Activist Chen can study in US, say Chinese authorities

The US and China have forged the outlines of a deal to end a diplomatic stand-off over legal activist Chen Guangcheng, with Beijing saying he can apply to go abroad for study and Washington saying he has been offered an American fellowship.

After three days of fraught, behind-the-scenes and emotional calls by Mr Chen from a guarded hospital room, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said progress had been made in granting the activist’s wish to take his family abroad.