Li's trip to further cement China-Africa ties

China is due to sign agreements with African nations on petroleum, agriculture and infrastructure during Premier Li Keqiang's maiden visit to Africa since taking office.

Separatists take more Ukrainian buildings

Pro-Russian separatists seized control of state buildings in the town of Horlivka on Wednesday, tightening their grip on swathes of Ukraine's industrial east almost unopposed by police.

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Xinjiang hopes to prove that the west is best

In 2010, the central government decided to establish a Special Economic Zone in Kashgar city in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Documents prove the truth can't be buried

In 1990, Zhao Yujie, a young teacher of Japanese at a high school, decided to fully exploit her linguistic skills by applying for a job at Jilin Provincial Archives.

Germs, gases and guns

In Harbin's Pingfang district stand several old Japanese-style buildings that provide a striking contrast with the modern architecture surrounding them.

Living life on the record

There's a popular perception of archivists - sedate, learned, confidential, and happy to work behind the scenes. However, the truth is somewhat different.

Race to remember story of resistance

The faces of the dead are deeply imprinted on the memory of Liu Chun-sing, an 87-year-old former soldier of the East River Brigade, who saw his friends and colleagues fall during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).

Resisting the invaders

"The brigade had limited military success against the Japanese during the occupation," said Chan Sui-jeung, whose book about the Hong Kong Kowloon Brigade has been widely cited.

Strait talking

Facing out across the ocean, the ruined hulks of huge loudspeakers dominate the eastern shore of Dadeng, a leafy island of 20,000 residents that lies off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian province.

A place out of time

First person | Ni Wen and Hong Chunji

Waiting for the mail

Hong Chunji, 60, (1971-89)