The following are all from Deutsche Welle newsmail.

There are 936 UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world. At the annual UNESCO conference in St Petersburg, Russia, there are 33 new applications. The designation is not permanent, however; it can and has been revoked should a location’s special features get compromised.

Bayreuth Opera House is added to UNESCO’s list.

But the UNESCO World Heritage designation is not idiot-proof. Sites in Mali are being destroyed by Islamist rebels who feel the need to destroy ancient monuments that don’t support their religious view.