It sounds like something out of a dystopian science fiction novel, but it's not. A new report from a secretive, highly influential group of scientists is urging the Department of Defense to begin collecting and mapping the full genome of all military personnel -- a move that could well give the Pentagon the ability to select for certain genetic predispositions. Noting the dramatic decrease in the cost of fully mapping individuals' genomes, the report suggests that some traits relevant to war-fighting "are likely to have a strong genetic component, for which better understanding may lead to improved military capabilities." And, possibly even more attractive to the Pentagon brass, gene-mapping could even lead to "medical cost containment."

A group of unidentified "gunmen" in southwestern Pakistan have set ablaze 20 NATO tankers carrying oil to US-led soldiers stationed in war-hit Afghanistan. According to some witnesses, unidentified armed men on Friday night opened live ammunition on tankers at a time when the drivers were inside a roadside restaurant near Dera Murad Jamali in Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan, a Press TV correspondent reported on Saturday. There were no reports of casualties in the incident, but witnesses said the flames of fire spread to a nearby restaurant and a shop. The assailants were seen fleeing the area in their cars, but no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Witnesses have pointed to the late arrival of the police forces at the time of the attack.

Current Tunisian govt in State of Emergency after days of protests by students due to unemployment, limited freedoms, inflation. Live rounds fired at protesters. 'Revolution' started after an unemployed student burned himself to death in an act of protest. Lets get this story more air time.

Saudi Arabia has said that Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia's president for more than 23 years, and his family are in the kindgom, a day after they fled a mass uprising in their country. The departure came as a dramatic climax to weeks of violent protests against Ben Ali's rule in the north African nation and as the army struggled to tackle groups marauding through Tunis, the capital, setting fire to buildings and attacking people and property.

The unrest continued on Saturday even as Tunisia's Constitutional Court announced that the speaker of parliament, or Chamber of Deputies, Fouad Mebazaa, had been appointed the country's interim president. Mebazaa has up to 60 days to organise new presidential elections under the Tunisian constitution. Ben Ali had delegated Mohamed Ghannouchi, the prime minister, to act as head of state before leaving the country.

BusinessInsider: This Is The Wikileak That Sparked The Tunisian Crisis
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Xinhuanet: Ben Ali ousted: Tunisian constitution council
WSWS: Tunisian president flees the country
The Examiner: Tunisia’s president toppled by Twitter Revolution (photos/video)
PressTV: Tunisia to hold polls in 60 days
Khalid Amayreh: The Tyrant Gone

A US Marine has gunned down an Afghan uniformed police officer in Afghanistan's southwest Helmand province, the US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says. "According to initial reporting, an Afghan uniformed police officer and a US Marine had a dispute while conducting static security operations at a patrol base in Sangin district," Xinhua news agency quoted a statement issued by the ISAF on Saturday. "The individual failed to comply with the instructions and the Marine fired two rounds which resulted in the Afghan uniformed police member's death," the statement added.

A new account of the gruesome death of a village leader fighting for better compensation for seized land is renewing suspicions of police involvement and adding to a growing credibility issue for China's government. The latest report emerged Thursday, posted by reporter Liu Jianfeng of the China Economic Times newspaper on his blog after he spent eight days visiting Qian's Zhaiqiao village. It cited a witness who described seeing four men in helmets and dark blue riot police uniforms — without badges — using police batons to beat the tall and sturdy 53-year-old Qian to the ground. A red truck was parked on the road about 15 feet (five meters) away, Liu cited the witness as saying. "After they pinned him down, they waved and shouted to the truck to come over," he quoted the witness as saying. "The truck slowly drove over, and two of the men jumped aside while the other two held Qian down. Just behind the truck there were also about 20 men in riot police uniforms."

The unprecedented scale of undercover operations used by police to monitor Britain's political protest movements was laid bare last night after a third police spy was identified by the Guardian. News of the existence of the 44-year-old male officer comes as regulators prepare two separate official inquiries into the activities of this hitherto secret police surveillance network.

AWIP: Police officers in the UK have been undercover inside activist organisations for years, and are now being outed