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Here’s what you need to know
Boris Johnson announces new coronavirus lockdown rules. The UK prime minister will address the nation and unveil a three-tiered Covid-19 alert system for England, as rising cases pushes the country towards what the government called a “critical juncture.” The toughest restrictions are expected to force bars, pubs, and gyms to close.
Donald Trump returns to the campaign trail. The US president said he had fully recovered from Covid-19 and can once again hold big rallies, although doctors did not say whether he had tested negative yet. Separately, top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci criticized the Trump campaign for taking his remarks out of context and using them without his approval for a new campaign ad.
Northern Cyprus went to the polls. Yesterday’s presidential election between incumbent Mustafa Akinci, who favors reunification with the Greek Cypriots, and Turkey-backed prime minister Ersin Tatar failed to produce a winner, and heads to a run-off on Oct. 18. Separately, results are expected for Lithuania’s first round of parliamentary elections, with the main opposition party Homeland Union appearing on track to win.
Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor received rare virtual consular access. It was their first such contact since the coronavirus outbreak started in January. The two Canadians were detained in China in 2018 for alleged espionage just days after Huawei’s chief financial officer was arrested in Vancouver.
North Korea paraded massive ballistic missiles. The weaponry was unveiled during a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party. While it hasn’t been tested, its larger size indicated it could carry multiple warheads, including a nuclear one.
What to watch for
Monday: The International Monetary Fund and World Bank kick start their week-long annual meetings; the Trump administration submits a report on potential Hong Kong sanctions; and US Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett begins her confirmation hearings.
Tuesday: Apple unveils the 5G iPhone, and the World Trade Organization picks a new director-general, its first woman leader.
Wednesday: Chinese leader Xi Jinping delivers a speech in Shenzhen to mark the 40th anniversary of the country’s first special economic zone.
Thursday: Boris Johnson’s deadline for a EU-UK trade deal looms over a European summit.
Friday: It’s World Food Day.
Saturday: New Zealand holds its general election.
Sunday: Bolivia holds its presidential election.
Charting the cost of US votes
American votes don’t come cheap. US presidential elections are often some of the most expensive in the world, and the candidate who raises the most money nearly always wins. One way of understanding what it costs to become president is by comparing how much winning candidates spend per vote acquired.
Of course, a candidate who simply spends more won’t necessarily get more votes. And presidential candidate spending is also only a fraction of the total cost of the US election: One study estimates that a record $10.8 billion will be spent on this year’s vote.
The omnipresent consultant
Consulting may be the biggest industry that nobody really sees. The world’s biggest companies use outside consultants to help them decide how to direct their resources. Governments, too: Consultants like Deloitte and Accenture are among the US government’s largest outside contractors of any kind, with contracts totaling in the billions of dollars, for services like management consulting and assistance in modernizing technology.
The coronavirus pandemic is adding to existing threats facing the industry. But consultants are themselves benefiting from advising businesses and governments on how to cope with Covid-19. McKinsey has contracts with the US Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Office of Personnel Management for Covid-related services, federal procurement records show. Deloitte, PwC, and other firms are promoting their Covid-consulting capabilities. Deloitte’s website says the firm’s consulting practice “provides insights to help your organization respond, recover, and thrive from Covid-19.”
Read more about how consultants are trying to navigate the pandemic in our guide to consulting’s new challenges.
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Obsession interlude: Rethinking cities
Thanks to Covid-19, the million-dollar question for Quartz’s Rethinking Cities obsession is: What comes next for office districts?
As employees embrace remote working—and continue to be wary of mass transit—some companies have already decided to ditch their offices and allow most people to work from home forever.
A corporate retreat or exodus from urban centers appears likely, but what will that bring? City budgets need revenue from knowledge-sector companies. And what of the many restaurants, dry cleaners, and pharmacies that rely on office workers to stay in business?
Urban planners predict cities will survive, but change shape. Some fraction of office buildings could be repurposed as condos, hotels, even affordable housing in city cores. Satellite hubs of the urban economy could pop up in far-flung neighborhoods making it easier for people of various income levels to live near the places they work. Or perhaps cities will simply dangle subsidies and tax breaks before the largest corporate tenants, begging them to stay.
Our Rethinking Cities obsession will be watching the corporate, governmental, and grassroots interests competing to control the office zone’s future, and rooting for any experiments to disrupt the race and class segregation so entrenched in cities today.
How to read more:
- Can cities survive without office workers?
- Work from home is burning out Indians, but they still don’t want to go back to the office
- What it takes for cities to jump into the knowledge economy
- Without an office, what defines a workplace?
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Surprising discoveries
Indigenous peoples once bred and sheared dogs for wool. In America’s Pacific Northwest, a woolly-haired breed of dog was once a source of fibers for blankets.
Humans are evolving an extra blood vessel in their arms. Anatomical studies show the vessel is now three times as common as it was among people born in the mid-1880s.
Mexico asked the Pope for a loan of ancient books. It wants a temporary return of several ancient manuscripts held in the Vatican library, ahead of the 500th anniversary of the Spanish conquest.
A Portland protester is making tear-gas flavored hot sauce. Using serranos, jalapeños, and tomatillos, the condiment is an expression of frustration at the police’s continued use of the riot-control weapon.
Scientists calculated the final speed limit for sound. Solid atomic hydrogen allows sound waves to travel 36 km per second, about twice as fast as through even ultra-dense diamond.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, dog-hair blankets, and ancient book loans names 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, Tripti Lahiri, Michael Coren, and Liz Webber.