* Violent protests precede Senegal's elections—unusual for a country with free voting since the late 19th century. * U.S. labor-force participation rate of foreign-born in 2010: 68%; native-born rate: 64%. * 130,000 displaced by fighting in Mali since mid-January. * Somalia gives up on central
* UN report on Syrian human rights situation depicts horrifying atrocities. * Since 2000, six police officers have been killed by members of the "sovereign citizen" movement, who argue they are not subject to laws. * Japan questions its safety net following the starvation death of a couple in their 60s
* Afghan Koran protests spread and rage; Taliban urges attacks. * China, Russia, Iran—though not Hamas—all reaffirm support for Syria. * Civil rights activist defends The Help as this year's "most outstanding and socially relevant motion picture." * Website connects flying families in need with registered babysitters on
* Former envoy opines on the first post-Jong-il meeting. * Hong Kongers outraged over mainlanders arriving to birth children, who then get 12 years of school, free visas. * "Dude," the quintessential American slang term, may have been brought to the U.S. by immigrants. * Once thought headed to
* Mugabe vows to cling to power, says he has died and been resurrected more times than Jesus Christ. * "BBC Transcript to Be Used in Wake of Nuclear Attack." * "Jerusalem Syndrome," or why some people go crazy in Jerusalem. * "Paris syndrome" mainly affects Japanese who
* FDA addresses cancer drug shortages: temporarily allows import, approves new supplier. * Journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Rémi Ochlik killed during rocket attack in Syria. * On paper, Santorum is a GOP dream, and a draw for many swing voters, but look closer and he doesn't add up. * Ignoring
* Eurozone agrees on second bailout for Greece; worriers wonder if default will come anyway. * Friday was the last time that francs could be exchanged for Euros. * Americans report record-high feelings for Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, and India. * Until recently, elections—"though blatantly unfree and unfair"—were at
* By framing the Tea Party as yokels and ignoring context, British coverage of U.S. politics feeds anti-Americanism. * Three scenes inspired by the Gingrich campaign. * For 14 years, an investigator has been tracking down NASA's 184 missing moon rocks. * New bus ad in London will be able
{image-1} Every Friday we take a look back at the week’s headlines, centering on a theme we’ve singled out as particularly important. This week fighting raged and little heed was paid to Valentine’s Day. The more everyone fought, the less sense they made, and damn if
* Pulitzer-winning article about the Iraq War from Anthony Shadid, who died yesterday in Syria. * Foreclosure quilts: Our current economy mapped using remnants and found cloth. * Former Liberian first lady introduces bill to kill homosexuals. * Trackers and rangers stalk each other in a war over the worth-more-than-cocaine
