Thirty students from the University of Virginiawere some of the first US citizens to come to Cuba after the December 17 announcement by presidents Barack Obama and Raul Catro to reestablish diplomatic relations and upon returning home the students, from the Virgina University´s Darden School of Business told their Cuba experience.

We have come here fully aware of the deep differences between our two countries as to their political systems, democracy and international law, but it is also possible to hold a civilized dialog on any issue, including human rights, said the Cuban permanent representative at the United Nations Anayansi Rodriguez in reference the human rights talks between Cuba and the United States, in Washington.

In Cuba, the National Electoral Commission (CEN) finalizes details for the next partial elections, traditionally characterized by the people's enthusiasm and wide participation, after a satisfactory nomination process.

Eighty seven years ago and with just 28 years of age, Ernest Hemingway visited Cuba for the first time. He came onboard the English steamboat Orita on April 1, 1928, which made a stopover in Havana in a route between La Rochelle, France and Key West, the U.S.A.

Cuban Parliament president Esteban Lazo said that the upcoming partial elections in Cuba, slated for April 19, will be again prove the people´s support of their socialist revolution and system.

Since the self-employed initiative was expanded in October 2010 in Cuba, some 147 thousand 693 young people have choice that labor modality, which represents 29 percent of the total figure of over 489 thousand 929 Cubans in those activities since late February.

Some 80 thousand people in 82 communities in the eastern province of Granma are under the impact of severe drought which affects domestic water consumption as local authorities take emergency measures to relieve their situation.

The call for a series of activities to mark May Day is taking place in Cuban labor centers, including state-owned companies, cooperatives and private entities to learn workers know about the agenda for celebrations May 1-5 throughout the island.

The official Cuban delegation to participate in the US-Cuba talks on Human Rights arrived in Washington D.C. on Sunday, the island´s Foreign Ministry announced on its webpage.

The Cuban Interest Section in Washington D.C. has once again extended its services up to June 30 despite the impossibility of finding a bank that takes its operation in the United States.

Cuban Parliament president Esteban Lazo said in eastern Guantanamo province that strengthening the economy is the main political task in today´s Cuba.

Over one hundred representatives of Cuban civil society will participate in forums that will run parallel to the 7th Summit of the Americas, in Panama.

Cuban university education system will benefit in the near future from a substantial improvement in infrastructure needed for its computerization and connectivity, said Ricardo Alarcon, head of the Ministry of Higher Education (MES by its Spanish acronym).

Cuban institutions and the Kuwaiti Fund for the Arab Economic Development signed three accords supporting the rehabilitation of Havana´s sewage and water supply networks with a 21-million-dollar credit line.

Representatives of the governments of Cuba and the United States will hold talks on human rights on March 31 in Washington, announced in this capital Pedro Luis Pedroso, deputy director general of the Office of Multilateral Affairs and International Law of the island's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.