A new level of invasive screening is scheduled for airports this summer: a portable DNA scanner to conduct on-site, real-time genetic testing. This technology is being implemented under the cover of combating human trafficking, illegal immigration, and finding missing persons, but Richard Seldon of NetBio, creator of the scanners, clearly states that "DNA information has the potential to become part of the fabric of day-to-day life." In an interview with Katie Drummond who broke this story for The Daily, Seldon envisions additional applications in emergency rooms, food safety tests, and law enforcement.

Police Union announces solidarity with students, workers, and Wisconsin residents occupying the State Capitol in Madison. February 24, 2011.

Reuters: Many protesters refuse to exit Wisconsin Capitol - Dozens of protesters against proposed legislation to weaken state public unions refused to leave the Wisconsin state capitol building on Sunday and police said they would be allowed to stay the night.

BEIJING — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday held an online forum in which he promised to focus on making the lives of ordinary people in China more comfortable and secure. Just a few hours later, Chinese police unleashed a show of force in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities to clamp down on public gatherings after a second week of overseas Internet-based calls for protests across the country. The combination of Wen's comments about government efforts to raise living standards, accompanied by a display of China's police state tactics aimed at squelching dissent, neatly laid out in one day's time the Chinese Communist Party's approach to avoiding the kind of unrest seen across the Arab world.

Afghan officials say the US-led NATO forces have been using internationally prohibited bombs against civilians in the war torn country. Last week, over 60 Afghan civilians lost their lives during NATO airstrikes on residential areas in the eastern province of Kunar.

Afghan studies on the unexploded munitions have revealed that each weapon is a combination of cluster and penetrator bombs. The studies say once the combination bomb breaks into 20 pieces before it touches the ground. Each piece then transforms into a penetrator warhead which burrows into the soil, causing an underground explosion. The device creates shockwaves that resemble an earth tremor. The blast kills every living thing within a small radius of its explosion. An experimental US weapon called Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) has a relatively small but effective blast radius.

PressTV: Probe: US killed 65 Afghan civilians

Judge Howard Riddle, the bane of Julian Assange's existence for the past three months, has granted Sweden's extradition request. The WikiLeaks founder has already repealed the ruling, but his worst fears have been cemented: the rape charges are going to follow him for the rest of his life, perhaps even after years of repeals. Former Reagan Administration Paul Craig Roberts says there is a concerted effort to shut Assange up. If the legal attempt fails, he'll be assassinated by a CIA assassination team.

Robert Stevens: Defend Julian Assange

Davis is the CIA contractor in jail in Lahore facing murder charges for the execution-slayings of two young men believed to be Pakistani intelligence operatives. Pakistani and Indian newspapers are reporting that Raymond Davis, the CIA contractor in jail in Lahore facing murder charges for the execution-slayings of two young men believed to be Pakistani intelligence operatives, was actually involved in organizing terrorist activities in Pakistan.

AWIP: Raymond Davis 'was acting head of CIA in Pakistan'

African mercenaries hired by the Gaddafi regime to kill Libyan protesters would be immune from prosecution for war crimes due to a clause in this weekend's UN resolution that was demanded by US. African mercenaries hired by the Gaddafi regime to kill Libyan protesters would be immune from prosecution for war crimes due to a clause in this weekend's UN resolution that was demanded by the United States. The UN Security Council agreed on Saturday evening to freeze international assets belonging to the Gaddafis and their key aides, to ban them from travelling and to block all arms sales to Tripoli. It also called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the killings of demonstrators. This inquiry could lead to senior Libyan ministers and officials being indicted to stand trial for crimes against humanity at The Hague and being given lengthy prison sentences.

Raw Story: Libya attacks could be crime against humanity: court
The Telegraph: EU agrees fresh sanctions against Gaddafi -Video
PressTV: Dictators use US weapons to kill people
WSWS: As Libyan rebels close in on Gaddafi, US and Europe ramp up intervention
Activist Post: Libyans: No Thanks to Globalist Intervention
Norman Livergood: Fake Revolutions

SAO PAULO - Brazilian police say 17 people were electrocuted during a freak accident during a large pre-Carnival parade. Police say Monday that fireworks lit by partygoers caused a power line to fall on a tightly packed crowd dancing behind a large sound truck. The accident happened late Sunday in the small town of Bandeiro do Sul in Minas Gerais state north of Rio. Such street parties are common across Brazil and involve a crush of people following behind a sound truck as it belts out music. A police spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to discuss the matter, said most of those killed on the street were hit directly by the downed power line. He says dozens of others were hurt. Carnival officially begins on Friday.

‘Anonymous’ targets the brothers Koch, claiming attempts ‘to usurp American Democracy’ [- What democracy???] The decentralized protest group "Anonymous" has a new target: no, it's not a middle eastern dictator, a major bank or even a bit player in the military-industrial complex. It's none other than tea party financiers Charles and David Koch, who were being targeted, an open letter stated, for their attempts "to usurp American Democracy."
"Koch Industries, and oligarchs like them, have most recently started to manipulate the political agenda in Wisconsin," an announcement posted to anonnews.org declared. "Governor Walker's union-busting budget plan contains a clause that went nearly un-noticed. This clause would allow the sale of publicly owned utility plants in Wisconsin to private parties (specifically, Koch Industries) at any price, no matter how low, without a public bidding process," they explained. "The Koch's have helped to fuel the unrest in Wisconsin and the drive behind the bill to eliminate the collective bargaining power of unions in a bid to gain a monopoly over the state's power supplies.

Seventeen years ago this past Friday, 30 Muslim worshippers were slaughtered while at prayer. 270 were severely injured. This took place in one of the holiest sites in Palestine, a site revered by both Jews and Muslims. It is the resting place of our common Father Abraham and his family. The massacre was carried out by a crazed Jewish settler from Brooklyn.

The site itself is a unique structure as it serves both as a mosque and a synagogue. When one enters, it is difficult not to feel the thousands of years of common history that these two peoples share. Today, it is difficult not to feel the lingering hatred in the area as a result of the zionist occupation and harassment.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu literally slapped the entire Palestinian Nation on the face when the following was announced…. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron and Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem would both be added to the list of national heritage sites that the government plans to promote. A full report can be read HERE. This move is a definite indication and admittance of the influence the extreme right and fascist elements have on the government of Israel today. Literally making money at the site of such a horrible tragedy is nothing less that revolting. THIS is also worth reading.

Pakistani diplomatic sources say the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is considering targeting Pakistani diplomats, in retaliation for the arrest of one of the agency's contractors. The sources also insist that the situation is increasingly turning out to be not merely a loss of the cover of a CIA spy, Raymond Davis, but, actually, the loss of a key asset of the notorious US spy agency, a report said on Saturday. "It is unlikely that they (American intelligence apparatus) would let it go without returning it to the Pakistani counterparts one way or the other," the Pakistani sources added. According to the report, the CIA is mulling over targeting Pakistani diplomats and intelligence agents across the world in an effort to pressure Islamabad to release Davis.

AWIP: Raymond Davis 'was acting head of CIA in Pakistan'

Forces loyal to Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi have heavily bombarded pro-democracy protesters, who are zeroing in on the capital, Tripoli. The bombardment was reported in Zawiyah, a city located some 50 kilometers west of Tripoli. The violence act came hours after demonstrators took control of the strategically important town. Two thousand people have been reported killed in the weeks-long violence. The embattled regime has recently used aerial attacks and poison gas against the peaceful protesters. Reports also say forces and foreign mercenaries loyal to Gaddafi have surrendered parts of Tripoli to pro-democracy protesters. The residents of some neighborhoods in the capital have barricaded their streets and are openly showing defiance. The anti-government demonstrations continue across Libya as more cities fall into protester control.

HuffPo: LIBYA ON THE BRINK
Al Arabiya: Gaddafi forces abandon Tripoli neighborhoods
BBC: Anti-Gadhafi Forces Take Control of Western City
Raw Story: Several west Libya towns in opposition hands: official

Two months ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor lit a match, starting a fire that has spread throughout the Arab world. Muhammad Bouazizi's self-immolation prompted anti-government protests that toppled the regime in Tunisia and then Egypt. The demonstrations have spread across a swath of the Middle East and North Africa. Here are the latest developments, including the roots of the unrest.

Tunisia Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announced his resignation on Sunday following a wave of street protests. Critics have accused Mr. Ghannouchi of being to close to the North African state’s former government, toppled in an uprising last month, and of failing to enact reforms. “My resignation will provide a better atmosphere for the new era,” he said, adding he wanted to prevent more victims in the country’s political unrest. Three people have been killed and several people wounded in clashes between security forces and demonstrators since Friday over Mr. Ghannouchi’s role in the interim government. “My resignation is in the service of the country,” he said on state TV.

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The toll from Christchurch's magnitude 6.3 earthquake stood at 147, New Zealand police said on Sunday. They plan to release two more victims' names on Monday, bringing to eight the total number of people officially named as fatalities from the quake. Superintendent Dave Cliff said more than 200 people were missing in the worst disaster of the city. People from more than 20 countries are among the dead, he said. Search and rescue teams continued to scour the rubble of buildings that collapsed in the earthquake on Tuesday, but no survivors have been found since Wednesday afternoon.