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Reporter’s NotebookBy Jim Maceda, NBC News Correspondent
ELEKTROSTAL, Russia – Electric Steel – “Elektrostal” in Russian – is the epitome of a “one-company town” whose citizens traditionally either worked at, or depended on, the heavy machine factory that bears the town’s name. About an hour’s drive from Moscow, Electric Steel became, starting in the 1930’s, [...]

By NBC News’ Karim Hilmi
BAGHDAD – With President Barack Obama’s announcement on Friday that the U.S. will withdraw its combat forces from Iraq by late summer of 2010, some Iraqis say they fear that such a move could lead to a resurgence of violence.
“Terrorists are just waiting for the Americans to leave the country in order to [...]

By Ali Arouzi, NBC News Producer
BUSHEHR, Iran – As we were bused from the airport in the southwestern coastal city of Bushehr toward Iran’s nuclear power plant, the most noticeable feature was the large number of anti-aircraft guns dotted across the landscape to protect the facility from attack. 
It was a rare occasion – after [...]

As Mexico’s drug violence spills into the U.S. and officials warn tourists of the danger, Mexican officials say more than 90 percent of all drug trafficking weapons are obtained from dealers and gun shows in the U.S. NBC News’ Mark Potter reports.

VIDEO: Mexican drug runners powered by U.S. guns
Related links: Mexican cartels’ drugs, mayhem hit [...]

Just a few months ago, Dubai was awash in oil money, but now there are signs that the mega-city’s bubble has burst. NBC News’ Martin Fletcher reports.

VIDEO: Decadent Dubai hit by hard times…(read more)