What happened
Gunmen in Russia's southern Dagestan republic carried out what authorities called a coordinated terrorist attack on Orthodox churches, synagogues and police outposts in two cities, Derbent and Makhachkala. Sergei Melikov, Dagestan's governor, said "more than 15 police officers fell victim" in Sunday's attacks, along with a priest and several other civilians.

Who said what
The assailants were not immediately identified, "but Dagestan has in the past been the scene of Islamist attacks," the BBC said. Sunday's attacks, three months after about 140 people were killed in an assault on Moscow's Crocus City Hall theater, "raise concern about the vulnerability of Russia's internal security as critics have blamed authorities for diverting resources toward cracking down on political dissent" and waging war in Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal said. Kremlin allies tried to pin the Moscow attack on Ukraine, though ISIS-K claimed responsibility.

What next?
Since 2022, "Russians have been led to believe that their principal adversaries are Ukraine and the 'collective West,'" the BBC said, and "that's a message Russian authorities are reluctant to change." Dagestan began three days of mourning on Monday.

What happened
At least 1,301 Muslims died in Mecca during the five-day Hajj pilgrimage as temperatures soared to a record 125 degrees Fahrenheit, Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel said Sunday. He said 83% of the dead were pilgrims who lacked permits and did not have access to air conditioned tents and transportation between holy sites.

Who said what
"Unfortunately — and this is painful for all of us — those who didn't have hajj permits walked long distances under the sun," al-Jalajel said.

Traveling to Mecca to complete the Hajj is required of "every able-bodied Muslim" once in their lifetime, but the Saudis approve only so many special permits each year, The Washington Post said. "Hundred of thousands of people who don't secure permits still manage to participate," typically on "tourism visas arranged by unlicensed travel operators."

What next?
A 2019 MIT study predicted "the Hajj would be held in temperatures exceeding an 'extreme danger threshold'" in 2047 and beyond, The Associated Press said. In the meantime, the lunar calendar followed by Islam will push the Hajj "11 days earlier each year," meaning in a few years "it will fall in the winter," with milder weather.