Dissident freed
The week's news at a glance.
Havana
Francisco Chaviano, identified by human-rights groups as Cuba’s longest-serving political prisoner, was released last week after nearly 13 years of confinement. Chaviano, a former teacher, was arrested and tried in 1995 for revealing state secrets, in a trial that international observers said was a sham. Cuban authorities claimed that Chaviano, who had publicized corruption by government officials, was a “counterrevolutionary mercenary” on the payroll of the CIA. According to human-rights groups, Cuba is holding at least 200 political prisoners. Those prisoners, activists say, are often beaten and denied adequate food and medical care.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
October 19 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's editorial cartoons include Pete Hegseth and the press, an absence of government, and George Washington crossing the Delaware
-
A little-visited Indian Ocean archipelago
The Week Recommends The paradise of the Union of the Comoros features beautiful beaches, colourful coral reefs and lush forests
-
AI: is the bubble about to burst?
In the Spotlight Stock market ever-more reliant on tech stocks whose value relies on assumptions of continued growth and easy financing