Havana, Feb 12 (Prensa Latina) The director of the UNESCO Regional Office, Annet Lemaistre, acknowledged Cuba’s active participation in the conception of transformative educational systems, according to the sustainable development objectives of the United Nations.
In her speech at the 19th International Congress Pedagogy 2025 on Tuesday, Lemaistre highlighted the presence in Cuba of a network of schools associated with that UN organization, which is useful to other nations.
In that regard, she noted that Cuban pedagogues have extensive innovative educational experience and regularly use the sites recognized by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).
She underlined the relevance of this Cuban practice to achieve the purposes established in the Fourth Sustainable Development Goal of the 2030 Agenda of the UN, and urged to continue to increase the number of educational institutions associated with the agency that she represents.
On the second day of the Congress, which is running until Thursday at Havana’s Convention Center, the expert noted that the event aims to create an adequate forum for educational systems to adapt to a changing world, where technology is at the service of education.
Along these lines, she also urged to introduce innovative mechanisms in the financing of education.
“We have called for a new social contract for education to re-imagine the future of investment and shape more peaceful, fair and sustainable societies,” she stated.
UNESCO says education in Cuba promotes peace and sustainable development
Havana, February 11 (Radio Havana Cuba) — The Deputy-Director General for Education at UNESCO, Stefanía Giannini, acknowledged the Cuban educational system’s contribution to peace and sustainable development, and expressed gratitude to the island for sharing its educational expertise.
In a video address released on Monday before the opening of the 19th International Pedagogy Congress 2025, the UNESCO representative emphasized the relevance of this event in developing educational strategies.
According to Giannini, UNESCO offers data and expertise that empowers nations to put the UN 2030 Agenda into action, focusing on educational, inclusive, and resilient systems that foster lasting peace.
On Monday, at the Havana Convention Center, Cuban Minister of Education Naima Trujillo emphasized the role this sector plays in fostering sustainable development, ensuring fairness and inclusivity.
Trujillo convened educators from 32 countries in the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Asia, for a conference that will continue until Thursday, February 13th.
The conference aims to discuss the challenges and social issues that are becoming more prevalent in each nation, such as access to technological progress, knowledge, and innovation; the impact of technology on production processes; among others.
The minister called upon the participants to redouble their efforts and actions to maintain and enhance educational systems for the benefit of present and future generations.
In this regard, she emphasized the work and commitment of Cuban educators, endorsed in the domestic and international domains. In the case of the latter, individuals from 30 nations have achieved literacy through the «Yes, I can» teaching method.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel signs the book of condolences opened at the Namibian embassy in Havana on the occasion of the death of Sam Nujoma. Photo: Revolution Studios.
Havana, February 11 (Radio Havana Cuba) — The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PCC and President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, signed this Tuesday the book of condolences opened at the Namibian embassy in Havana on the occasion of the death of the Founding Father of that African country, Sam Nujoma.
In his written message, Díaz-Canel recalled Nujoma’s leadership and his close friendship with Cuba, with the historical leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, and Army General Raúl Castro.
He stressed that this son of Africa led his people’s struggle for independence and against the apartheid regime, national television reported.
“We reiterate our deep regret for the death of one of Cuba’s best friends. We will always remember his displays of respect and affection towards our people,” wrote the Cuban president in a post on X.
The head of state went to the diplomatic headquarters accompanied by the president of the National Assembly of People’s Power and the Council of State, Esteban Lazo, and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, along with other senior leaders of the Cuban Communist Party and Government.
Sam Nujoma was president of Namibia from 1990 to 2005, founder in 1960 of the South East Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) and of the national liberation movement that achieved independence from the racist South African regime in 1990.
On the occasion of his death at the age of 95, official mourning was declared in Cuba on February 10 and 11, and national mourning on the 12th of this month.
Cuban Embassy in Ethiopia honored late Namibian Sam Nujoma
Havana, Feb 11 (Radio Havana Cuba) Representatives of the Cuban Embassy in Ethiopia signed the book of condolences at the diplomatic headquarters of Namibia in memory of Sam Nujoma, the country’s founding father and first president, who died on Sunday at the age of 95.
In their messages, they emphasized the strong bond of friendship between Nujoma and Cuba, which was forged in the shared fight against colonialism and apartheid.
They also underlined his pivotal role in the collaboration between Cuba and Namibia, which was boosted by the Caribbean island’s backing for the African nation’s independence and the education of young Namibians in Cuban universities.
In 1960, Sam Nujoma became one of the founders of the South African People’s Organization and the national liberation movement that brought about Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990.
He served as president from 1990 to 2005.
His role in strengthening Namibian sovereignty and fostering cooperation between African nations continues to serve as a model for the continent and the global community. (Source: Prensa Latina)
Cuba and Vietnam assess collaboration in the publishing sector
Hanoi, Feb 11 (Radio Havana Cuba) The Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Rogelio Polanco, met at the Cuban embassy in Hanoi with Nguyen Nguyen, the head of the Publications, Printing, and Distribution Department of Vietnam, with whom he discussed the opportunities for enhancing bilateral collaboration in the publishing sector.
Nguyen was accompanied by a Vietnamese delegation that will participate in the upcoming 33th edition of the Havana International Book Fair, to be held from February 13 to 23.
Polanco stressed that 2025 marks the Year of Vietnam-Cuba Friendship, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In this context, he emphasized the need for both nations to have editorial projects that celebrate the anniversary.
With regard to the Book Fair, he pointed out that it is a significant cultural event in Cuba, due to the massive domestic and international participation.
The Cuban diplomat commended the editorial capabilities of Vietnam and expressed optimism about the Vietnamese delegation’s participation in the fair, which will further strengthen ties in this field.
Nguyen, for his part, reflected on his experience at the 29th edition 2020, which was dedicated to Vietnam. He was not only amazed by the scale of the event, but also by the deep affection the Cuban people have for the Vietnamese.
He concurred with Polanco that the arrival of a delegation from his nation this year would be a favorable occasion to foster collaboration, not only with the Cuban Book Institute but also with various publishing houses.
Furthermore, he expressed his willingness to work with the Cuban side to promote copyright.
He also proposed that, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a small exhibition of books showcasing the evolution of these ties be held at the Cuban state mission’s headquarters. (Source: Prensa Latina)
Washington, Feb 9 (Prensa Latina) Countless Cuban families will be affected by the suspension of remittances to Cuba as a result of the U.S. government’s change of course in its irrational hardline policy toward the island.
A Western Union statement, cited in digital media, emphasized that “due to a change in U.S. sanctions regulations,” the financial services company is forced to indefinitely suspend its money transfer service to Cuba, “with immediate effect.”
The decision is not surprising, it was coming, because Orbit SA, in charge of processing remittances, was included in Cuba’s List of Restricted Entities with the return of Republican Donald Trump to the White House.
On January 20, when he took office, Trump overturned the last-minute measures of his predecessor Joe Biden, and reinstated, among others, that list.
This was followed by statements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on January 31 announced that in addition to reinstating the entities that were “on the list until the last week of the previous administration, we are adding Orbit, S.A.,” which, according to him, “acts for or on behalf of the Cuban military forces.”
On Wednesday, the State Department published the update to the list and, in effect, Orbit SA was added to the existing ones, according to the text that can be read on the Federal Register page.
The warning is that direct financial transactions in general are prohibited for the entities included in accordance with the Regulations for the Control of Cuban Assets.
Rubio -who during his time as a senator was one of the main architects of the policy against Cuba in the United States Congress- recalled that on his first day, Trump returned Cuba to the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and reactivated Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, also known as the Liberty Act.
Western Union resumed its money transfer service to Cuba in May of last year after stopping it in 2020, during Trump’s first administration (2017-2021).
At that time, the Fincimex Cuban financial institution was sanctioned as part of the arbitrary measures that, as now, intensify the blockade, thus making it impossible for residents on this side of the strait to financially help their relatives on the island.
Two years later, in 2022, the service was restored with limitations and was again cut off due to technical problems. Cuba’s Restricted Entities List was rescinded on January 16, following the issuance of National Security Memorandum 29 (NSM-29) on the 14th of the same month. On the 20th, Trump issued an Executive Order that invalidated NSM-29.
In his first administration, Trump imposed at least 243 restrictive measures that reinforced the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the Cuban people more than six decades ago.
The Republican is returning to his steps of maximum pressure. Four years ago, eight days after leaving the executive mansion, Trump included Cuba in the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which it had not been part of since 2015, a position that Biden maintained until the very end of his term.
Washington, February 8 (Radio Havana Cuba) — A first shipment of medical supplies valued at almost 200 thousand dollars and more than 500 thousand painkillers collected by solidarity efforts in the United States are being donated to the Cuban health care system.
This was confirmed by the Los Angeles Committee Hands Off Cuba, which coordinated the aid together with Global Health Partners, Not Just Tourists and a doctor graduated from the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Uriel Ramírez.
“Puentes de Amor” also joined the campaign of painkillers for Cuba, indicated a statement from the Los Angeles committee sent to Prensa Latina, which anticipated that the initiative will continue as part of the actions against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on the Caribbean country more than six decades ago.
The collection of the solidarity contribution was combined with information meetings and the establishment of new Hands Off Cuba committees in San Antonio, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. These committees – the note emphasized – will also be represented in the delegation of Labor and Youth Activists that will travel to Cuba for the celebrations of International Workers’ Day on May 1st.
On January 20th, in one of his first measures after taking office, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, reversed the order that only six days earlier had been issued by the then outgoing president, Joe Biden, who at the end of his term decided to remove Cuba from the arbitrary list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
Trump also revoked other provisions – late, but in the right direction – of the Democrat regarding Cuba. Donald Trump returned to the extremist hardline policy that characterized his first administration (2017-2021), when he reinforced the blockade with 243 additional measures.
Havana, February 9 (Radio Havana Cuba) — The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and national coordinator for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Anayansi Rodríguez, spoke at the opening segment of the XI Meeting of National Coordinators of the mechanism.
According to the Cuban Foreign Ministry on its website, Rodríguez highlighted the vital importance of CELAC and the principle of unity in diversity in the face of the challenges facing the region.
She also referred to the need to preserve and protect the historical heritage of the Community and not to backtrack on the consensus reached.
She encouraged the next Summit to focus its attention on issues of vital importance for the region such as the commitment to the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace; the rejection of unilateral coercive measures; South-South cooperation and the relationship between CELAC and extra-regional partners.
In a context of marked aggressiveness by the current United States government against Cuba, the deputy minister of foreign affairs thanked the numerous expressions of support and solidarity with the Island, received from governments, parliaments, political, religious and social organizations and political figures from Latin America and the Caribbean.
Colombo, Feb 10 (Prensa Latina) The Frontline Socialist PartY (FSP) of Sri Lanka condemned the decision of the United States to use the illegal naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, for the reception of Trump[s deported immigrants, so stated the national newspaper THE ISLAND.
The Sri Lankan party demanded, in a statement, the immediate withdrawal of the United States from the US naval base in Guantanamo and the return of that illegal occupied territory in Cuba.
In addition to condemning US President Donald Trump’s decision, this party reaffirmed that this territory rightfully belongs to the Cuban people, and described Washington’s measure of imprisoning deported migrants in the enclave as cruel and unjust and violates human rights and Cuban territory.
The text stated that it also expresses the oppressive and exploitative nature of the foreign and immigration policies of the United States, which are contrary to humanity.
The FSP of Sri Lanka also demanded the US Government their immediate withdrawal and to implement a humane and just immigration policy respecting the dignity and rights of all individuals.
It also urged Washington to end its exploitative economic and foreign policies which have paved the way to forced migration.
It also called on the international community, human rights organizations, and all progressive forces to stand in solidarity with the affected migrants and defeat US imperialism.
Mexico City, February 5 (Radio Havana Cuba)– Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated on Wednesday her rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States government on Cuba and said that these sieges harm the people.
“They know our position regarding Cuba. Economic blockades do not harm governments, they harm the people, and dialogue must always be put above all else,” said the president during her usual press conference, this time from the state of Querétaro.
“It is in our constitution, in the definition of the principles of foreign policy, but it is something that is important to develop in all senses. Closing the door and not dialoguing, I believe, is never the option. The construction of peace requires permanent dialogue,” he stressed.
The day before, the president of the island, Miguel Díaz-Canel, rejected the statements of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela “enemies of humanity.”
During a visit to Costa Rica, as part of a tour of Central America, the U.S. secretary of state accused those three countries of being the cause of the current migration crisis.
“The shamelessness once again taking hold of the cynical politicians of the United States,” stated the Cuban dignitary in X, where he affirmed that it is proven that the migratory exodus on the island is proportional to the hardening of the blockade policy of that northern power.
He pointed out that the siege deprives the Cuban people of essential goods, and warned about the danger for humanity of neo-fascism promoted by Washington.
Enemies of humanity are those who resist blockades without abandoning solidarity with other peoples or those who apply the blockade trampling on international laws? The empire, with its expansionist appetite and its futile pretension of governing the world, is the enemy of humanity, he stressed.
