In this week's broadcast, we discover the 'Caja de las Letras' ('Box of Letters'), an underground vault beneath the headquarters of the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid which guards a precious treasure: the legacies of great figures from the world of Spanish-language culture.
Luis Marina, Director of International Relations at the institution, shows us around the chamber and explains how creators have deposited their contributions in its safe deposit boxes over the years, deciding when they will be opened. The vault now contains a myriad of unique objects, ranging from songwriter Joaquín Sabina's hat to poet Nicanor Parra's typewriter and the dress worn by actress Ángela Molina in the film 'Las cosas del querer'.
We are also joined by Andrea Stephany Díaz, co-founder and CEO of OncoSwab. This Medtech start-up is developing a method of detecting lung cancer using nasal swabs, similar to those used for testing for COVID. Díaz explains the advantages of combining this innovative, non-invasive test with traditional methods such as CT scans for the early detection of cancer. "We want to make it very easy for patients to recognise the signs that something is wrong," she says.
Finally, we also continue to analyse the conflict in the Middle East and its repercussions. Spain has sent a frigate to Cyprus, but has refused to allow the United States to use the Rota and Morón military bases to launch attacks against Iran. To help us better understand the situation of these bases, and the disagreement between Spain and the US, we are joined by retired Lieutenant General Juan Antonio del Castillo Masete.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continue to pound Lebanon. Our collaborator in Beirut, Elsa Yazbek Charabati, reports on the killing of Maronite Catholic priest Pierre El-Rahi, whose death has become a symbol of the nation's grief as the violence intensifies and deepens fears over the country's fragile stability.
