WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush on Monday pardoned 14 people and commuted the sentences on two others, leaving the door open for more clemency measures in the two months he has left in office, the White House said. There were no high-profile personalities among the pardoned people who had been convicted of drug, environmental, animal endangerment, tax and fraud offenses, according to a list published by the Justice Department. It is customary for US presidents to issue a flurry of last-minute pardons in the waning weeks of their tenure. Including Monday's announcements, Bush has pardoned 117 people and commuted the sentences of eight others since he took office in January 2001, the White House said."The President carefully considered recommendations for pardons and commutations on a case-by-case basis and made his determinations," said White House spokesman Carlton Carroll. "He will continue to review clemency requests," he added.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 HAVANA: Hundreds of wealthy merchants and cigar aficionados from all parts of the world gathered in Havana this week to bid high stakes for humidors full of premium cigars. Cuba's annual Habanos festival ended on Friday night with an auction of ornate humidors of cedar and mahogany stacked with hand-rolled stogies that raised 800,000 euros ($1.09 million dollars). Habanos S.A. executives this month said cigar sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 10 percent of customers for Habanos. But even with the creation of the Julieta, Garcia said Habanos has only modest hopes for 2010 sales, due largely to a weak economy in Spain, the biggest market for Cuban cigars. The flavor of premium tobacco relies on the soil and climate in which it is grown. The western province of Pinar Del Rio, famous fo...
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