State of Mankind

Chinese tennis star returns amid further worries; US project to develop hypersonic defense tech



Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai reappears after vanishing from the public eye. The International Olympic Committee confirmed her whereabouts, but her return is only prompting more doubts. Reporters or special agents? Some Chinese reporters appear to be tasked with special objectives. One professor, who worked in China, shares details about his unexpected interactions with them. A new U.S. project, aimed at countering Chinese military aggression, will develop new technology to defend against weapons that could bring nuclear warheads to America. China calls Australia “naughty,” while Australia responds by calling China “silly” and “funny,” over nuclear submarines.