TOKYO: Washington's point man on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, said Tuesday he would consider visiting Pyongyang in a bid to revive stalled talks on dismantling the communist regime's nuclear programme.Asked about a possible trip to Pyongyang, Bosworth told reporters in Tokyo that ‘this is something we will be considering over the next few weeks.’ But the envoy, wrapping up a tour of countries involved in the negotiations aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme, said it was too early to say when any visit could happen. "That of course does not depend entirely on us," he added."I think I will go back to Washington now and we will have consultations there... and then probably be in touch with our partners out here in Asia." Bosworth said the United States was prepared to hold bilateral talks with Pyongyang, reiterating the foreign policy of US President Barack Obama.The North vowed to permanently quit the six-way talks after the UN Security Council condemned the launch, and has also threatened to conduct a new nuclear test.
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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