Sotheby's postpones auction of jewels linked to Buddha after backlash in India
Sotheby's has postponed an auction of jewels associated with Buddha's remains after the Indian government opposed the sale and demanded it be halted.
The gems were found buried together in reliquaries with the corporeal relics of the historical Buddha and discovered in northern India in 1898, the auction house said. They dated back to around 240-200 BC, it added.
But India's ministry of culture said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that it had issued a legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong to demand the immediate halt of the sale, accusing the auction of violating 'Indian laws, international norms and UN conventions'.
The gems were excavated by British man William Peppe (Sotheby's via AP)
In its letter to Sotheby's Hong Kong dated Monday, posted on Facebook, it said the auction involved sacred Buddhist relics that constituted the inalienable religious and cultural heritage of India and the global Buddhist community. It demanded the repatriation of the relics to the Indian government and a public apology from the auction house and Chris Peppe.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr Peppe is a great-grandson of British man William Peppe, who excavated the relics.
The Indian government warned in the letter that failure to comply would result in legal actions and public advocacy campaigns highlighting the auction house's role 'in perpetuating colonial injustice and becoming a party to unethical sale of religious relics'.
India's ministry of culture demanded the repatriation of the relics to the Indian government (Sotheby's via AP)
Sotheby's announced the postponement in a statement on Wednesday, acknowledging the matters raised by the Indian government and saying it was done with the agreement of the consignors.
'This will allow for discussions between the parties, and we look forward to sharing any updates as appropriate,' it said.
Some of Sotheby's webpages about the auction were no longer available on Wednesday.
The Indian ministry of culture said on Facebook on Wednesday that it was 'pleased to inform' that the auction had been postponed after its intervention.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Announcing the 2025 Abbotsford Consumer Choice Award Winners
ABBOTSFORD, BC / / August 20, 2025 / Consumer Choice Award is pleased to announce the 2025 award recipients in the Abbotsford & Greater Region. These businesses have been meticulously selected through independent market research, reflecting their commitment to excellence and unparalleled service in their city. Consumer Choice Award celebrates those who have consistently set the benchmark for quality and customer satisfaction. Congratulations to the 2025 Abbotsford Consumer Choice Award Winners. ABBOTSFORD AWARD RECIPIENTS Abbotsford Glass LtdGlass & Mirror Sales & Abbotsford's Maximum Collision CarstarAutomobile Body Fraser Valley Pre-OwnedAutomobile Sales - Gian's Indian CuisineRestaurants - Gorilla Moving CompanyMoving Hagen Land Surveying Hi Peak Railings and GatesStairs & Hillcrest Mountainview Insurance LTDInsurance - Home & Pro Snow SolutionsSnow Restoration Mate BCFire & Water Damage Sands & AssociatesLicensed Insolvency Summit Performance TransmissionsAutomobile Learn more about 2025 Abbotsford Consumer Choice Award Winners HERE. About Consumer Choice Award:Consumer Choice Award has been recognizing and promoting business excellence in North America since 1987. Its rigorous selection process ensures that only the most outstanding service providers in each category earn this prestigious recognition. Visit to learn more. Contact Information:Sumi SalehCommunications Managerssaleh@ SOURCE: Consumer Choice Award View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
India to Build World's First Hyperloop
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Parts of India will become some of the first areas in the world to benefit from a functional hyperloop train system. The government of Maharashtra state has signed an agreement with TuTr Hyperloop, a startup at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, to develop a Linear Induction Motor (LIM)-based hyperloop system to connect Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Navi Mumbai with the proposed Vadhavan Port in Palghar district. Newsweek has contacted TuTr Hyperloop for more information on the partnership via email. Why It Matters Hyperloop technology is designed to transport passengers and cargo at record speeds of up to 700 miles per hour, thanks to the use of magnetic levitation through vacuums. The vacuum means there is no air resistance on the front of the vehicle, allowing transport tubes to move at very high speeds. The technology has been tested in various parts of the world, including India, and the construction of a test site in Italy would be a major breakthrough for the concept in Europe. What To Know The project aimed to address long-standing logistics bottlenecks by speeding cargo movement between two major port projects, where JNPT handled more than half of India's containerized cargo and Vadhavan Port was planned to handle up to 250 million tonnes annually. The Maharashtra memorandum of understanding with TuTr Hyperloop is one of 10 agreements the state government announced with a combined value of 428.92 billion Indian rupees ($4.9 billion) and an estimated creation of 25,892 jobs at the signing event. Stock Image of a Vande Bharat Express train on March 7, 2023, at Amb Andaura, India. Stock Image of a Vande Bharat Express train on March 7, 2023, at Amb Andaura, India. Getty Images The Indian Institute of Technology Madras, also known as IIT Madras had previously built a 422-metre operational hyperloop test track at its campus and received government support as the institute and its incubated startups advanced prototype work, according to a press release from the Ministry of Railways. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Indian Railways have indicated plans to support further development and to consider a commercial 24-mile corridor after initial prototype grants, with the technology targeting top speeds reported by some outlets over 700 miles per hour. The proposed hyperloop link focuses on freight and logistics efficiency between JNPT and Vadhavan, reflecting state priorities to reduce road and rail congestion affecting container movement at major ports. What People Are Saying Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra, said in a statement: "Hyperloop is not merely a transport system. It is a disruptive idea that can redefine logistics, mobility and economic geography. "With IIT Bombay and IIT Madras supporting the effort, Maharashtra will lead the country in testing and scaling this transformative technology." What Happens Next Indian Railways and IIT Madras planned to seek additional prototype funding and to evaluate potential sites for a 40- to 50-kilometer pre-commercial corridor as the next technical step.
San Francisco Chronicle
24 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump thinks owning a piece of Intel would be a good deal for the US. Here's what to know
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Donald Trump wants the U.S. government to own a piece of Intel, less than two weeks after demanding the Silicon Valley pioneer dump the CEO that was hired to turn around the slumping chipmaker. If the goal is realized, the investment would deepen the Trump administration's involvement in the computer industry as the president ramps up the pressure for more U.S. companies to manufacture products domestically instead of relying on overseas suppliers. What's happening? The Trump administration is in talks to secure a 10% stake in Intel in exchange for converting government grants that were pledged to Intel under President Joe Biden. If the deal is completed, the U.S. government would become one of Intel's largest shareholders and blur the traditional lines separating the public sector and private sector in a country that remains the world's largest economy. Why would Trump do this? In his second term, Trump has been leveraging his power to reprogram the operations of major computer chip companies. The administration is requiring Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, two companies whose chips are helping to power the craze around artificial intelligence, to pay a 15% commission on their sales of chips in China in exchange for export licenses. Trump's interest in Intel is also being driven by his desire to boost chip production in the U.S., which has been a focal point of the trade war that he has been waging throughout the world. By lessening the country's dependence on chips manufactured overseas, the president believes the U.S. will be better positioned to maintain its technological lead on China in the race to create artificial intelligence. Didn't Trump want Intel's CEO to quit? That's what the president said August 7 in an unequivocal post calling for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign less than five months after the Santa Clara, California, company hired him. The demand was triggered by reports raising national security concerns about Tan's past investments in Chinese tech companies while he was a venture capitalist. But Trump backed off after Tan professed his allegiance to the U.S. in a public letter to Intel employees and went to the White House to meet with the president, who applauded the Intel CEO for having an 'amazing story.' Why would Intel do a deal? The company isn't commenting about the possibility of the U.S. government becoming a major shareholder, but Intel may have little choice because it is currently dealing from a position of weakness. After enjoying decades of growth while its processors powered the personal computer boom, the company fell into a slump after missing the shift to the mobile computing era unleashed by the iPhone's 2007 debut. Intel has fallen even farther behind in recent years during an artificial intelligence craze that has been a boon for Nvidia and AMD. The company lost nearly $19 billion last year and another $3.7 billion in the first six months of this year, prompting Tan to undertake a cost-cutting spree. By the end of this year, Tan expects Intel to have about 75,000 workers, a 25% reduction from the end of last year. Would this deal be unusual? Although rare, it's not unprecedented for the U.S. government to become a significant shareholder in a prominent company. One of the most notable instances occurred during the Great Recession in 2008 when the government injected nearly $50 billion into General Motors in return for a roughly 60% stake in the automaker at a time it was on the verge of bankruptcy. The government ended up with a roughly $10 billion loss after it sold its stock in GM. Would the government run Intel? U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC during a Tuesday interview that the government has no intention of meddling in Intel's business, and will have its hands tied by holding non-voting shares in the company. But some analysts wonder if the Trump administration's financial ties to Intel might prod more companies looking to curry favor with the president to increase their orders for the company's chips. What government grants does Intel receive? Intel was among the biggest beneficiaries of the Biden administration's CHIPS and Science Act, but it hasn't been able to revive its fortunes while falling behind on construction projects spawned by the program. The company has received about $2.2 billion of the $7.8 billion pledged under the incentives program — money that Lutnick derided as a 'giveaway' that would better serve U.S. taxpayers if it's turned into Intel stock. 'We think America should get the benefit of the bargain,' Lutnick told CNBC. 'It's obvious that it's the right move to make.'
