| Sphere of influence | Washington's lobbyists are bracing for the prospect of a Joe Biden election win, with companies and trade associations strategizing on how to defend clients from an expected resurgence of regulation and marry their priorities with the Democratic nominee's expected focus on stimulating the economy, expanding health care and overhauling corporate taxes. The massive undertaking has gained pace along with Biden's polling lead over Trump and signs Democrats could also gain control of the Senate. Campaign 2020 There are 15 days until the election. Here's the latest on the race for control of the White House and Congress. Trump is trying to put a positive spin on Biden's fundraising advantage, telling supporters he could raise money quickly if needed but doesn't want to be beholden to donors. Other developments Sign up to receive daily election updates as a direct mobile notification on Twitter. Simply click on this link and like the tweet. Trade offs | British officials are prepared to water down Boris Johnson's lawbreaking Brexit legislation in a move that could revive talks with the EU, Tim Ross reports. The bloc is taking legal action against the U.K. and demanding Johnson drop the controversial clauses in the U.K. Internal Market Bill relating to trade with Northern Ireland as the price of a wider accord. The bill begins its progress through the House of Lords today. Muzzling media | Thai authorities threatened to censor media outlets in a bid to quell anti-government protests, which have continued daily since the imposition last week of emergency rule in Bangkok. Several online news outlets may be targeted for distributing content that "could cause panic" and "threaten national security." The move comes as lawmakers agreed to submit a letter notifying the cabinet of their decision to convene a parliament session to discuss how to end the demonstrations.  Protestors attend a rally yesterday at Rama IX Park in Phuket. Photographer: Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images AsiaPac Light touch | Hit first and hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, Italy is clinging to the hope that incremental measures are enough to slow its resurgence. As John Follain reports, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new curbs yesterday that show he has become the latest leader trapped between keeping people Covid-free while not limiting their personal freedom or slamming the economy with new lockdowns as global cases topped 40 million. OPEC's dilemma | The bid by OPEC and its allies to stabilize the global oil market is coming under pressure amid depressed demand from pandemic-weakened economies, Grant Smith and Javier Blas report. As the coalition of crude producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia gathers today, their plan for output cuts is in jeopardy, with prices stuck around $40 a barrel and more supply coming online from Libya. What to Watch This Week - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi set a deadline of tomorrow to reach agreement with the White House on additional stimulus, the last shot to get a deal before the Nov. 3 election (it remains doubtful the Republican-controlled Senate will accept any accord).
- NATO defense ministers meet Thursday and Friday amid mounting concerns over Turkey testing a Russian missile defense system and tensions between Ankara and Athens in the eastern Mediterranean.
- Nigerian protests against police brutality are continuing across Africa's most populous nation in the biggest outpouring of public anger in a decade.
- Zambia has until tomorrow to convince investors to accept a six-month standstill on its debt payments or it may become the first African nation to default since the onset of the coronavirus.
- Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez declared her ally, socialist Luis Arce, as the winner of yesterday's election, with results from fewer than 10% of voting stations tallied.
- A top White House official went to Damascus this summer to negotiate the release of two hostages, Jennifer Jacobs and Sophia Cai report, a rare sign of diplomacy with President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
- Unrest in Chile has picked up ahead of Sunday's referendum on whether to draft a new constitution or keep the one enacted during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
Thanks to all who responded to our pop quiz Friday and congratulations to Raphael Muchunu Mwangi, who was the first to identify the Mapuche as the indigenous people campaigning in Chile for compensation for land taken in the timber-producing south. And finally ... China is closing in on the U.S. as the most powerful country influencing the Asia-Pacific, as America's handling of the pandemic — along with its trade disputes and withdrawal from multilateral deals and agencies — tarnishes its reputation. The Sydney-based Lowy Institute's Asia Power Index for 2020, which ranks 26 nations and territories, showed while the U.S. was still the region's top power, its 10-point lead on China two years ago has been halved.  A formation of military airplanes flies over Beijing during a parade at Tiananmen Square on Oct. 1, 2019, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Photographer: Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images | 
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