Muslims from around the globe have concluded this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, which was overshadowed by extreme heat conditions. Temperatures in Mecca soared to 118 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to reports of dozens of deaths from sunstroke, including at least 41 fatalities from Jordan. Despite the harsh weather, over 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the closing rituals of Hajj.

In the United States, tens of millions are facing extreme heat alerts, with the National Weather Service warning that conditions will persist from Iowa to Maine until at least Friday. Chicago has set a new heat record, surpassing temperatures from the 1950s, and is expected to remain close to 100 degrees in the coming days. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has activated the National Guard in response to the heatwave, which is affecting areas typically known for their pleasant summer weather.

Meanwhile, in California, firefighters are battling multiple wildfires, and in New Mexico, a state of emergency has been declared as thousands evacuate due to wildfires that have damaged over 500 structures. The region is also bracing for the first potential tropical storm of the season, expected to make landfall near Texas by Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and possible flooding.

In legal news, former President Donald Trump will remain under a gag order in his criminal hush money case after the New York Court of Appeals declined to hear an appeal. The gag order was imposed in March, and Trump has faced contempt of court charges for violating it. His legal team plans to continue contesting the order, labeling it unconstitutional.

In education, Los Angeles schools, the second largest public school system in the U.S., announced a ban on smartphones to reduce distractions and the negative effects of social media. The policy is set to take effect in January 2025, with officials given 120 days to finalize details regarding exceptions and locker use.

On Wall Street, stocks saw a slight increase, with AI giant Nvidia becoming the world's most valuable public company, surpassing Microsoft. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 56 points, inching closer to the 39,000 mark, while the Nasdaq and S&P 500 also reached new highs.

As global and national events unfold, the UN Security Council has called for Sudan's paramilitary forces to cease their siege of a city threatening the safety of over a million people. With less than five months until the presidential election, recent polling results and investigations into universities profiting from land taken from indigenous peoples are also drawing attention.