BUENOS AIRES: Argentina plans to keep in place for now a ban on incoming flights from Mexico as the South American nation copes with the H1N1 swine flu scare, the health ministry said. Argentina's Health Minister Graciela Ocana told reporters that chief of staff Sergio Massa "informed me that it has been decided that the suspension of incoming flights from Mexico will continue." On Monday Argentine officials are to assess how long the ban will remain in place. Ocana said the virus was not spreading in Argentina, which has so far no confirmed cases of the disease, although the number of suspected cases rose from 17 to 29 according to daily figures reported by deputy health minister Carlos Soratti.Ocana added that 203 Argentines are to arrive on a special flight from Mexico early Monday and would face immediate checks by doctors at the airport. The ban on incoming flights was put in place on Tuesday after a high-level crisis meeting.
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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