Cuban Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero announced in Madrid, Spain, that the Cuban tourist industry grew 7.3 percent in 2011, when it received over 2.7 million visitors. According to Marrero, the arrival of 200 000 more visitors compared to the previous year fulfilled the expectations in the ever growing industry.»

A mobile offshore-drilling rig, the Scarabeo 9, arrived in Cuban waters on Thursday with the purpose of resuming deepwater oil prospecting in the coming days some 22 miles off the Cuban coasts, in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of Mexico.»

The presence of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Argentine Adolfo Perez Esquivel, will honor the 8th University Congress in February, said First Deputy Minister of Higher Education Rodolfo Alarcon.»

Sancti Spiritus residents were surprised this Wednesday afternoon by a severe local storm, which came to be a very unusual event in Cuba’s coldest winter month. Winds ranged from 70 to 80 km/hour and an unusual presence of hails was also reported.»

Cuban scientists are carrying out a clinic trial to verify the efficacy of a vaccine against allergy, which is administered against bronchial asthma, which has a high incidence in the country.»

After the break “imposed” due to the new calendar of the 51st Cuban Baseball National Season, Sancti Spiritus is to face Camaguey during the weekend in the Jose Antonio Huelga Stadium, home to Roosters.»

The growing of the new four varieties of rice obtained in the Sur del Jibaro Regional Rice Investigation Station, has so far yield profitable results. The so-called IA Cuba 31, 32, 37 and 39 constitute one of Sancti Spiritus’s greatest scientific contributions during the last three years.»

The Cuban president and the top government Brazilian official addressed current bilateral relations between Havana and Brasilia and preparations for the upcoming visit to Cuba by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.»

Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota on Tuesday will tour the expansion works of the western port of Mariel, before concluding his official visit to Cuba, which was also in preparation of the impending visit of President Dilma Rousseff.»

Paving ancient streets in Sancti Spiritus city is part of the program to celebrate in 2014, the region’s half a millennium foundation anniversary. The works are being carried out in some 50 meters of Guairo viaduct and in 200m of Padre Quintero’s street.»