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Iraq Recovers 23,000 Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian Archaeological Artifacts

The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)
The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)
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Iraq Recovers 23,000 Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian Archaeological Artifacts

The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)
The Iraqi Prime Minister during his visit to the National Museum on June 10 (Prime Minister's Office)

Iraq has successfully recovered over 23,000 archaeological pieces during the past three years, with many of them being distributed between the US and Britain, according to Ahmed Al-Alyawi, who heads the House of Manuscripts body.

Al-Alyawi, who is also a spokesperson of Iraq’s Culture Ministry, also revealed the presence of 25 archaeological missions currently operating in Iraq, in collaboration with Iraqi experts, spanning German and Italian institutes and universities.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Alyawi affirmed that the ministry continues its relentless efforts to recover Iraqi antiquities from abroad.

The ongoing efforts have resulted in the recovery of 17,338 archaeological pieces from the US and various other countries.

Additionally, Iraqi authorities have successfully retrieved the Kish tablet, which bears the inscription of the Epic of Gilgamesh, as well as the Sumerian ram artifact.

Al-Alyawi added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has handed over all these pieces to the General Authority for Antiquities in the Ministry of Culture, where they have been stored in an Iraqi museum.

Meanwhile, the Kish tablet and the Sumerian ram artifact have been put on display.

Regarding the methods used for the theft and smuggling of this vast number of archaeological pieces, Al-Alyawi mentioned that “the looting has been occurring for many years, affecting artifacts from various Iraqi civilizations such as Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and others.”

Most of these artifacts were extracted through random digging by organized thieves, within the framework of what is known as the antiquities trade, which is both unfortunate and catastrophic.

“Excavated pieces were smuggled to a Gulf country and from there, further smuggled to the US,” revealed Al-Alyawi.

“However, through persistent efforts by Iraq, with the assistance of certain US entities, particularly the Department of Justice, we have managed to recover them,” he said.

 

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Culture

Louvre Workers Announce Strike Over Work Conditions and Security After $102M Heist

A rainbow emerges over the Louvre museum, bathed in late afternoon sunlight, in Paris, on December 6, 2025. (AFP)
A rainbow emerges over the Louvre museum, bathed in late afternoon sunlight, in Paris, on December 6, 2025. (AFP)
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Louvre Workers Announce Strike Over Work Conditions and Security After $102M Heist

A rainbow emerges over the Louvre museum, bathed in late afternoon sunlight, in Paris, on December 6, 2025. (AFP)
A rainbow emerges over the Louvre museum, bathed in late afternoon sunlight, in Paris, on December 6, 2025. (AFP)

Workers at the Louvre Museum voted Monday for strikes to protest their work conditions, a ticket-price hike for non-European visitors and security weaknesses that a brazen daylight theft of France’s Crown Jewels highlighted in October.

In a letter announcing the strike action starting next Monday, which was addressed to France's culture minister and seen by The Associated Press, the CGT, CFDT and Sud unions asserted that “visiting the Louvre has become a real obstacle course” for the millions of people who come to admire its huge collections of art and artifacts.

The museum is in “crisis,” with insufficient resources and “increasingly deteriorated working conditions," said the unions’ strike notice to Culture Minister Rachida Dati.

“The theft of 19 October 2025 highlighted shortcomings in priorities that had long been reported,” the unions alleged.

The robbery gang made off with loot worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million). The museum director subsequently acknowledged a ″terrible failure" in security. The thieves took less than eight minutes to force their way into the museum and leave, using a freight lift to reach one of the building’s windows, angle grinders to cut into jewelry display cases, and motorbikes to make their escape.

The haul hasn’t been recovered. It includes a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels tied to two 19th century queens, Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.

Upkeep of the museum's vast and historic buildings, which were a former palace for French royals, also hasn't kept pace with its success as one of France's leading attractions.

A water leak on Nov. 26 damaged several hundred publications stored in the museum's library of works specializing in Egyptian antiquities. The damaged works included revues and documents from the 19th and 20th century, the museum said. The opening of a valve triggered the leak in a network of water pipes that are due to be replaced next year, the museum said.

Last month, the Louvre also announced the temporary closure of some employees’ offices and one public gallery because of weakened floor beams.

In their strike notice, the unions said that antiquated facilities and insufficient staffing are impacting the visitor experience, forcing the closure of some displays. They demanded that resources be focused on building improvements and safeguarding the museum, its collections, visitors and employees.

“We are in a run-down museum which has shown its security weaknesses,” Christian Galani, a CGT union official representing Louvre workers, said in an AP interview. He said the strike-action vote by employees on Monday morning was unanimous and that the planned rolling strikes risked forcing the museum's closure.

“We need a change of gear,” he said.

Culture

Diriyah Art Futures Hosts Second Open Studio of Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency

The event, dedicated to digital media artists and held under the theme "High Resolution Dreams of Sand," explores the connections between environment, technology, and culture - SPA
The event, dedicated to digital media artists and held under the theme "High Resolution Dreams of Sand," explores the connections between environment, technology, and culture - SPA
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Diriyah Art Futures Hosts Second Open Studio of Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency

The event, dedicated to digital media artists and held under the theme "High Resolution Dreams of Sand," explores the connections between environment, technology, and culture - SPA
The event, dedicated to digital media artists and held under the theme "High Resolution Dreams of Sand," explores the connections between environment, technology, and culture - SPA

Diriyah Art Futures, the first specialized center for New Media Arts in the Middle East and North Africa, hosted the second edition of the Open Studio for the Mazra’ah Media Arts Residency at its headquarters in Diriyah.

The event, dedicated to digital media artists and held under the theme "High Resolution Dreams of Sand," explores the connections between environment, technology, and culture, SPA reported.

The event was attended by Diriyah Art Futures Director Dr. Haytham Nawar and the center’s Education Director Tegan Bristow.
Visitors were given the opportunity to view the projects that artists and researchers are developing for the Fall–Winter 2025 season, engage directly with resident artists such as Diane Cescutti, Juan Covelli, and Calin Segal, and learn about their creative work and research at the center.

Participating researchers in the program, entrepreneur Dr. Areej Al-Wabil and researcher Rahel Aima, delivered a presentation to attendees. Their presentations reflected the experimental and diverse nature of the Mazra’ah program, which encourages artists to work across multiple techniques and media.

The program provides selected participants with access to state-of-the-art production tools within a dedicated studio, fostering collaboration and the exchange of knowledge within the global artistic community.

The Open Studio represents an important milestone in Diriyah Art Futures’ efforts to play an active role in the global dialogue on New Media and Digital Arts. Resident artists will continue developing their projects until December 2025, with future public showcases planned.

The center also provides opportunities for artists and researchers to take part in its public events, educational programs, and artistic and scientific residencies, thereby enriching the Kingdom’s art scene and strengthening its position as a global destination for New Media and Digital Arts, while highlighting local talents in the fields of art, science, and technology. This reflects the Ministry of Culture’s commitment to preserving national heritage and supporting artistic practices that shape the future of the arts and humanities.

Culture

Literature Commission Prepares to Launch Jeddah Book Fair 2025

Literature Commission Prepares to Launch Jeddah Book Fair 2025
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Literature Commission Prepares to Launch Jeddah Book Fair 2025

Literature Commission Prepares to Launch Jeddah Book Fair 2025

The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is preparing to organize the Jeddah Book Fair 2025, scheduled to take place from December 11 to 20 at the Jeddah Superdome.

The fair will see the participation of more than 1,000 local and international publishing houses and agencies representing 24 countries, distributed across 400 exhibition booths, SPA reported.

The event will host a distinguished group of writers, thinkers and intellectuals from within the Kingdom and abroad, offering visitors a rich and diverse cultural program over ten days that spans literary, intellectual and scientific fields.

CEO of the commission Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Alwasel said that the Jeddah Book Fair is a prominent cultural event reflecting the rapid growth of the literature, publishing and translation sector, supported by the continuous backing of the wise leadership.

He emphasized that the fair is among the most important cultural platforms contributing to the objectives of Vision 2030 by promoting creative industries and intellectual engagement.

Dr. Alwasel added that the exhibition will feature an extensive cultural program comprising more than 170 events, including lectures, seminars and workshops. It will also include a dedicated children’s area designed to cater to different age groups, offering literary, cultural and recreational activities, as well as competitions aimed at inspiring children and adolescents, nurturing their love of reading and exploration and developing their talents.