Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
Donald Trump returned to work… Fresh out of the hospital, and working from a desolate White House, 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. Vice president Mike Pence may be called on to explain the move from behind a plexiglass barrier at his debate with Democratic rival Kamala Harris later today (or in the wee hours of Thursday for UK/Europe).
…while US military chiefs went into quarantine. The growing White House Covid-19 cluster now includes a Coast Guard admiral who attended a Sept. 27 event. Following that positive test, most members of the Pentagon’s joint chiefs are isolating at home.
The UK is mulling a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab hinted the country could withdraw from the 2022 winter games if China continues human rights abuses against its Uyghur minorities. Separately, Britain and Europe’s Brexit negotiators are expected to keep trying to hammer out a trade deal, despite bad blood over the UK’s move to override its EU withdrawal deal.
A US House report said Big Tech enjoys “monopoly power.” In a 450-page report, the antitrust subcommittee recommended reforms that could potentially result in parts of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Facebook being separated, or make future acquisitions more difficult.
Greece determines the fate of a notorious neo-Nazi group. Thousands will march in Athens against racism as a court prepares to issue a verdict in the trial of a member of Golden Dawn, a violent yet influential far-right group implicated in the 2013 murder of a young rapper known for his anti-racism activism.
Obsession interlude: Because China
More powerful—and more disliked globally than ever. Measured by GDP, China isn’t the world’s most powerful economy. That crown still belongs to the US. Nevertheless, people around the world increasingly see China as the dominant global economic superpower.
In a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, a median of 48% of people in 14 countries identified China as the world’s leading economic power, outstripping the US. Among the eight European countries surveyed, and Britain, more than half considered China to be the world’s most powerful economy, highlighting the growing importance of EU-China economic relations even as the bloc grapples with how to bat for liberal democratic values while dealing with Beijing.
But being viewed as powerful is not the same as being liked. In fact, a majority in each of the 14 countries Pew surveyed now view China negatively. China’s standing plummeted especially sharply between 2019 and 2020, likely due to Beijing’s heavy-handed crackdown on Hong Kong; growing awareness of its campaign of repression in Xinjiang; and a widespread perception that China handled the coronavirus pandemic poorly.
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 9:30-10:30 am 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
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.
…and another was auctioned for a tidy sum. The main event at Christie’s impressionist art auction was the sale of a 40-foot dinosaur fossil for nearly $32 million.
Censorship on one Chinese video game casts a wide net. Genshin Impact, a popular free role-playing game, censors the words “Taiwan,” “Hong Kong,” and “words” from player chats.
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.
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, inclusive nightclub invites, and inexpensive fossils 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 Tripti Lahiri, Mary Hui, and Max Lockie.