Recently in International News Category

Sunday, a crack in a sewage canal caused raw sewage water to pour into the streets and flood homes and sewage rose above car windows in colony of San Isidro and La Providencia, in the Mexican state of Mexico reported CNN.

500 people were affected by the flooding, none of which were fatally injured. Three minors suffered minor injuries according to CNN.

1.5 million gallons of water per second gushed from the canal into the cities, cited Investors.com.

Repairs to the 30 meter crack started at about 1:30 p.m. once crews and machinery reached the site, reported Investors.com

The spill happened about 30 miles down the Puebla Highway, and resulted in the closure of the highway according to CNN. The highway will probably be closed till Monday, or until the flooding is under control.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/04/17/mexico.flooding/index.html

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Newsfeed/Article/129845217/201104172110/Mexican-town-hit-by-sewage-flood.aspx

The United Kingdom announced that it would likely sue Iceland over billions of Euros that was loaned after its economic downturn, a top British government minister said Sunday, according to CNN.

The case would be brought to international court after Iceland voted to repeal the act to payback the loans from the UK.

The British government has "an obligation to get that money back, and we will continue to pursue that until we do," said Danny Alexander, the chief secretary of the Treasury told CNN.

According to Scotsman.com, the settlement would have seen the money paid back over a 30-year period, starting in 2016 and finishing in 2046.

Iceland held a vote over the weekend on the settlement plan, but with about 90 precent of the vote counted, 59.1 precent were against and 40.9 precent in favor, reported BBC.

Johanna Sigurdardottir, Iceland's Prime Minister, said the rejection meant "the worst option was chosen" and had split the country in two, he told BBC reporters.

The legal battle over the money may take a year to be decided. Many including Prime Minister Sigurdardottir think that it may take longer.

"My estimate is that the process will take a year, a year and a half at least," he said

The repayment plan became a source of contention with the Icelandic people because many thought that it unless the country is legally required to give the money back it shouldn't. The repayment plan may put too much burden on Iceland's recovering economy, which the citizens may not be able to shoulder.

"I think it's very hard to interpret this in any other way than the fact that the Icelandic people are not prepared to accept payments or shoulder the burden unless there is a clear legal obligation to do so." Prime Minister Sugurdardottir said to BBC news.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13029210

http://www.scotsman.com/news/UK-pledges-to-sue-Iceland.6749552.jp

http://www.cnn.com/2011/BUSINESS/04/10/uk.iceland.banks/index.html?hpt=T2

7 shoppers in a mall in Holland are dead after a shooter open fired on the mall according to Dutch officials as reported by CNN. The shooter turned the gun on himself after the shooting before police could apprehend them.

"I always thought these terrible things only happen abroad, but now here too," wrote Thea Hilbrants of Groningen, Netherlands, as reported by the Star Tribune. "Terrible, incomprehensible. I wish much strength for everyone touched by this."

The shooter was identified as 24-year-old Tristan van der Vlis, CNN reported according to Dutch officials. The Star Tribune reported that van der Vlis had minor run-ins with the police. The charges were illegal weapons possession charge in 2003, back when he was 17 that was eventually dropped, District Attorney Kitty Nooy said.

At least 16 were wounded, but not killed. The Star Tribune reports that there are three victims that continue to be in critical condition. Other victims range from a slightly wounded infant to adult women and men.

The shooter owned five assult rifles legally, and police are still trying to find the motivation for the seemingly random attack at the mall. Van der Vlis's mother found a suicide note at his home.

Many neighbors were stunned that van der Vlis committed this crime.

"He seemed to me to be a nice guy, he always greeted me nicely," said Veronique Troon told the Associated Press as reported by the Star Tribune. But she said that one time he asked her about her native Brazil, saying "'that seems like a very, very dangerous country, don't you think so?' I found it very weird."

The country was shocked by the senseless shooting that took place at this mall, and continue to try and figure out why and how van der Vlis carried out this attack.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/04/09/netherlands.mall.shooting/index.html

http://www.startribune.com/119528884.html

A rocket attack killed two United States soldiers on Saturday in Southern Iraq reported the Pioneer Press.

CBS News reports that 47,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq which is a significant decline since October of 2007, where the total was 166,000.

According to the Pioneer Press Saturday's deaths raise the number of military personnel that have died since March 2003 to at least 4,443.

January 15th was the last time that more than one U.S. military personnel was killed in Iraq, the deaths took place 225 miles from Bagdad, according to CBS News.

According to an agreement in 2008, all military is to be removed by the end of the year according to the Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_17765905

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/03/501364/main20050130.shtml

A rocket attack killed two United States soldiers on Saturday in Southern Iraq reported the Pioneer Press.

CBS News reports that 47,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq which is a significant decline since October of 2007, where the total was 166,000.

According to the Pioneer Press Saturday's deaths raise the number of military personnel that have died since March 2003 to at least 4,443.

January 15th was the last time that more than one U.S. military personnel was killed in Iraq, the deaths took place 225 miles from Bagdad, according to CBS News.

According to an agreement in 2008, all military is to be removed by the end of the year according to the Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_17765905

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/03/501364/main20050130.shtml

A rocket attack killed two United States soldiers on Saturday in Southern Iraq reported the Pioneer Press.

CBS News reports that 47,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq which is a significant decline since October of 2007, where the total was 166,000.

According to the Pioneer Press Saturday's deaths raise the number of military personnel that have died since March 2003 to at least 4,443.

January 15th was the last time that more than one U.S. military personnel was killed in Iraq, the deaths took place 225 miles from Bagdad, according to CBS News.

According to an agreement in 2008, all military is to be removed by the end of the year according to the Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_17765905

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/03/501364/main20050130.shtml

A rocket attack killed two United States soldiers on Saturday in Southern Iraq reported the Pioneer Press.

CBS News reports that 47,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq which is a significant decline since October of 2007, where the total was 166,000.

According to the Pioneer Press Saturday's deaths raise the number of military personnel that have died since March 2003 to at least 4,443.

January 15th was the last time that more than one U.S. military personnel was killed in Iraq, the deaths took place 225 miles from Bagdad, according to CBS News.

According to an agreement in 2008, all military is to be removed by the end of the year according to the Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_17765905

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/03/501364/main20050130.shtml

A rocket attack killed two United States soldiers on Saturday in Southern Iraq reported the Pioneer Press.

CBS News reports that 47,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq which is a significant decline since October of 2007, where the total was 166,000.

According to the Pioneer Press Saturday's deaths raise the number of military personnel that have died since March 2003 to at least 4,443.

January 15th was the last time that more than one U.S. military personnel was killed in Iraq, the deaths took place 225 miles from Bagdad, according to CBS News.

According to an agreement in 2008, all military is to be removed by the end of the year according to the Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_17765905

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/03/501364/main20050130.shtml

A rocket attack killed two United States soldiers on Saturday in Southern Iraq reported the Pioneer Press.

CBS News reports that 47,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq which is a significant decline since October of 2007, where the total was 166,000.

According to the Pioneer Press Saturday's deaths raise the number of military personnel that have died since March 2003 to at least 4,443.

January 15th was the last time that more than one U.S. military personnel was killed in Iraq, the deaths took place 225 miles from Bagdad, according to CBS News.

According to an agreement in 2008, all military is to be removed by the end of the year according to the Pioneer Press.

http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_17765905

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/03/501364/main20050130.shtml

Sunday, NATO agreed to expand its role in Libya and plans to take command of all aerial operations according to CNN.

NATO has also agreed according to the Huffington post to protect civilians from the Gadhafi regime.

CNN reports that NATO will be enforcing what the U.N. has approved.

"Our goal is to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under threat of attack from the Gadhafi regime," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told CNN. "NATO will implement all aspects of the U.N. resolution. Nothing more, nothing less."

By approving the U.N. resolution it will be enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, and dealing with the arms embargo.

The handover from the United States and its allies to NATO will be completed on Monday and has been deemed by NATO as phased and seamless.

CNN reported that Prime Minister David Cameron is very happy with the quick decision of NATO to get involved.

"NATO is already enforcing the arms embargo and the no-fly zone. Today's agreement to transfer complete command and control of all military operations to NATO both ensures that partners from the region are able to participate and represents a significant step forward as we plan for the next phase of this vital mission," CNN reported.

It is predicted that more countries will get involved now that NATO has been involved.