Sunday, September 06, 2009 BIRMINGHAM: Police arrested more than 30 men Saturday after violence broke out at a protest against Islamic extremism in Birmingham.Supporters of the English Defence League, which campaigns against Islamic fundamentalism in Britain, clashed with opponents who argue that they are racists and facists.Police said they had arrested "more than 30 men" in connection with the violence, which took place in a busy shopping street and involved about 200 people, despite the presence of dozens of riot police."Officers acted quickly and robustly to quell pockets of disorder caused by several groups of 20 to 30 men. Police estimate around 200 people in total were involved in the trouble," a police statement said.Police had warned they would deal with any troublemakers "robustly" after similar clashes in the city last month, and the English Defence League had also urged its supporters to avoid being drawn into fights."We would like to state that anyone who wishes to cause trouble, or use this demonstration to voice any other issues other than Islamic fundamentalists, radical Islam and Sharia will be turned away," the EDL says on its website.
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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