Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The US and South Korea prepare for a joint military exercise. The annual event takes place in the wake of a bitter back-and-forth between North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and US president Donald Trump. There are more than 28,000 US service members stationed in South Korea.
Trump addresses US engagement in South Asia. After meeting with national security advisors, the White House announced the president would discuss a “path forward” for the US in Afghanistan in a Monday night address.
A total solar eclipse sweeps across the US. The Great American Eclipse, the first total solar eclipse viewable within the US in decades, will take place between noon and 4pm EDT. Towns in the 70-mile wide path of totality are beset by tourists and traffic (paywall), but you can comfortably watch online from anywhere in the world using our guide.
The US measures economic activity. The national activity index released by the Chicago Federal Reserve pulls together data from 85 economic indicators. Investors will look to its three-month average to see which is having a greater pull: improved employment and manufacturing or sluggish consumer spending.
While you were sleeping
Trump faced more fallout from his handling of Charlottesville. The number of charities pulling out of hosting events at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort climbed to a dozen, joining a chorus of CEOs and artists protesting the president’s response to a violent white supremacist rally last week. The White House also announced that the president and first lady would not be attending this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, which artists had threatened (paywall) to boycott.
Police in Spain narrowed their manhunt. Five suspects have been shot and four others have been detained as authorities continue to search for the van driver (paywall) who plowed into a crowd in Barcelona on Wednesday. More than 100 gas canisters were also discovered in their search, leading officers to believe terrorists were planning an even larger attack.
Infosys announced $2 billion in share buybacks. Share prices plummeted 13% following the resignation of CEO Vishal Sikka on Friday, amid tensions between the board and founders led by ex-chairman N R Narayana Murthy. The software exporter approved share repurchases to improve investor returns.
Neo-Nazi protesters faced counter-protestors in Berlin and Boston. Nearly 40,000 people showed up to demonstrate against a controversial “free speech” rally at Boston Commons on Saturday, which drew just 20 far-right supporters. In Berlin, around 1,000 protesters marched against a neo-Nazi event commemorating the death of Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess.
Jerry Lewis died from natural causes at age 91. The comedian and filmmaker shot to fame working alongside Dean Martin in the late 1940s, before starring in several comedy cult classics. Also known for his philanthropic work, Lewis hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual charity telethon for more than four decades.
Quartz obsession interlude
Quartz’s tech team on the true nature of Amazon. “In the beginning, Amazon.com sold books. Today Amazon is a titan of e-commerce, logistics, payments, hardware, data storage, and media. It dabbles in plenty more industries. It’s the go-to site for online shoppers and merchants alike, a modern necessity that independent sellers love to hate. Prime, Amazon’s signature $99-a-year membership program, has an estimated 85 million subscribers in the US, equivalent to about two-thirds of American households. To even call it an e-commerce company feels completely inadequate.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Iceland’s prenatal testing is out of control. The disappearance of Down Syndrome in the country as a result of early-detection testing is a disturbing version of eugenics.
Humans shouldn’t terraform Mars. Making the red planet more habitable for future human colonists will subject it to humanity’s worst vices.
You might as well be your own therapist. Patients in therapy fared no better than those who followed self-help treatment in new research.
Surprising discoveries
Surfers have become obsessed with a cheap Costco surfboard. The imperfect but affordable Wavestorm board is worshipped by pro surfers.
Children could solve a 2,000-year-old philosophy debate. Development psychologists think the way children learn might answer an age-old question of how knowledge is formed.
Elon Musk wants to ban killer robots. Tesla’s founder has joined 116 AI experts in calling on the UN to ban autonomous weapons and prevent a “third revolution in warfare.”
An iconic pop music sound was discovered by accident. The punchy sound of reverb drums that dominated the charts in the 1980s began as a misrecording of Phil Collins drumming.
Persuasive astronomers are behind one of the most popular solar eclipse videos. The eclipse chasers convinced an airline to change its departure time in order to capture the stunning footage.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, iconic pop sounds, and awesome eclipse videos to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.