-
On December 10, 2025, UNESCO inscribed Italy's culinary traditions and rituals as intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the social and cultural importance of practices like family meals and cooking rituals. Italy is the first country to receive this recognition for its cuisine, emphasizing sustainability, regional diversity, and the communal nature of food preparation and consumption.
-
Houthi drone strikes breached Israel’s defenses, hitting a southern airport and injuring one. In Yemen, strikes killed dozens, including journalists, damaging key sites like the National Museum. The conflict highlights ongoing regional escalation linked to the Gaza war, with both sides targeting infrastructure and media outlets.
-
Senator Marco Rubio visited an archaeological site in Jerusalem's City of David, emphasizing its biblical significance amid ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tensions. The visit, which was not open to media, aligns with US policies supporting Israeli claims to East Jerusalem, ahead of UN discussions on Palestinian statehood.
-
A limestone painting from the tomb of Khentika in Saqqara, Egypt, dating to the Sixth Dynasty (around 2700-2200 BC), has gone missing. The tomb, sealed since 2019, was found in the 1950s. Prosecutors are investigating the disappearance amid recent thefts of ancient artifacts, including a Pharaoh’s bracelet, from Egyptian museums.
-
Khaled el-Enany, Egypt's former tourism and antiquities minister, has been elected to lead UNESCO, marking the first Arab to hold the position. The vote follows the US withdrawal from the organization, which faces financial and political challenges. The decision now awaits ratification at the upcoming general assembly.
-
Recent surveys highlight widespread delays in end-of-life planning, with many avoiding difficult conversations. Meanwhile, countries are increasingly banning smartphones in schools to combat digital overuse among children, reflecting concerns over mental health and social development.
-
Vietnam's central cities Hue and Hoi An experienced historic rainfall, with Hue recording over 1,700mm in 24 hours—the highest ever in Vietnam. Flooding submerged homes, caused evacuations, and disrupted transport, as authorities warn heavy rains may continue until Friday amid climate change-driven storms.
-
On the UN's International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, reports highlight ongoing violence, arrests, and restrictions worldwide. Despite some progress, journalists in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan, and Ghana face deadly threats, with impunity remaining a major obstacle to press freedom.
-
Switzerland is requesting UNESCO recognition for yodeling as an intangible cultural heritage. The effort highlights yodeling's evolution from mountain communication to a versatile musical art, with a decision expected in mid-December. The initiative aims to preserve and promote this unique Swiss tradition globally.
-
On Monday, six marble statues were stolen from the National Museum of Damascus, which had reopened in January after Syria's 14-year civil war and the fall of Assad's regime. The theft occurred overnight in the classical department, home to Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine artifacts. Authorities have launched an investigation, detaining and questioning staff, while the museum remains closed amid security concerns.
-
Recent archaeological discoveries in Egypt, Turkey, and Scotland reveal complex Neolithic societies, challenging previous ideas of primitive cultures. Findings include figurines, structures, and artifacts that suggest organized social and spiritual practices, with implications for understanding early human development today. Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2025.
-
A wildfire in Iran's Hyrcanian forests, a UNESCO World Heritage site, reignited on November 15 due to drought and suspected illegal activity. Iran has requested international firefighting assistance, including from Turkey and potentially Russia, as efforts continue to contain the blaze threatening biodiversity and ancient ecosystems.
-
Amid ongoing conflict in Sudan, cultural heritage faces widespread looting and destruction. Museums, including the National Museum in Khartoum, have been looted, with thousands of artifacts lost. A Sudanese curator in France is working to document and recover the country's archaeological treasures before more are lost.
-
Fighting between Cambodia and Thailand has escalated, displacing over 500,000 people and killing at least 13. The conflict, rooted in a border dispute over historic temples, has expanded to multiple provinces, with both sides blaming each other. Cambodia withdrew from the Southeast Asian Games amid the violence.