Muslims around the world began marking a sombre Eid al-Fitr yesterday, many under coronavirus lockdown, but lax restrictions offered respite to worshippers in some countries despite fears of skyrocketing infections.

Iranians in a rare event mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan this year on separate days — yesterday or today — depending on different religious authorities’ edicts.

The Kuwaiti Health Ministry reported 838 new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) overnight for a total of 21,302 cases.

Temitope can’t find work in Lebanon since the Nigerian domestic worker escaped her employer’s house last month.

Iran on Saturday moved to open businesses, religious and cultural sites as it eases restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Iran’s Supreme Leader yesterday denounced Israel as a “tumour” to be removed and hailed Tehran’s supply of arms to Palestinians, drawing swift condemnation from the United States, European Union and Israel.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has warned that Israeli annexations in the occupied West Bank would spell the end of all security co-ordination, as international opposition to the plans grows.

At a soccer stadium in Syria’s Idlib re-purposed to shelter people displaced by war, children are being offered a service highly sought after since the coronavirus pandemic set in: a haircut.

Iran yesterday said it was close to “curbing” the new coronavirus outbreak even as it reported more than 2,000 fresh infections for the third day in a row.

As the novel coronavirus pandemic wipes out a recovery from militant attacks in 2015, Tunisia’s vital tourism sector is trying to find ways to avoid going under.

Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque will reopen to worshippers after the Eid holiday, a statement from its governing body said yesterday, two months after closing due to the coronavirus.

An Israeli court yesterday found a Jewish settler guilty of three murders in an arson attack that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents — a verdict that did little to ease the bereaved family’s pain.