Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
Coronavirus cases reached a new daily record. The World Health Organization reported 338,779 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Thursday with Europe now adding more new infections than India, Brazil, or the US. A new study from the International Monetary Fund backed strict lockdowns to combat the disease, saying that more severe regulations benefit the economy in the long run.
China tenses up ahead of Taiwan’s national day. The Chinese embassy in New Delhi told local journalists not to refer to Taiwan as an independent country before Saturday’s Double Ten Day holiday that marks the birth of the Chinese Republic.
The Nobel peace prize is awarded. After last year’s honor went to Ethiopian president Abiy Ahmed, oddsmakers have singled out the WHO, climate activist Greta Thunberg, and New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, among others, as frontrunners.
“Big Blue” will be the “Big Two.” IBM said it will split itself into two publicly listed companies, one dealing with its legacy IT business, and the other focusing on its highly profitable cloud computing business. The company’s stock jumped 6% on the news.
The White House made another attempt to ban TikTok. The US government appealed a judge’s ruling that has so far prevented US president Donald Trump’s executive order banning the Chinese short-form video app in a powerful Washington DC court on Thursday.
Matters of debate
Unlike last week’s disaster of a US presidential debate, vice president Mike Pence and senator Kamala Harris did mostly civilly discuss some policy at their own debate on Wednesday.
Here are some of our most thought-provoking reads from the aftermath.
- The truth about Pence’s V-shaped economic recovery boast
- Wall Street is less and less concerned about a close election
- Why is the Biden-Harris campaign OK with fracking?
- Mortality is the third rail neither Harris nor Pence can touch
Yesterday, Trump said he wouldn’t participate in a virtual debate, and now both candidates are instead holding individual town halls. What would a virtual presidential debate look like? Unfortunately, even supposing both candidates finally agree to hold such an event, there won’t be a mute button.
Charting the world’s richest Indians
The net worth of India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, increased 73% over the past year to nearly $89 billion (Rs6.52 lakh crore). The second wealthiest person on the list, Gautam Adani, isn’t anywhere close.
The collective net worth of India’s 100 richest persons rose 14% this past year despite the Covid-19 pandemic and an underwhelming stock market. Niharika Sharma tracks how the Reliance Industries chief has outpaced his peers.
Turn and face the strange
In many countries across the world, Covid-19 caused a sudden decline in economic activity, followed by recoveries ranging from sluggish to rapid. As a result, staggering statistics became the norm. For instance, France’sindustrial production fell by more than 20.6% in April from the previous month, but then rose by 19.9% in May.
This yo-yo economy has made it more important than ever to understand how to calculate and interpret percent change. As part of our guide to the data deluge, we walk members through a series of basic tools to understanding data, including a comprehensive guide to understanding statistical ups and downs.
✦ Speaking of percents and changes, anyone who makes the jump to a Quartz membership will get a cool 20% off their first year.
Obsession Interlude: Because China
Foreign languages are hard. But if you’re in contention for the highest office in the US, it might be a good idea to practice pronouncing the name of the second most powerful person in the world.
In Wednesday night’s US vice presidential debate, senator Kamala Harris badly mangled the Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name, rendering “Xi” more like “zhee.” The “x” sound in Mandarin is tough for non-native speakers, and the closest equivalent in English is “she,” but with the tongue placed low and pressed flat behind the teeth.
Still, Harris can take comfort from the fact that there’s a far more egregious mispronunciation out there. In 2014, an anchor on India’s official broadcaster was fired for referring to the visiting Chinese leader as “Eleven Jinping,” confusing “Xi” with the Roman numerals XI.
If you’re a non-Chinese speaker and you’ve just practiced saying “Xi Jinping” for the last several minutes, we salute you for your efforts. Here are some more tools to help:
- ChinesePod’s pronunciation tool includes a useful breakdown of different combinations of vowels and consonants, alongside nifty diagrams showing tongue positions for various sounds.
- The University of California San Diego’s guide to pinyin provides context on the Chinese phonetic alphabet, known as pinyin, and some sound files for reference.
Come find more linguistic insights at Quartz’s Because China obsession.
You asked how to ask
Can I still ask for a raise during a pandemic?
You haven’t asked us this outright, but as the pandemic drags on, it’s likely you’ve either already had or will have the thought. But just because we’re still in a social lull doesn’t mean your employer hasn’t had a decent month. We spoke to an expert, who said you should go ahead and make the request—but keep some guidelines in mind.
- Don’t mention the economy
- Don’t explain your personal finances
- Do highlight changes in your job duties
With the help of career adviser Karen Coffey, Sarah Todd will shepherd you through the process.
Surprising discoveries
There’s a new app to make your photos look old. Dispo wants to recapture that disposable camera magic, and makes users wait until the next day to see their photos.
Oh no, there goes Tokyo. The world’s first “life-size” Godzilla statue has been unleashed on the public at an island amusement park near Osaka, Japan.
Scientists named a nasty wasp after Covid-19. The newly discovered Stethantyx covida is a type of Darwin wasp that can plant its eggs inside living creatures.
There’s new hope for brave sea lions. A groundbreaking brain surgery could cure epilepsy in sea lions caused by elevated levels of toxins in the water.
Come aboard, no one’s expecting you. Singapore launched half-full cruises with no destinations, sparking environmental ire.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, massive Mothras, and gigantic Ghidras 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 Susan Howson, Niharika Sharma, Mary Hui, Tripti Lahiri, Jackie Bischof, and Max Lockie.