He is supposed to get the job done now: new US commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus (right) and President Barack Obama.

General McChrystal is gone but the Afghanistan problem remains – By Thomas Ruttig

Afghanistan is a country accustomed to seismological tremors. In late June, it experienced a veritable political earthquake, when the spartan, functional and seemingly almost infallible General Stanley McChrystal, commander-in-chief of all US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, disqualified himself for that office in a fit of pique. Stepping into his place is General David Petraeus – “his boss,” as one Kabul taxi driver dryly noted.

Washington made every effort to signal there would be continuity. President Barack Obama stressed that “this is a change in personnel but it is not a change in policy.”

Foreign companies accuse the Chinese of discrimination in the awarding of public contracts – By Michael Winckler

German businesses operating in China are raising the alarm over a growing trend toward protectionism. They believe Beijing is tailoring contracts to favor domestic companies.

Excellent technique, excellent legwork: Timo Boll is a table tennis superstar.

The German table tennis player Timo Boll is feared and revered in equal measure in China – By Frank Bachner

For years, Timo Boll has been the only European able to challenge China’s table tennis superstars. Training centers there have even recruited Boll stand-ins to mimic his game and for Chinese players to practice against.

It’s 5 a.m. and a group of revelers spill out of Sub, one of Düsseldorf’s most fashionable nightclubs. Timo Boll is the last to leave. He always is when the group goes out. This was not shown on Chinese television. As the German table tennis players celebrated into the early hours, the Chinese camera teams were already tucked away in bed.