WASHINGTON: The United States is conducting a comprehensive strategic review of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to information available with the Centre.Sources said the US was carrying out the review from the military and political points of view which is likely to be unveiled at the NATO conference in April. Besides, the US State department is conducting a separate review. “All this will give fresh input to the American policy direction on Pakistan,” said sources. President Asif Ali Zardari blinking first and reinstating the Supreme Court chief justice was one such direction, they said adding, “What they (US) did in Pakistan speaks for itself ”.
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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