Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Brussels completes its review of the Bayer-Monsanto merger. The European Commission had extended its review of the $66 billion deal by two weeks. Bayer said it would divest assets to pass antitrust scrutiny by the body, which rules on mergers in the European Union.
Salesforce reports second-quarter earnings. Investors are expecting more information on how the cloud-software giant’s string of acquisitions in the past year, totaling more than $4 billion, are faring. Two acquisitions in focus are Commerce Cloud, an e-commerce service provider formerly known as Demandware, and Einstein, an AI platform.
Indian bank unions go on strike. Employees of nine public sector banks will stay home to protest government reforms to the industry.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump laid out his Afghanistan strategy. In a speech that was short on specifics, Trump said he decided a “hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum for terrorists,” and that the US would commit more troops to the country. He also said the US would put more pressure on Pakistan to do more in the fight against terrorists that operate on its border with Afghanistan.
BHP Billiton said it would sell its US shale assets. The Anglo-Australian mining giant’s decision is a win for activist hedge fund Elliott Management, which said that poor management by BHP has destroyed some $40 billion in shareholder value. BHP is the eighth-largest shale gas producer in the US.
Danish police searching for a missing journalist found a female torso. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the headless and limbless torso belongs to Swedish journalist Kim Wall, who disappeared after boarding a submarine belonging to Danish inventor Peter Madsen on Aug. 10. Madsen was charged with manslaughter yesterday after he admitted to burying her body at sea.
Fujitsu looked to exit the cellphone-making business. Daunted by competition from bigger rivals, the Japanese company could open bidding for its mobile unit as early as next month, the Nikkei reported. Lenovo, CVC Capital Partners, and Polaris Capital are potential buyers.
A total solar eclipse awed America. The rare phenomenon, viewable from the entire continental US for the first time in 99 years, caused traffic jams caused traffic jams, medical emergencies, and wildlife dangers—and the return of Bonnie Tyler’s 1983 hit to the top of the charts. Most donned protective eye-gear, but the US president was not among them.
Quartz obsession interlude
Chase Purdy on the paleo diet being marketed to babies. “Meals include liquified uncured bacon with organic kale and butternut squash, chicken with peas and carrots, even beef with kale and sweet potato. The product is sold in packs of six 4-ounce pouches for about $27.” Read more here.
Markets haiku
Debt ceiling? Don’t fret: / Mnuchin, McConnell say / “It’s under control.”
Matters of debate
Spotify playlists are the new albums. The streaming service is forcing artists to reshape how they make music.
You’re more likely to achieve the “American dream” if you live in Denmark. Far from being the land of opportunity, the US has very low social mobility.
Tech companies aren’t special. They deserve regulatory watchdogs like their old-economy peers.
Surprising discoveries
An Antarctic microbe could reveal the origin of viruses. The single-celled organism is host to a fragment of DNA that can build a capsule around itself.
A good credit score is, well, hot. When it comes to dating in the US, a new survey shows that the three-digit number ranks above looks, ambition, and a sense of humor.
Venus flytraps can count. It’s how their sensors tell the difference between struggling prey and a raindrop.
You can’t charge your Tesla and make a cup of tea at the same time. The average UK household would blow the main fuse if it tried.
HIV could treat cancer. The virus’s ability to inject DNA into cells (paywall) is being repurposed for a revolutionary immunotherapy.
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