Daily Briefing: Israel faces a key vote – and a crisis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sudden hospitalization is a dizzying twist to an already dramatic series of political events that have bitterly divided Israel. Also in the news: Wildfires have forced tourists to evacuate in Rhodes and other parts of Greece and vending machines are providing an unexpected aid to contraceptive access.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Do you have these gadgets packed for your summer trip?

Now, here we go with Monday’s news.

Netanyahu leaves hospital as Israel faces a key vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital on Monday after an emergency heart procedure, facing an unprecedented national crisis ahead of parliament’s vote on the first major piece of legislation to remake the country’s justice system.

Businesses shuttered and demonstrators, many of whom feel the very foundations of their country are being eroded by the government’s plan, stepped up their opposition, blocking a road leading up to parliament.

• The judicial overhaul has divided Israel, testing the delicate social ties that bind the country, rattling the cohesion of its powerful military and repeatedly drawing concern from even its closest ally, the United States.
• Efforts to find a last-ditch compromise were underway, with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog shuttling between the sides, including a meeting at the hospital where Netanyahu was treated.
• The dramatic events were being watched closely in Washington, from where the Biden administration has frequently spoken out against Netanyahu’s government and its overhaul plan. 

‘Barbeheimer’: Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ becomes 2023’s biggest movie

The social media-fueled fusion of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” brought moviegoers back to the theaters in record numbers during the weekend, vastly outperforming projections and giving a glimmer of hope to the lagging exhibition business, amid the sobering backdrop of strikes. Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” claimed the top spot, with a massive $155 million in ticket sales from North American theaters from 4,243 locations, as the biggest opening of the year and broke the first weekend record for a film directed by a woman. Universal’s “Oppenheimer” also soared past expectations, raking in $80.5 million. Read more

• ”Barbie” ending: Greta Gerwig talks ”emotional” final line, creator Ruth Handler (Spoilers!).
• Fact-checking ”Oppenheimer”: The co-author of the award-winning book it’s based on weighs in.

More news to know now

• An inconclusive vote in Spain leaves the country in a political labyrinth.
• A floating barrier wall was ordered by Texas’ Gov. Greg Abbott. Critics say the barriers are inhumane.
• Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was contacted by federal officials investigating Donald Trump over the 2020 election.
• After were siblings swept away by a Pennsylvania flooding, the body of a young girl was found.
• On today’s 5 Things podcast, a challenge to a federal law giving religious schools the right to discriminate based on sex. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What’s the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

19,000 evacuate as wildfires rage near hotels in Rhodes, Greece

Firefighters struggled through the night to contain 82 wildfires across Greece, 64 of which started Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far. The most serious fire is on the island of Rhodes, where some 19,000 people have been evacuated from several locations as wildfires burned for a sixth day, Greek authorities said. Additional evacuations took place overnight on the islands of Corfu and Evia and on the southern mainland. Heat wave conditions are expected to persist through Thursday. Read more

• Hiring will flourish in these fields as humans fight climate change.
• Bamboo mats, ice, pasta bans: How people around the world are dealing with extreme heat.

As abortion bans grow, colleges find vending machines as an answer to contraceptive access

As student advocates across the country increasingly call for easily accessible morning-after pills on their campuses, some have turned to a new source: vending machines.  At least 39 colleges and universities across 17 states have implemented emergency contraception vending machines on their campuses, including in some places that have largely banned or restricted abortion access. This move is gaining steam in schools located in or near contraceptive deserts – areas that lack reasonable access to health centers. Read more

• Bellwether? Ohio voters back abortion rights amendment in a test case for other states.
• An 18-year-old Nebraska woman was sentenced to 90 days in jail for burning and burying an aborted fetus.
• A woman says she set fire to an abortion clinic after having nightmares caused by its opening.

Just for subscribers:

• To Ron DeSantis, what’s more dangerous, ”woke ideology” or white supremacy?
• How an ”upside-down water system” plagues rural communities of color.
• After the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling, there’s a renewed focus on first-generation students.
• Sam’s Club vs. Costco: Is paying an annual fee worth the savings for shoppers?

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. 

Germany v. Morocco joins competitive match-ups on World Cup Day 5 

Eight more teams including Germany and Brazil face-off in the 2023 FIFA World Cup on Monday – making Day 5 another session of late night or early morning viewing, depending on where you tune in. Italy, which is ranked No. 16 in the world, plays Argentina; Germany, ranked No. 2, starts its action against unranked Morocco and South Korea (No. 17) and Colombia (No. 25) play each other. Brazil, the No. 8-ranked team, will be the favorite against unranked Panama. Read more

• USWNT’s Julie Ertz has returned to center back position at the World Cup.
• Brains and athleticism make Naomi Girma essential to the USWNT at 2023 World Cup.

Quick hits

• The new Commanders owner Josh Harris wants to change culture and win championships.
• Zendaya’s ”Challengers” was scrapped from the Venice Film Festival opening slot due to the actors strike.
• Lionel Messi scored a game-winner for Inter Miami in the 94th minute in his MLS debut.
• Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff were emotional during their Baseball Hall of Fame induction.
• What is skiplagging?Everything about the controversial air travel hack airlines hate.

Photo of the day: Brian Harman’s first career win at British Open

Harman, 36, won the British Open Sunday at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, by six strokes in one of the most commanding performances in the history of the championship. He shot a 1-under par 70 on a soggy Sunday to close out his weekend and finish 13-under par for the tournament. Harman, the No. 26 player in the World Golf Rankings, had entered Sunday with only two career victories on the PGA Tour, none of which had come this season. Read more

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.