient Afghan citadel collapses, cultural heritage sites at risk

<p>The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, a new film on Netflix, is based on a real-life criminal incident. In February 2013, a homeless guy named Kai Lawrence attacked a woman's assailant with a hatchet and smashed his head with it, saving the woman's life. Soon after the incident, Kai was interviewed by a local TV crew, and the interview quickly went viral, turning him into a superstar. Kai was, however, detained for a murder later that year. What is the murder's mystery? What has become of Kai Lawrence? To learn everything about the 2013 incident, the murder later that year and more keep reading.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, the 2013 incident&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Caleb Lawrence McGillvary is Kai Larence's real name. Kai hitched a ride with Jett Simmons McBride in February 2013. Kai jumped out of the car to assist the person after the driver McBride struck a pedestrian by the side of the road during the journey. McBride reportedly got out of the car and attempted to assault the woman who had come over to assist Kai and the pedestrian. Kai then strikes McBridge in the head with a hatchet that he took out of his backpack. However, McBridge suvived Kai's hatchet assault and later went on to stand trial for attempted murder in 2014. Kai also appeared in court as a witness in the McBride case, as per a report.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kai Lawrence became overnight sensation after McBride incident&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A follow-up interview of the incident was done by KMPH. Kai quickly rose to fame after the KMPH posted the entire six-and-a-half-minute interview on YouTube. The team of Justin Bieber reached out to him for a song collaboration after learning that a producer for Keeping Up With The Kardashians planned to make a reality programme about him. Check the KMPH interview video here:&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>Kai Lawrence arrested for murder later that year&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Kai Lawrence of the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker was arrested later that year for the murder of 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy. Galfy was found dead at his home in New Jersey. After some circumstantial evidences related to Kai, he was tracked down at a Philadelphia bus station by police and confessed to the murder of Galfy. Kai claimed that he did it in self-defence as Galfy was sexually assaulting him. However, police said there was no evidence that could prove the crime was committed in self-defence. Before you know about the whereabouts of Kai Lawrence, check out this netflix trailer of&nbsp;the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker.</p>

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<h2><strong>Where is Kai Lawrence now?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Kai was detained after his arrest and held behind bars until his 2019 trial. He was given a 57-year jail term after being found guilty of first-degree murder. He filed an appeal in 2021 but was unsuccessful. Kai is still incarcerated at Trenton's New Jersey State Prison.</p>

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The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, a new film on Netflix, is based on a real-life criminal incident. In February 2013, a homeless guy named Kai Lawrence attacked a woman's assailant with a hatchet and smashed his head with it, saving the woman's life.

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, a new film on Netflix, is based on a real-life criminal incident. In February 2013, a homeless guy named Kai Lawrence attacked a woman's assailant with a hatchet and smashed his head with it, saving the woman's life. Soon after the incident, Kai was interviewed by a local TV crew, and the interview quickly went viral, turning him into a superstar. Kai was, however, detained for a murder later that year. What is the murder's mystery? What has become of Kai Lawrence? To learn everything about the 2013 incident, the murder later that year and more keep reading. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, the 2013 incident Caleb Lawrence McGillvary is Kai Larence's real name. Kai hitched a ride with Jett Simmons McBride in February 2013. Kai jumped out of the car to assist the person after the driver McBride struck a pedestrian by the side of the road during the journey. McBride reportedly got out of the car and attempted to assault the woman who had come over to assist Kai and the pedestrian. Kai then strikes McBridge in the head with a hatchet that he took out of his backpack. However, McBridge suvived Kai's hatchet assault and later went on to stand trial for attempted murder in 2014. Kai also appeared in court as a witness in the McBride case, as per a report. Kai Lawrence became overnight sensation after McBride incident A follow-up interview of the incident was done by KMPH. Kai quickly rose to fame after the KMPH posted the entire six-and-a-half-minute interview on YouTube. The team of Justin Bieber reached out to him for a song collaboration after learning that a producer for Keeping Up With The Kardashians planned to make a reality programme about him. Check the KMPH interview video here: × Kai Lawrence arrested for murder later that year Kai Lawrence of the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker was arrested later that year for the murder of 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy. Galfy was found dead at his home in New Jersey. After some circumstantial evidences related to Kai, he was tracked down at a Philadelphia bus station by police and confessed to the murder of Galfy. Kai claimed that he did it in self-defence as Galfy was sexually assaulting him. However, police said there was no evidence that could prove the crime was committed in self-defence. Before you know about the whereabouts of Kai Lawrence, check out this netflix trailer of the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker. × Where is Kai Lawrence now? Kai was detained after his arrest and held behind bars until his 2019 trial. He was given a 57-year jail term after being found guilty of first-degree murder. He filed an appeal in 2021 but was unsuccessful. Kai is still incarcerated at Trenton's New Jersey State Prison.

Video shows miscreants damaging world heritage site Hampi in Karnataka

<p>A 1700-year-old Buddha has been discovered by archaeologists near Bhamala Stupa in Haripur district in Pakistan on Wednesday, as an initiative to&nbsp;uplift tourism and project religious harmony in the region.</p>

<p>The 48-foot high Kanjur stone Budhha was first found in Bhamala province in 1929. Eighty-eight years later, the statue was unearthed and unveiled in&nbsp;presence of the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf&nbsp;Imran Khan, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, along with the members of the media, looks on during the unveiling ceremony of the Buddhist-period archeological site. (Reuters)</p>
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<p>&ldquo;This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the world&rsquo;s oldest sleeping Buddha remains,&rdquo; Abdul Samad, director of Bhamla&rsquo;s archaeology and museums department, told Reuters.</p>

<p>&ldquo;We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects and this 48-foot-long sleeping Buddha remains,&rdquo; he added.</p>

<p>Opposition leader Imran Khan also said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a question of preserving these heritage sites which are an asset for our country.&rdquo;</p>

<p>These discoveries by archaeologists have given more insight into the history of the ancient Taxila Valley civilisation, reports stated.</p>

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<p>A general view of the main stupa is seen after it was discovered and unveiled to the public, during a ceremony at the Buddhist-period archeological site. (Reuters)</p>
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<p>The region was once the center of Buddhist civilization that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2,300 years ago.&nbsp;</p>


The region was once the center of Buddhist civilization that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2,300 years ago.

A 1700-year-old Buddha has been discovered by archaeologists near Bhamala Stupa in Haripur district in Pakistan on Wednesday, as an initiative to uplift tourism and project religious harmony in the region. The 48-foot high Kanjur stone Budhha was first found in Bhamala province in 1929. Eighty-eight years later, the statue was unearthed and unveiled in presence of the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan, reports said. Imran Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, along with the members of the media, looks on during the unveiling ceremony of the Buddhist-period archeological site. (Reuters) × “This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the world’s oldest sleeping Buddha remains,” Abdul Samad, director of Bhamla’s archaeology and museums department, told Reuters. “We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects and this 48-foot-long sleeping Buddha remains,” he added. Opposition leader Imran Khan also said: “It’s a question of preserving these heritage sites which are an asset for our country.” These discoveries by archaeologists have given more insight into the history of the ancient Taxila Valley civilisation, reports stated. A general view of the main stupa is seen after it was discovered and unveiled to the public, during a ceremony at the Buddhist-period archeological site. (Reuters) × The region was once the center of Buddhist civilization that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2,300 years ago.

Pakistan unveils oldest sleeping Buddha remains

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