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 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 from Beirut, Buenos Aires, and New Delhi.
While you were sleeping
A temporary calm was restored in Hong Kong. After a day of violent clashes against police in the city’s central government district that left more than 70 protesters injured, most people dispersed from the demonstration site overnight. The legislature today again postponed the second reading of an extradition bill that, once passed, would allow the city to send suspects to mainland China.
Taiwan’s president is in the running for a second term. Tsai Ing-wen won her party’s primary election by a wide margin against her only opponent, premier William Lai, making her the Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate for January’s election.
Turkey and Russia reached an arms deal. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he hopes that a Russian missile system will be delivered by next month. The move is likely to anger the US, which has said that Turkey cannot be in possession of both American F-35 jets and the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft defence system.
Trump committed to Poland’s defense. The US president said he would deploy 1,000 more troops to the country after meeting with president Andrzej Duda, in a bid to counter Russian aggression in the region. Duda is considering naming the new military installation “Fort Trump.”
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 yesterday, 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.
Hong Kong is a cautionary tale for the free world. China’s tightening stranglehold on the territory exposes the limits of capitalism.
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 (paywall).
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 New York’s 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, doughnuts, 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 by Isabella Steger and edited by Tripti Lahiri.