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☆ Disputed oil sketch in Dutch museum is a Rembrandt, research finds
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, Nov 3 (Reuters) - A disputed oil sketch was painted by Dutch master Rembrandt, researchers have concluded after two years of study. Museum Bredius, which is in possession of the sketch, said on Thursday that the discovery was first made by Dutch art historian Jeroen Giltaij when he was conducting research for his soon-to-be-published book on Rembrandt paintings. "From the start, I was certain that this sketch must be a Rembrandt", Giltaij told Reuters. After performing a restoration on the sketch, Museum Bredius agreed with Giltaij and contacted Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to Rembrandt's masterpiece "Nightwatch." Its researchers performed a technical analysis on the small oil sketch.

☆ Climate activists who targeted 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' sentenced to prison
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Two Belgian climate change activists who last week targeted the famous Johannes Vermeer painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" have been sentenced to two months in prison by the Dutch court, of which one month was suspended. The two men went to trial through a fast-track judgment on charges of destruction and open violence against the painting. All three are part of the climate group Just Stop Oil Belgium, which is not affiliated with Just Stop Oil in Britain. Just Stop Oil Belgium said the verdict was "ironic". "Isn't it ironic that climate activists who nonviolently oppose the mass slaughter of life on Earth are being condemned?

☆ Activist glues his head to 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' painting in The Hague
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Tosterling Charlotte Campenhout | Charlotte Campenhout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A climate activist glued his head to glass covering the world-famous "Girl with a Pearl Earring" painting at a museum in The Hague on Thursday, though the artwork was not damaged, gallery staff said. A second activist glued their hand to the wall next to the 1665 work by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer, and an unidentified liquid was thrown, the Mauritshuis museum said. An unverified video on social media showed two men near the painting, both wearing "Just Stop Oil" T-shirts. Earlier this month, Just Stop Oil activists threw soup over Vincent van Gogh’s painting "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery. A statement from Just Stop Oil said its activists were responsible and had thrown soup.

☆ Philips to cut 5% of its workforce after medical equipment recall
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Dutch medical equipment maker Philips (PHG.AS) said on Monday it expected to scrap around 4,000 jobs as it tried to streamline its organisation after a massive recall slashed around 70% off its market value in the past year. "My immediate priority is to improve execution so that we can start rebuilding the trust of patients, consumers and customers," Jakobs said in a statement. The cuts represent just over 5% of the company's workforce based on last year's total of 78,000. The company said it expected the reorganisation to cost around 300 million euros ($295.41 million) in the coming quarters. As flagged in a profit warning earlier this month, Philips said its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA) had tumbled 60% in the third quarter, to 209 million euros.

☆ Paddle your own pumpkin: racers descend on Belgian pond
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Charlotte Campenhout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Contestants compete during the Pumpkin Regatta, an annual pumpkin boat relay race, in the Belgian town of Kasterlee, Belgium October 23, 2022. REUTERS/Bart BiesemansKASTERLEE, Belgium, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of competitors, many dressed up as pirates, nuns, animals or vegetables, climbed into carved-out pumpkins and paddled them around a pond in northern Belgium, in an annual relay race. Racing the huge vegetables takes some skill - "when you paddle, it doesn't move forward but starts spinning", local competitor Jonas Verbruggen said - and this year some fell in the water after their pumpkins took too much water. Racer Oscar Guell, a Spaniard living in Brussels, called the experience "dirty, sticky and oily" - before gleefully adding that he'd definitely be back next year. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Philips to cut 5% of workforce as new CEO acts to counter falling sales
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Tosterling Bart H. Meijer | Bart H. Meijer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AMSTERDAM, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Philips' (PHG.AS) new CEO announced plans on Monday to cut around 4,000 jobs following falling sales and after a massive recall slashed around 70% off the Dutch medical equipment maker's market value in the past year. The company said it expected the reorganisation to cost around 300 million euros ($295.41 million) in the coming quarters. Philips is in talks with the U.S. Department of Justice on a settlement following the recall. Comparable sales dropped 6% to 4.3 billion euros in July-September as Philips said supply chain problems were worse than anticipated and would continue to weigh on sales in the last months of 2022. Jakobs said his top priorities were repairing the company's reputation by ensuring the recall is completed as soon as possible, and resolving the supply chain problems.

The 27 are expected to back an alternative price benchmark for liquefied natural gas and joint gas buying, after earlier agreeing to cut consumption and introduce levies on windfall profits in the energy industry. But they remain as split as they were months ago on whether and how to cap gas prices to stem high inflation and stave off recession, after Russia cut gas flows following its invasion of Ukraine. They will also discuss emergency spending to mitigate the effects the acute energy crunch has on their economies and 450 million citizens. But given EU countries' diverse energy mix and interests, the meeting risks falling short on concrete action, with other concerns being whether a gas cap would enable Britain to buy cheaper energy or compromise stability of supplies. EU energy ministers meet again next week but another senior EU diplomat said they did not expect more detailed decisions before November.

☆ EU agrees on new Iran sanctions over drone deliveries to Russia -EU presidency
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 20 (Reuters) - European Union members have agreed on new measures against Iran over its supply of drones to Russia, the Czech presidency of the EU said on Thursday. "EU ambassadors agreed on measures against entities supplying Iranian drones that hit Ukraine," the Czech EU presidency said in a tweet. "EU states decided to freeze the assets of three individuals and one entity responsible for drone deliveries (and) is also prepared to extend sanctions to four more Iranian entities that already featured in a previous sanctions list." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Bart Meijer, Editing by Charlotte Van CampenhoutOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

POSITIONS FAR APART1/6 European Council President Charles Michel attends the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman Read MoreThe most contentious issue facing the leaders is whether and how to cap gas prices. The leaders will also discuss emergency spending to cushion their economies and 450 million citizens from the energy crunch. Given EU countries' diverse energy mix and interests, the meeting risks falling short on short-term action to tackle high energy prices ahead of winter. EU energy ministers meet again next week and aim to agree on joint crisis measures in November.

☆ People of Ukraine awarded EU's Sakharov Prize For Freedom of Thought
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The European Parliament awarded the people of Ukraine on Wednesday its annual Prize for Freedom of Thought, in support of Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion that started Feb. 24, which Russia calls a "special military operation". The award comes with prize money of 50,000 euros ($49,100) prize money, which will be granted to civil society representatives. The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Other past winners include South African President Nelson Mandela, Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and Belarus’ democratic opposition. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Benoit Van OverstraetenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dutch government to spend billions on military procurement
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The Dutch government will invest up to 3.5 billion euros ($3.44 billion) in military procurement, the defence ministry said, in a policy turnaround in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After years of declining spending, the Dutch military will purchase between 2023 and 2026 a rocket artillery system and 10 howitzer cannons for up to 1 billion euros. The new mobile air defence system is intended to improve defence against threats from enemy helicopters, aircraft, drones and cruise missiles, Van der Maat said. Poland is set to buy rocket artillery systems from South Korea. In fulfillment of that, Dutch spending will be 2.03% in 2024 and 2.01% in 2025.

The measure must not affect EU security of gas supply, cause an increase in gas use, or disrupt the functioning of gas markets, it said. The move to curb TTF gas prices would require a separate proposal from Brussels and require approval from EU countries. The EU package includes other measures aimed at lessening the impact of high prices on consumers and businesses. The EU package is unlikely to placate all 27 EU countries - whose leaders will discuss the proposals at a summit on Oct. 20-21. Most EU countries have urged the Commission to urgently propose a gas price cap, but disagree on its design.

☆ EU set to train 15,000 Ukrainian troops, provide more arms funding for Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Sabine Siebold | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers are expected to agree on a mission to train 15,000 Ukrainian troops from next month and an extra 500 million euros worth of funding for arms deliveries to Kyiv when they meet in Luxembourg on Monday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterSeveral EU countries have already been instructing Ukrainian troops on how to use specific weapons and this will continue. Unlike earlier tranches, the additional money will also cover costs for repair and maintenance of weapons already delivered to Ukraine. EU foreign ministers will also discuss the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia, opening the way for potential further sanctions that could be agreed at a later date. He said the bloc's leaders would discuss China policy at a summit on Thursday and Friday, and the EU would also monitor closely the Communist Party Congress that opened on Sunday.

☆ EU clears Celanese to buy DuPont unit on divestment condition
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Celanese announced the deal in February but had to offer remedies to address EU antitrust concerns. The combined entity would have been the largest producer of thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) in the European Economic Area and globally, with only a few alternative suppliers remaining. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe EU approval is conditional on Celanese divesting its global TPC business, including its production facility in Italy and certain brands. DuPont is remoulding its portfolio to focus on high-margin electronics and water solutions businesses. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; editing by Philip BlenkinsopOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ EU tells countries gas price cap would come with risks
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The document, seen by Reuters, said a wholesale price cap for exchange transactions - covering both liquefied natural gas and pipeline supplies - could disrupt flows of fuel between EU countries. A broad wholesale gas price cap would pose a bigger "risk of triggering supply disruptions" from foreign suppliers than a cap on just pipeline deliveries, it added. The EU could cap the price of Russian gas imports, or cap the price of gas used to generate electricity as a way to tame high power prices, the document said. EU countries disagree on whether a broad gas price cap would ease the supply crunch and energy price surge caused by Russia slashing supplies to Europe. France, Italy, Poland and 12 other countries urged Brussels on Tuesday to propose a wholesale gas price cap to help rein in surging inflation.

☆ EU preliminarily approves Italy's request for 21 bln euro disbursement
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA flag of Italy and a flag of European Union flutter ahead of the virtual G20 summit on the global health crisis at Villa Pamphilj in Rome, Italy, May 21, 2021. REUTERS/Yara NardiBRUSSELS, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The European Commission has approved a positive preliminary assessment of Italy's request for a disbursement of 21 billion euros under the recovery fund on Monday. "The Commission found that Italy has achieved all 45 milestones entirely related to this request," an EU spokesperson told reporters. "The commissioner will then adopt a final decision after which the disbursement can take place." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Marine StraussOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEU leaders gave mixed messages ahead of a meeting of their ambassadors in Brussels on Monday, with another one planned for Tuesday. Russia invaded Ukraine - a former Soviet republic that now wants to join the EU - on Feb.24 by air, land and sea. More than 2,000 people have been detained across Russia for protests at the draft, says independent monitoring group OVD-Info. On Monday, senior Russian lawmaker Sergei Tsekov told RIA news agency that Russia itself should bar draft-age people from leaving. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John Chalmers, Sabine Siebold, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ EU crisis response meeting to discuss developments in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEuropean Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman//File PhotoBRUSSELS, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Ambassadors of European Union member states have been invited to a meeting of the bloc's crisis response working group on Monday to discuss concerns about an escalation of the war in Ukraine, an EU official and an EU diplomat said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe closed-door meeting in Brussels was due to start at 10 a.m. (0800 GMT), the sources said. By incorporating the areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia into Russia, Moscow could portray efforts to retake them as attacks on Russia itself. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John Chalmers and Sabine Siebold, editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NATO promises more help for Ukraine in response to 'sham' votes
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - NATO will ramp up its help for Kyiv in response to Russia's "sham" referendums in occupied territories of Ukraine, the alliance's Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said on Friday. "That's exactly what we need to be prepared for, that Russia will use these sham votes to further escalate the war in Ukraine," Stoltenberg said when asked about that scenario. This continues to be a war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine," he added. NATO allies have been supporting Ukraine with weapons, ammunition, other military equipment and training. Putin maintains Russia is carrying out a "special military operation" to demilitarise Ukraine, rid it of dangerous nationalists and defend Russia from transatlantic alliance NATO.

A rainbow flag is seen on the wall of a Catholic church as the building is open for same-sex couples to receive a blessing in Cologne, Germany, May 10, 2021. REUTERS/Thilo SchmuelgenVATICAN CITY, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Flemish Roman Catholic bishops on Tuesday issued a document effectively allowing the blessing of same-sex unions, seemingly in direct defiance of a ruling against such practices by the Vatican's doctrinal office last year. The document published on the website of the Belgian bishops conference suggested a ritual that included a prayer and a benediction for stable same-sex unions while stressing that it is not "what the Church understands by a sacramental marriage". It said the Church wanted to be "pastorally close to homosexual persons" and be a "welcoming Church that excludes no one". In March 2021, in response to formal questions from a number of Roman Catholic dioceses on whether the practice of blessing same-sex unions was allowed, the Vatican's doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), ruled that it was not.

☆ Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum crawling with giant ants
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Charlotte Campenhout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The exhibition Casa Tomada from artist Rafael Gomezbarros is displayed at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Piroschka van de WouwAMSTERDAM, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, home to Dutch masterpieces like Rembrandt's "Nightwatch", will temporarily have its walls and windows overrun by 700 giant ants, as part of a new exhibit. By breaking artwork conventions, "House Taken," by Colombian artist Rafael Gomezbarros, wants to draw attention to migration and forced displacement. "The ants symbolise the industriousness, resilience and cooperative spirit of people", Rijksmuseum curator Julia Kantelberg explained, adding that letting people make their own associations is part of the artwork's goal. It focuses on the ever-changing perceptions of crawly creatures, such as ants but also toads, snakes and spiders, in the arts and sciences.

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