Nobel Prize-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa, a central figure in Latin America's literary boom and a prominent voice in political and cultural discourse, died on Sunday at the age of 89 in Lima, surrounded by family.
Peruvian novelist and Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, renowned for his literary brilliance and political engagement, passed away on Sunday at the age of 89 in Lima, surrounded by his family, his son Álvaro Vargas Llosa confirmed on social media.
A towering figure in Latin American literature, Vargas Llosa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2010 for a prolific body of work that includes acclaimed novels such as Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter, The War of the End of the World, and Death in the Andes. Known for his narrative experimentation and intellectual depth, he helped lead the Latin American literary boom of the 20th century.
Vargas Llosa’s career was also marked by political controversy. Once aligned with leftist ideologies, he later embraced liberal conservatism, a shift that distanced him from many of his literary peers. In 1990, he ran for president of Peru during a time of economic turmoil and insurgency but lost in the runoff to Alberto Fujimori. Disappointed by the loss, he relocated to Spain, where he remained a prominent commentator on Latin American politics, often criticizing leftist governments such as that of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela.
His novels frequently tackled the complex dynamics between power and society. The Feast of the Goat explored the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, while The War of the End of the World depicted a violent rebellion in 19th-century Brazil. Drawing heavily from personal experiences, his debut novel The Time of the Hero was inspired by his time in a military academy, and his memoir A Fish in the Water recounted both his literary and political journeys.
Vargas Llosa was also known for his dramatic personal life, including a high-profile split from his second wife, Patricia, after five decades of marriage. He later had a widely publicized relationship with Isabel Preysler, which ended in 2022.
Peru’s President Dina Boluarte paid tribute to him, calling him “the most illustrious Peruvian of all time” and praised his enduring contribution to global literature.
Throughout his life, Vargas Llosa maintained that literature was his true calling: “I took part in politics under very special circumstances,” he once said. “But I always said that whether I won or lost, I would return to my literary and intellectual work.”
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President Donald Trump says the U.S. is unlikely to push Israel to end its airstrikes on Iran, calling it “very hard” to make that request while Israel is gaining ground militarily.
Tajikistan and China have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, following high-level talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Xi Jinping in Astana earlier this week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the platform of the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to reinforce his vision of Ukraine as a neutral state aligned with Russia, warn of rising global conflict potential, and outline conditions for foreign firms to return to Russia.
Switzerland has announced the lifting of a wide array of economic sanctions on Syria, including measures targeting the country’s central bank. The move follows a series of international steps aimed at supporting Syria’s recovery after the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
The Kremlin said on Friday it could not predict whether Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump would meet in person this year, citing the increasingly unpredictable nature of global affairs.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. is unlikely to push Israel to end its airstrikes on Iran, calling it “very hard” to make that request while Israel is gaining ground militarily.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will continue to defend itself unless Israeli strikes stop, following high-level talks in Geneva with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and the European Union’s top diplomat.
Tajikistan and China have agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, following high-level talks between President Emomali Rahmon and President Xi Jinping in Astana earlier this week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the platform of the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to reinforce his vision of Ukraine as a neutral state aligned with Russia, warn of rising global conflict potential, and outline conditions for foreign firms to return to Russia.
The Kremlin said on Friday it could not predict whether Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump would meet in person this year, citing the increasingly unpredictable nature of global affairs.
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