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Here’s what you need to know
Donald Trump returned to work. Fresh out of the hospital, the US president ordered his administration to stop negotiating a fiscal stimulus package until after the November election. US markets dived after Trump’s tweet, but less dire revised forecasts from the International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization improved the economic mood earlier in the day.
TikTok’s day in court has also been delayed until after the US presidential election. A US judge scheduled a hearing for Nov. 4—one day after the vote—to determine whether or not aspects of Trump’s executive order that would effectively ban TikTok in the US will be enacted.
Apple, on the other hand, isn’t waiting for November. The world’s most-valuable public company sent out “invites” to an Oct. 13 event with the tagline “Hi, Speed.” The company is expected to reveal its iPhone 12 lineup of 5G-enabled devices and new over-the-ear headphones.
Now, who’s ready for 2021? The International Olympic Committee is reviewing a “simplification” of the postponed Tokyo summer games that would cut out fringe elements of the event for 1-2% overall cost savings. In other Olympic news, the UK is considering a boycott of the 2022 Beijing winter games over human rights abuses against Uyghur minorities.
Alas, some things never change. India’s largest retail chain, Reliance Retail, announced yet another deal on Tuesday—this time, a $750 million investment from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The infusion comes just weeks after Silicon Valley private equity firm Silver Lake splashed ₹7,500 crore ($1 billion) on a 1.75% stake in the company, which has been relentlessly raising funds throughout the year.
Charting global views of China
China is more disliked globally than ever before. A new study by the Pew Research Center shows that unfavorable views of China have reached historic highs in a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, Beijing’s heavy-handed crackdown on Hong Kong, and growing awareness of the government’s repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
Australia recorded the steepest rise in negative perceptions of China, while in the US, unfavorable views of the Middle Kingdom have climbed steadily, increasing nearly 30% since president Donald Trump took office. Japan’s intense dislike of its neighbor, on the other hand, predates Trump and hasn’t much changed.
We’re tracking all the reasons global perceptions might change in our Because China obsession.
Dashboard confessional
There is no simpler way for the average person to analyze a large dataset than the pivot table. Perhaps the most powerful tool in the spreadsheet wizard’s toolbox, the pivot table allows anyone to summarize thousands of rows of data in just a few clicks. Our history and explanation of the tool will help you understand why Steve Jobs thought pivot tables were the “coolest thing ever.”
Dive into this week’s field guide on navigating the data deluge for an essential list of Covid-19 data resources and tutorials to help you fully understand the torrent of data points provided by the pandemic.
✦ If you’re thinking about a pivot in which news sources you subscribe to, perhaps a free trial of Quartz membership will help your decision.
How to do reparations
As the US continues to debate paying reparations to Black Americans over slavery, Quartz’s latest special project looks at how reparations would actually work. This series examines the economic, logistical, and ethical questions underpinning reparations policies to understand how they might be eventually put into practice, from the responsibility corporations have to make up for a history of racism, to what the UK owes its former colonies.
What China hopes to gain from Africa. Join us on Oct. 8 from 9:30-10:30am US ET for our virtual event about China’s influence on African economies. In this event, Quartz Africa editor Yinka Adegoke welcomes leading thinkers to explain China-Africa relations and provide resources on how you can stay up to date on this area of the global economy.
Surprising discoveries
Apple is tougher on predatory lenders than the US government. Financial rules adopted by Apple’s app store underscore the unequal access to credit in the US.
Are those fancy fresh raspberries from Chile? Or just the freezer?
There’s a new ugliest jersey in sports. The Rapha-Palace cycling jersey is so bad that it’s briefly good again then quickly, utterly, and terminally terrible.
A dinosaur was saved from extinction. Gunnersaurus, the mascot of Arsenal Football Club, was rescued from unemployment when a star player offered to cover the creature’s wages.
A Taipei nightclub hosts events for people with autism. Organizers say it helps members of the community feel safe and relaxed.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, legitimately fancy raspberries, and ugly jerseys to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Mary Hui, Jackie Bischof, Liz Webber, and Max Lockie.