FRANCE

Picasso painting won

A Parisian art enthusiast could not believe his luck when he found out on Tuesday that he had won a Pablo Picasso painting worth US$1 million with a US$117 raffle ticket. “How do I check that it’s not a hoax?” said Ari Hodara, 58, after organizers called him following the draw at Christie’s auction house in the French capital. Hodara described himself as an art amateur fond of Picasso and said he bought his ticket over the weekend after finding out about the charity raffle by chance during a meal in a restaurant. “First, I will tell the news to my wife, who has yet to return from work,” said Hodara, a sales engineer. “And at first, I think I’ll take advantage of it and keep it.” The third iteration of the “1 Picasso for 100 euros” lottery was for Picasso’s Head of a Woman, a portrait of Picasso’s longtime muse and partner Dora Maar. The gouache-on-paper was painted by the artist in 1941. The online draw offered the chance to win a US$1 million portrait by the Spanish artist in aid of Alzheimer’s research. Organizers said that all 120,000 tickets were sold worldwide, netting 12 million euros (US$14 million). Of that, 1 million euros would be paid to the Opera Gallery, an international art dealership that owned the painting.

Photo: EPA

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Soldiers launch protest

Authorities yesterday ramped up security at military bases as soldiers set up road blocks in Port Moresby to vent frustrations over alleged government corruption. A small number of soldiers controlled roadblocks near the Murray Barracks on Tuesday night, protesting a recruitment scandal that has already forced the nation’s defense minister to step aside pending investigation. Billy Joseph is accused of interfering with army recruitment, local media reported, enlisting soldiers from his home district in a process allegedly tainted by nepotism. Believing they were unfairly targeted for blowing the whistle on the affair, a small core of soldiers have deserted their posts in protest against the government. Chief of Defence Force Philip Polewara yesterday ordered all military units to implement “close camp” procedures for one month. The security measures shut down armories, restrict the use of military vehicles, and limit movements in and out of barracks. “All unit commanders are to exercise strict command and control to ensure compliance,” a directive signed by Polewara said. “Any breach of this directive will be treated as a serious disciplinary matter.” Prime Minister James Marape urged the troops to “immediately cease” their protest.

UNITED STATES

Erika Kirk faces threat

Erika Kirk, widow of slain activist Charlie Kirk, on Tuesday withdrew from a Turning Point USA event featuring Vice President J.D. Vance due to threats on her life, the vice president said. “I know that she did get some threats,” Vance told an audience of University of Georgia students in Athens, Georgia. “I was a little worried that we were going to have to cancel the event because Erika was not going to come, and she was very worried about it.” Vance said that he had talked to the Secret Service and was not concerned about his own safety. He gave no details about the threats to Erika Kirk, who is the CEO of Turning Point USA. A gunman, who faces murder charges, killed Charlie Kirk in September last year during a campus speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities describe the shooting as politically motivated.