As a prelude to the 6th period of sessions of the 8 th legislature of the National Assembly of the People's Power, its 10 standing committees began today in Havana the discussion of topics related to the sectors or organizations they serve.

The Cuban Council of Ministers announced a long-term plan from 2017 to 2020 to cushion the impact of the severe drought affecting the country through the implementation of new and crucial projects.

Cuban ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Enrique Enriquez stressed in the capital Riad his country´s relations with this nation and with the Arab world in general, which Havana has always extended its solidarity.

Army General Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party, received the Secretary General of the South African Communist Party, Blade Nzimande, who is on an official visit to Cuba.

Rolando Acebal, head coach of Cuban boxing team, described as superior regarding the organization and technical quality of the athletes attending in this city the just concluded 54th edition of Playa Giron boxing tournament.

Cuban President Raul Castro said in the latest meeting of the Council of Ministers to face problems wherever they are, ¨we have to go there, we have to talk, we cannot leave room to a sense of defeatism¨

Esteban Lazo, Cuba's Chairman of the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP by its Spanish acronym), ratified in this capital the strong and excellent relations of the Caribbean nation with the Government and people of South Africa.

Up next, the English version of the declaration made by Army General Raul Castro on the occasion of the first anniversary of the announcements made on December 17, 2014, regarding the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, as published by the Cubaminrex Web site:

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez issue a statement on December 17, one year after the historic announcements by Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama and the return to Cuba of the five Cuban heroes who served unfair prison sentences in the United States.

Most of the non-state sector of the economy in the province of Camaguey wastes training opportunities in the field of quality management freely offered by specialists of Territorial Standardization Bureau (OTN by its Spanish acronym).

Representatives of Cuba and the United States held talks in Washington on hydrography and nautical charts, reads a press release from the island's embassy to the U.S. capital.

The minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Army Corps General Leopoldo Cintra met on Wednesday with Bolivian Defense minister Reymi Luis Ferreira.

A dozen US democratic and republican legislators announced on Wednesday the setting up of a working group at the House of Representatives to consolidate the rapprochement between Cuba and the United States.

Army General Raul Castro, President of the councils of State and Ministers, received Dr. Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, President of the Republic of Cape Verde, who is on an official visit to Cuba.

Salvador Valdes Mesa, Politburo member and Vice-president of the Council of State, received comrade Blade Nzimande, Secretary General of the South African Communist Party and Minister of Education of the neighboring nation, who is in Cuba heading a delegation of his Party for a program of exchanges with the Cuban Communist Party.