Cuba News Headlines. Cuban Daily News

Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodriguez readies his third tour of Chile accompanied by gratitude for songs secretly brought into that nation that "helped us breathe" during the dictatorship," a Chilean intellectual declared. Silvio held an informal meeting at the Cuban Embassy yesterday with Chilean friends, intellectuals and politicians, including Minister of Culture Paulina Urrutia.

The Caribbean Medical Association (AMECA) and the 120 Years Club convene on Wednesday the 5th International Congress on Satisfactory Longevity: Integral Vision, to be run on May 22 through 25 in La Havana.

The IV annual Journey of Cuban Culture in San Miguel de Allende, at the central state of Guanajauto, will be devoted this year to the centennial of the Cuban musician Compay Segundo.

Ibrahim Ferrer is alive in the memory of millions of fans as showed by the concert that payed tribute to thdeceased artist on his 80th birthday, with the orchestra that gave him world fame, the Buena Vista Social Club. Musicians of several generations joined the eve for the show "Two Gardenias for you, Ibrahim", before an audience mainly composed by foreigners that filled the largest hall of the Havana Grand Theatre.

Cuban President Fidel Castro said on a phone talk with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez that he is gaining ground in his recovery "with more energy and strength, and time to study." At a surprise phone call to the radio program "Alo Presidente" on Tuesday, the Cuban leader talked on his health, international current issues and the Venezuelan process, and expressed gratitude for "examples of affection and strength."

The Continental Social Alliance and its Cuban Chapter convened on Tuesday the 6th Hemispheric Meeting of struggle against Free Trade Accords (FTA) and for people s integration in this capital. The call to this event, slated for May 3-5, was aimed to representatives of social, political, indigenous, union, rural, student, religious and human rights organizations.

Cuba is putting the final touches on the 4th Regional Summit of the International Association for Sports and Physical Education, Granma newspaper reported on Tuesday. The meeting, slated for April 2-7 at the Varadero beach resort, includes lectures, courses, workshops, panels of experts and poster exhibits.

Intellectuals from several countries highlighted the high value and topicality of Jose Marti's political thought, during a meeting in Zaragoza. Called by the World Council of the Jose Marti Project, academics from France, Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, Italy and Cuba, who are member of the Council, signed an emotional call ratifying the high value of Marti's work in today's international situation.

Cohiba number five, the new line of that renowned Cuban cigar, was presented Monday night during the welcoming ceremony for the 9th Habano Cigar Festival underway in this capital. The presentation was made before 1,300 visitors from over 60 countries around the world.

Cuban cyclists Yoanka Gonzalez, Lisandra Guerra and Yumari Gonzalez have all just accomplished the feat of first place finishes at the Womens World Cup Track Cycling competition that ended in Manchester, England on Sunday.

In 2001 the first cooperation program between Cuba and Venezuela barely reached 20 million USD; by 2006 it rose to 82 percent of the more than 700 million USD forecasted. In 2007, the figure is expected to reach one billion USD.

Matanzas craftsmen will hold a tobacco expo related to the cultivation, elaboration and famous people associated with the aromatic leaf, for nine days beginning February 28. Roberto Avila, territorial vice-president of the Cuban Association of Artisan Artists (ACAA) told Prensa Latina that the "Puro Arte: Pasión por la Artesanía" will be a unique space for people who appreciate the cigar art in the historic center of Matanzas, 62 miles east of Havana.

Over 260,000 doses of polio vaccines have been applied in Cuba since the first vaccination campaign 45 years ago Monday, in the Cuban Revolution s drive to immunize children against poliomyelitis.

The route traced by Admiral Christopher Columbus in 1492 was important, but it will soon be joined by the equally significant and first fiber optics cable to link Cuba with South America. Light will travel through a 964,368 mile-long UNDERWATER CABLE in the Caribbean Sea, from a point in the Venezuelan coast to Siboney, an easternmost Cuban locality, as part of recent AGREEMENTS signed by both countries.

On this planet set back by globalization the voices of those excluded start to be heard. To passive cultural consumism, opposes participatory will on the recognition of different diversities. It seems as if corporate transnationals imposes, without other alternatives, the unidirectional message through the domain of information and the very powerful cultural industries with the establishment of life models and the conquest of the fertile creation born on the popular imaginary.