Law, crime and regulation

Italy has announced a cut in VAT for art and antiques from 22% to 5%, making it lower than any other EU state. The country also aims to halve VAT on imports to 5%.

An 18th century violin has been stolen from a member of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra and the Met Police are hoping to trace their chief suspect.

A group of bronze statues have been stolen from a manor house in Wiltshire during a jazz festival.

The new president of CINOA has issued a call for unity across the cultural sector in response to “increasingly restrictive legislation affecting the global art and antiques trade”.

An 18th century carved oak chair has been stolen from a Buckinghamshire church.

Two furniture experts have been fined and sentenced following a long-running French fake furniture scandal.

A London art dealer has been jailed for failing to report art sales to a sanctioned individual believed to be a terrorist financier.

Museum and Art Fund launch fundraising to save Barbara Hepworth sculpture

A rare Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet panel bought at a Spink auction last year and blocked from export will stay in the UK after a successful crowdfunding campaign by a local history trust.

A 1930s linocut by British-Canadian artist Sybil Andrews has been recovered after being stolen more than 30 years ago.

A group of eight antiquities have been returned to Peru following an intervention by the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a painting of the Virgin Mary by Sandro Botticelli valued at £10.2m.

Following opposition from the Indian state, Sotheby's took the 11th hour decision to cancel a Hong Kong auction of a collection of relics linked to the historical Buddha.