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UNESCO Recommends Placing Kyiv, Lviv On Endangered Heritage List

A pedestrian walks past the Bell Tower (C) of St Sophia's Cathedral (Back right) in central Kyiv on November 25, 2022. © Bulent KIlic, AFP
A pedestrian walks past the Bell Tower (C) of St Sophia's Cathedral (Back right) in central Kyiv on November 25, 2022. © Bulent KIlic, AFP
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UNESCO Recommends Placing Kyiv, Lviv On Endangered Heritage List

A pedestrian walks past the Bell Tower (C) of St Sophia's Cathedral (Back right) in central Kyiv on November 25, 2022. © Bulent KIlic, AFP
A pedestrian walks past the Bell Tower (C) of St Sophia's Cathedral (Back right) in central Kyiv on November 25, 2022. © Bulent KIlic, AFP

Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral and the historical center of western Ukrainian city Lviv should join UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in danger due to the Russian invasion, a senior official at the UN body said Tuesday.

"These sites are threatened with destruction. There have been attacks on the buffer zones around these sites and we don't know what will happen in the future," the head of the World Heritage programme Lazare Eloundou told AFP in Paris.

The World Heritage Committee, set to meet from September 10-25 in Riyadh, will "likely" make the decision "based on experts' opinion" that the sites are "demonstrably in danger", Eloundou added.

The center of Ukrainian port city Odesa is already on the list of endangered World Heritage sites, and several of its buildings were destroyed in late July in what UNESCO described at the time as a "brazen" attack.

Another historic building was bombed in Lviv in early July, with the UN body saying it was the first strike on an area protected by the World Heritage Convention and the first "violation" by Russia of the text since its invasion.

UNESCO has tallied damage to 270 Ukrainian cultural sites since Moscow's tanks rolled into Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Along with Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv's historic center is "one of the major monuments representing the architectural and the monumental art of the early 11th century", UNESCO says on its website.

They have been on the World Heritage list since 1990, while Lviv's medieval center was added in 1996.

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Culture

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival

The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA
The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz Library to Launch 26th Free Reading Festival

The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA
The King Abdulaziz Public Library. SPA

The King Abdulaziz Public Library, in cooperation with the Riyadh Education Department, will launch its 26th annual Free Reading Festival for public school students on Sunday.

Running from May 10 to 14 in Riyadh, the festival will bring together more than 100 schools, over 1,550 students, and a number of educators and teachers.

It aims to foster a love of reading and learning, expand students’ literary, scientific, and cultural horizons, and encourage teachers to promote independent reading. It will also provide a platform to showcase student talents and strengthen Arabic language skills.

Through initiatives like this festival, the King Abdulaziz Public Library promotes reading through diverse programs and a wide range of books that foster pride in the Kingdom’s heritage.

Culture

Qassim's Monday Market Retains Heritage Role as Economic and Cultural Hub

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)
The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)
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Qassim's Monday Market Retains Heritage Role as Economic and Cultural Hub

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)
The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa. (SPA)

The Monday market in the governorate of Uyun Al-Jiwa, north of Qassim Region, stands as one of the oldest traditional weekly markets, enduring through changing times while maintaining its role as a vibrant economic and cultural hub.

The market draws a growing number of visitors from across Qassim and beyond, supported by the governorate’s strategic location.

During a field tour, the Saudi Press Agency observed lively activity throughout the market, with stalls displaying a diverse range of products. These include agricultural goods such as almonds and dried figs; animal products like ghee and milk, for which the region is renowned; as well as handicrafts and natural items such as henna and sidr.

Visitors noted that the market has retained its authentic character, continuing to serve as a vital source of income for small vendors and families working in the cottage industry, reinforcing its role as a key platform for preserving traditional culture while supporting the local rural economy.

Culture

Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
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Heritage Commission Revives Al-Nasb Heritage District as Abha Cultural Tourism Destination

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA
The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition - SPA

Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in Aseer Region, preserving its long history and architectural details that embody people’s connection to their local environment and document the social and cultural patterns that have shaped the identity of the place across generations.

The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition, where mud and stone buildings stand side by side in visual harmony. They were built using local materials such as stone, clay, and juniper trunks, while the narrow alleyways and closely set buildings give the district a cohesive social character that reflects the spirit of past communities in the region and the close relationship between people and place.

The Heritage Commission has revived the district through an integrated restoration and rehabilitation project aimed at preserving its original elements and enhancing its sustainability, as part of national efforts to protect urban heritage and highlight it as a cultural and tourism asset, SPA reported.

The site is also distinguished by its natural setting, as the district overlooks the banks of Abha Valley and surrounding farms, giving it a distinctive visual and aesthetic dimension. Its narrow passageways and closely set buildings illustrate a traditional urban pattern that strengthens ties among residents and captures the nature of social life in that era.

The district is now a growing destination for culture and tourism in Abha, attracting visitors and heritage enthusiasts who come to explore the details of authentic architecture and learn about the traditional ways of life that have shaped Aseer Region’s identity across generations. The project helps raise awareness of the importance of preserving archaeological sites as a key pillar in forming national memory.

The project is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to protect and effectively manage cultural heritage, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, which gives special attention to the cultural sector. It seeks to turn heritage sites into vibrant spaces that support cultural tourism and sustainable development while reconnecting society with its historical roots.