Surging coronavirus cases in many parts of the world overshadowed the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Tuesday, with festivities curtailed by contagion fears.
Europe, the worst-hit continent, passed the threshold of 1 million deaths, while South Asian countries battle a spiraling outbreak of the disease that has crippled the global economy.
Vaccination drives are giving hope to people fed up with restrictions that are well into a second year, and India - which is experiencing a record surge in cases - was given a boost as it authorized Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 drug.
The total number of deaths is approaching 3 million, according to a tally of official data, as the World Health Organization warned infections are rising exponentially despite efforts aimed at stopping them.
From Indonesia to Egypt, many Muslims around the world started Ramadan after religious leaders confirmed the month of fasting would begin on Tuesday, though restrictions on worshippers varied from country to country.
Jakarta's newly renovated Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia's largest, welcomed congregants for the first time on Monday night after more than a year of closure because of the pandemic.
The government of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation has imposed limits, with mosques only able to host congregants at a maximum of 50 percent capacity. Several regions in Indonesia have banned gathering for fast-breaking and religious leaders have encouraged people to pray at home in certain zones where virus cases are spiking.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, announced that the holy fasting month was to start on Tuesday, though authorities said only people immunized against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan.
In Egypt, restrictions were much less stringent than last year as people took to the streets to mark the start of Ramadan.
Pakistanis will only begin fasting Wednesday after rival moon-sighting committees agreed to a nationally applied start of what is called "Ramazan" in the country.
Europe, the worst-hit continent, passed the threshold of 1 million deaths, while South Asian countries battle a spiraling outbreak of the disease that has crippled the global economy.
Vaccination drives are giving hope to people fed up with restrictions that are well into a second year, and India - which is experiencing a record surge in cases - was given a boost as it authorized Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 drug.
The total number of deaths is approaching 3 million, according to a tally of official data, as the World Health Organization warned infections are rising exponentially despite efforts aimed at stopping them.
From Indonesia to Egypt, many Muslims around the world started Ramadan after religious leaders confirmed the month of fasting would begin on Tuesday, though restrictions on worshippers varied from country to country.
Jakarta's newly renovated Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia's largest, welcomed congregants for the first time on Monday night after more than a year of closure because of the pandemic.
The government of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation has imposed limits, with mosques only able to host congregants at a maximum of 50 percent capacity. Several regions in Indonesia have banned gathering for fast-breaking and religious leaders have encouraged people to pray at home in certain zones where virus cases are spiking.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, announced that the holy fasting month was to start on Tuesday, though authorities said only people immunized against COVID-19 will be allowed to perform the year-round umrah pilgrimage from the start of Ramadan.
In Egypt, restrictions were much less stringent than last year as people took to the streets to mark the start of Ramadan.
Pakistanis will only begin fasting Wednesday after rival moon-sighting committees agreed to a nationally applied start of what is called "Ramazan" in the country.
RELATED ARTICLES
