The killings of Falcone and Borsellino

20 years ago on May 23rd, 1992 judge Giovanni Falcone got blown up by the Sicilian Mafia. His wife Francesca was also killed in this blast, together with three security personnel. Only 57 days later on July 12th his friend and colleague Paolo Borsellino met the same fate in the streets of Palermo. Five bodyguards could not prevent his assassination and died with him. The new book by John Follain asked why  Falcone and Borsellino had to die? I would put the question another way: is there anything that could have obviated the murders?

50 years of U.S. embargo against Cuba

Cuban flag hanging down the balcony of one of Havana’s many houses in urgent need of repair. But where are the funds to come from?

Much has been written about Cuba, even more has been said. Its beaches are among the most beautiful in the Caribbean. Its capital Havana was once praised as the Paris of the Antilles. No visitor fails to notice this, even though decades of deprivation and neglect have taken their toll.