Cuba

This came in a formal agreement between the presidents of the two countries, Cuba's Raúl Castro and Palau's Tommy Remengesau, at a ceremony in New York where the leaders are attending a UN summit.

Cuba's official state news agency Prensa Latina reports the Palau president as saying the diplomatic link-up symbolises the respect that Cuba has for small countries.

Remengesau said his country cherished the relation with Cuba and would do everything it could to make it prosper.

He will be offering a show of solidarity with Cubans and making clear that Hispanics in the United States are the bedrock of the American church.

The visit boasts several firsts for history's first Latin American pope: Francis will become the first pope to address the U.S. Congress and he will also proclaim the first saint on U.S. soil by canonizing the controversial (and Hispanic) missionary, Junipero Serra.

The Treasury and Commerce departments said the regulations that take effect Monday simplify procedures for tourism, telephone and Internet investments, and money transfers to Cuba.

The changes were first reported by The Associated Press on Thursday and come as both countries seek to transform their new diplomatic relationship into deeper commercial ties.

He wrote that "the church offers a path forward to peace, justice and true liberty," and added, "Not everything will be the same after he leaves."

Millions of Cubans hope those prove true when their author flies into Havana on Saturday as Pope Francis.

Across the island, Cubans are excitedly looking at the pope's 10-day trip to Cuba and the United States through the lens of his role as the mediator of detente between the two countries. 

Residents stroll along a recently completed harbour promenade under gleaming new streetlights, enjoying sea breezes while relaxing on newly installed metal benches.

Missing are the tourists. As foreign visitors flood Havana and a select group of other colonial cities and beach resorts, Cuba's second-largest city is suffering a tourist drought.

The eight are all women - Pelenise Selota Panapa, Neimaoto Asaelu, Melisula Telogo Limasene, Mauia Loini Talaapa, Christine Lifuka, Rosemary Silitone Lusama, Lisa Fakalupe and Valasi Galu.

A statement from the Tuvalu Permanent Mission in New York says Dr Panapa received a gold award while Dr Asaelu received one of the special awards.

Tuvalu’s Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Fauao Maani and the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Aunese Simati attended the first graduation of Tuvalu medical students in Cuba.

Thailand, downgraded with Malaysia last year because of pervasive labor abuses in its lucrative fishing industry, remained on the blacklist. 

That will add to the growing strains in its once-strong relations with Washington. Critics contend that Malaysia's upgrade is related to its participation in a U.S.-backed trade agreement among Pacific Rim countries. Thailand is not part of the proposed agreement.