Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) The critical state of health of Palestine leader Yasser Arafat and the stepped-up US led military operations in Iraq were the main topics of Thursday evening’s "The Round Table" program broadcast on Internet and nationwide Cuban TV and radio.

Cuban journalists read the latest reports on Arafat’s extremely recarious medical condition including some that announced his cerebral death.

ANSA, the Italian news agency, quoting the Arabic Aljazeera, announced the death of Arafat, but Palestine leaders denied that version.

The members of the panel noted that there has been no official report from the Palestine Authority regarding the death of the president of that organization.

On Friday morning, French President Jacques Chirac said in Brussels that Yasser Arafat is "under excellent medical treatment," but refused to comment on his condition, reported China’s Xinhua news agency.

The extremely poor state of the Palestinian leader has brought consternation around the world, and especially in the Arab territories occupied by Israel, where despite the sad situation the Israeli military continue to intensify their repression and the attacks on refugee camps.

It was further reported on the program that leaders from 13 Palestinian organizations will be meeting Friday to coordinate actions to maintain unity in case the historic leader of that Arab nation passes away.

The US led occupation of Iraq was also reviewed by "The Round Table" panelists with emphasis on the imminent major assault of US troops on the city of Fallujah, symbol or Iraqi resistance.

The city and its civilian population are under continuous air raids and surrounded by thousands of US Marines supported by armored vehicles.

Testimonies on the intensification of the widespread killing of civilians in Iraq were also shown on the program, as well as information published by the British medical journal "The Lancet." That publication puts at 100,000 the number of Iraqis killed since the US aggression began in March, 2003.

While both the bloodshed in Iraq and repression of the Palestinian people is on the rise, a few hours before he was reelected President George W. Bush gave yet another demonstration of the arrogance and cynicism that characterize his policies.

After insisting a few days ago that he plans to continue the offensive actions in Iraq, Bush affirmed paradoxically that he "will also continue promoting liberty and democracy in the world," and that this will be essence of the foreign policy of his second term government.

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) The US economic blockade against Cuba has caused excessive expense in the building sector for the acquisition of materials, equipment and its transportation, denounced experts from the Ministry of Construction.

Experts also mentioned the increased prices, caused by the island tendering with European countries and contracting through third countries, causing double handling and transportation, and suppliers who often do not deliver goods on time.

Also Cuba has had to deal with interrupted negotiations and canceled contracts as a result of US pressure on foreign companies in their efforts to meet the blockade’s regulations.

The American maneuvers have reduced the chances of using state of the art technology in the island and updating equipment, causing extra investment costs and reducing efficiency.

www.cubaconstruye.micons.cu is the address of the website presented on Thursday by the Cuban construction ministry at the International Trade Fair, where more than 45 countries will be presenting their products until Sunday.

Cuban Companies Awarded at Havana International Trade Fair

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage headed the awards ceremony of the 12th Havana International Trade Fair where the majority of the Gold medals went to Cuba.

Among the winners were 11 Cuban products including the ARGUS firm’s shrimp processing plant, Suchel Camacho cosmetics and Havana Club International Rum.

Other prizes went to hygiene products by Suchel Proquimia, Brascuba’s Popular brand cigarettes, the plastic brooms from the CEPIL company and the small Partagas cigars elaborated by Internacional Cubana.

The jury gave gold medals for top quality to the pre-cooked and frozen lobster from La Coloma, physiological equipment by Neuronic, the Unimoda Tradicional line from Gardis, the Tractoimport motorcycle and ETECSA phone company.

During the award ceremony, the president of the fair organizing committee, Abraham Maciques, said the event itself is another victory for the revolution and a challenge to Washington’s persistent blockade against Cuba.

He recalled that this hostile economic war was overwhelmingly rejected by 179 UN member nations during the General Assembly session on October 28. It was the 13th consecutive year the blockade has been condemned by the world body.

Maciques added that the blockade is rejected by the 1,175 foreign firms from 45 nations, who alongside their 471 Cuban counterparts, are participating at the Havana International Trade Fair. As of Thursday contracts have been signed at the fair for a total of 124.5 million dollars.

Among the many successes of this year’s trade fair, Maciques called attention to the presence of representatives of 241 US companies that have confirmed their desire to see normal relations between the US and Cuba.

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) Cuba was selected to hold a vice presidency position within of the 12th Ibero-American Conference of Youth Ministers along with Panama, the Dominican Republic and Portugal.

Minutes before the official opening of the event, which kicked off Thursday in Guadalajara, Mexico, representatives of the 21 member-nations of the Ibero-American Youth Organization approved this year’s executive board within which Cuba was included.

At the event presided over by Mexico, the Cuban delegation is headed by the first secretary of the Young Communist League, Otto Rivero, according to Friday’s edition of Juventud Rebelde.

Welcoming the participants to the youth event, Secretary of Mexico’s Public Education Office, Reyes Tamez Guerra, pointed out that poverty, social exclusion and inequality are the main problems in Latin America and would have to be addressed at the meeting.

The participants in the conference agreed that one of the most important documents of the event was the report prepared by the Ibero-American Youth Organization in cooperation with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean on trends and adversities of the region affecting youth.

Among the issues in the report, specialists and analysts agreed that in order to assess the current situation facing youth, actions must be taken which go beyond immediate problems and which deal with the social context in which young people live.

The report recognizes the limited access to health and education for this generation, discrimination against women, the feminization of poverty and multiple challenges confronting adolescents.

US Blockade Causing Severe Damage to Cuban Scientific Sectors

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) Washington’s economic blockade of Cuba has caused losses estimated at more than $1.3 billion to the island’s scientific, technological and environmental sectors.

US sanctions prevent Cuba from purchasing equipment and resources for research into important diseases such as cancer, while also prohibiting access to new information technologies and the commercialization of Cuban products in the US.

Cuba has been forced to overcome countless hurdles to acquire technologies such as those for the treatment of waste water and the purchase of asthma sprays which are not harmful to the ozone layer. Also hindered by the US blockade was the purchase by the island of a weather-forecasting station and meteorology equipment used to measure air quality.

Washington also hinders the participation of Cuban scientists in events held in the US by denying or delaying entry visas.

 Hundreds of Cuban Gymnasiums Slated for Refurbishing

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) Cuba has begun an effort to refurbish some 300 gymnasiums throughout the country as part of a nationwide effort linking good health and exercise.

The president of the Cuban Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, Humberto Rodriguez, said the restoration underway will allow thousands of citizens to use sports facilities as they enjoy a life expectancy now over 75 years.

The Cuban population is ranked among developed nations in longevity and exercise is considered crucial for a people with a long tradition of sports activity. This practice has led the island to develop talented athletes who have garnered top positions at regional and world championships.

The gym rehabilitation process is being conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health and also includes remote mountain communities where residents have difficult access to specialized sports centers and clinics.

For several months the nation’s health and education centers are also the object of renovation, as part a countrywide effort by the Cuban Revolution to expand and improve on social programs.

Cuba Denounces Manipulation of Human Rights Issue at UN

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) A Cuban representative at the United Nations has accused former colonial powers of selectively attacking the island on the Human Rights issue without regard to objectivity or impartiality.

During a discussion Wednesday on Human Rights cooperation, Cuban diplomat Rodney Lopez criticized the former colonial powers for continue to look at southern countries with a lust for conquest and domination.

Lopez recalled that thousands of women are subjected to prostitution in some European countries, which also show an alarming increase of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia, reported Granma newspaper on Thursday.

Lopez referred to the new ideological environment supposedly identified with the struggle against terrorism, in which any immigrant or foreigner can be taken for a terrorist. He also criticized the huge European drug market established by traffickers and corrupt politicians involved in shamful scandals.

The Cuban diplomat recalled how the European Union supported the US-led war on Iraq and opposed a draft resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission for a probe into arbitrary confinement of prisoners in the illegal US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Havana, Nov 5 (AIN) The Edmundo, a new cigar from the Montecristo Habanos cigar brand was launched at the National Hotel in Havana, after a successful initial test in some of the most demanding cigar markets in Europe.

The cigar, 52 mm. in diameter and 135mm. long, anticipated by experienced smokers for more than 30 years, will now become the delight of good smoke lovers, said spokesmen for Habanos Inc.

The Montecristo brand was created in 1935, and is the best seller of all the Cuban cigars. It’s range now includes the Edmundo, a compact Habano, with a well-balanced smell and a medium-to-strong flavor characteristic of its thickness.

Along with the Edmundo, other new cigar creations were presented on the occasion of the 22nd International Trade Fair such as the Petit Robusto from Hoyo de Monterrey and the three cigar bands: Reyes, Coloniales and Robusto Extra.

The Edmundo was presented for the first time in Paris, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and in Germany and Italy in May and June this year.

Cuban Legislation Penalizes Internet Pornography

Holguin, Nov 5 (AIN) Cuba is one of the few countries with legislation that penalizes pornography on the Internet, said delegates to the 8th Congress of the Cuban Society of Information Rights underway in the eastern city of Holguin.

In 1997, the island enacted a law banning and sanctioning all production, distribution or consumption of pornographic materials in order to face the spreading worldwide problem.