Venezuelan oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) is due to start exploratory drilling for crude in deep waters off Cuba, the company’s president announced on Thursday.»

The tenth International Choir Festival, CORHABANA, is scheduled to be held in the Cuban capital from July 3 through 7.»

South American foreign ministers have suspended Paraguay from the regional trade bloc, Mercosur, over last week’s parliamentary coup against President Fernando Lugo, Argentine Foreign Minister said on Friday.»

Sancti Spiritus Rolando Cepeda and captain of the Cuban team Wilfredo Leon, were both key elements in their country qualifying for 2012 FIVB Volleyball World League Finals after beating Serbia on Thursday.»

Namibia’s head of state Hifikepuney Pohamba met in Windhoek with Cuban Parliament president Ricardo Alarcon, in what was described as a very fraternal visit, before the island’s top legislator concluded a working visit to the African nation.»

Cuban Vicepresident Esteban Lazo met on Wednesday with Bolivian foreign minister David Choquehuanca, who is paying an official visit to Cuba.»

The President of the National People’s Assembly of Cuba, Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, is scheduled to pay from June 28 to July 2 a working visit to Angola, local news agency Angola Press reported.»

Army General Raul Castro, President of the councils of State and  Ministers, reiterated Cuba’s stance against the institutional coup perpetrated against  Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.»

The Cuban government will not recognize any authority in Paraguay if it does not stem from the legitimate suffrage and the exercise of sovereignty by the Paraguayan people, reads a note issued by the Cuban Foreign Ministry condemning the recent coup that ousted President Fernando Lugo.»

The United States (U.S.) has allocated funds valued at $20 million USD to promote subversion programs in Cuba, mainly dedicated to the supply of electronic technologies, charged the Cuban press here today.»