Sunday, June 14, 2009 BEIJING: China has reported 22 more cases of swine flu, bringing the total on the mainland to 165. The Ministry of Health said on its Web site Saturday that the cities of Beijing and Shanghai have reported more cases, as did provinces in central, eastern and southern China. The world's most populous country has quarantined travelers including New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on the slightest suspicion of contact with an infected person, and has increased surveillance of the virus with temperature checks on incoming passengers at airports. There have been no reports of deaths. Hong Kong, which tallies swine flu cases separately, said Saturday it had confirmed five more cases, bringing the total tally to 78.
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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