Business & Economy

July will be the month that two major world leaders visit Havana. First Russia’s Vladimir Putin is expected on July 11 to be followed less than two weeks later by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The following is the list of rationed protein products that Havana residents can buy with their ration booklets in their neighborhood “bodega” stores for the week of July 7-13. The portions are distributed by month on a rotation basis in the 15 municipalities of the capital.

Cuban customs recently divulged further information on its current battle against packages for third parties, issuing warnings about cases in which drugs and Internet communication equipment were seized from the luggage of travelers.

Cuban President Raul Castro acknowledged on Saturday that, despite his government’s recent market reforms, the island’s economy has had only a “modest” performance in 2014.

The planned elimination of the dual currency on the island will not cause a price increase or affect the “purchasing power” of the population, guaranteed Marino Murillo, the chief of Cuba’s economic reforms. He added that having one-currency will not in itself solve the problems of the economy.

Cuban President Raul Castro attends a closed-door session of the island’s one chamber parliament on Saturday with the fight against corruption expected to be one of the topics of discussion.

The Russian Parliament approved today the cancellation of 90% of Cuba’s 35 billion dollar debt (26,000 million euros) from Soviet times, the same day the Kremlin announced a visit by President Vladimir Putin to the island on July 11.

Cubans purchased only 50 cars and four motorbikes after the reform last January that allows for the state car dealers to “freely” sell new and used vehicles. Howevrer, market liberalization has caused unrest in the population due to the sky-high prices, which multiplied by up to eight times the price of the autos on the international market.The profits are supposed to go to improving the island’s public transportation.