ISLAMABAD: The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai has said that changes in the global community, in general, and the United States after November 2008 election, in particular, are creating a surge of expectations among the people of Kashmir for fulfilling the international promise of self-determination. According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai in a statement issued in Washington said that hundreds of petitions had been presented to the United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) in Srinagar during the unprecedented peaceful protest processions in 2008. He said that the global community has the opportunity to focus its attention in setting a stage for a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute. An appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir, Dr. Fai said, as suggested by then candidate Barack Obama would go a long way to hasten the progress of peace and reconciliation in the region of South Asia.
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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