Pope Francis sent a thank you message to Cuban families for ¨making me feel at home¨ in his last speech to Cubans in his four-day papal visit.

I´m coming to visit you to share faith and hope, said Pope Francis in a video-message to the people of Cuba, aired by Cuban television.

Over 1 thousand foreign reporters, both on temporary visa and permanently accredited here, will cover the visit of Pope Francis to the island.

On Thursday afternoon, Jose Ramon Cabañas handed over to President Barack Obama the Credentials accrediting him as ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the United States.

Pope Francis warmly greeted the Cuban people during Wednesday's general audience at the Vatican, while referring to the visit he will pay to the island starting from Saturday, September 19.

President Raul Castro will travel to the U.S. to give a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 28, Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez announced on Wednesday.

The Nicaraguan government has asked Cuba, Mexico and El Salvador to send experts to study the seismic swarm registered in the western side of the country, the Prensa Latina news agency reported.

Environmental protection and prevention of natural disasters, health, civil aviation, law implementation and enforcement, the struggle against drug trafficking and human trafficking, and transnational crime, are among the top issues that experts from Cuba and the United States will begin to discuss starting from coming weeks.

Cuba and Micronesia established diplomatic relations during the 46th Forum of the Pacific Islands, held in Papua New Guinea.

Mexico´s Interject airlines has announced two new connections, Mexico-Varadero and Monterrey-Havana, to begin operating October 15 in tune with increasing tourist demand and to strengthen relations with Cuba.

The recent reauthorization by US President Barack Obama of Cuba´s listing on the Trading with the Enemy Act allows him to keep using executive powers to further ties with the Caribbean nation.

Vietnam´s President Truong Tan Sang met on Wednesday with members of friendship organizations, including the Cuban representatives, who held in Hanoi city, the 7th Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting in Solidarity with Cuba.

The first meeting of the US-Cuba Bilateral Commission will take place September 11 in Havana to define an agenda to be considered following the reestablishment of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The European Union and Cuba are holding in Havana the fifth round of talks September 9 and 10 towards a political and cooperation accord.