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Here’s what you need to know
America still doesn’t know who the next president is. Nevertheless, Democratic candidate Joe Biden has activated a transition website, while president Donald Trump listlessly repeated baseless allegations of fraud. It’s worth remembering that both candidates still have a path to 270 electoral votes. Assuming Arizona remains in Biden’s column, winning any one of the currently undecided battleground states—lawsuits notwithstanding—will spell victory for the Democrats.
China’s yuan factored in a Biden victory. The onshore yuan-dollar exchange rate ended on a 28-month-high for the Chinese currency yesterday, as investors anticipate a Biden-led government would mean a less tumultuous China-US trade relationship. But whoever wins will have to deal with a US economy that remains “well below” pre-pandemic levels and continues to see over 750,000 new unemployment claims per week.
Another divided country is going to the polls. In 2015, when Myanmar held its first free election in 25 years, the world was watching hopefully as the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, came to power. But hopes for the new democracy have dimmed as the military targeted the country’s Rohingya Muslims. Hate speech is spreading online ahead of Sunday’s election, which is expected to return the NLD to power.
In other news…
Liverpool will begin mass testing citizens for Covid-19 today, the first city in the UK to do so.
A mysterious Chinese ban that would impact billions of dollars in Australian goods, including coal, wine, and lobster, may be taking effect from today.
TikTok invited UK lawmakers review its algorithm, while its parent company ByteDance hopes to raise $2 billion at a $180 billion valuation.
Charting global remittances
The dip in remittances won’t be as bad as initially feared. In April, the World Bank had predicted a 23.1% drop in remittances to sub-Saharan African countries this year, but updated estimates now foresee smaller declines of 9% in 2020 and 6% in 2021.
Much of the expected shrinkage is connected to slower rates of migration given international travel restrictions. But just as important are job losses and pay cuts among African migrants in wealthier countries.
Kelp, we need somebody
On days when it feels that uncertainty is too much to bear, we’d be wise to take notes from a humble, giant algae: kelp. It stays firmly rooted amid tumultuous forces beyond its control, and in doing so, inadvertently creates a nurturing environment for others. Health and science reporter Katherine Ellen Foley explains how we can thrive amid the uncertainty of the US election and beyond by being more like kelp.
What India stands to gain
Highly skilled, young workers from India—the biggest group of H-1B recipients—are abandoning the American dream and moving home. The technical jobs they held in the US may follow them.
With more restrictive policies in place, the jobs H-1B holders now have will travel to where the talent is. In the event of such a migratory reversal, India can only stand to gain. But the magnitude of these gains will depend on how well it can accommodate the influx of returning professionals.
Read more in our field guide on the status of the H-1B visa.
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Surprising discoveries
Anti-maskers accidentally joined a mask-wearing rally. Activists protesting lockdowns were confused when organizers of the Millions Mask March anti-government protest invited participants to wear Guy Fawkes masks.
Wolf robots ward off animal invaders in Japan. The country has at least 60 “monster” animatronics to scare away deer, wild boars, and bears.
Maybe use Google Translate before changing your company name. The Adani mining group’s new moniker Bravus is Latin for “crooked” or “mercenary,” not brave.
A Kentucky town only elects dog mayors. A French bulldog named Wilbur won the 2020 contest.
This planet rocks. More specifically, it’s made only of rocks, so it rains vaporized minerals into oceans of lava.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, robotic scarecrows, and reinforced umbrellas 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 Jane Li, Tripti Lahiri, Liz Webber, and Max Lockie.