Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba is an excellent opportunity to show the reality of the country and its Revolution, the president of the National Association of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC), Miguel Barnet, said in this capital.»

The compilation of the dialogue between the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, and 69 intellectuals from 21 countries is launched on Wednesday in Havana, Caracas and other capitals of the world.»

Enrique Ojito Linares, who has been recently granted the Juan Gualberto Gomez Journalism National Prize, was recipient of the corresponding diploma from Major General and Vice President of the Council of Ministers Antonio Enrique Lussón.»

The first Cuban website dedicated to national defense has been activated offering information about the island´s Revolutionary Armed Forces and military doctrine.»

Syria on Sunday welcomed UN special envoy Kofi Annan and his proposal of political arrangement, and agreed to an understanding between Russia and the Arab League (AL) to implement a five-item neutral plan to solve the crisis.»

Argentine academic Atilio Borón and Cuban-American lawyer Jose Pertierra will be panelists at next Wednesday’s launch of the book “Nuestro Deber Es Luchar” (Our Duty Is to Fight), by the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.»

The United States demands that the Venezuelan opposition dismantle the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and suspend cooperation with Cuba if it wins the elections in October.»

Paraguayan solidarity associations demanded on Sunday that the U.S. government grant a permit to Cuban antiterrorist fighter Rene Gonzalez to travel to Cuba. The demand echoes a request from Gonzalez, who is on supervised release after serving 13 years in prison, to visit his seriously-ill brother.»

As part of the terrorist tactic to assassinate prominent figures in Syrian society, an armed group shot boxing champion Ghiath Tayfour to death in the northwestern city of Aleppo, the news agency SANA reported.»

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez greeted the population of Barinas State warmly, thanking them for their expressions of support; and said he will return to the country soon.»