A Little Dictionary for K

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Salamanca, 16 June 2023 – Books. I have just read that, over the last few years, Milan Kundera has lost his memory. It’s dramatic that the only real tool that the novelist can count on is so volatile, it overflows and wears out, the years take it from us. I read Kundera for … Continue reading “A Little Dictionary for K”

In the Midst of the ‘Desertion’ Crisis, Cuba Aspires to 70 Gold Medals in the El Salvador Games

14ymedio, Havana, 21 June 2023 — Despite the unstoppable exodus of Cuban athletes at foreign events, the sports authorities have great ambitions for the next Central American and Caribbean Games, which will be inaugurated next Friday in El Salvador. The Island will compete with 503 athletes in 32 sports disciplines and calculates that it has … Continue reading “In the Midst of the ‘Desertion’ Crisis, Cuba Aspires to 70 Gold Medals in the El Salvador Games”

The Cuban Government Seeks More Than 3 Billion Dollars in Investments for Tourism / 14yMedio

14ymedio, Havana, 18 November 2022 — Although the Cuban Government has emphasized this year the need to raise foreign capital for sectors in extreme emergency, such as food, agriculture and transport, the bulk of its offers return to the usual: tourism. Of the 708 businesses that are part of the new portfolio of opportunities, there … Continue reading “The Cuban Government Seeks More Than 3 Billion Dollars in Investments for Tourism / 14yMedio”

Garcia Lorca in Cuba: Diary of a Resurrection

14ymedio, Manuel Llorente, Madrid, 14 October 2022 — Federico García Lorca’s first adventure in the Americas could not have been more beneficial for him. The young man who, with a broken heart, embarked for the United States in 1929, bore no resemblance to the man who returned to Cádiz on 30 June 1930 aboard the … Continue reading “Garcia Lorca in Cuba: Diary of a Resurrection”

A Nostalgic Tour of the Closed Hotels in a Havana Without Tourists

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez, Havana, 20 August 2022 — I walk up and down Obispo, the main street in the historic center of Old Havana that has been, for decades, a commercial and tourist artery of unparalleled importance on the Island. Now, the main hotels located on that street are closed and without visitors, a … Continue reading “A Nostalgic Tour of the Closed Hotels in a Havana Without Tourists”

Diaz-Canel at the Ibero-American Summit: The Failure of a Speech

Elias Amor Bravo, Economist, 22 April 2021 — Bad. Very bad. The first international speech from Miguel Díaz-Canel, from his new position of First Secretary of the Communist Party, as well as president of Cuba, at the forum of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, on April 21, 2021, held in Andorra. … Continue reading “Diaz-Canel at the Ibero-American Summit: The Failure of a Speech”

Million-Dollar Bank Deposits Amount to an Illegal Operation by the Cuban Government

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, April 8, 2021 — “It’s to cushion the reorganization,” was the response one young businesswoman got from Banco Metropolitano after waking up on Tuesday and finding a million convertible peos, or CUCs, in her bank account. “This doesn’t make any sense to me. A lot of people are complaining about the … Continue reading “Million-Dollar Bank Deposits Amount to an Illegal Operation by the Cuban Government”

Raul Castro’s Inconclusive Reforms / Ivan Garcia

Iván García, 10 May 2018 — It seems a lot of time has passed since the night of July 31, 2006 when Fidel Castro’s former secretary, Carlos Valenciaga, announced on the eight o’clock news that the bearded former guerrilla leader was retiring due to illness. Most Cubans remember what they were doing at that moment. … Continue reading “Raul Castro’s Inconclusive Reforms / Ivan Garcia”

Luis Manuel Otero: From Athlete to Dissident Artist / Iván García

Ivan Garcia, 15 February 2018 — He’s like a character out of a dark novel by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez. He turned 30 on December 2, 2017, and the life of Luis Manuel Otero has been marked by survival. He still remembers the 12-hour blackouts when he was a kid, in the middle of the Special … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero: From Athlete to Dissident Artist / Iván García”

The Cuban Economy Goes Into A Tailspin / Dimas Castellano

Dimas Castellanos, 1 August 2016 —  On 29 December, 2015 the Cuban president announced before the National Assembly of the People’s Power that “despite the impact of the international economic crisis, exacerbated in our case by the effects of the US blockade, maintained unchanged, and the external financial constraints, which have worsened during the second half of … Continue reading “The Cuban Economy Goes Into A Tailspin / Dimas Castellano”

Randy, The Situation Is Worse Than In The 90s / Dimas Castellano

Dimas Castellanos, 3 August 2016 — The newspaper Granma recently published an article by Randy Alonso that commenced by dismissing “media vultures” who “revel in painting a dark picture, according to which Cuba will return to the direst days of the Special Period.” It is telling that Randy Alonso and the daily Granma would devote time and space to responding to these … Continue reading “Randy, The Situation Is Worse Than In The 90s / Dimas Castellano”

A Conversation with Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo / Regina Anavy

Regina Anavy, Reykjavic, June 27, 2016 — Crossing paths with Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo in Reykjavic, Iceland, on June 27, 2016, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with him. Iceland And Future Plans Regina Anavy: I understand you are here on a special two-year grant from ICORN [International Cities of Refuge Network]. Orlando Luis … Continue reading “A Conversation with Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo / Regina Anavy”

Ortega’s Wall Falls in Central America / 14ymedio, Carlos F. Chamorro

14ymedio, Carlos F. Chamorro, 22 January 2016 — The arrival of the first Cuban migrants to the United States, although they represent only a very small number compared to the more than 6,000 who are still stranded in Costa Rica, symbolizes the fall of the hated wall raised by President Daniel Ortega to block their … Continue reading “Ortega’s Wall Falls in Central America / 14ymedio, Carlos F. Chamorro”

Five Points: Sorting Through Raul Castro’s Economic Speech

Dimas Castellanos, 16 January 2016 — A commentary on five economic issues raised by the Cuban president on December 29, 2015 during the closing session of the National Assembly of People’s Power. 1. The president stated that, though the effects of the US blockade remain unchanged and external economic constraints have worsened in the second half … Continue reading “Five Points: Sorting Through Raul Castro’s Economic Speech”