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Cash Only US Tells Cuba to Pre-Pay for Food Could This Backfire on American Farmers

In a bold policy stance, the United States now demands Cuba pay upfront for food imports a move that could strain diplomatic ties and disrupt a multi-million-dollar agricultural trade.

Published

7 months ago

on

US imposes new cash-upfront food trade rules on Cuba, risking disruption to a vital export market for American farmers.
US imposes new cash-upfront food trade rules on Cuba, risking disruption to a vital export market for American farmers.

In a development stirring economic and diplomatic unease, the United States has tightened its trade stance on Cuba, demanding full pre-payment before any food exports leave American shores. The sudden enforcement shift has prompted concern among farmers, exporters, and policy watchers who fear the new cash-upfront requirement could severely disrupt a vital lifeline of agricultural sales to the island nation.

Since 2000, when US Congress approved cash-based food trade with Cuba—despite the broader trade embargo that dates back to the early 1960s—the policy had provided a narrow but essential avenue for economic engagement. Now, that channel may narrow even further.

This is not just about Cuba a senior agricultural analyst said. It’s about American farmers losing access to a market where they were once dominant.

Why This Matters to US Agriculture

Supporters of agricultural trade with Cuba—including some surprising names among Republican lawmakers—have long argued that the island’s proximity and dependence on food imports make it a natural buyer for US-grown goods like wheat, corn, and chicken.

But this new pre-payment demand, likely a reflection of financial risk concerns, may price out Cuban buyers or push them toward alternative markets like Brazil Argentina, or even Russia.

This could throttle trade and weaken our influence just 90 miles off our coast warned one Florida-based trade lobbyist. We’re handing over leverage in the region for a few ideological points.

The Political Tightrope

Behind the policy lies the deeper complexity of US-Cuba relations, long shaped by Cold War history, sanctions, and ongoing debates over human rights and democratic reforms. The hope among some policymakers was that trade in food and medicine could become a diplomatic bridge, softening tensions and encouraging internal reforms.

But critics of the Cuban regime argue that any easing of restrictions could empower an authoritarian state without delivering promised changes. The cash-upfront rule, in their view, simply ensures transparency and financial accountability.

Yet the practical fallout could be significant. If Cuban buyers can’t comply with the stricter terms, it won’t be Havana that feels the pinch first — it’ll be exporters in the American heartland.

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Technology News

Inside the Mind of the Man Who Trusts Dogs to Lead Movies

From AI labs to film sets, BARK innovation chief Mikkel Holm has a radical idea — what if dogs weren’t just stars, but storytellers?

Published

2 weeks ago

on

January 22, 2026

By

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Film Directors | Daily Global Diary

In an era where artificial intelligence is already writing scripts, composing music, and generating entire films, one creative mind is asking a question that feels equal parts absurd and oddly profound: Why shouldn’t dogs be directors?

That mind belongs to Mikkel Holm, the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at BARK, the pet brand best known for turning dog culture into a billion-dollar business. Holm isn’t pitching a gimmick. He’s questioning how creativity itself is defined — and who gets to own it.

From Fetch to Final Cut

Holm’s thinking sits at the crossroads of AI, storytelling, and animal behavior. With generative tools becoming more intuitive, he believes creativity no longer needs to start with a human idea. A dog’s reactions — what excites them, what scares them, what keeps their attention — could become the raw data that shapes narratives.

“Dogs already tell us what they like,” Holm has suggested in industry conversations. “We just haven’t been listening in a cinematic way.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

Using sensors, computer vision, and behavioral AI models, a dog’s gaze, movement, or excitement could guide editing decisions, pacing, or even story arcs. The result wouldn’t be about dogs — it would be cinema filtered through a non-human perspective.

The Birth of the First Park Chan-Woof?

Holm jokingly refers to the possibility of minting the next Park Chan-wook — except this auteur would wag instead of walk the red carpet. The joke lands because it highlights something serious: great directors don’t just tell stories, they feel them. And dogs, arguably, are pure instinct.

Unlike human creators shaped by trends, algorithms, or box-office anxiety, dogs respond honestly. They don’t care about three-act structures or Rotten Tomatoes scores. They react in real time — and Holm believes that authenticity is something modern storytelling desperately needs.

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Directors The Chief AI & Innovation Officer of BARK, Mikkel Holm, has a few ideas for minting the next Park Chan-woof.


Why BARK Is the Perfect Place for This Idea

At BARK, data about canine behavior isn’t abstract. It’s central to the business. Millions of interactions — toys chewed, treats rejected, boxes loved — already inform product design. Translating that behavioral intelligence into creative output feels like a natural extension.

Holm’s role isn’t about replacing human creators. Instead, it’s about collaboration — humans setting the framework, AI translating signals, and dogs influencing the final creative choices in ways we’ve never seen before.

Is This Art or Absurdity?

Skeptics, of course, will laugh. Dogs as directors sounds like a headline built for clicks. But then again, so did AI-written novels, virtual influencers, and fully synthetic pop stars — until they weren’t jokes anymore.

Holm’s idea taps into a deeper cultural shift: creativity is no longer exclusively human. As tools evolve, authorship becomes shared — between humans, machines, and perhaps, one day, animals.

And if the result is strange, emotional, or unexpectedly beautiful? That might be the point.

A Future Where Creativity Isn’t Just Human

Cinema has always evolved with technology — from silent films to sound, black-and-white to color, analog to digital. Holm’s vision suggests the next leap might not be technical, but philosophical.

What happens when we stop asking who is allowed to create?

If the first dog-directed short film ever premieres at a festival someday, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t explain itself. Dogs, after all, have never felt the need to justify their instincts. Maybe storytellers shouldn’t either.

Continue Reading

Technology News

Inside the Vision of the Man Who Trusts Dogs to Tell Stories on the Big Screen

From AI labs to film sets, BARK innovation chief Mikkel Holm has a radical idea — what if dogs weren’t just stars, but storytellers?

Published

3 weeks ago

on

January 13, 2026

By

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Film Directors | Daily Global Diary

In an era where artificial intelligence is already writing scripts, composing music, and generating entire films, one creative mind is asking a question that feels equal parts absurd and oddly profound: Why shouldn’t dogs be directors?

That mind belongs to Mikkel Holm, the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at BARK, the pet brand best known for turning dog culture into a billion-dollar business. Holm isn’t pitching a gimmick. He’s questioning how creativity itself is defined — and who gets to own it.

From Fetch to Final Cut

Holm’s thinking sits at the crossroads of AI, storytelling, and animal behavior. With generative tools becoming more intuitive, he believes creativity no longer needs to start with a human idea. A dog’s reactions — what excites them, what scares them, what keeps their attention — could become the raw data that shapes narratives.

“Dogs already tell us what they like,” Holm has suggested in industry conversations. “We just haven’t been listening in a cinematic way.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

Using sensors, computer vision, and behavioral AI models, a dog’s gaze, movement, or excitement could guide editing decisions, pacing, or even story arcs. The result wouldn’t be about dogs — it would be cinema filtered through a non-human perspective.

The Birth of the First Park Chan-Woof?

Holm jokingly refers to the possibility of minting the next Park Chan-wook — except this auteur would wag instead of walk the red carpet. The joke lands because it highlights something serious: great directors don’t just tell stories, they feel them. And dogs, arguably, are pure instinct.

Unlike human creators shaped by trends, algorithms, or box-office anxiety, dogs respond honestly. They don’t care about three-act structures or Rotten Tomatoes scores. They react in real time — and Holm believes that authenticity is something modern storytelling desperately needs.

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Directors The Chief AI & Innovation Officer of BARK, Mikkel Holm, has a few ideas for minting the next Park Chan-woof.


Why BARK Is the Perfect Place for This Idea

At BARK, data about canine behavior isn’t abstract. It’s central to the business. Millions of interactions — toys chewed, treats rejected, boxes loved — already inform product design. Translating that behavioral intelligence into creative output feels like a natural extension.

Holm’s role isn’t about replacing human creators. Instead, it’s about collaboration — humans setting the framework, AI translating signals, and dogs influencing the final creative choices in ways we’ve never seen before.

Is This Art or Absurdity?

Skeptics, of course, will laugh. Dogs as directors sounds like a headline built for clicks. But then again, so did AI-written novels, virtual influencers, and fully synthetic pop stars — until they weren’t jokes anymore.

Holm’s idea taps into a deeper cultural shift: creativity is no longer exclusively human. As tools evolve, authorship becomes shared — between humans, machines, and perhaps, one day, animals.

And if the result is strange, emotional, or unexpectedly beautiful? That might be the point.

A Future Where Creativity Isn’t Just Human

Cinema has always evolved with technology — from silent films to sound, black-and-white to color, analog to digital. Holm’s vision suggests the next leap might not be technical, but philosophical.

What happens when we stop asking who is allowed to create?

If the first dog-directed short film ever premieres at a festival someday, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t explain itself. Dogs, after all, have never felt the need to justify their instincts. Maybe storytellers shouldn’t either.

Continue Reading

Technology News

Meet the Man Who Wants Dogs in the Director’s Chair and Thinks Cinema Needs a Bark Side

From AI labs to film sets, BARK innovation chief Mikkel Holm has a radical idea — what if dogs weren’t just stars, but storytellers?

Published

4 weeks ago

on

January 6, 2026

By

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Film Directors | Daily Global Diary
A playful yet provocative idea: Can canine instincts and AI collaboration reshape the future of filmmaking?

In an era where artificial intelligence is already writing scripts, composing music, and generating entire films, one creative mind is asking a question that feels equal parts absurd and oddly profound: Why shouldn’t dogs be directors?

That mind belongs to Mikkel Holm, the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at BARK, the pet brand best known for turning dog culture into a billion-dollar business. Holm isn’t pitching a gimmick. He’s questioning how creativity itself is defined — and who gets to own it.

From Fetch to Final Cut

Holm’s thinking sits at the crossroads of AI, storytelling, and animal behavior. With generative tools becoming more intuitive, he believes creativity no longer needs to start with a human idea. A dog’s reactions — what excites them, what scares them, what keeps their attention — could become the raw data that shapes narratives.

“Dogs already tell us what they like,” Holm has suggested in industry conversations. “We just haven’t been listening in a cinematic way.”

ALSO READ : Younghoe Koo Explains Botched Field Goal After Slip: “The Ball Was Moving So I Pulled Up”

Using sensors, computer vision, and behavioral AI models, a dog’s gaze, movement, or excitement could guide editing decisions, pacing, or even story arcs. The result wouldn’t be about dogs — it would be cinema filtered through a non-human perspective.

The Birth of the First Park Chan-Woof?

Holm jokingly refers to the possibility of minting the next Park Chan-wook — except this auteur would wag instead of walk the red carpet. The joke lands because it highlights something serious: great directors don’t just tell stories, they feel them. And dogs, arguably, are pure instinct.

Unlike human creators shaped by trends, algorithms, or box-office anxiety, dogs respond honestly. They don’t care about three-act structures or Rotten Tomatoes scores. They react in real time — and Holm believes that authenticity is something modern storytelling desperately needs.

Meet the Man Who Thinks Dogs Should Be Directors The Chief AI & Innovation Officer of BARK, Mikkel Holm, has a few ideas for minting the next Park Chan-woof.


Why BARK Is the Perfect Place for This Idea

At BARK, data about canine behavior isn’t abstract. It’s central to the business. Millions of interactions — toys chewed, treats rejected, boxes loved — already inform product design. Translating that behavioral intelligence into creative output feels like a natural extension.

Holm’s role isn’t about replacing human creators. Instead, it’s about collaboration — humans setting the framework, AI translating signals, and dogs influencing the final creative choices in ways we’ve never seen before.

Is This Art or Absurdity?

Skeptics, of course, will laugh. Dogs as directors sounds like a headline built for clicks. But then again, so did AI-written novels, virtual influencers, and fully synthetic pop stars — until they weren’t jokes anymore.

Holm’s idea taps into a deeper cultural shift: creativity is no longer exclusively human. As tools evolve, authorship becomes shared — between humans, machines, and perhaps, one day, animals.

And if the result is strange, emotional, or unexpectedly beautiful? That might be the point.

A Future Where Creativity Isn’t Just Human

Cinema has always evolved with technology — from silent films to sound, black-and-white to color, analog to digital. Holm’s vision suggests the next leap might not be technical, but philosophical.

What happens when we stop asking who is allowed to create?

If the first dog-directed short film ever premieres at a festival someday, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t explain itself. Dogs, after all, have never felt the need to justify their instincts. Maybe storytellers shouldn’t either.

Continue Reading
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