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Activists report dozens, possibly hundreds, of deaths. They blame Syrian troops and militias loyal to President Bashar Assad. His regime denies the fresh allegations.

By resisting efforts at the United Nations to bring concerted pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad to end the killing in his country, Russia is helping keep the regime in power, she says.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she plans to get off the "high-wire" of politics after she wraps up her tenure as secretary of state, but she's still questioned about her political future wherever she goes. NPR's Michele Kelemen gives a behind-the-scenes account of Clinton's most recent swing through Asia.

The secretary of state isn't putting a timetable on when he will be allowed to leave China, but says progress is being made on the high-profile case.

The plight of Chinese dissident Chen Guangdeng has overshadowed the strategic and economic talks between the United States and China this week. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner traveled to Asia for this high-level annual summit, and found themselves answering questions about human rights in one of their biggest economic partners. James Fallows of The Atlantic writes frequently about China, and he talks to weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz about what was achieved in Beijing.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has left China, after a diplomatic roller coaster of a trip, revolving around the fate of activist Chen Guangcheng, who still remains in a Beijing hospital. NPR's Louisa Lim tells host Scott Simon that Friday night, China hinted it would let Chen apply for permission to study overseas.

China's Foreign Ministry said today that Chen Guangcheng may apply to study at a university outside China. If he is allowed to do that, it could resolve the diplomatic crisis over the activist's fate.

Chen Guangcheng now says he fears for his family's safety and that he wishes he hadn't left the U.S. embassy on Wednesday. American officials are trying to help, but it's not clear what they can do.

Chen Guangcheng escaped from house arrest on April 22 and sought refuge at the U.S. embassy in Beijing. After negotiations, Chinese authorities said they would allow him to live freely and study at a university. But darker reports are emerging.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading to China — and into a firestorm — after a high-profile dissident's daring escape from house arrest. Chen Guangcheng is now said to be under U.S. protection. Human rights activists say the case is a test for both China and the Obama administration.