EEUU investiga vídeos de contenido sexual grabados en un portaaviones

La Marina de Guerra de Estados Unidos investiga la producción de vídeos de contenido sexual que se mostraron a los tripulantes del portaaviones "Enterprise" durante misiones en las campañas de Irak y Afganistán, informó este domingo el diario "The Virginian Pilot".

Según el periódico, que se publica en Norfolk, la mayor base naval de EEUU en el Atlántico y puerto madre del "Enterprise", los vídeos se mostraron a los casi 6.000 marineros e infantes de marina en el portaaviones durante misiones efectuadas en 2006 y 2007.

"El hombre que tuvo la idea y que actúa en ellos es el capitán Owen Honors, que es ahora el comandante del portaaviones", añadió el diario, según el cual los vídeos están repletos de insinuaciones sexuales yalgunos contienen expresiones contra los homosexuales.

La Marina de Guerra de EEUU, que hace varios años admitió a mujeres en sus tripulaciones, decidió recientemente la incorporación gradual de mujeres en las tripulaciones de los submarinos. Las Fuerzas Armadas de EEUU deberán aplicar ahora una ley del Congreso que permite el servicio militar de los homosexuales sin que estos oculten su orientación sexual.

De acuerdo con la descripción del diario, en una escena dos mujeres de la Marina están juntas en la ducha a bordo del portaaviones y simulan lavarse una a la otra.

Las mujeres bromean acerca de que, si porque son dos, les corresponden seis minutos bajo la ducha en lugar de los tres minutos asignados a cada tripulante.

En otros sketches, algunos marineros desfilan vestidos como mujeres,usan epítetos contra los homosexuales, o simulan masturbación y examen rectal. En otra escena, según el diario, un oficial tiene relaciones sexuales en su camarote con un burro.

Cuando los vídeos se mostraron a la tripulación Honors era subcomandante del "Enterprise", y asumió el mando de la nave en mayo.

En los vídeos, que según el diario se mostraron una vez por semana en un circuito cerrado de televisión que se extiende por toda la nave,Honors indica que su propósito es entretener a las tripulaciones.

El "Enterprise" es el primer portaaviones de propulsión nuclear, y deberá partir en otra misión durante enero.

Según el diario, Honors, oriundo de Nueva York, se graduó de la Academia Naval en 1983, fue piloto de aviones de combate Tomcat F-14 y trabajó como piloto de pruebas antes de ser designado subcomandante del "Enterprise", puesto que ocupó entre julio de 2005 y septiembre de 2007.

"Honors no respondió a los pedidos de comentarios", indicó el diario agregando que tampoco lo hizo el entonces comandante del "Enterprise", Larry Rice, quien fue promovido al rango de contraalmirante y trabaja ahora en el Mando de Fuerzas Conjuntas en Norfolk.

Por su parte la Marina de Guerra emitió una declaración según la cual "los vídeos no se crearon con la intención de ofender a alguien". "El propósito de los vídeos es que fueran humorísticos", añadió la Armada, que indicó su disposición a iniciar una investigación del asunto. El Mundo

James Cameron: 'Hollywood tiene una crisis de historias'

"Hollywood está falto de ideas". O por lo menos así lo cree el director de las taquilleras 'Titanic' y 'Avatar', James Cameron, que no ha dudado en criticar la falta de originalidad en el mundo del cine estadounidense en una entrevista que difunde este domingo el semanario alemán 'Der Spiegel'.

Cameron opina que Hollywood está regido por "el negocio de las continuaciones". "Esto quiere decir que se rueda una segunda parte de algo que ya tuvo éxito porque todo el mundo en Hollywood sabe lo importante que es que una película se convierta en una marca antes de llegar a los cines", explica el director.

Cuando pasa algo así, como es el caso de la historia de 'Harry Potter', "entonces te pones en una ventaja de años luz", ha añadido Cameron, seguramente haciendo referencia a cómo se inflan las cuentas bancarias cuando se da con una fórmula así.

Un principio

Pero aquí radica el problema, ha asegurado Cameron. "Desgraciadamente, estas marcas se tornan cada vez más ridículas". Hasta se quiere hacer una película con el juego 'Batalla Naval', se quejó. "Eso degrada al cine".

Sin embargo, parece que para el cineasta, que ha dejado bien claro que para él Hollywood "es una postura intelectual", estas repeticiones ridículas no van con él. No sabemos si es que considera que sus secuelas de 'Avatar' serán el cénit del cine alternativo -o intelectual- en EEUU o es que su deseos de seguir llenando sus arcas son más lícitos que los de los demás. Esta sencilla cuestión queda sin respuesta en la entrevista.

Aunque no se frena en ese punto. Cameron se atreve a continuar: "Si hablamos de Hollywood, hablamos de un principio". No sabemos qué principio. Y amenaza, después de asegurar que cada vez vale menos la pena vivir allí, con mudarse pronto. Ahora sólo nos falta averiguar si se trasladará antes de 'Avatar 2' o después de 'Avatar 3'. El Mundo

El primer Gobierno de Dilma... ¿o el tercero de Lula?

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ha insistido hasta la saciedad en que el Gobierno de Dilma Rousseff debía hacerse "a imagen y semejanza" de la nueva presidenta brasileña. Así lo proclamó nada más acabar las elecciones de octubre: "Sólo ella puede decir a quién quiere y a quién no". Sin embargo, las buenas intenciones que anunciaban las palabras del ex jefe de Estado parecen haber durado menos que el agua en una cesta de mimbre. Basta con ojear por encima los nombres anunciados por su sucesora para comprobar que, por mucho que el poder haya cambiado oficialmente de manos, la columna vertebral permanece prácticamente inalterada en el primer Gabinete de Dilma. O el tercero de Lula, según quiera interpretarse.

Es cierto que entre los casi 40 ministerios o cargos con rango equivalente que componen la Administración hay caras nuevas, como la de Antonio Patriota, que ganará un peldaño en Exteriores para reemplazar a Celso Amorim. Pero al mismo tiempo, en torno a la mitad de los elegidos ya trabajaba para el anterior Ejecutivo o llegó a hacerlo en algún momento de los últimos ocho años.

Entre los intocables destacan los dueños de dos carteras de peso, Hacienda y Defensa, en ambos casos sin que Dilma estuviera demasiado convencida de mantenerlos. Al frente de la primera seguirá Guido Mantega, en el cargo desde 2006 y defendido por el presidente como la garantía de prolongación de las políticas económicas que permitirán cerrar el año con un crecimiento superior al 7%. En la segunda, el veterano Nelson Jobim continuará encargándose de los asuntos militares con la tarea pendiente de cerrar la adquisición de 36 cazas franceses, suecos o estadounidenses.

Pese a antiguas discrepancias con la futura presidenta, permanecerá también en su asiento el ministro de Educación, Fernando Haddad. Del mismo modo que sobrevivirán a la transición los responsables de Trabajo, Carlos Lupi, de Medio Ambiente, Izabella Teixeira, y de Deportes, Orlando Silva, así como el abogado general de la Unión, Luís Inácio Adams. El Mundo

Obama firma la ley que protege a los héroes del 11 de Septiembre

El presidente Barack Obama firmó la ley llamada del 9-11, que beneficia a los trabajadores y rescatistas que resultaron afectados durante las labores de limpieza de la 'Zona Cero', tras el brutal ataque terrorista del 11-S Obama interrumpió por unos minutos sus vacaciones en Hawai para firmar la norma,informa la web de la cadena CNN.

La ley cubrirá durante los próximos cinco años los gastos médicos de los enfermos del once de septiembre sin hacer diferencias en cuanto a su estatus migratorio y compensará económicamente a los supervivientes y a las familias de los fallecidos.

La legislación aprobada este domingo, dotada con 4.200 millones de dólares, dará cobertura médica a los primeros 'héroes' que acudieron a los Torres Gemelas el día de los atentados, estos miembros de las fuerzas de seguridad, bomberos y equipos de emergencias llevan años batallando para conseguir ayuda del Gobierno Federal de Washington.

"Después de un largo y arduo camino plagado de 'casi derrotas', este proyecto es finalmente una ley", proclamó el senador por Nueva York Charles Schummer. "Los héroes que corrieron hacia las Torres Gemelas, los primeros en llegar son como veteranos y no serán olvidados".

"Con la firma del presidente se acaban con nueve años de lucha para hacer visible la crisis sanitaria del 11 de septiembre", apuntaba otro senador republicano que considera que la nueva ley "salvará vidas y completa nuestra obligación moral de cuidar de aquellos que se levantaron para defender a América en tiempos de guerra". El Mundo

Obama signs 9/11 health bill

Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama signed the 9/11 health bill into law in Hawaii on Sunday, White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

Obama signed the bill during his Hawaiian vacation, with no signing ceremony held. In a statement issued later, the president said he was "honored" to sign the bill, which pays for health care for responders believed to have been sickened by pollution at the ruins of the World Trade Center in New York.

"We will never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who risked their lives to save others," Obama said. "I believe this is a critical step for those who continue to bear the physical scars of those attacks".

The bill made a long journey in order to get signed. A printed copy of the bill flew with a White House staffer from Washington to the Hawaiian island of Oahu, so Obama could sign it from his vacation rental in Kailua.

"It came out with a member of the staff so that it could be signed in a timely fashion," Burton said.

The legislation, officially titled the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, provides health coverage to workers who helped clear the rubble and search for human remains at the site of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history. The $4.2 billion legislation also reopens the federal Victim Compensation Fund to provide economic relief to those harmed by the attacks, which killed more than 2,700 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. CNN

Northern Ireland improving water supply to residents after crisis

Belfast, Northern Ireland (CNN) -- The number of properties lacking running water in Northern Ireland has dwindled to fewer than 1,000, state-funded water company Northern Ireland Water said Sunday.

As of Saturday, the number was about 2,600, the company said. About 45,000 properties may still have limited water supplies Sunday night, compared to 60,000 on Saturday night. The disruption would cut supplies overnight as reservoirs are refilled.

Many customers have been without running water for nearly a week, and some said they have not had water supply for more than 10 days. The shortage was blamed on the bursting of several major water pipes in a rapid thaw that followed record low temperatures last week. The company has said a number of pipes burst when the temperature rose from minus 16 to 10 degrees Celsius (3 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit) "within a matter of hours".

The number of customers without water stood at 799 on Sunday, the company said, and 276 have a temporary supply.

Northern Ireland Water has drawn criticism from government officials, who held an emergency meeting on the situation last week. The company's interim chairman, Padraic White, said its response to the "unprecedented situation" was "unacceptable". CNN

Xavi equals record as Pedro double puts Barcelona further ahead

(CNN) -- Spanish champions Barcelona began 2011 with an 11th successive league victory on Sunday night to move five points clear of title rivals Real Madrid.

Young winger Pedro Gonzalez, standing in for the absent Lionel Messi, scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Levante while World Cup winner Xavi equaled the Catalan club's all-time appearance record of 549 matches.

After a scoreless first half in which Barcelona struggled to break down the Valencia side's defense, Gonzalez broke the deadlock two minutes into the second period as he did well to make space inside the penalty and fire in a deflected low shot from Daniel Alves' agonizingly delayed pass.

With Messi allowed to take an extended winter holiday, the 23-year-old continued to make the most of his starting chance by adding his eight league goal this season in the 59th minute after Brazilian right-back Alves delivered a better-judged low cross into his path. CNN

Champion Sainz sets pace in opening stage of Dakar Rally

Carlos Sainz defied difficult weather conditions to win the opening stage of his title defense in the car category of the Dakar Rally in Argentina on Sunday.

The Spanish driver was first away in the leg from Victoria to Cordoba and finished the 222 kilometers in two hours 18 minutes and 32 seconds to earn a lead of 1:31 from France's Stephane Peterhansel.

"For about 20 kilometers, we had a lot of rain. At times, we just could not see anything. Moreover, I had issues with the wipers that had stopped working," the 48-year-old Sainz told the race's official website.

"I am really happy the day is over. It was a bit like the Rally of Great Britain".

Peterhansel, who won the grueling 15-day endurance event three times in cars and five times before that on motorbikes when it was based in Africa, finished 45 seconds ahead of last year's runner-up Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar.

Sainz's Volkswagen team filled four of the top-five positions, with Peterhansel the best performer of the BMW vehicles.

Portugal's Ruben Faria followed up his win in the final stage of the 2010 edition to top the motorbike standings from KTM teammate and defending champion Cyril Depres.

Faria held a 29-second advantage after the 192-kilometer stage, while Spain's Marc Coma was third on another KTM. CNN

Borisov: USA, Portugal Envy Bulgaria for Brazil Connections

The United States and even Portugal are jealous of Bulgaria for the warm welcome of the Bulgarian delegation by the new Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff, the Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov said.

Borisov’s statement to the Bulgarian private TV channel bTV was made Sunday during the final part of the inauguration ceremony of Brazil’s 36 President, theBulgaria-descended Dilma Rousseff.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister said that Bulgaria and Brazil made a huge progress in the development of the bilateral relations in the last few days. An example was the special attitude of Dilma towards the Bulgarian delegation in Brazil.

On December 30, 2010, she broke the protocol and received the delegation for herinauguration led by Borisov two days in advance.

In the words of the Bulgarian Prime Minister, the special attitude made an impression to many world leaders, including the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton.

“With her first words to me, Clinton said that Bulgaria already has many connections in Brazil. Even the Portuguese Prime Minister, Jose Socrates, was jealous. And Dilma was very warm and nice, as you see. She is a very strict and stable woman,” Borisov said.

On January 1, 2011, the daughter of Bulgarian immigrant Petar Rusev (Pedro Rousseff) formally took office from Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, becoming the first female President of the largest Latin American nation.

Borisov, who was the only EU state leader, together with Spanish Prince Felipe and the Prime Minister of Portugal, attended the inaugurationceremony and presented Rousseff with a congratulatory letter from the EU Council President, Herman van Rompuy.

The torrential rain in Brazil’s capital Brasilia did not mar the inauguration ceremony as thousands of people cheered in the as Rousseff she drove down the broad Esplanade of the Ministries to the modern National Congress.

A total of 47 world leaders, including Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, attended the inauguration. Novinite

Mass unemployment angers European youth

ROME, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Violent protests in Southern Europe reflect growing anger and despair among youth shut out of a future, economists and political observers say.

The most highly educated generation in the history of the Mediterranean is facing one of its worst job markets, experts warn.

In Italy, where university cuts have provoked protests, President Giorgio Napolitano warned of "the pervasive malaise among young people" in his year-end address, The New York Times reported.

Former Prime Minister Giuliano Amato told the Corriere della Sera newspaper, "The older generations have eaten the future of the younger ones".

Even before the economic crisis, low growth and rigid structures made finding work difficult in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal. With austerity, more people are fighting over fewer opportunities, and youths struggling to enter the market face older workers who won't or can't retire.

Some young people take to the streets, others emigrate and many more suffer in silence, living in their childhood bedrooms because they cannot afford to move out. Many spend years working in unpaid or barely paid internships and training programs.

And as pensioners live longer, fewer young workers are paying less in taxes to support them. UPI

British see 1st 2011 death in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- British forces have lost their first soldier of 2011 in Afghanistan, a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the military said.

The soldier from the Royal Regiment of Scotland was killed Saturday by a roadside explosion in Nahr-e Saraj, southern Afghanistan, the Defense Ministry told The Guardian. Next of kin have been notified, but he has not yet been named.

The last British fatality of 2010 was Warrant Officer Class 2 Charles Wood from 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, who was killed Tuesday while clearing improvised explosive devices.

A total of 349 British servicemen have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001, compared with 1,444 Americans. Military and civilian casualties are at record levels, with 711 foreign troops killed in 2010. UPI

Orlando park ride kept shut after fire

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Officials are investigating a fire that forced the evacuation of part of an Orlando, Fla., theme park.

Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls ride at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure will remain shut through the weekend, park spokesman Tom Schroder told the Orlando Sentinel. The rest of Toon Lagoon, where the water ride is located, reopened about 90 minutes after the Saturday afternoon fire.

The smoky, two-alarm fire broke out on the roof of a passage for cars that look like logs, said Orlando Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hoggatt. It spread rapidly.

"That type of material puts out a lot of black smoke," he said.

Forty firefighters were called to the scene, and the fire was controlled in about half an hour and put out in an hour, Hoggatt said. A few visitors were checked at the park's first-aid station, but none required hospitalization. The number of people evacuated was not immediately known, but Schroder said dozens were in the area.

Investigators are looking for an electrical problem from components such as air conditioners or ride controllers, or an accident, Hoggatt said. UPI

FBI nabs suspected 'Dapper Bandit'

SAN YSIDRO, Calif., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A California man suspected of committing several robberies across the state was arrested at the San Ysidro border crossing, the FBI said.

John Richard Martinez, a U.S. citizen from Fresno, was arrested as he was returning to the United States on New Year's Eve, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He was charged with the robbery of a payday loan business in San Diego on Dec. 20 and a bank in San Diego on Monday.

He is also suspected of robbing banks in Fresno, Tulare and Thousand Oaks, and robbing a pedestrian outside a hotel/casino in Lemoore, about 30 miles south of Fresno, the FBI said.

The FBI called the robber the "Dapper Bandit" because of his appearance during the bank robberies.

The robber wore a black golf hat, a gray or black sports jacket and a high-collared black shirt.

Authorities said he threatened tellers with a black semiautomatic pistol. UPI

FBI nabs suspected 'Dapper Bandit'

SAN YSIDRO, Calif., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A California man suspected of committing several robberies across the state was arrested at the San Ysidro border crossing, the FBI said.

John Richard Martinez, a U.S. citizen from Fresno, was arrested as he was returning to the United States on New Year's Eve, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He was charged with the robbery of a payday loan business in San Diego on Dec. 20 and a bank in San Diego on Monday.

He is also suspected of robbing banks in Fresno, Tulare and Thousand Oaks, and robbing a pedestrian outside a hotel/casino in Lemoore, about 30 miles south of Fresno, the FBI said.

The FBI called the robber the "Dapper Bandit" because of his appearance during the bank robberies.

The robber wore a black golf hat, a gray or black sports jacket and a high-collared black shirt.

Authorities said he threatened tellers with a black semiautomatic pistol. UPI

Djokovic and Ivanovic give Serbia a perfect start in Perth

(CNN) -- Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic began their build-up to the first grand slam tournament of 2011 with a winning start to the Hopman Cup mixed teams event in Perth on Sunday.

The top-seeded Serbians crushed Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova and Andrey Golubev 3-0 in the opening Group A tie of the Australian indoor hardcourt competition.

Former women's world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic gave her team the lead with a 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 win over Shvedova then men's No. 3 Djokovic came from behind to beat Golubev 4-6 6-3 6-1 to seal the rubber.

The Serbians then won the doubles 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 to earn maximum points ahead of Tuesday's clash with Australia's Alicia Molik and Lleyton Hewitt and Thursday's encounter with Belgium's third-seeded Justine Henin and Ruben Bemelmans. CNN

Ailing champions Chelsea stung by Villa's late leveler

(CNN) -- Chelsea's chances of retaining the English Premier League title suffered another setback on Sunday as struggling Aston Villa snatched a last-gasp 3-3 draw in London.

Carlo Ancelotti's team had fought back to lead 3-2 with two goals in the last 10 minutes, but poor defending allowed young Villa fullback Ciaran Clark to equalize with a free header in the second minute of time added on.

The result left Chelsea in fifth place, a point behind Tottenham and six adrift of the leading Manchester clubs United and City.

The Blues ended 2010 with a morale-boosting win over Bolton last Wednesday, and looked like extending that form when Frank Lampard scored his first goal since returning from long-term injury in the 23rd minute. CNN

Smoking at Spanish restaurants, bars banned

Madrid, Spain (CNN) -- A law in Spain that went into effect Sunday has banned smoking in indoor bars and restaurants, giving the nation some of the toughest smoking restrictions in western Europe.

The law puts Spain in line with Britain, France and Italy, which prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places.

Spain's hotel and restaurant federation warns of a 10 percent drop in business and tens of thousands of job losses in the midst of the nation's deep economic crisis.

But the government says similar laws elsewhere in Europe did not hurt business in the long run.

Juan Carlos Sanchez says he goes to a neighborhood bar several times a day to have a cigarette with his coffee or beer. Like many smokers here, he is adamantly opposed to the new law.

"If I can't smoke here in the bar, maybe I'll come just once a day, or not at all. When I ask for a coffee or beer, but then have to smoke in the street, I don't understand," said Sanchez, who manufactures filters for air conditioners.

Fernando Vazquez, owner of a bar and restaurant in Madrid where Sanchez was smoking late last week, said the smoke-free air starting on Sunday might be nice. But it will come at a price for his business.

"Spaniards spend a lot of time in bars and will probably spend less time now," Vazquez said. "Instead of drinking three or four beers, they'll have one".

Spaniards have had a relationship with tobacco for 500 years. Explorer Christopher Columbus saw tobacco on his voyages to the New World and Spanish sailors brought it to Europe.

So undoing old habits is not easy here. CNN

5 charged in plot to bomb Israeli stadium

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Five members of Hamas were charged Sunday with planning to fire a rocket into a Jerusalem stadium during a soccer game, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.

The five were arrested in November, Rosenfeld said.

According to a statement from Israel's security service, the Shin Bet, the two main suspects were identified as Mussa Hamada of East Jerusalem, and Bassem Omri, an Israeli citizen living in Beit Tzafafa. Both are members of Hamas and the "Muslim Brothers" movement in Jerusalem, the Shin Bet said.

The pair are suspected of planning terrorist attacks following Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in 2008, the statement said.

One of the possibilities they considered was possibly firing a missile into the soccer stadium in Jerusalem during a game.

Three other Palestinians were charged with selling them pistols, Shin Bet said. CNN

Chavez, Clinton shake hands at Brazilian inauguration

(CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shook hands on the sidelines of Brazil's presidential inauguration this weekend, state media reported.

The Venezuelan state-run AVN news agency said the two discussed specific issues in a brief, informal conversation. Both leaders were in Brazil for the inauguration of Dilma Rousseff, the country's first female president.

"We greeted each other. (Clinton), I think, was entering the room. She had a very spontaneous smile and I greeted her with the same effusiveness. ... It was a pleasant moment. We spoke about two or three specific things," Chavez told state-run VTV.

State media did not specify what issues were discussed. As of early Sunday morning, the U.S. State Department had not released any details about the conversation.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been particularly strained recently.

Last week the State Department announced that the U.S. government had revoked the visa of the Venezuelan ambassador to Washington. That move came in response to Venezuela's decision not to accept the diplomatic credentials of Larry Palmer, the U.S. ambassadorial nominee for the South American country, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Earlier, Toner told reporters that diplomatic relations with Venezuela were in the "national interest".

"We believe it's in our national interest to have an ambassador in Caracas so that we can candidly express our views and engage with the government of Venezuela. ... There are tensions in the relationship, and it's precisely because of that that we feel that it's important to have appropriate diplomatic relations," he said.

Venezuela's government has said it considers statements Palmer made about the country "unacceptable declarations".

In response to a questionnaire by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, Palmer said last year that he had concerns about freedom of expression in Venezuela and that there are "clear ties" between the Venezuelan government and Colombian guerrillas.

Venezuela "considers that the content of those statements sets a precedent of meddling and interventionism from someone that has not even arrived in Venezuelan territory yet," the Venezuelan government said in a statement last year. CNN

Fatality confirmed in Australian flooding; airport to close for weeks

(CNN) -- Massive flooding that has swept through Queensland, Australia, and claimed at least one life will likely force the evacuation of at least 1,000 people and close a regional airport for weeks, an emergency agency said Sunday.

The flooding has directly impacted about 200,000 people, according to Emergency Management Queensland, and has affected an area roughly the size of the entire state of New South Wales. Rockhampton, Queensland, is the worst-hit major population center, the agency said.

On Sunday, a spokesman for the agency said floodwater is receding in certain areas but is also flooding local towns as is recedes. He said electricity has been intentionally cut in areas of Queensland -- including parts of Rockhampton -- that have been inundated by flooding.

Rockhampton's regional airport closed Saturday afternoon and is expected to remain closed for the coming weeks, Emergency Management Queensland said Sunday. Meanwhile, other modes of transportation in the area were essentially reduced to boat travel, as all roads, major highways and the railway leading in and out of the city were flooded.

A 41-year-old Queensland woman is the first confirmed fatality of the flooding. The woman, whose name was not released, was traveling with eight family members from Mount Isa to Burketown when the family's vehicles were overrun by flood waters in the town of Floraville, Emergency Management Queensland said.

After an air-and-boat search that lasted more than 12 hours, the woman's body was recovered around 10 a.m. Sunday, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the causeway where she had disappeared, the agency said.

All other members of the family were rescued safely. CNN

Fewer Iraqi civilians, more security forces killed in 2010

Baghdad (CNN) -- The total number of Iraqi civilians and security forces personnel killed in violence in 2010 was higher than in 2009, according to a CNN tally based on figures released throughout 2010 from Iraq's defense, interior and health ministries.

A total of 3,605 Iraqi civilians, police and army members were killed last year, compared to 3,479 killed in 2009. According to CNN's tally, the number of Iraqi civilian deaths dropped in 2010 compared to the previous year, but the rise in the overall death toll was due to an increased number of Iraqi police and army personnel killed.

According to CNN's tally, a total of 2,505 civilians were killed in 2010 -- down 304 from 2,809 in 2009. But 1,100 security forces personnel were killed in 2010 -- up 430 from 670 in 2009.

Iraqi security officials attribute the increased number of casualties among Iraqi police and soldiers to Iraq conducting more security operations on their own, as the United States has decreased the number of troops it has in the country and shifted its focus from combat to training and advising Iraqi troops. CNN