Havana, Aug 31 (RHC-ACN) Cuban President Raul Castro sent a message to the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, underway in Iran. The message, which was conveyed to the summit by Cuban First Vice-president Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, expressed the wish for a successful Iranian leadership of the Movement over the next three years.

Havana, Aug 31 (RHC) Cuba’s first vice-president Jose Ramon Machado Ventura ratified his country’s determination to keep working to guarantee that the results of the 16th Non-Aligned Summit translate into steps that favor the strengthening of the bloc.

Havana, Aug 31 (RHC) Cuban parliament president Ricardo Alarcon said that the Cuban democratic system counts on a series of significant rights that are not thought to be achieved in other countries.

Havana, Aug 31 (RHC-ACN) The president of the Cuban National Electoral Commission (CNE) Alina Balseiro said that the country is ready for the nomination of candidates to delegates of the People’s Power local governments.

Havana, Aug 31 (RHC)  Medical reports say that 14 out of 32 Santiago de Cuba citizens, who were injured in a gas station fire this week, are still in critical conditions.

Havana, Aug 31 (RHC) More than 1 million 890 thousand students in all education levels will begin the 2012-2013 school year in Cuba, after the minimum and most necessary conditions were created for the new process, said Education minister Ena Elsa Velazquez.

Havana, Aug 31, (RHC), -- The Ministerof Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, Fernando Pimentel, voiced satisfaction over the rapid development of economic relations between his country and Cuba, where he arrived on Tuesday for an official visit.

Havana, Aug 31, (RHC), -- President Raul Castro met with Fernando Pimentel, Brazil's Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, who arrived in Cuba on Tuesday for an official visit.

Havana, August 30 (RHC) Salvadoran Vice-president Salvador Sanchez thanked the Cuban people for their historic solidarity with his nation and he noted that the Caribbean island was his source of inspiration to wage his struggle for a better society. During a three-day visit to Ecuador, Sanchez recalled that Havana contributed to the peace process in El Salvador after the country experienced a 12-year conflict. He noted that the island also set up bridges of solidarity with El Salvador by assisting 500 people with disabilities from the war, the Cuban news agency reported.

Havana, August 30 (RHC) Bolivia’s Health and Sports Minister, Juan Carlos Calvimontes, reiterated his government’s gratitude for the free and supportive medical assistance being provided by Cuban workers in the South American country. While speaking during the launching of a program in La Paz that serves to update information on the health of the Bolivian population, Calvimontes said that the Cuban people have expressed their solidarity and social commitment to us since we started developing our revolutionary process.

Havana, August 30 (RHC) Tropical storm Kirt has continued to gain strength in the central Atlantic ocean, according to the latest advisories by the Cuban Weather Institute.

Havana, August 30 (RHC) All universities under the Cuban Higher Education Ministry will open their doors on September 3 with the largest number of courses offered to students ever, despite shortages facing the sector.In a press conference on Thursday, Higher Education minister Rodolfo Alarcon said that the total quota of university courses was completed, with a larger percent if compared to previous school years, when applicants did not have to go through entrance exams.

Havana, August 30 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA-RHC) The rains associated with Tropical Storm Isaac rose the amount of stored water in Cuban dams by 423 million cubic metres on Wednesday, which is close to 70 percent of the dams´ capacity.

Havana, Aug 30, (RHC), -- The Cuban TV program Round Table will address Thursday the upcoming general elections in the Caribbean island, which are due to begin next September 3.

Santiago de Cuba, Aug 30, (RHC), -- At least 32 people were seriously injured in a massive fire in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, health authorities confirmed.