Tuesday, June 09, 2009 WASHINGTON: The White House has expressed confidence in getting Congressional approval for a $100 billion Afghanistan and Iraq wars spending bill also containing funds to assist Pakistan meet its “critical needs” in economic, humanitarian and security areas. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday afternoon that the White House is working to get the congressional endorsement for the funding bill within four weeks before President Barack Obama attends G-8 Summit on July 8-10.Besides, seeking around one billion in economic and security assistance for Pakistan, President Obama last week asked Congress for additional $200 million in humanitarian assistance to help Islamabad deal with humanitarian crisis following displacement of more than 3 million people from Malakand conflict region. “I think the administration believes that we can work with Congress to ensure the necessary and important funding is there for our missions in Afghanistan and Iraq; that money and funding will be there for the important and critical needs of what is being done in Pakistan as well as the commitments that were made internationally relating to the IMF,” Gibbs said. When endorsed by Congress, the U.S. humanitarian aid for Pakistani internally displaced persons will stand at around $330 million. Both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have already passed their respective versions of the bill, which would make available more than $500 million in economic development and $400 million in security assistance for Islamabad under the new Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund. In addition, the administration will also get about a billion dollars for U.S. diplomatic missions and building embassy and consulates in Pakistan.
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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