Boring but important

New rules for Iraq contractors

Private security contractors will have to coordinate their operations with military authorities, under new rules announced by the U.S. and Iraqi governments. The agreement also spells out when contractors may shoot in self-defense. For instance, security personnel may not open fire on an approaching vehicle unless they see specific evidence that it poses a risk. The accord follows an incident in September, when contractors employed by Blackwater USA killed 17 Iraqi civilians. The new rules do not clarify whether contractors can be prosecuted under U.S. or Iraqi law.

U.S. teens lag in science, math

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U.S. high school students scored lower on a standardized math and science test than students in most other developed countries, the Organi­zation for Economic Cooperation and Development reported. The test, the Program for International Student Assessment, was given to 15-year-olds in 30 industrialized countries. On the science portion of the test, the average scores for American students were lower than those for 16 other countries. Americans scored lower than 23 other countries on the math section.