Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Israel reopens its only goods crossing with the Gaza strip. The country’s defense minister said it would reopen the vital link, closed since early July, if calm prevailed overnight in Gaza. The concession comes as Israel continues internal discussions on a potential Egypt- and UN-brokered long-term truce with Hamas.
A German union talks pay with Ryanair. Verdi is seeking a major wage increase for cabin crew working for Europe’s largest budget airline, and also wants the Dublin-based carrier to pay social security contributions.
The US releases retail figures for July. Analysts expect retail sales to rise and spending to stay firm, but fear that tariffs will soon be felt by the consumer. Macy’s and Cisco Systems will also report earnings today. Observers predict Macy’s report to be similar to last year’s, and will watch out for product orders and software growth when it comes to Cisco.
While you were sleeping
The death toll climbed in Italy’s bridge collapse. Authorities say 26 people have now died (paywall) after a section of a 50-year-old highway bridge in Genoa collapsed Tuesday during heavy rain. The number could rise further. It’s still unclear what caused the bridge to crumble—officials will conduct a safety review (paywall) of Italy’s aging infrastructure.
The Catholic Church covered up abuse by more than 300 US priests. A Pennsylvania grand jury report stemming from the broadest US investigation of sex abuse by Catholic priests found that more than 1,000 children were harmed over seven decades.
A transgender candidate won a Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Christine Hallquist’s victory in the Vermont Democratic primary made her the first trans candidate for governor from a major party. She was previously the CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative.
A former Microsoft and Yahoo exec will lead Y Combinator China. The US startup incubator that seeded companies like Airbnb and Dropbox firmed up long-rumored plans to come to China by announcing its chief executive for the country, Qi Lu, who will oversee the accelerator’s first full-fledged international effort (paywall).
Nebraska used fentanyl for an execution. This is the first time that the drug, which is at the heart of the US opioid crisis, has been used for capital punishment (paywall). Carey Dean Moore was found guilty of two murders in the late 1970s, and his death became Nebraska’s first execution since 1997, despite the state legislature’s attempt to ban the punishment.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Jennifer Robison on why parents need best friends at work. “Managers can help navigate work issues. Spouses can help think through family stuff. But only a best friend at work can do both, with an abiding concern for the person struggling to sort it all out.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Let’s just become one with robots. Living in a world where the line between humanity and technology is nebulous means more possibility and more group solidarity (paywall).
Sexbots could make marriages stronger. Just as the microwave helped blur gender roles, so could new technology let couples focus on love, not sex.
Misogyny is causing the gender PhD gap in China. Women fear entering a doctoral program will make it harder to get married.
Surprising discoveries
Southwest Airlines says horses can fly. Its new policy states you can have one comfort cat or dog—or a miniature horse if it’s assisting you physically (paywall).
New Zealand is battling an avocado crime wave. A shortage has sent prices skyrocketing, with well-organized criminals stripping trees of fruit under the cover of night.
An 81-year-old will compete at the Asian Games. Malaysia will send bridge player Lee Hung Fong, along with 11-year-old skateboarder Ian Nuriman Amri.
The US Civil War helped tattoos become mainstream. Soldiers got inked to help the army identify their bodies.
Parisians are turning up their noses at open-air urinals. The city says men will just go in the streets without them, but critics argue the odd red funnels are far too public.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, black-market avocados, and private toilets to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Tripti Lahiri and Alice Truong.