Asia
5:23 am
Mon April 30, 2012

China Restricts Social Media After Dissident Escapes

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 9:13 am

China is clamping down on social media as it grapples with a crisis over the escape of a high-profile dissident, apparently to U.S. protection. The case presents new difficulties for a Chinese leadership already struggling to deal with the scandalous downfall of a powerful politician, and it complicates U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Beijing this week.

Yet China's use of social media in dealing with these two recent crises has been a study in contrasts.

Read more
Sports
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

NBA Playoffs: First Round Is Action Packed

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 6:45 am

Teams in the NBA playoff have begun their quest to be the champion. The headline story of the weekend: Chicago superstar Derrick Rose is out with a torn knee ligament.

Africa
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Sudan Declares State Of Emergency

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 6:33 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

And let's turn now to Africa and a story we'll be following this week. Sudan has declared a state of emergency along its border with South Sudan, the new country there, further raising fears that these two nations are heading toward all-out war. Earlier this month, South Sudan invaded and briefly occupied Sudan's main oil field. This followed aerial bombardments of South Sudan's border regions by the Sudanese air force.

Read more
Business
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Business News

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 7:30 am

The International Labor Organization issued a report Monday warning that austerity measures imposed in many countries are hurting the job market, as well as failing to effectively reduce deficits. The major European economies received the brunt of the report's criticism. The report predicts a 3 percent rise in the global unemployment rate for 2012.

Middle East
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Egypt Recalls Its Ambassador From Saudi Arabia

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 7:03 am

Saudi Arabia is considering Egypt's request to restore diplomatic ties after the kingdom recalled its ambassador over the weekend. Relations between the two Arab countries are at their lowest point in three decades.

Analysis
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Politics In The News

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 6:26 am

Tuesday marks one year from the day President Obama announced to the nation that Osama bin Laden had been killed. To underline the significance of the anniversary, the administration sent its counter-terrorism expert out on the airwaves Sunday. It also launched a controversial campaign ad about the raid against the al-Qaida leader.

Business
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

The Last Word In Business

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 7:42 am

The structure will open in Tokyo next month. The building is nothing but a tower of steel and concrete — no offices, no apartments.

Business
5:18 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Eurozone Residents Strike Back At Austerity Measures

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 7:52 am

Steve Inskeep talks to John Peet, Europe Editor of The Economist about eurozone economies, and the backlash against austerity measures.

Author Interviews
3:37 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Caro's 'Passage of Power': LBJ's Political Genius

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 10:26 am

Robert Caro writes obsessively about power. Fittingly, it's Lyndon Johnson — catapulted suddenly into the presidency "in the crack of a gunshot" — who consumes him.

The Passage of Power, the fourth volume of Caro's massive biography of Lyndon Johnson, is released this week. Caro has dedicated decades to meticulously researching Johnson's life, and the previous books in the series have been almost universally hailed as a significant achievement in American letters.

Read more
Opinion
3:36 am
Mon April 30, 2012

Living To 100: The Story Of India's Pocket Hercules

Originally published on Mon April 30, 2012 8:39 am

A fad that has been sweeping through middle-class India might look familiar to some Americans — it's a craze for fancy gym equipment. But when commentator Sandip Roy visited India's first Mr. Universe (who is known as the "Pocket Hercules") he found that the body builder has little patience for the new trend.

Read more

Pages