The “Portrait of a Lady,” a painting by Giuseppe Ghislandi stolen by Nazis, was recovered in Argentina after being missing for eight decades. The painting, valued at approximately $50,000, was found in the home of the daughter of a former SS officer. After a worldwide search, the woman’s lawyer returned the artwork, which had been part of a collection looted from an Amsterdam art dealer. The investigation began when a Dutch journalist recognized the painting in a real estate listing, ultimately leading to the work’s recovery.
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An emergency meeting was held at the Casa Rosada following the leak of damaging audio recordings allegedly capturing private conversations within the government. The clips, released by a streaming outlet, feature voices attributed to Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei, who calls for unity amidst a developing corruption scandal. Government officials are concerned about the political fallout and the possibility of further leaks, with the Presidential Spokesperson branding it an “unprecedented scandal”. Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos suggests the leaks are part of a political operation by the opposition and states that the courts and intelligence services will handle an investigation.
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Argentine President Javier Milei was targeted with projectiles while campaigning near Buenos Aires on Wednesday, with the incident stemming from protests over an alleged corruption scandal. Demonstrators threw objects at his motorcade as he greeted supporters in Lomas de Zamora, prompting his security detail to swiftly remove him from the scene. While Milei was unharmed, a supporter sustained injuries during the ensuing clashes between opposing groups. The protests were triggered by accusations of corruption within the public disability agency, which involved Milei’s sister.
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Authorities in Argentina are investigating the disappearance of a painting looted by the Nazis after it was identified in an estate agent’s advertisement. The artwork, “Portrait of a Lady” by Giuseppe Ghislandi, was last seen hanging in a property near Buenos Aires being sold by the daughter of a former Nazi. A police raid on the residence failed to locate the painting, though they did seize two weapons, leading to suspicion of a smuggling cover-up. The painting, once part of a collection forced to be sold by the Nazis, had been missing for over 80 years before its recent reappearance.
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President Javier Milei faced protests and a barrage of projectiles during a campaign rally in Lomas de Zamora, ahead of crucial September and October elections, testing his administration’s mandate. The rally occurred amidst a bribery scandal involving Milei’s sister, Karina, who holds a key government position, with allegations of her involvement in taking cuts from government contracts. These allegations, coupled with Milei’s controversial economic “shock treatment,” which has included austerity measures and deregulation, have fueled opposition and criticism. Milei has responded by repudiating the allegations and using the incident to campaign against opposing political factions, highlighting the upcoming elections as a pivotal moment.
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A portrait by Giuseppe Ghislandi, looted by the Nazis from a Jewish art dealer in Amsterdam, has been identified on the website of an estate agent advertising a house in Argentina. The painting, *Portrait of a Lady*, belonged to Jacques Goudstikker, whose collection was seized by Hermann Göring during World War II. Wartime documents suggest the painting was in the possession of a Nazi official who later fled to Argentina, where his daughters now reside. The Goudstikker estate’s heirs plan to make every effort to recover the painting, and the search for the looted artworks continues.
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A painting stolen by the Nazis from a Jewish art dealer during World War II has been located in an Argentinian home advertised by an estate agent. The artwork, “Portrait of a Lady” by Giuseppe Ghislandi, was looted from art dealer Jacques Goudstikker and was traced to the home of a former Nazi official. This official, an SS officer and aide to Hermann Göring, fled to South America after the war, taking the painting with him. Goudstikker’s estate is now working to reclaim the painting after it was spotted in the real estate listing.
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Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has been given 48 hours to explain police claims that he planned to flee to Argentina to avoid punishment for allegedly masterminding a failed coup. Court documents revealed a draft asylum request on Bolsonaro’s phone, which the police say indicates he planned to escape the country. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has demanded answers from Bolsonaro’s lawyers, as his trial for attempting to overthrow the 2022 election results is scheduled to conclude early next month, and a guilty verdict could lead to a prison sentence of over four decades. These events follow the formal accusation of Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo, of interfering in his judgment, and the son’s alleged lobbying of US officials to pressure Brazil’s Supreme Court, leading to imposed tariffs and the loss of US visas for several judges.
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The government announced plans to privatize Argentina’s state-run water and sanitation company, AySA, by transferring 90% of its shares to private entities. The privatization will employ a hybrid approach involving a public bidding process for a strategic operator and an initial public offering to allow other investors to participate. Employees will retain a 10% stake in the company through the existing equity ownership program. Citing the need for modernization and citing a history of financial strain, operational inefficiencies, and infrastructure deterioration under state control, the government believes privatization will improve service quality and pricing.
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President Milei has declared Iran an enemy of Argentina, citing the 1992 and 1994 Buenos Aires bombings, and unconditionally supports Israel in its conflict with Iran. He accused former president Fernández de Kirchner of potential treason regarding a 2013 memorandum with Iran and added Hezbollah and Hamas to Argentina’s list of terrorist organizations. Milei’s strong pro-Israel stance includes recent meetings with Prime Minister Netanyahu, a speech before the Knesset, and plans to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem. This shift in Argentina’s foreign policy prioritizes a strengthened relationship with the United States and Israel.
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John Q. Hosedrinker