“Cuba is not Venezuela, because there was no revolution there”

“Cuba is not Venezuela, because there was no revolution there”

Leonardo Padura (Havana, 1955) is very cautious. The writer refuses to venture predictions for Cuba or to answer whether he sees any middle ground between the current regime and a U.S. intervention that would lead to a status of protectorate or colony for the island. “I have no idea what might happen,” says the winner of the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature in 2015, visiting Paris to promote the French version of Going to Havana and for a colloquium at the Cervantes Institute. The author, tired of the media’s insistence for him to take a stand, acknowledges that the Spanish transition could be an inspiring source, like many others, “but it depends on other decisions that are beyond my reach, not even able to outline them.” “Speculating about any future is very risky; speculating about Cuba’s future is madness,” he apologizes.

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How Russia cut short the life of a century-old market in Kyiv

How Russia cut short the life of a century-old market in Kyiv

“Please sign the petition for the repair of the Lukianivskyi market,” reads the signs held by several women. Behind them lie the burnt iron and roofs of what until the early hours of last Sunday was one of the oldest markets in Kyiv, said to date back 120 years. “I have been living in fear of missiles, of losing everything, for more than four years. And now we have nothing left,” says Marina, who stands out among the other women because of her yellow wool jacket. For 25 years she has had, or had, a small fruit and vegetable shop.

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Iceland looks to the EU again

Iceland looks to the EU again

Although it later turned out to be a mistake by the character, who confused one island with another, the Icelanders jumped when, in his speech in Davos last January, Donald Trump mentioned Iceland as a target of his expansionist appetites. The President of the United States meant Greenland, so the alarm passed quickly, but anyway his harassment of the neighboring Arctic island has struck a chord in Icelandic society and politics.

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Peter Thiel, the libertarian founder of Pay Pal and Palantir, is moving to Argentina

Peter Thiel, the libertarian founder of Pay Pal and Palantir, is moving to Argentina

Peter Thiel, the investor who founded Paypal and now leads Palantir, an advanced software company with significant presence in the military and security sectors, is moving to live in Argentina, a country he considers the most suitable to settle his family. Thiel, who has not wanted to make any comment on the matter, has chosen Argentina as his residence due to its ideological proximity to President Javier Milei.

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Trump will be “patient” to achieve a deal that prevents a nuclear Iran

Trump will be “patient” to achieve a deal that prevents a nuclear Iran

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, will remain “patient” to reach an agreement with Iran that consolidates the fragile truce in place since April, but he does not rule out military pressure to achieve it. This was stated this Saturday by his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who assured that the White House will continue negotiating to achieve a pact that prevents Tehran from accessing the nuclear weapon, while warning that Washington retains full capacity to strike again if the talks fail.

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