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China Watches As Washington Debates Debt

The U.S. debt stalemate is of particular concern to China, the largest single holder of U.S. government debt. Guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with Eswar Prasad, former head of the International Monetary Fund's China division.

China Watches As Washington Debates Debt

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How Bin Laden's Death Has Affected Al-Qaida
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How Bin Laden's Death Has Affected Al-Qaida

Fresh Air

CNN's national security analyst Peter Bergen just returned from Pakistan, where he visited the town where Osama bin Laden was killed. He talks about the various conspiracy theories surrounding bin Laden's death — and how al-Qaida has changed in recent years.

How Bin Laden's Death Has Affected Al-Qaida

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In Japan, Holding Onto Political Reins Proves Elusive

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan speaks during a news conference in Tokyo in May. The beleaguered leader is expected to step down in coming weeks. Koji Sasahara/AP hide caption

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Koji Sasahara/AP

Rebuilding Japan

In Japan, Holding Onto Political Reins Proves Elusive

For months, critics have called for the resignation of Japan's much-unloved prime minister, Naoto Kan. The frailty of the country's leadership reflects the fact that Japan has yet to enjoy a fully democratic political system.

In Japan, Holding Onto Political Reins Proves Elusive

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The Quest For Kosher Among China's Other Billion

Michael Levy enjoys a game of Mahjiang with local youth. Courtesy Of The Author hide caption

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Courtesy Of The Author

World

The Quest For Kosher Among China's Other Billion

After the Sept. 11 attacks, author Michael Levy joined the Peace Corps. He was sent to China's poorest province, where he struggled to keep kosher and discovered that locals view religion and patriotism in ways many Americans do not expect. Levy discusses his experience with host Michel Martin.

The Quest For Kosher Among China's Other Billion

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China Fears U.S. Debt Default, But Has Few Options

Senior Chinese official Dai Bingguo and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shake hands before their meetings in Shenzhen, China, on Monday. Saul Loeb/AP hide caption

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Saul Loeb/AP

China Fears U.S. Debt Default, But Has Few Options

The country owns almost $1.2 trillion of the U.S. debt. Diplomats have been expressing concern over a potential default, and while they may use the moment to win political points, experts say there's not much else they can do. They're "along for the ride," one analyst says.

China Fears U.S. Debt Default, But Has Few Options

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China Orders Safety Checks After Bullet Train Crash

The deadly collision involving two bullet trains in China last weekend is only one of many problems in the country's high-speed rail network. It's also plagued by corruption, undermining safety standards. A proud technological achievement has become an embarrassment.

China Orders Safety Checks After Bullet Train Crash

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Pakistan Bids To Change Minds Of Swat Radicals

Pakistani boys attend the rehabilitation school Sabaoon in Malakand, adjacent to Pakistan's Swat Valley, in July 2010. Anjum Naveed/AP hide caption

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Anjum Naveed/AP

Pakistan Bids To Change Minds Of Swat Radicals

The same Pakistani army that crushed the Taliban extremists two years ago in the Swat Valley is trying to deradicalize 200 young militants from that conflict. Doctors, teachers and psychologists are taking up the challenge.

Pakistan Bids To Change The Minds Of Swat Radicals

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China's Professional Queuers Paid To Stand Around

Customers line up at an Apple store for the launch of the iPhone 4 in Shanghai in 2010. Lines for everything from luxury handbags to social service programs can go on for days — literally. One entrepreneur in Shanghai will wait in line for you, for around $3 an hour. Eugene Hoshiko/AP hide caption

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Eugene Hoshiko/AP

China's Professional Queuers Paid To Stand Around

In China, lines are everywhere: from eight different queues at the hospital to a week-long camp-out for admission to a kindergarten. Li Qicai has made a career out of waiting in line for clients who pay about $3 an hour. "You don't need any skills, except the ability to suffer," he says.

China's Professional Queuers Paid To Stand Around

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Crash Raises Doubts On China's Fast-Rail Plans

A wrecked train carriage is lifted from the scene of a crash Saturday involving two trains in Wenzhou, in China's Zhejiang province. ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images hide caption

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ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images

Crash Raises Doubts On China's Fast-Rail Plans

Beijing plans to expand the high-speed rail network — already the world's biggest — to link far-flung regions. But Saturday's accident that killed dozens of people has underscored doubts about the system's safety. A 2-year-old girl was reportedly pulled alive from the wreckage almost a day after the crash.

U.S. Strengthens Ties To Asian Regional Grouping

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has little capacity to enforce its decisions, or even keep member states such as Thailand and Cambodia from fighting. But it aspires to be the linchpin of Asia's security architecture, and the U.S. is building ties to the group.

U.S. Strengthens Ties To Asian Regional Grouping

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For Chinese Moms, Birth Means 30 Days In Pajamas

New parents Wu Lili (left) and Mo Shiwei hold their 29-day-old baby boy. The new mom is staying at the Weige center in Beijing, which provides luxury accommodation and 24-hour nursing staff to woman who are participating in the Chinese tradition of "sitting the month." Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption

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Andrea Hsu/NPR

Culture And Traditions

For Chinese Moms, Birth Means 30 Days In Pajamas

The age-old tradition known as "sitting the month" has strict rules. New moms are not allowed to shower, eat raw vegetables or drink cold water. Still, there are some modern twists: Wealthy mothers are paying to stay in luxury confinement centers with round-the-clock supervision from nurses.

For Chinese Moms, Birth Means 30 Days In Pajamas

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Pakistan's Insurgency Begins At Red Mosque

Pakistan faces a devastating insurgency. Pam Constable, a reporter for The Washington Post, recalls the moment when that insurgency began. She talks to Steve Inskeep about clerics preaching against the U.S. and Pakistani governments. By 2007, the Red mosque was stockpiling weapons.

Pakistan's Insurgency Begins At Red Mosque

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Sports

World Cup: U.S. Loses To Japan On Penalty Kicks

The U.S. women's World Cup team lost to Japan in the tournament's final match on Sunday. The Americans lost on penalty kicks after overtime expired with the teams tied at 2-2.

World Cup: U.S. Loses To Japan On Penalty Kicks

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