Iraq reverts to its recent lawless past as dozens are murdered in terrorist attacks; Egypt vows to protect its water security, as the Nile is dammed way up-river;  And, Canada’s Bowie-loving astronauts announces a career change.

Security in Iraq is crumbling, as a wave of bombings and attacks claimed at least 70 lives.  No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but authorities are pointing fingers at al Qaeda.  Iraq has been hit by almost daily attacks, raising fears of a return to the worst levels of sectarian violence.  The UN says more than a thousand people were killed last month, the bloodiest in Iraq since June 2008.

Egypt is warning Ethiopia that “all options are open” when it protecting its Nile River water supply. Egypt was apparently caught by surprise when Ethiopia started diverting an important feeder tributary last month to construct a hydroelectric dam that will eventually provide 6,000 megawatts of power. Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi says he’s not “calling for war”, but “Egypt's water security cannot be violated at all.”

Nelson Mandela remains in serious but stable condition in a Pretoria hospital.  The 94-year old is being treated for a lung infection.  He served as South Africa’s first black president from 1994 to 1999, and previously was an internationally celebrated political prisoner of the racist apartheid system.

Venezuela has arrested nine Colombians it says were members of right-wing paramilitaries and who were planning to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.  The Venezuelan government has in the past accused the more conservative government of Colombia of plotting against its neighbor.  But this time Caracas says it has:  Suspects; physical evidence in the form of fake Venezuelan military uniforms, weapons, and ammunition; and links form the detained to a Colombian right-wing militia leader who goes by the name Chepe Barrera.  Authorities say there are more arrests coming.

Canada’s celebrity astronaut Chris Hadfield, who wowed the world with his music video singing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on board the International Space Station, is retiring from the space program.  Commander Hadfield had promised his wife when he started at the Johnson Space Center in Texas that they would move back to Canada after 30 years.

China’s latest manned space mission is scheduled to blast off late Tuesday afternoon.  Three astronauts will spend about 2 weeks in China’s orbiting Taingong Space Lab.  One of the space travelers is China’s second female astronaut and will beam the country’s first lesson from space to students on earth.

Ten elderly women, many in their 90s, escaped unharmed when the limousine they were in burst into flames.  It happened in Walnut Creek, which isn’t too far from the San Mateo Bridge, where you might recall five women were killed about a month ago when another limousine caught fire and burned.  The owner blames a manufacturer’s defect and says the burned vehicle was a new car.