Monday, November 23, 2009 BAGHDAD: An Iraqi bank has opened a branch entirely dedicated to and operated by women in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, Geo news reported on Sunday.Director of the bank, Amira Issa said the branch was opened in October to meet the needs of women in the city."The idea of opening a women bank has come upon a request from female businesswomen as other ordinary banks are very crowded," Issa said.Even the head of the bank is not allowed to enter the branch because he is male.The only men working for the branch are security guards stationed outside.The branch provides regular bank services including loans and savings accounts in both Iraqi dinars and US dollars. One client, Um Hussein, described the all-female concept as "a good thing bestowed by almighty God"."Now Muslim women can freely conduct our business in this bank as it is run by female staffers," she added.The bank is considering expanding the new model to other parts of Iraq.
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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