Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The leaders of China, India, and Russia gather in Kyrgyzstan. Expect the nations to present a united front against US president Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies at the two-day 19th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. With eight member nations, the SCO represents about half the world’s population.
The Tories cast their first round of leadership votes. In the UK 10 contenders are vying to become head of the Conservatives and thus prime minister. Any candidate failing to get enough votes from party MPs today will be out of the race, with more elimination rounds to follow.
Art Basel kicks off its 50th edition. To attract new blood, the Swiss art festival has changed the way it charges galleries, with small booths paying less than larger ones. That’s led to new participants from all over (paywall), including ones from Beirut, Buenos Aires, and New Delhi.
While you were sleeping
Violence escalated in Hong Kong. More than 70 protestors had been injured as of 10pm last night (paywall), after a day of clashes with authorities over a controversial extradition bill that would let suspects be sent to mainland China to face trial. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators.
Science experiments for China’s space station were approved. Nine out of 42 proposals from various countries and organizations around the world were green-lit, announced the United Nations and China. The space station is expected to be operational around 2022.
Epic Games bought a live-video chat app. The maker of Fortnite, a video game played by 250 million users around the world, said it’s acquiring Houseparty, one of the few sizable independent social media platforms. The deal fits in with Epic’s desire to directly engage with fans.
Brexit supporters got a win. A vote to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal in place was blocked, though the opposition Labour party said it would not give up its efforts to thwart a no-deal Brexit. The vote is largely seen as a favorable outcome for Boris Johnson, who began his leadership campaign with a pledge to get a Brexit deal through by the Oct. 31 deadline.
The US House voted to hold top officials in contempt. Attorney general William Barr and commerce secretary Wilbur Ross were both cited for ignoring subpoenas to supply material regarding adding a citizenship question to the US census. Earlier Wednesday, Donald Trump used executive privilege to prohibit the release of the documents.
Membership
We continue our tour of Israel’s food startup landscape with a visit to a venture that is trying to reinvent sugar. By using silica as a sugar carrier, DouxMatok has found a way to use 40% less sugar in food products while delivering the same level of sweetness. And in our members-only video series on how to start and build a digital community, Strava CEO James Quarles shares how to turn the things that motivate people into an actual business.
Quartz Obsession
Ampersands bring it all together. It’s not rhythm and blues—it’s R&B. It’s not Dungeons and Dragons—it’s D&D. Perhaps you’ve shopped at H&M or snacked on M&Ms, and maybe you’ve forgotten to pay AT&T because you were too busy watching Mork & Mindy. Read how this humble piece of shorthand came to be.
Matters of debate
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Logos are far from played out. Their designers are borrowing from the past, evolving into new territory, and generally ignoring armchair criticism.
Cord-cutters are back where they started. As subscriptions pile up, streaming services are starting to cost consumers as much as cable.
Couples should decouple once in awhile. The celebrity marriage trend of occupying different spaces could strengthen relationships.
Surprising discoveries
Most Americans are on their phones while watching TV. Usually it’s to look up information or text a friend about what they’re viewing.
Elite Brazilians throw live C-section parties. Hospitals double as party planners, with catering, hair, and makeup, plus a viewing window for friends and family.
The future of meat involves fewer animals. A new report estimates that most of the “meat” sold by 2040 will be lab-grown or a vegan alternative.
Elon Musk has an aquatic car design. It’s based on a James Bond vehicle, and, for some unfathomable reason, has never gotten the green light.
A doughnut glaze waterfall is coming to Times Square. Krispy Kreme is opening a flagship store with stadium seating for observing every part of the sugar-filled process.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, birth stories, and submarine cars to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Steve Mollman and Susan Howson.