NATO’s June death toll in Afghanistan nears 100

The death toll for foreign soldiers in Afghanistan neared the grim milestone of 100 for June alone Monday as the CIA chief warned the anti-Taliban war would be tougher and longer than expected.

U.S. Charges 11 in Russian Spy Case

Federal authorities charged 11 people Monday with belonging to a long-running Russian program to plant secret agents inside the U.S.

Leaving China.

This is a good time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. I’ve seen so many changes in Shanghai and US-China relations over the last decade that it’s easy to lose perspective.

Before America, Fu Sang

Start with the fact that no white man discovered America, not even those sea-savvy Vikings. It was the Chinese, more than four thousand years ago.

Village Girl, City Divorce

Guihua had changed. She could go everywhere in the city and do everything by herself with confidence now. When she changed out of her native clothes, she looked like an ordinary girl of the city.

Cosas que dejé en La Habana

Three Cuban sisters arrive in Madrid. Spain offers more economic opportunities but not the warmth and colour of their island. The constant struggle between money vs. love, economic opportunity vs. home shows a real picture of nowadays migrations.

Folk Girls Night: Bloody Woods

Founded by folk artist Anna White, Bloody Woods performs a strange mix of folk musics from across cultures. Lin Mo opens with her carefully crafted singer-songwriter gems.

If I Had a (Few Hundred) Million Dollars…

When I first learned about China’s attempt to acquire ailing magazine, Newsweek, my imagination shifted into overdrive.

Made in China at the cup – Businessmen gamble on African market

Local fans may have been disappointed by China’s absence at the South Africa World Cup, but businessmen have something to cheer about. Many Chinese companies are carefully positioning themselves to pounce on the finals and semifinals, grabbing sponsorship deals that they hope will springboard their products into new markets.

Non-bank payment agents to be licensed

Alipay, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has been recognized by the central bank as a non-bank third-party payment business.