Cuts to U.S.-Backed Rights Groups Seen as a Win for China

The nonprofit groups track the imprisonment of Chinese political dissidents and the expansion of state censorship. They speak out for persecuted minority groups like the Uyghurs and Tibetans. And they help sustain attention on Beijing’s crackdown of freedoms in Hong Kong. The future of their work is now in question as Elon Musk’s government efficiency … Read more

Meet the Champion Who Memorized 80 Numbers in 13.5 Seconds

In early February, Vishvaa Rajakumar, a 20-year-old Indian college student, recently won the Memory League World Championship, an online competition pitting people against one another with challenges like memorizing the order of 80 random numbers faster than most people can tie a shoelace. The renowned neuroscientist Eleanor Maguire, who died in January, studied mental athletes … Read more

Where China’s Exports Begin: Inside the Vast Markets of Guangzhou

Rows of white concrete buildings near the Pearl River in southern China house one of the world’s fastest-growing industries: Gritty workshops are churning out inexpensive clothing that is exported straight to homes and small businesses around the world. No tariffs are paid, and no customs inspections are conducted. The laborers who make these goods earn … Read more