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Private security contractors were involved in a number of controversial shootings in Iraq during the war. With U.S. troops gone, American diplomats will be depending on up to 5,000 security contractors to keep them safe.

China's National Petroleum Corporation would be the first foreign company to produce oil in Afghanistan. The Afghan government says the 25-year-deal could create jobs and help develop oil reserves in the northeast part of the country.

Once known as one of the world's most violent cities, Medellin, Colombia, is enjoying the spotlight for a new socially-conscious public transportation system. The giant outdoor escalator was built for residents of one of the city's poorest districts, with the aim of better integrating them into the city and the broader economy.

As the debt crisis spreads across Europe, the economy in the region is slowing to a crawl. One place that's starting to feel the impact of the slowdown is the massive port of Rotterdam in Holland. It's the biggest port in the world outside Asia. Much of what's bought and sold in Europe goes through Rotterdam.

A Minnesota man provided live puppies, a llama and a goat to a nativity scene, but the goat escaped. The Fergus Falls Journal reports the goat has been spotted but not caught.

In the city of Homs, as Arab League monitors arrived the Army moved its tanks. But activists say they didn't go very far.

Also: Dozens of Kmart and Sears stories to close; al-Qaida in Iraq claims responsibility for last week's deadly bombings in Baghdad; "moving melee causes chaos" at Mall of America.

The fungus that causes moldy toenails and rare, serious eye infections lurks in many bathroom sink drains, researchers say. That may help explain an outbreak of serious eye infections among contact lens wearers, and perhaps other health problems as well.

Hospitals may be the only places in America that aren't crazy for iPads. Security issues and incompatibility with hospital systems are two big reasons why tablet computers haven't caught on. But some doctors and patients say they're great for explaining complex medical issues.

The Royal Shakespeare Company's Matilda the Musical, based on the beloved children's book by Roald Dahl, is taking London by storm.