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Friday, February 20, 2026
TopicStolen artefacts

Topic: stolen artefacts

UNESCO opens a virtual museum of stolen artefacts. The goal is to empty it

There are three items from India on display—9th century sandstone sculptures of Nataraja and Brahma, and an undated stone sculpture of Bhairava.

Ban British Museum officials from Indian events. We’re legitimising loot: Author Shyam Bhatia

‘When we speak of museums, we are speaking of power, of narratives curated not just through display but through silence,’ said Shyam Bhatia in his talk at IIC, New Delhi.

The afterlife of stolen antiquities when they are returned to India

Of 640 antiquities returned to India since 2014, only about a dozen are back in their place of origin.

Cambodia hails homecoming of Parvati, Shiva & 12 other sculptures from US, looted in Khmer Rouge era

As many as 70 pieces sourced from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, private collectors are now back in Cambodia and on display at PM Manet's office in Phnom Penh.

Story behind the Parthenon sculptures and why they’re a sticky issue between Sunak and Greek PM

The UK PM Rishi Sunak cancelled a scheduled meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis after the latter called for the return of the Parthenon sculptures to Athens.

Push for Kohinoor return, dedicated squads — House panel’s ideas to recover India’s lost antiquities

The report, tabled in both houses of Parliament Monday, highlights challenges in documentation, identification, safeguarding and repatriation of antiquities & lost cultural wealth.

All about convicted idol smuggler Subhash Kapoor & why he’s in jail even after serving 10-yr sentence

Lodged at Central Prison in Trichy, Kapoor completed his 10-year jail term while awaiting trial. He was arrested in 2012.

How India-US agreement for stolen art can help nab ‘small-ticket items’, tackle smuggling at borders

On 22 June, Modi & Biden announced India and US were working on a cultural property agreement that'll restrict illegal art imports & enhance cooperation in stopping these at border points.

Pakistan just got its Buddhas back from this Indian-American art smuggler

The antiques were returned during a repatriation ceremony at the Pakistan Consulate after a probe by US Homeland Security cracked the smuggling case.

On Camera

5 yrs of Ukraine war—why Delhi must de-hyphenate Moscow from the West

As harsh winter segues into early spring, US-backed negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva have ended without a breakthrough, and expectedly so. In...

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Embraer moves full throttle in pursuit of IAF contract, ties up with Hindalco after Adani

IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.

The new Great Game—Trump’s playing for time, China for leverage & India for wiggle room

This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.