Politics
A change in relations with the U.S.?
Cuba’s food imports from the United States fell by 35% from January through May compared with the same period in 2009. This was partly due to the impact of three hurricanes in 2008, the global financial crisis, lower tourism revenues and declining earnings for nickel and other exports. The only way for Havana to purchase agricultural goods from the United States under embargo rules is with cash, which is why it has been increasingly counting on countries such as Brazil, China and Russia, who offer them credit. Will a change in future American legislation change trade relations? Read more here.
Health
Cure to arthritis?
Another research study on alcohol from the University of Sheffield has shown that alcohol not only reduces the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it also appears to reduce disease severity too. They found that patients who had drunk alcohol most frequently experienced less joint pain and swelling. A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK, which co-funded the research, had to add: “We would not want people with RA to take this research to mean that they should go out and start drinking alcohol frequently and in large amounts as this could be detrimental to their health.” Duh. For more information see here.
Business
Gourmet grocery by Chef Mark McEwan
Chefs are making an entrepreneurial leap into the grocery world with their gourmet, packaged meals. Renowned chefs from Mark McEwan in Toronto to Vikram Vij in Vancouver are expanding their business horizons for various reasons. It can be explained as a new source of revenue, especially during this time of economic downturn. Some others are fulfilling a client demand for their products or a switch in business hours to spend more time with their families. Whatever the reason, the fact is, more people are eating at home, so why not eat quality? Read more here.
