By Ian Sherr

More of china’s people wander their country and the world seeking work, love and community. Yet Beijing’s new magnetism pulls at them. Watch stories of hustle, stress, and solace on the streets of Beijing and beyond.

“Nesting”

(Beijing Beat was produced for the Washington Post’s “Emerging Voices” project, and published on the front page of the Washington Post website for nearly a week during the Beijing Olympic Games. The entire project is available at the Post’s website, here.)

By Ian Sherr

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Francesca Salcido went on 300 dates in 24 hours without breaking a sweat.

Her encounters with aspiring beaus happened online at SpeedDate.com, a US start-up built on a belief that it doesn’t take more than 90 seconds to find a life partner.

“We may be using webcams and Internet technologies, but you’re still trying to find that chemistry,” SpeedDate co-founder Dan Abelon told AFP. “And if it isn’t there, you just move on to the next person.”

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By Ian Sherr

BERKELEY — Maria is an engineering student at the University of California, Berkeley. She’s smart, she’s witty, and she’s driven. But when her sister disappeared in early September, she feared doing anything.

“I can’t report things to the police,” she said. “I’m afraid to. I’m afraid they would deport me.”

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