US sees South America as possible China counter

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• US sees South America as possible China counter
• No. 1 Azarenka vs No. 2 Sharapova in Germany final
• Group: Blind Chinese activist under US protection
• Obama, Romney tweak strategies for tight race this fall
• Americans sweep top titles at Penn Relays
• Blind lawyer's escape to overshadow US-China talks
• Fla. boy struck by SUV, killed at softball game
• Heisman winner Bo Jackson's relief ride ends Sat
• Saudi closes embassy in Egypt following protests
• Sheriff: Body found in Wash. mountain bunker
• Clinton, Geithner Beijing trip going ahead: source
• Newcastle stunned by Wigan's fab four
• Online petition demands Walmart probe bribery
• PM pressed to investigate ally over Murdoch bid
• Israeli ex-intel chief slams PM's Iran stance
• Rams begin final day of draft with WR Givens
• Syria derides UN chief as peace plan in crisis
• Lorenzo takes pole in Spanish MotoGP
• Moderate earthquake shakes Southern California
• Pirate party makes a raid on German politics
• Escaped China activist in U.S. protection: rights group
• Who will Obama poke fun at during reporters' gala?
• Top Indian politician jailed for four years in bribe case
• Ukraine delays trial of fasting ex-PM Tymoshenko
• 1 year later, Ala residents recall deadly twisters
• Top Moroccan newspaper editor released from prison
• Large van bomb defused on Northern Ireland border
• Negotiators try to lure Wash. fugitive from bunker
• Kadhafi regime 'agreed to fund Sarkozy 2007 campaign'
• Pakistan wants apology for US border killings
• Polar bear dance party to protect Arctic Ocean
• Russia, China announce progress on $4 bn fund
• In Egypt race, figure from old era is secular hope
• Scandal highlights lack of women in Secret Service
• Gunmen kill 2 guards in attack on Afghan governor
• No more Droopy Drawers robbers; FBI agent retires
• Spain restores border checks ahead of ECB meeting
• IndyCar fines Panther Racing owner for tweet
• Vets navigate tough new terrain _ the job market
• Iraq leaders call for solution to political crisis

US sees South America as possible China counter Posted: In these days of shrinking U.S. defense budgets, the Obama administration is looking to South America to help monitor and protect the Asia-Pacific region in the years ahead.

No. 1 Azarenka vs No. 2 Sharapova in Germany final Posted: Top-ranked Victoria Azarenka will face No. 2 Maria Sharapova in the final of the Porsche Grand Prix on Sunday.

Group: Blind Chinese activist under US protection Posted: A blind legal activist who escaped house arrest in his Chinese village is under the protection of American officials, activists said Saturday, creating a diplomatic dilemma for the U.S. and Beijing days ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama, Romney tweak strategies for tight race this fall Posted: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After months of casting Republican Mitt Romney as someone who often changes positions for political convenience, President Barack Obama's campaign is calling Romney a far-right conservative - a contradictory set of messages that essentially invites voters to decide what they don't like about Romney. And Romney, who has built his campaign around declaring Obama a failure - particularly on the economy - began sounding a more positive note this week, offering hints about his vision for governing if he defeats the Democratic president in the November 6 election. ...

Americans sweep top titles at Penn Relays Posted: Reigning 100-meter world champion Carmelita Jeter and last year's 100 and 200 world runner-up, Walter Dix, anchored US 4x100 relay routs of Jamaica on Saturday at the Penn Relays.

Blind lawyer's escape to overshadow US-China talks Posted: Less than a week before annual U.S.-Chinese diplomatic and economic talks, relations between the powers risked sharply deteriorating Saturday with an escaped Chinese activist reportedly under American protection and a U.S. fighter jet sale to Taiwan now being considered.

Fla. boy struck by SUV, killed at softball game Posted: The wife of the police chief in a central Florida community accidentally ran over a family friend's 22-month-old son in a parking lot, authorities said.

Heisman winner Bo Jackson's relief ride ends Sat Posted: Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson is nearing the end of his 300-mile bike ride across Alabama

Saudi closes embassy in Egypt following protests Posted: Saudi Arabia closed its Cairo embassy Saturday and recalled its ambassador following protests over a detained Egyptian human rights lawyer in a sharp escalation of tension between two regional powerhouses already on shaky terms due to uprisings in the Arab world.

Sheriff: Body found in Wash. mountain bunker Posted: After a nearly 23-hour standoff, police blew up the top of an elaborate bunker in the Cascade Mountains on Saturday and found the body of a man inside — believed to be that of a survivalist wanted in the deaths of his wife and daughter last weekend.

Clinton, Geithner Beijing trip going ahead: source Posted: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A trip to Beijing by the U.S. secretaries of state and treasury for talks on strategic and economic issues next week is going forward, a U.S. State Department source said on Saturday. "We're going," the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy 's travel to China for the May 3-4 Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) consultations. (Reporting by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Jackie Frank)

Newcastle stunned by Wigan's fab four Posted: Newcastle's bid for Champions League qualification suffered a reality check on Saturday as Wigan eased their relegation fears with a thumping 4-0 win over the Magpies.

Online petition demands Walmart probe bribery Posted: An online petition started by a Walmart employee urging the retail giant to reform and investigate misconduct over a bribery scandal at a Mexican subsidiary had gathered some 4,700 signatures late Friday.

PM pressed to investigate ally over Murdoch bid Posted: LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron faced growing pressure on Saturday to launch a probe into the conduct of a minister criticised over his handling of a Rupert Murdoch television takeover bid, after a judge conducting a parallel inquiry refused to intervene. Cameron, enduring the worst crisis of his two years in power as the economy stagnates, has given his full backing to culture minister Jeremy Hunt, who was responsible for vetting media baron Murdoch's bid to take control of the country's biggest satellite TV firm BSkyB. ...

Israeli ex-intel chief slams PM's Iran stance Posted: The former head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency has accused the country's political leaders of exaggerating the effectiveness of a possible military attack on Iran, in a striking indication of Israel's turmoil over how to deal with the Iranian nuclear program.

Rams begin final day of draft with WR Givens Posted: Wide receivers and more trades were trendy Saturday in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

Syria derides UN chief as peace plan in crisis Posted: Syria derided U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon as biased and called his comments "outrageous" Saturday after he blamed the regime for widespread cease-fire violations — the latest sign of trouble for an international peace plan many expect to fail.

Lorenzo takes pole in Spanish MotoGP Posted: Spain's 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo recorded his 46th career pole position here on Saturday when he posted the fastest time in qualifying for the Spanish MotoGP.

Moderate earthquake shakes Southern California Posted: Some Southern Californians were shaken out of bed Saturday morning by a small earthquake that rattled homes across the Inland Empire region and caused buildings to sway in downtown Los Angeles.

Pirate party makes a raid on German politics Posted: Pirates are capturing Germany's political system.

Escaped China activist in U.S. protection: rights group Posted: BEIJING (Reuters) - Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is under U.S. protection in Beijing after an audacious escape from 19 months under house arrest, a U.S.-based group said on Saturday, in a drama that threatens to ignite new tensions between the two governments. The United States has not confirmed publicly reports that Chen, who slipped away from under the noses of guards and eyes and ears of surveillance equipment around his village home in Shandong province, fled into the U.S. embassy. ...

Who will Obama poke fun at during reporters' gala? Posted: President Barack Obama mocked Donald Trump's White House ambitions in biting remarks at last year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

Top Indian politician jailed for four years in bribe case Posted: A former top leader of India's main opposition Hindu nationalist party was jailed for four years on Saturday for accepting a bribe in a fake arms deal that was a media sting operation.

Ukraine delays trial of fasting ex-PM Tymoshenko Posted: A Ukrainian court adjourned until May 21 on Saturday the new tax evasion trial of the jailed and fasting former premier Yulia Tymoshenko on account of her failing health.

1 year later, Ala residents recall deadly twisters Posted: People across Alabama are remembering the horror of a deadly twister outbreak a year ago that left more than 250 people dead. Memorials have been held in the college town of Tuscaloosa and smaller communities still struggling to rebuild since April 27, 2011. Empty lots and debris still remain in many areas lain to waste after 62 tornadoes tore through the state.

Top Moroccan newspaper editor released from prison Posted: A top Moroccan newspaper editor, convicted and jailed under the penal code for his writings, was freed Saturday after serving a year in prison.

Large van bomb defused on Northern Ireland border Posted: British army experts defused a 600-pound (275-kilogram) van bomb Saturday on the Northern Ireland border, the largest such bomb in more than a year linked to Irish Republican Army die-hards.

Negotiators try to lure Wash. fugitive from bunker Posted: Police kept the rugged underground bunker of Washington state murder suspect surrounded for a second day Saturday as negotiators arrived by helicopter to try to coax its occupant into surrendering.

Kadhafi regime 'agreed to fund Sarkozy 2007 campaign' Posted: Moamer Kadhafi's regime agreed to fund French President Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign to the tune of 50 million euros, a news website reported Saturday, publishing what it said was documentary evidence.

Pakistan wants apology for US border killings Posted: American attempts to rebuild its relationship with Pakistan appear to be stuck on the issue of a U.S. apology for killing 24 Pakistani border troops last November.

Polar bear dance party to protect Arctic Ocean Posted: A polar bear dance party in Miami is aimed at raising awareness about the need to protect the Arctic Ocean.

Russia, China announce progress on $4 bn fund Posted: Russia and China on Saturday firmed up plans to raise capital for a joint $4 billion investment fund as a top Chinese official, who is set to be the next premier, visited for talks.

In Egypt race, figure from old era is secular hope Posted: In the race to become the first president of the new Egypt, the secular candidate with the strongest chance of beating increasingly powerful Islamists has to overcome the baggage he brings from the old Egypt.

Scandal highlights lack of women in Secret Service Posted: Secret Service agents are often portrayed in popular culture as disciplined, unflappable, loyal — and male. A spiraling prostitution scandal that has highlighted the dearth of women in the agency that protects the president and dignitaries has many wondering: Would more females in the ranks prevent future dishonor?

Gunmen kill 2 guards in attack on Afghan governor Posted: Two Taliban militants hiding handguns in their shoes slipped into a provincial governor's compound in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, setting off a fierce gunbattle that left two security guards and both attackers dead.

No more Droopy Drawers robbers; FBI agent retires Posted: FBI agent Harry Trombitas took bank robberies seriously, but not always the people who committed them.

Spain restores border checks ahead of ECB meeting Posted: Spain temporarily restored border checks in its northeast and at two major airports early Saturday in a bid to discourage protesters entering the country ahead of a European Central Bank meeting in Barcelona.

IndyCar fines Panther Racing owner for tweet Posted: IndyCar has fined Panther Racing owner John Barnes and placed him on probation until the end of the year for posting a critical comment on Twitter.

Vets navigate tough new terrain _ the job market Posted: Matthew Saldana proved himself in a world where stress, danger and life-and-death decisions were routine. He served one tour in Iraq and a second in Afghanistan. But the Army veteran is having a harder time back home navigating a calmer but uncertain terrain — the job market.

Iraq leaders call for solution to political crisis Posted: Leaders from nearly all of Iraq's top political blocs called Saturday for a solution to a crisis pitting the Shiite-led government against Sunnis and Kurds, saying the dispute threatens the country's national interests.

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