The Netherlands will return a 3,500-year-old stone head sculpture to Egypt, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof told President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday during his visit to Cairo.
The sculpture, dating from 1479 to 1425 BC, depicts a high-ranking official from the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III, according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
It is believed to have been stolen and exported from Egypt, most likely during the unrest of the 2011 Arab Spring, before reappearing on the international art market.
"The historic cultural artefact was confiscated at a Dutch art fair in Maastricht in 2022," Schoof said, after authorities were tipped off anonymously about its illicit origin.
The piece resurfaced at the Tefaf art fair, where the dealer gave up ownership upon learning it had been stolen.
An investigation conducted by Dutch police and the cultural heritage inspectorate later confirmed that the sculpture had been plundered and unlawfully removed from Egypt. Officials said that the dealer cooperated fully and voluntarily surrendered the artefact after the inquiry.
The Dutch government announced that it expects to hand over the sculpture to the Egyptian ambassador in the Netherlands by the end of this year, though a precise date has not yet been set.
The announcement comes shortly after Egypt inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum beside the Giza pyramids, marking one of the country’s most significant cultural milestones in decades.
The European Commission has tightened Schengen visa rules for Russian citizens, limiting most new applicants to single-entry permits, citing security ...
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that no U.S. government official would attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this mo...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed it will fund full SNAP food benefits for more than 42 million Americans, following federal court orde...
Donald Trump said he is considering exempting Hungary from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy, citing its lack of port access. The remarks came during a...
Türkiye has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 36 senior officials, citing alleged crimes in Gaza, claims Israe...
Egypt has inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Great Pyramid of Giza, unveiling the world’s largest archaeological museum and a modern cultural landmark celebrating over 7,000 years of history.
Egypt will open the long-delayed $1 billion (about £820 million) Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday, unveiling the world’s largest archaeological complex dedicated to a single civilisation after more than 20 years of planning and construction.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke to his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty in a telephone conversation over the weekend where issues of mutual interest discussed.
Egypt has agreed with Iran, the United States, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to maintain ongoing consultations aimed at finding a breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear file, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday.
Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga lead the 2026 Grammy nominations, while K-Pop enters the Song of the Year category for the first time in the award’s history.
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, as Lebanon and the United Nations warned of renewed border tensions.
U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from launching military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, despite growing concern over recent U.S. strikes in the southern Caribbean.
The driver who rammed his car into a crowd in western France on Wednesday is suspected of "self-radicalisation" and had "explicit religious references" at home, the country's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk won shareholder approval on Thursday for the largest corporate pay package in history as investors endorsed his vision of morphing the electric vehicle (EV) maker into an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics juggernaut.
The Trump administration is seeking to make sharing data about pathogens a condition for countries receiving U.S. health aid, according to a draft document obtained by Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed a new commander for drone air defences on Friday, recognising the critical role these defences play in countering the threat of Russian drones.
A majority of judges on Brazil's Supreme Court panel voted on Friday to dismiss former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal against his 27-year prison sentence for allegedly plotting a coup to remain in power after the 2022 presidential election.
The United States has expressed full support for the European Union's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine and bring an end to the war with Russia, a U.S. source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
The European Commission has tightened Schengen visa rules for Russian citizens, limiting most new applicants to single-entry permits, citing security risks linked to the war in Ukraine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment