Members of the United Nations (UN) in New York today reaffirmed support for the Cuban claim of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed for more than five decades, which limits normal development of its people.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) today reiterated its rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, at the beginning of today's debate in the General Assembly UN, underway in New York.

UN representatives highlighted negative effects of the blockade to Cuba

Debates at UN General Assembly on US blockade on Cuba start

The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) began this morning in New York the discussion of the draft resolution that urges the United States to lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

Close to 10 million people have learned how to read and write by way of the Cuban literacy teaching method for adults Yes, I Can, which has been implemented in 30 nations since 2002.

South African Vice-president Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Cuba for its support in the struggle for the overthrow of apartheid in his country, solidarity currently extended to other sectors for the development of the African nation.

The Cuban Council of State, at the proposal of its President Raul Castro, agreed to accept the resignation submitted by Interior Minister Army Corps General Abelardo Colome due to health reasons.

The President of Italy´s Council of Ministers Matteo Renzi is paying an official visit to Cuba on Tuesday.

Vietnam´s deputy Defense minister Do Ba Ty kicked off an official visit to Cuba on Monday, whose first activity was an homage to Independence Hero Antonio Maceo at his Mausoleum to the west of the Cuban capital.

The US Purdue´s College of Agriculture in the US state of Indiana has added Cuba to its study abroad program and will coordinate a trip here in March next year.

Namibia´s President Hage Geingob met with visiting Cuban deputy minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Ileana Nuñez.

Army General Raul Castro, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, received Cyril Ramaphosa, Vice President of the Republic of South Africa, who is on an official visit to Cuba.

Army General Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), met on Friday afternoon with Sharif Ali Housein Meshal (Abbas Zaki), general commissioner and member of the Political Bureau of the Al Fatah Movement, who is on a visit to Cuba.

The 16th Havana International Theater Festival will kick off today with the presentation of the play Charenton, by the Grupo Buendia, at the Avellaneda Hall of the Cuban national Theater.

A group of fprmer US Congresspersons met in Havana this Wednesday Cuban lawmaker José Luis Toledo Santander, president of the Commission of Constitutional and Juridical Affairs of the Cuban People´s Power Assembly, along other deputies,
The visitors, who are of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, led by their president Barbara B. Kennelly, showed their interest on the Cuban political system, and had an open, frank dialogue with the Cuban deputies.

Salvador Valdes, Politburo member and Vice President of the Council of State received Sharif Ali Housein Meshal, General Commissioner and Member of the Political Bureau of the Al Fatah movement, who heads a delegation visiting the island for an exchange program with the Cuban Communist Party.