This article discusses the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco late Friday night, killing at least 296 people and damaging buildings and historic landmarks. People took shelter and checked for news on their mobile phones, while videos posted online showed buildings reduced to rubble and dust. The Interior Ministry said the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue, and the government has declared a state of emergency and is mobilizing resources to help those affected.
Posts tagged as “UNESCO World Heritage Site”
Two construction workers have been arrested in Youyu County, China, after allegedly damaging a section of the Great Wall. The police received a report on August 24, 2023 that a gap had been dug in the 32nd Great Wall in Youyu County, and the suspects had widened an existing cavity in the wall to create a shortcut. The structure was described as “severely damaged” and the two suspects were detained, with the incident highlighting the importance of protecting and preserving the Great Wall of China.
On June 23, a tourist from the UK, Ivan Danailov Dimitrov, was caught on video carving his name into the nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome. He has since issued a heartfelt apology and expressed his willingness to accept any punishment deemed necessary. The incident has sparked a debate about the protection of ancient monuments, and the severity of Dimitrov's punishment is yet to be seen.
The United States has announced its intention to rejoin UNESCO, a decade-long dispute having been resolved with the decision to pay more than $600 million in back dues. The return of the U.S., which was once the agency’s biggest funder, is expected to have a significant impact on UNESCO policymaking, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and technology education, and to provide a much-needed financial boost to the organization. The formalization of the plan to rejoin was met with applause from the audience.
Five men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to six years for their involvement in the theft of 21 pieces of jewelry containing over 4,300 diamonds from the Green Vault Museum in Dresden, Germany. The theft is one of the largest art heists in recent history, and the investigation is ongoing.