Mecca

The CDC is holding 10 fliers who fell ill during a long trip from the UAE. One factor health officials may be watching: a flu outbreak among the millions on the hajj to Mecca.

Every Muslim is supposed to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, but Parvez Sharma discovered the hard way that this dirty, noisy, and nearly lethal trek was more hell than heaven.

Like the other two monotheisms that precede it, Islam has blood on its hands.

From Pope Francis in America to Mecca’s pilgrim masses, the most compelling images from the past seven days.

Thursday’s killing of more than 700 is a tragic reminder of Saudi Arabia’s dangerous exploitation of the Muslim pilgrimage. I should know—my baby and I were once nearly crushed, too.

Parvez Sharma took the long trip to Mecca with two big secrets: He’s recording his journey on his phone, and he has a husband back home.

See photos of the world’s largest hotel, yacht, private jet, and more. By Nina Strochlic.