Finance

National Institutes of Health Adds DOGE to Its Financial Operations

According to multiple sources, four members of Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force have been placed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). WIRED's investigation reveals not only the identities of these DOGE representatives but also their access to some of the NIH's sensitive financial systems.

Government records examined by WIRED confirm that the four DOGE affiliates have email addresses linked to the NIH, the US federal agency focused on health research. Internal documents further show that three of these individuals are working in the department responsible for managing the NIH’s central electronic business system, which encompasses finance, budgeting, procurement, property management, and grant tracking.

TECH

China’s Shenzhen Makes Bold $22 Billion Investment in Tech Sector

Shenzhen, China’s southern tech hub, is positioning itself to "fully compete" in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence, announcing an investment of 160 billion yuan (US$22.07 billion) for the year in "new-type infrastructure." The city’s leadership has urged residents to take on challenges with the resilience of a "seabird braving the storm."

During his work report on Tuesday, Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong used a metaphor, emphasizing that difficulties must be confronted with "the courage of a seabird that thrives amidst storms." He further stressed the need for the city to "prioritize action, embrace responsibility, and make the most of positive factors to drive high-quality development progressively."

These statements come as Shenzhen, often referred to as China's Silicon Valley, faces increasing competition from other cities, especially Hangzhou in the east. There, AI start-up DeepSeek and robotics company Unitree have garnered international recognition.

CRYPTO

Bitcoin Hits Sub-$90,000 Mark Amid Worldwide Jitters and Bybit Hack

On Tuesday, Bitcoin fell below $90,000, hitting its lowest point since November 18, as concerns over U.S. tariffs compounded the blow to crypto investor confidence from last week's $1.5 billion ether hack at the Bybit exchange. The world's largest cryptocurrency by market value was last down 7.25%, trading at $87,169.76. Global investors are on edge due to signs that the U.S. economy's exceptionalism may be waning, with President Donald Trump planning to implement new tariffs.