Ex presidente de Alimport habría desertado de Cuba

Pedro Alvarez Borrego, ex presidente de Alimport, la empresa cubana que monopoliza el comercio con Estados Unidos, y quien el año pasado fue destituido bajo cargos de corrupción, escapó de la isla en circunstancias no aclaradas y se encuentra en este país, informaron el jueves medios de prensa y activistas.

Alvarez, quien también presidió la Cámara de Comercio de Cuba, es uno de los funcionarios cubanos de mayor rango que haya escapado hacia Estados Unidos.

Según el periodista Oscar Suárez, quien dio a conocer la noticia en su blog www.universoincreible.com, la fuga de Alvarez ha desatado un intenso operativo de seguridad en Cuba. Las circunstancias de la fuga no están aclaradas, pero algunas versiones apuntan que escapó disfrazado de mujer por vía aérea.

"Alvarez es un tipo de mucho interés para las autoridades cubanas y por esa razón la Seguridad del Estado quiere saber cómo logró salir y quiénes lo ayudaron'', dijo Suárez a El Nuevo Herald.

Suárez aseguró que recibió la información de una fuente en Centroamérica. La fuga habría ocurrido entre el 27 y el 29 de diciembre, precisó. Alvarez habría llamado por teléfono a su suegra desde un punto no determinado para decirle que no regresaría más a Cuba.

La esposa de Alvarez, Olga de la Cruz, murió en el accidente de un avión de Aerocaribbean ocurrido el 4 de noviembre cerca del pueblo de Guasimal, a unas 200 millas al este de La Habana. No hubo sobrevivientes.

Alvarez era investigado por supuestos actos de corrupción y actividades en perjuicio de la actividad económica cometidos durante su gestión en Alimport. El pasado año, parientes y amigos suyos fuera de Cuba dijeron a El Nuevo Herald que había sido interrogado por lo menos dos veces. Tanto su destitución de Alimport como de la Cámara de Comercio no fueron dadas a conocer oficialmente en la isla al momento de producirse.

Frank Calzón, director del Centro para una Cuba Libre, en Washington, D.C., indicó que un funcionario del gobierno estadounidense en esa capital le confirmó que Alvarez estaba en este país. El Nuevo Herald

Fallo judicial abre la puerta del IMSS para la afiliación de parejas gay

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (CNNMéxico) — El fallo judicial que permite que un matrimonio de lesbianas, residentes de la Ciudad de México, reciba laatención médica gratuita que brinda el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) abre la puerta para que otras parejas homosexuales reconocidas ante la ley también busquen tener acceso a los servicios de la institución, de acuerdo con especialistas.

“Si ya tienes a la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación —por una mayoría de nueve ministros contra dos— diciéndote que el matrimonio gay y la adopción son constitucionales, y tienes un juez federal ratificándolo y aplicándolo al IMSS, las posibilidades de que pierdas (un proceso legal) son nulas”, dijo a CNNMéxico la abogada Estefanía Vela.

Vela trabaja en el Área de Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos de la División de Estudios Jurídicos del Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE).

El jueves, se dio a conocer que está por entrar en vigor la resolución de un juez que obliga al IMSS a afiliar a Judith Vázquez, casada con Lol Kin Castañeda desde el 11 de marzo pasado, fecha en que comenzaron a ser válidos los matrimonios entre personas del mismo sexo en la Ciudad de México.

La medida fue aprobada en diciembre de 2009 por la Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal (ALDF) y posteriormente avalada por la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN). CNN México

El sur de México, 'un corredor de tragedia humanitaria'

Migrantes centroamericanos y defensores de derechos humanos, encabezados por el saderdote y activista Alejandro Solalinde, exigieron este viernes hacer del sureste de México un camino de paz y no un corredor de tragedia humanitaria.

"Chahuites se ha convertido en un corredor de tragedia humanitaria, por eso es que nosotros queremos revertir este destino, para que sea un camino de paz", dijo Solalinde al iniciar una marcha de protesta en la frontera sur.

El sacerdote católico y un centenar de activistas iniciaron este viernes una caravana por el sur de México -de Arriaga, en Chiapas, a Chahuites, en el estado de Oaxaca- para emular el calvario que viven a diario miles de inmigrantes de origen centroamericano.

Según cifras proporcionadas por la Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH) se registraron 214 casos de secuestros colectivos de migrantes perpetrados en México durante 2010. En promedio fueron privadas de su libertad 50 personas en cada acto ilícito, lo que representaría más de 10.000 inmigrantes secuestrados.

La protesta se produjo después de que 50 inmigrantes de origen centroamericano fueran secuestrados el 16 de diciembre en la zona de Chahuites y ocho fueran plagiados el 22 en menos de una semana.

"Desde este camino peligroso para los jóvenes lanzamos un llamado a la sociedad civil, especialmente a los que crean en Jesucristo, para comenzar una nueva sociedad", dijo Solalinde.

"Por estamos planteando de inicio un proceso que nos lleve de verdad a la paz, una paz con justicia y donde no se agreda más a los inmigrantes", comentó el activista.

El sacerdote, que lleva varios años denunciando la violencia en contra de jóvenes que viajaban en los techos de los vagones de trenes de carga, dijo que es momento que la sociedad civil participe y se organice para defender a los migrantes.

La caravana encabezada por Solalinde y la fundadora de Familia Latina Unida Sin Fronteras, Elvira Arellano, forma parte del proyecto "Paso a paso hacia la paz" que pide respeto a inmigrantes.

El recorrido, desde Arriaga a Chahuites, en el sureste de México, concluirá mañana sábado.

En agosto fueron asesinados 72 migrantes centroamericanos en Tamaulipas, en el norte de México, tras negarse a colaborar con las bandas delictivas.

Según la CNDH, los estados y zonas donde se registran los problemas son Chiapas, Oaxaca y Tabasco en el sureste del país, Tamaulipas y algunas regiones de Coahuila, en el norte, la parte sur de Veracruz y San Luis Potosí, en el centro. El Mundo

Chile se une a Brasil, Argentina, Bolivia y Ecuador y reconoce al Estado palestino

El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile, Alfredo Moreno, anunció este viernes que su país ha resuelto reconocer a Palestina como un Estado "libre, independiente y soberano", como ya lo hicieron recientemente en la región Brasil, Argentina, Bolivia y Ecuador.

Entre el centenar de países que ya habían reconocido a Palestina también figuran en América Latina Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua y Costa Rica.

Brasil, Bolivia, Argentina y Ecuador decidieron a principios de diciembre pasado reconocer oficialmente a Palestina como un Estado independiente dentro de las fronteras de 1967, mientras que Uruguay informó de su intención de hacerlo este año.

"El Gobierno de Chile, que permanentemente ha apoyado el derecho del pueblo palestino a constituirse en Estado independiente y coexistiendo en paz con el Estado de Israel, ha adoptado la resolución de otorgar su reconocimiento a la existencia del Estado de Palestina como un Estado libre, independiente y soberano", añadió el jefe de la diplomacia chilena.

Este anuncio de este viernes de Chile lo hizo el ministro de Exteriores una semana después de que el presidente Sebastián Piñera se reuniera en Brasilia con el titular de la Autoridad Nacional Palestina (ANP), Mahmud Abás, durante la investidura de la presidenta de Brasil, Dilma Rousseff, el uno de enero.

Moreno confirmó que el mandatario chileno viajará a Israel y a los territorios palestinos ocupados durante la primera semana de marzo para ratificar su apoyo a las negociaciones tendentes a lograr cuanto antes un acuerdo entre ambas partes.

Piñera viajará en primer lugar a Israel, el 4 de marzo, y el día 5 a Palestina "con el fin de fortalecer los lazos de amistad y cooperación entre Chile y los Estados de Israel y Palestina", precisó Moreno.

El jefe de la diplomacia chilena aprovechó la ocasión para hacer un especial reconocimiento a las comunidades judía y palestina en Chile por su aportación al desarrollo social, cultural, político y económico del país sudamericano durante muchas décadas y por su plena integración a la sociedad.

"Su convivencia fraterna ha sido claramente un ejemplo de buenas relaciones que esperamos sirva de inspiración para los Estados de Israel y Palestina", añadió el canciller.

El martes, el Senado chileno aprobó un proyecto de acuerdo en el que solicitó al presidente Piñera que en el "más breve plazo" reconociera a Palestina como un Estado "pleno, libre y soberano".

La iniciativa, aprobada de forma unánime por la Sala de la Cámara alta, también estableció "la promoción de dos Estados independientes, Israel y Palestina, que vivan uno junto al otro, dentro de fronteras seguras e internacionalmente reconocidas, conforme a las resoluciones de Naciones Unidas".

El Senado precisó que ha sido "la política exterior invariable del Estado de Chile el favorecer simultáneamente la autodeterminación del pueblo palestino, tendente a la creación de un Estado pleno, libre y soberano y la seguridad del Estado de Israel". El Mundo

Jack Nicholson llama a la puerta del vagabundo de la 'voz de oro'

Entre las numerosas ofertas laborales que en los últimos días le han llovido a Ted Williams, un indigente que ha cautivado a Estados Unidos con su gran voz gracias a YouTube, destaca una oferta del actor Jack Nicholson para que esta nueva estrella mediática participe en una de sus películas.

"Jack Nicholson ha contactado con algunos de mis familiares en Ohio. Quiere hacer una película en la que los protagonistas son él y un locutor de radio, al que quiere que interprete yo", dijo al programa Entertainment Tonight el hombre, que hoy volvió a aparecer en la televisión para dar más detalles de su historia.

La supuesta oferta del oscarizado protagonista de filmes como 'Mejor imposible' o 'Infiltrados' llega a Williams después de que el vídeo que tomó de él en la calle un reportero de Ohio haya logrado más de 11 millones de visitas en YouTube en tan sólo unos días y su potente voz radiofónica centre todas las conversaciones en el país.

Williams, de 53 años, ha sido yacontratado por el canal de noticias MSNBC para poner su voz a su nueva campaña publicitaria y, en los pocos días que lleva de fama, ya ha prestado su "regalo de Dios" -como él la llama- a unos anuncios del grupo alimentario Kraft.

Además, estudia una oferta del equipo de baloncesto Cleveland Cavaliers para convertirse en su voz oficial, y otra para irse a trabajar a Hawai, un empleo en la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (NFL) y otro en emisoras de radio de Columbus (Ohio), ciudad en la que fue descubierto.

"Quiero escoger una sola opción y creo que podré desenvolverme, pero todas estas posibilidades son muy abrumadoras", dijo hoy el hombre en su visita al programa 'Today' de la cadena NBC, en el que apareció con su madre, Julia, a quien no había visto en unos veinte años y con quien se pudo reunir en Nueva York.

Ambos protagonizaron ante las cámaras un emotivo encuentro y después relataron sus años de distanciamiento después de que Williams, que trabajaba como locutor, abandonara Nueva York a finales de los años noventa y el alcohol y las drogas lo convirtieran en un 'sin techo' con un historial delictivo en las calles de Columbus.

"No me defraudes", dijo la mujer de 90 años a Williams en el programa de televisión, donde reconoció la mala fortuna de su hijo, al que definió como "una buena persona" que se ha rodeado a lo largo de su vida de "personas no adecuadas" y ha tomado "las decisiones equivocadas".

La mujer explicó que le hizo "mucho daño" que su hijo la expulsara de su vida, y Williams se mostró arrepentido y aseguró que sus "adicciones" lo llevaron a hacerle "mucho daño a esta mujer", con quien, en el momento de su reencuentro, protagonizó uno de los abrazos de mayor duración de la televisión.

El trabajo que se avista más difícil para Williams es el de recuperar el cariño de su antigua familia -abandonó a su mujer, Patricia Kirtley, y a sus hijos hace dos décadas-, a juzgar por las declaraciones al diario "Daily News" de una de sus hijas.

"Jamás estuvo involucrado en nuestra vida, nuestra madre fue la única que nos cuidó (...) Mi padre es un tipo agradable, pero acabó víctima de las calles. Rezábamos por él y nos preocupábamos por él, pero nos acostumbramos a que no estuviera", asegura hoy en el diario su hija Julia, ahora de 30 años.

Su ex mujer, que es parcialmente ciega, se ocupó de criar sola a las cuatro hijas de la pareja, así como a un hijo que Williams tuvo fuera del matrimonio. El Mundo

Argentina se queda sin billetes de 100 pesos y manda imprimir 5.000 millones en Brasil

El Banco Central de Argentina dispuso para este fin de semana una operación especial de reparto de dinero entre entidades financieras de todo el país, en medio de múltiples protestas por la escasez de billetes de 100 pesos (unos 20 euros).

La operación concluirá el martes y tendrá como prioridad el reparto de billetes en bancos de las provincias de Buenos Aires, Córdoba y Santa Fe, las más pobladas del país, dijeron este viernes fuentes del instituto monetario. El Mundo

Falklands may lose vital shipping link

STANLEY, Falkland Islands, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The Falkland Islands may lose vital shipping links to South America after maritime operators came under pressure from Argentina and its Latin backers who contest British sovereignty on the territories.

Falklands in the South Atlantic comprise a British Overseas Territory. Argentina tried to seize the islands in 1982 but was repulsed by Britain. The 74-day war led to more than 1,000 deaths of fighters and civilians and a formal Argentine surrender.

Argentina revived its sovereignty claim when the Falklands government and British-backed oil firms resumed drilling for oil in 2009 on the strength of seismic reports that promised an oil bonanza.

Results of exploratory undersea drilling have been mixed but Argentina now claims support of Latin American neighbors who see Britain as a colonial power holding on to territory seized in the days of empire. Argentina campaigned for and won diplomatic support for its position at the Union of South American States.

Britain says the Falklands' sovereignty isn't negotiable. Meanwhile, Argentina is finding new ways to squeeze the islanders' economy. Last year it began blacklisting shippers that traded with the Falklands.

Officials said the islanders' plans to expand container shipping and promote their produce of fish, meat and wool in wider markets could be jeopardized because of difficulties with maintaining a shipping service between the Falklands and South American mainland ports in Chile and Brazil.

Clients of the South American Atlantic Service were told a container service between Falklands and South America was at risk. SAAS Director Hamish Wylie said the company's shipping partners had come under pressure to terminate the arrangements. Many of the partner firms also operate in Argentina.

He told Penguin News the pressure was exerted through the introduction of exorbitant fees and other restrictive measures "to ensure the Falkland Islands fishing industry cannot develop any further".

Wylie said the container shipping service to South America would end in June because of the prohibitive costs, MercoPress reported.

Stuart Wallace of Fortuna, one of the companies that planned increasing the volume of trade from the Falklands, said the planned suspension of service was a "very serious development for the whole of the Falklands economy".

Economists and islanders say the South American link is essential for the Falklands' future economic development.

Argentina is pursuing its plan to curtail shipping between the Falkland Islands and Latin America and recently issued presidential decree 256/10, which requires vessels bound for the Falklands to seek permission from the Argentine government.

Recent attempts to circumvent the Argentine curbs led SAAS charter vessel Anja to sail around Cape Horn in order to reach Stanley from South America. 

The shippers feared their vessel might be detained by Argentina.

Original SAAS service between Stanley, Montevideo in Uruguay and Punta Arenas in southern Chile has already run into difficulties because of Argentine pressures. UPI

Toyota intent on sticking with hybrids

TOYOTA CITY, Japan, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. said it would continue to push hybrid automobile technology, introducing six new models in 2011.

In addition, Toyota said every car it produces would have an option as a hybrid by 2020, The New York Times reported Friday.

"Customers are going to ultimately decide what kind of car they want to drive. And whatever customers choose, we will be there," Toyota spokesman Keisuke Kirimoto told the Times.

Toyota, maker of the hybrid Prius, was named leader in the 2011 Consumer Reports' Car Brand Perception Survey as the most "environmentally friendly/green" car company. But Toyota, other than an investment in California's Tesla Motors, is also determined to stick with hybrids and let other companies, such as General Motors and Nissan take the lead on all-electric vehicles.

GM introduced the Volt this year and Nissan is banking on the all-electric Leaf, which has ads in which a polar bear hugs a Leaf owner in thanks for his car choice.

"It is dangerous for Toyota to insist on sticking to its hybrid-focused strategy … it should be jumping out in front in electric-vehicle technology," said Yasuaki Iwamoto, an auto analyst at Okasan Securities.

Some analysts say consumers will continue to view all-electric vehicles with skepticism, given drivers' fear of cars running out of power before they reach their destination.

Automobile research firm J.D. Power & Associates estimates 1.3 million of 70.9 million cars likely to be purchased in 2020 will be all-electric vehicles, the Times said. UPI

Brazil police say footballer Somalia 'faked' his kidnap

A Brazilian football player will be charged for falsely reporting he had been kidnapped as an excuse for running late for training, police say.

Somalia, a midfielder for the leading Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo, said he had been abducted at gunpoint at about 0700 on his way to the training ground.

But police say CCTV footage from his apartment building showed him leaving late for work at 0900.

Botafogo threatens its players with a 40% pay cut if they are late.

Inconsistencies

Somalia, whose real name is Paulo Rogerio Reis da Silva, told police he had been carjacked and driven around Rio for two hours before having his money and jewellery stolen.

Officers say they became suspicious at inconsistencies in the player's statement and decided to check video footage recorded in his building.

They say the footage showed he had lied about the kidnapping.

Police officials say that if he is found guilty, he could face up to six months in prison.

Somalia, who showed up for training on Friday on time, has not commented further.

His club says it will wait for more information before it decides whether to punish the player. BBC News

South Africa flooding leaves 50 dead, hundreds homeless

Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- Heavy flooding has left at least 50 people dead and hundreds homeless in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province as residents continue to battle adverse weather conditions that have plagued the country since mid-December, authorities said Friday.

"We have requested the national government to declare the Eastern Cape a national disaster," said Provincial Minister of Social Services Pemmy Majodina. "We are going to need billions of Rands to help residents reconstruct their homes and repair the damage caused by the floods".

Dozens were killed as homes and buildings collapsed around them as a result of the flooding, which washed away bridges and destroyed roads, she said.

Authorities continue to search for at least two flood victims, Majodina said.

Many rural residents in the Eastern Cape live in mud hits that are unable to withstand heavy flooding.

Eighteen others have died during recent electrical storms, Majodina added.

In the neighboring province of KwaZulu Natal, at least 13 people have been killed by flooding and storms. CNN

Former UK lawmaker gets 18 months in expenses scandal

London, England (CNN) -- A former British parliament member is being jailed for 18 months in connection with the so-called expenses scandal, a court official in the United Kingdom said.

David Chaytor, a former Labour Party lawmaker in the House of Commons, is the first person to be imprisoned in connection with the scandal.

He is being jailed for false accounting and will be taken to Wandsworth Prison immediately, Lindsay Kirton, a Southwark Crown Court spokesman, told CNN on Friday.

This comes after Chaytor and three other British parliamentarians were charged in February with submitting false expense claims totaling more than $93,000 over the past six years, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service announced.

Chaytor, who was a member of Parliament from Bury, north of Manchester, was charged with three counts of false accounting. He received two 12-month and one 18-month sentences. They will run concurrently.

In 2006, Chaytor used false invoices to claim 1,950 pounds ($3,060) for Information Technology services. Between 2005 and 2006, he claimed 12,925 pounds ($20,265) for renting a property in London that he in fact owned. Between 2007 and 2008 he claimed 5,425 pounds ($8,500) for renting a property in Lancashire owned by his mother.

The other three politicians charged in the scandal -- Paul White, also known as Lord Hanningfield; Elliot Morley; and Jim Devine -- will face separate trials. They are no longer serving in parliament.

White was from the Conservative Party; Morley and Devine were from Labour Party.

The scandal first emerged in the spring of 2009, when The Daily Telegraph newspaper published the expense claims. Heavily redacted versions of the claims were scheduled to be made public in June, but the Telegraph obtained them weeks early and printed them in full.

The claims caused widespread public outrage because some were deemed excessive or were for items that seemingly had no connection to the lawmakers' duties.

The Telegraph detailed thousands of dollars worth of interest on mortgages that had already been paid or that didn't exist, money spent to clean a moat on a country estate, and more than $1,000 spent on a small house for ducks.

Some lawmakers claimed the maximum monthly allowance for food, one claimed for dog food and one claimed for Christmas decorations. While the scandal snared lawmakers from all major parties in Parliament, it tarnished the reputations of several rising stars in the Labour Party.

Many lawmakers defended their claims as being within the rules. But even where that was the case, the public criticized lawmakers for greed and for taking advantage. CNN

Cuba sacks construction minister in reshuffle

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuba announced a Cabinet reshuffle Friday, sacking the construction minister for undisclosed "errors" and removing the communications minister in order to give him broader oversight over various ministries.

According to an official communique published in state media, Construction Minister Fidel Figueroa de la Paz was removed "for mistakes made in his job". It did not provide more details.

Ramiro Valdes, a historic leader of the Revolution and vice president of the Council of Ministers, was removed from his post as communications minister.

But according to the statement, he was "freed up" in order to give his attention not only the Communications Ministry but also the Construction and Basic Industry Ministries.

Valdes, 78, fought along side Fidel and Raul Castro from the beginning of the revolutionary movement in 1953 and is considered close to the current president.

General Medardo Diaz Toledo will be the new communications minister and Rene Mesa Villafana will assume the head of the Construction Ministry.

President Raul Castro has replaced a number of ministers since officially being elected in 2008.

He has also announced sweeping changes to the Soviet-style economic model.

More than a million state jobs are slated to disappear, while the government has given the green light for expansion of the private sector. CNN

Pakistani party rejoins government

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- An important political party that recently broke from Pakistan's ruling coalition has rejoined the government, a move that has averted a crisis in the South Asian nation.

The Muttahida Quami Movement, or MQM, announced Friday it will return to the coalition government after breaking away last week.

The departure stoked fears about the future of a government the United States has been counting on to confront militants in the country's tribal region, where the Taliban and al Qaeda have a strong presence.

MQM's move means Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Pakistan People's Party now regain their governing majority, which it lost when MQM left his coalition.

The MQM decision comes a day after Gilani announced a reversal of a fuel price hike that went into effect less than a week ago. The price hike -- one of many complaints the party had -- prompted MQM to bolt from the government.

"We have withdrawn the hike in fuel prices," Gilani said, adding "we will not move forward to impose new taxes until a consensus is developed".

Raza Harron, senior leader of MQM, said that his party made the decision "for the sake of democracy, law and order in the country, and to address inflation".

In a visit to MQM's headquarters in Karachi Friday, Gilani told reporters that the government had addressed most of MQM's demands. He also promised that any remaining demands will be resolved with consensus.

Pakistan has one of the smallest tax bases in the world. So there is runaway inflation in the country -- in November, consumer prices jumped over 15% from the year before. That's the highest rate in Asia.

The gas price hike would have helped build that tax base. Without it, the government will probably be forced to print more money -- which adds to the runaway inflation in Pakistan. CNN

Police silent on security as threat level for London is raised

London (CNN) -- British Transport Police are not commenting on reports that it has beefed up security presence at subway stations and airports after new information emerged about the possibility of an attack being planned in or near London.

"We don't have armed officers in our stations," the agency said Friday. "We have been briefed about how to respond to a Mumbai-style gun over the last few months. We don't comment on deployment of officers but I can tell you that we haven't cancelled any leave".

Several media outlets in England, citing anonymous security officials, had reported a stepped-up police presence in response to the potential threat.

And a British security source told CNN on Thursday that increased security precautions have gone into effect at train and subway stations and Heathrow Airport, though an attack is not considered imminent.

Neither the Home Office nor the transportation department would comment about security measures.

The action is not connected to terrorism arrests last month in Stoke, Cardiff and London, another source said. CNN

Tiger front cover snub denied by gaming giants EA Sports

(CNN) -- Scandal-hit golfer Tiger Woods has been left off the front cover of the latest video game release bearing his name.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters, due to hit the shelves in March, has packaging bearing only a picture of the iconic yellow flag on the 12th hole at Augusta, rather than the former world number one.

Gaming giants EA Sports deny that the omission of Woods, who has featured prominently on the front cover of their 11 previous releases in the best-selling series, is in any way a snub.

"It's no reflection -- if the insinuation is that there's a reflection of EA Sports backing away from its relationship with Tiger," Katherine Coulthart, the company's publicist, told CNN. CNN

Report: 33 women raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo

(CNN) -- At least 33 women were raped on New Year's Day in a region in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the medical group Doctors Without Borders Thursday.

"Women had been restrained with ropes or beaten unconscious with the butt of a gun before being attacked, some in front of their children", said Annemarie Loof, the head of the medical aid organization's mission in the South Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Up to four armed men were involved at a time and homes and shops were looted," Loof added.

These alleged rapes come after reports from the United Nations that more than 200 people were systematically raped during rebel attacks in the summer of 2010 in the country. CNN

Laos general and Hmong leader Vang Pao dies in exile

Vang Pao, the former general and leader of his Hmong ethnic group in Laos, has died in exile in the US, aged 81.

He had been in hospital for about 10 days before his death late on Thursday.

As a young man, he had fought against the Japanese during World War II, and with the French against the North Vietnamese in the 1950s.

He led a 15-year CIA-sponsored secret war in Laos during the Vietnam War and, when it was lost, led tens of thousands of his people into exile.

Thousands of ethnic Hmong are expected to attend his funeral in Fresno, California.

"He'll be remembered as a great general, a great warrior, a great Hmong soldier," his friend Charlie Waters told AFP news agency.

However the response from the Laos government was muted. "He was an ordinary person, so we do not have any reaction," a government spokesman was quoted by AFP as saying. BBC News