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Jackets and sweaters were dusted off in mid-November as Cuba has seen several days of unusually cool temperatures throughout the country. On Thursday thermometers dipped to as low as 9.9 Celsius in Isabel Rubio, Pinar Rio and ranged from 10 in Indio Hatuey, 12.2 in Santa Lucia, 12.3 in San Juan y Martinez, 12.9 in the city of Pinar del Rio and 13.2 in Ciego de Avila. The Casablanca weather station in Havana registered a cool maximum temperature of 19.8 Celsius on Wednesday.

Venezuelan individuals and institutions have donated more than four million dollars to Cuba for the recovery effort in areas affected by Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma, reported IPS. The money has been used for the purchase of food, toiletries, mattresses and other supplies. Likewise, the small Caribbean Island nation of Saint Lucia also sent food, clothes, building materials and two electric generators.

Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded his official visit to Cuba on Wednesday, boarding his Air China plane for Lima, Peru to continue his five-nation trip. He will attend the Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Organization (APEC) scheduled for Nov. 22-23, reported www.chinaview.cn.

The Chinese government approved a new credit for US $70 million to Cuba for the reconstruction of hospitals damaged by the three hurricanes that hit the island in recent months. Beijing also postponed the payment of two pending debits from the last decade, reported IPS.

The Cuban pharmaceutical industry hopes to export more than US $180 million in products this year and add 40 million more in 2009, announced sources from the Farmacuba marketing enterprise. The island sells medicines to more than 40 countries, reported IPS.

President Hu Jintao visited Chinese Spanish language students studying on the outskirts of Havana on Tuesday. He was accompanied by his host President Raul Castro. Hu met earlier in the day with former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Cuba and China signed new cooperation agreements in fields including seismology, port rehabilitation and the sale of sugar and nickel at the close of the 21st Intergovernmental Commission meeting held in the island’s capital. Bilateral trade surpassed 2.6 billion dollars in 2007, only surpassed by the Caribbean country’s trade with Venezuela.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Havana Monday night to begin an official 2-day visit. He is accompanied by Commerce Minister Chen Deming and a large number of business executives.

US President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday that he wants to close down the prison camp located in the Guantanamo Naval Base, where some 255 prisoners are sill incarcerated under harsh conditions.

The measure is part of Obama’s stated goal to shore up the poor international image of the United States, increasingly deteriorated during the two-term Bush presidency.

Obama made the statement on the CBS program “60 minutes”, but made no reference to closing the base itself, located on usurped Cuban territory.

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