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Two stories out of China — the escape of a blind dissident from house arrest and the corruption scandal involving a top politician and his family — have attracted international attention. But inside China, the picture is different. The government has successfully suppressed the story about the dissident, Chen Guangcheng, such that most Chinese have never even heard of him. The Communist Party has waged a smear campaign against the fallen official, Bo Xilai, whom citizens see as a loser in a power struggle, a corrupt politician or both.

As political leaders try to reach a deal to avoid automatic spending cuts and tax increases at the year's end, income tax rates are a major sticking point. President Obama wants to raise taxes for some; Republicans don't want any hikes. But if nothing is done, rates could go up across the board.

The nomination of top White House lawyer Harriet Miers to replace the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court draws mixed reviews from both sides of the political aisle. Conservative Republicans aren't happy.

Belarus will hold presidential elections Sunday, and the current president, Alexander Lukashenko, is widely expected to win. The European Union and the United States accuse Lukashenko of crushing human rights, and warn of new punitive measures if the election is declared unfair.

Ukraine invaded Russia this week - an attack that was shocking in scope and execution. Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into western Russia is now in its fifth day.

And now another chapter in our series on African-American lives. NPR conducted a poll of African Americans with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. The survey found optimism but many respondents expressed fears about the economy.

Inflation eased slightly in August thanks to falling gasoline prices, but the cost of many essentials continues to climb, including soaring power bills that are straining family budgets.

Weisselberg pleaded guilty to counts ranging from grand larceny to falsifying business records, becoming the latest person close to Donald Trump to plead guilty or be convicted at trial of a felony.

Finals weekend in tennis at the Australian Open; Mikaela Shiffrin continues her history-making run; and four NFL teams play tomorrow for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Senate Republicans released their version of a tax overhaul. On the House side, representatives will debate their measure next week. There's a lot to do if they want to honor the president's deadline.