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Piet Mondrian artwork displayed upside down for 75 years

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According to an art historian, a Piet Mondrian abstract painting has been hanging upside down in different galleries for 75 years.  Despite the recent discovery, the painting, titled New York City I, will still be exhibited backwards to protect it from damage.

The 1941 image was first displayed in 1945 at the MoMA in New York. Since 1980, it has hung in Düsseldorf at the North Rhine-Westphalia state art collection.  The long-standing mistake was discovered by curator Susanne Meyer-Büser early this year when researching the museum’s new exhibition on the artist, but she cautioned that if it were placed the correct way at this time, it might fall apart.

New York City I is an adhesive-tape version of the similarly named New York City painting by the same artist.

The similarly called New York City, which is on exhibit at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, shows a thickening of lines towards the top rather than the bottom, which appears to support this notion.

Furthermore, the identical painting is visible hanging on an easel the wrong way up in a picture of the prominent Dutchman’s workshop that was shot a few days after his passing. In June 1944, the picture appeared in the American lifestyle publication Town and Country.

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Germany fires cybersecurity chief ‘over Russia ties’

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After claims that he had established an association with Russia in an uncomfortably close manner, Germany’s head of cybersecurity was fired 
Since 2016, Arne Schönbohm served as the head of the Federal Cyber Security Authority (BSI), which is responsible for securing government communications.

He has been charged with having connections to individuals connected to Russian intelligence services by German media. He is the subject of an investigation by the interior ministry. It did, however, confirm that he had been let go with immediate effect.

Mr. Schönbohm was under investigation after Jan Böhmermann, the host of one of Germany’s most well-liked late-night TV shows, brought up his possible connections to a Russian corporation through a prior position.

Prior to taking over the BSI, Mr. Schönbohm assisted in founding and managing the Cyber Security Council Germany, a private organisation that provides business and policymakers with cybersecurity advice.

The association’s 10th anniversary celebrations were held in September, and he is claimed to have continued to keep close ties with them. Protelion, a cybersecurity firm that was a branch of a Russian company allegedly founded by a former KGB agent honoured by President Vladimir Putin, was one of the association’s members.

The allegations of connections to Russian intelligence are unfounded, according to Cyber Security Council Germany, which expelled Protelion from the group last weekend.

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France sends Germany gas for first time amid Russia energy crisis

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In response to mounting energy strain, France has delivered gas to Germany for the first time in an act of “European solidarity.” The pipeline-delivered gas is a component of a pact between the nations to reduce energy shortages following Russian shutoff of the taps to Europe.

Despite providing less than 2% of Germany’s daily demands, the increased flow is appreciated as Berlin fights to diversify its energy sources. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been charged with exploiting gas supplies as a weapon against the West.

The French grid operator GRTgaz announced that it would initially supply 31 gigawatt hours (GWh) per day via a pipeline from the village of Obergailbach on the country’s border.The additional gas flow has a 100 GWh daily maximum capacity, it was added in a statement. 

In the energy solidarity agreement last month, Germany committed to aid France with gas supplies in exchange for Germany agreeing to supply additional electricity to France as needed.

“We would have significant problems right now if we didn’t have European unity and an integrated, united market,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday. Russia shutting off the gas is less of an issue for France because most of its energy requirements are met by Norway and through supply of liquefied natural gas.

Gas prices increased as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, and this winter EU customers will pay record prices.

Germany had previously gotten 55% of its gas from Russia. It has decreased this to 35% and eventually wants to stop all imports.

Despite the detrimental effects on the environment, Germany is also increasing its usage of coal and prolonging the life of power plants that were scheduled to close.

During her 16 years in office, former German chancellor Angela Merkel claimed she did not regret relying on Russia as a significant gas provider.

This winter, the German government plans to reduce the consumption of lighting and heating in public buildings by 2%.

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Germany announces €65bn package to curb soaring energy costs

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In an effort to lessen the prospect of rising energy prices as Europe struggles with limited supplies in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany has unveiled a €65 billion (£56.2 billion) package of measures.

The package, which is substantially larger than the two before it, will include one-time payments to the most vulnerable people and tax benefits for companies that use a lot of energy. Energy prices have soared since the February invasion, and Europe is trying to wean itself off Russian energy.

Ukraine encouraged Europe to maintain its resolve. Russia is attempting to disrupt every European citizen’s ability to lead a normal life, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. On Saturday, he stated in his nightly speech that Russia was preparing a “decisive energy attack on all Europeans” and that only cooperation among European nations would provide safety.

There are already hints of unhappiness, with demonstrators marching to the streets of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on Sunday to demonstrate against rising energy prices and demand the lifting of sanctions against Russia. According to police, there were roughly 70,000 attendees, primarily from far-right and far-left organisations.

Meanwhile, several hundred demonstrators gathered in Lubmin, the Russian gas pipeline’s terminal in northeastern Germany.

They demanded that Nord Stream 2, a new pipeline that was set to be put into operation but was stopped by the German government during the invasion, be put into service.

Russia announced two days ago that it would permanently halt gas deliveries to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which is currently in use.

The stand-off with Russia has forced countries like Germany to find supplies elsewhere, and its stores have increased from less than half full in June to 84% full today.

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Munich Olympics massacre compensation deal struck

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Israel and Germany have reached a settlement over compensation for Israelis killed at the Munich Olympics in 1972. After being held as hostages by members of a Palestinian militant group, eleven Israeli athletes were killed.

Days before the tragedy’s 50th anniversary, an agreement of €28 million (£24 million) was reached. Earlier this month, families vowed to boycott the tragedy’s remembrances because the compensation they received was insufficient. Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, praised the agreement as a “important step by the German government” and expressed his approval.

One of the deadliest episodes in Olympic history is the Munich tragedy, which happened on September 5, 1972. Palestinian gunmen from the Black September organisation kidnapped Israeli athletes within the Olympic village.

While the militants attempted to flee the country, two were shot dead almost immediately, and the other two died during a gunfight with West German police at an adjacent airfield.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Mr. Herzog expressed their “happiness and relief” at reaching a consensus on historical clarity in a joint statement.

Germany has also said that it will make records about the hostage-taking and the failed rescue attempt public.The families of the victims have long accused German authorities of not doing enough to safeguard athletes and being secretive about their security flaws.

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Cats in  German town will be released from a special lockdown

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When the authorities release a particular lockdown in one German town, cat owners will be able to let their cats out for the first time in three months. To safeguard an endangered bird, residents of Walldorf in the southwest were instructed to confine their cats inside in May.

Cats were only permitted to go outside if a leash no more than two metres (six feet) in length was used to control them. But starting at 00:01 local time on Monday, the animals will once more be free to wander. Owners were instructed to phone a special hotline, locate, and imprison the offending cat if one escaped while the lockdown was in effect.

Any violation would incur a fine. An owner who caused harm to or death to one of the protected birds was subject to a fine of up to €50,000 (£42,000). Because the crested lark is an endangered species in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and throughout the country, authorities have been working to safeguard the local population.

Only three breeding pairs were said to be left in Walldorf proper. While underlining their support for measures to protect the larks, activists criticised the limits, claiming they would be detrimental to the wellbeing of the cats.

According to Britain’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, many millions of birds die naturally each year, and there is no proof that cat assaults in gardens are to blame for the population drop (RSPB).

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Oder river: Mystery surrounds thousands of fish deaths

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Officials from Poland and Germany are attempting to determine what is causing a large-scale fish die-off in the Oder river, which divides the two nations. Since late last month, hundreds of kilometres of the river have been covered in thousands of dead fish.

Although tests have been conducted, it is believed that a harmful substance entered the water. However, the precise chemical is yet unclear. The German government has issued warnings about an impending environmental catastrophe and has advised people to stay away from the river.

However, activists have accused the government of both nations of neglecting to cooperate in order to promptly respond to the tragedy and protect people. Mateusz Morawiecki, the prime minister of Poland, fired two environmental officials on Friday for how they handled the situation.

German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident and stated that investigators were working “full out” to determine its cause. Following the first complaints of a problem from Polish fishermen and anglers as early as July 28, tonnes of dead fish are alleged to have been pulled from the river.

According to the news agency AFP, the Oder is a river that is typically regarded as clean and serves as a habitat for 40 domestic fish species. However, a representative of the Brandenburg state in eastern Germany claimed test findings indicated elevated oxygen levels in the water, suggesting the presence of an alien material.

According to Katarzyna Kojzar, a journalist for the Polish investigative website OKO.press, beavers, birds, and ducks have also been impacted.

However, a heatwave and record low water levels on the Oder meant that fish were already in trouble, according to Christian Wolter of the Leibniz Institute.

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Cold showers as the German city of Hanover reacts to Russian gas crisis

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Due to the Russian gas crisis, the German city of Hanover has turned off the heating and switched to cold showers in all public buildings. After Russia significantly reduced Germany’s gas supplies, it is the first major city to turn off the hot water.

Germans have been warned to prepare for significant gas conservation efforts as well as increased energy bill costs. Additionally, the EU has decided to reduce its need for Russian gas by 15% this winter. Hanover, a city in northern Germany, has decided that hot water would no longer be offered for hand washing in public buildings or in showers at swimming pools, sports arenas, and gyms in an effort to conserve energy.

To save energy, public fountains are also being turned off, and there won’t be any nighttime lighting on significant structures like the town hall and museums.

In response to a “imminent gas scarcity,” which posed a substantial problem for large cities, Mayor Belit Onay stated that the objective was to lower the city’s energy use by 15%.

The same regulations apply to heating. Room temperatures in public buildings are regulated to a maximum of 20C for the remainder of the year, with some exceptions, and are prohibited from being heated from April through the end of September each year.

Additionally, the city has banned portable heaters, air conditioners, and radiators.

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EU agrees to cut gas use over Russia supply fears

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EU energy ministers have decided that countries will reduce their gas use if Russia stops supplying them. The EU countries have now agreed to a voluntary 15 percent between August and March after being locked in negotiations since the notion was floated last week.

The Czech Republic, which is currently in charge of rotating the EU chair, tweeted, “This was not a Mission Impossible!”. Documents obtained by the BBC, however, indicate that the agreement had been weakened and that certain nations may now request exemptions. The EU warned that Russia was “constantly using energy supplies as a weapon” and that the goal was to save money before winter.

If supplies run out, the voluntary agreement would become obligatory. The EU said that some nations, including Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus, which are not connected to the EU’s gas pipelines, would be exempt from any mandatory gas reduction orders since they would not be able to seek alternative supplies.

In order to reduce the possibility of a crisis in the supply of power, the Baltic nations, who are not connected to the European electricity grid and heavily rely on gas for electricity production, are also exempt from mandatory targets.

Initial calculations showed that even if all exemptions were used, the EU would still lower demand to a level “that would get us safely through an average winter,” according to Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.

She also discussed efforts to increase the supply of alternative gas from nations such as Azerbaijan, the United States, Canada, Norway, Egypt, and Israel.

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German Documenta art fair chief quits in anti-Semitism row

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In an argument about a piece of art that was deemed to be anti-Semitic, the director of a well-known German art exhibition resigned. In Kassel, the Documenta 15 exhibition momentarily included a mural portraying a soldier holding a Star of David and a pig’s head.

A character with fangs, sidelocks in the Jewish Orthodox fashion, and a “SS” hat was also shown on the painting. A group of Indonesian artists created it. Soon after the episode debuted last month, there was a commotion. Sabine Schormann, the director, has since resigned.

She has apologised for failing to recognise the anti-Semitism in the painting. Since the art fair won’t end until September 25th, a temporary replacement will need to be chosen.

The scandal is particularly painful in Germany because of the Holocaust, a 20th-century atrocity committed by Nazi Germany against the Jewish people. Every five years in Kassel, Documenta is regarded as a premier exhibition of contemporary art, comparable to the Venice Biennale.

The Documenta supervisory board voiced “deep dismay” that “obviously anti-Semitic motifs were on display” during the opening weekend.

The Taring Padi art collective created the offensive mural, which they titled “People’s Justice.” After the argument broke out last month, it was first covered up and then removed. The mural “obviously crossed a line and consequently caused severe injury to Documenta,” according to the board’s statement.

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