The union representing more than 160,000 television and movie actors announced today that its members were going on strike after negotiations with the major Hollywood studios over a new contract collapsed.

It is the first time in 63 years that both actors and screenwriters, who went on strike in May, have taken part in a walkout at the same time. The dual action will effectively bring the industry to a standstill.

“I don’t think Hollywood is ready for this,” my colleague Nicole Sperling, who covers entertainment, told me, noting that studio executives were caught off guard by the resolve of the actors. “Hollywood was already about 80 percent shut down, but any production that was hobbling along will now close and upcoming projects will be severely hampered.”

The two sides are divided on a range of issues, including pay and the use of artificial intelligence. The actors’ union says it is trying to ensure living wages for its members and to protect them from having their likenesses used in productions they took no part in. The studios argue that this is a difficult time for an industry upended by streaming services.

Nicole told me that she’s hearing very little agreement between the unions and the studios, with vitriol becoming increasingly common on both sides.

“I would not be surprised if this went through the rest of summer,” Nicole said. “It’s going to be painful if it does — not only for the writers and actors, but the studios as well.”

For more: Here’s how the strike could affect what you watch.

The first over-the-counter birth control pill

The F.D.A. approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first time in the U.S. The medication, Opill, is expected to hit store shelves next year and will become the most effective method of birth control available over the counter — more effective than condoms, spermicides or other methods.

The approval was supported by many medical experts and associations who anticipate that it will significantly expand access to contraception across the country. The pill is expected to be especially useful for young women, teenagers and those who have difficulty dealing with the time, costs or logistical hurdles involved in visiting a doctor to obtain a prescription.

Here’s how the pill works and what its side effects are.

Turmoil has engulfed Russia’s military

In the three weeks since the unsuccessful mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner troops, recriminations have reverberated through Russia’s military ranks. Just last night, a fired general released a video in which he said his troops “were hit in the rear by our senior commander, who treacherously and vilely decapitated our army at the most difficult and tense moment.” He said his removal was retribution for voicing the truth about battlefield problems.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that at least 13 senior Russian officers have been detained for questioning in the days after the insurrection, as well as about 15 who have been suspended from duty or fired.

This summer’s heat is proving to be deadly

Hot weather is nothing new in places like southern Texas, where summer temperatures regularly climb well past 100 degrees. But the wave of punishing heat and stifling humidity that began last month is presenting deadly new hazards. In the city of Laredo, 10 people died over the last month from heat-related illnesses — a sign that the eventual death toll from this year’s heat waves could be substantial.

In Phoenix, which is also experiencing extreme heat, my colleague said that going on a walk felt “like being on the edge of death.”

The realization has led Netflix to create shows and movies that resonate with a single market’s audience, instead of programs that appeal to all 190 countries where the service is available. It’s betting that a compelling story somewhere is compelling everywhere, no matter the language.

Therapy where the clothes sometimes come off

Unlike traditional therapists, who are taught to keep clients at arm’s length, surrogate partner therapists also use physical touch. As one practitioner put it, a surrogate partner “enters into a temporary relationship” with a client on an intimate level.

That’s because surrogate partners specialize in helping people who, for any number of reasons, are less than comfortable with sex. Some clients are adult virgins who have severe anxiety; others have recently undergone a gender transition and are looking for help getting accustomed to their new bodies.

The martini has lost its mind

The question “What’s in a martini?” seems like it should have a simple answer. A traditional dirty martini, for example, is a cocktail of gin, vermouth, an olive brine and a garnish. But these days, it seems like a martini can be just about anything.

Not only are people swapping gin for vodka — which first became popular decades ago — but bars all over the country have been slapping the “martini” label on any drink served straight-up in a V-shaped glass. As a result, we’re left with the chicken soup martini (with broth and MSG instead of brine), the Caprese martini (with basil and olive oil), and cocktails washed with sushi rice or splashed with squid ink.