Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Muslims in the Middle East ended their fasting for the holy month of Ramadan in disagreement, with some starting Eid Al-Fitr celebrations on Sunday while others waited until Monday to break their fast in what has become a particularly acrimonious dispute. The row over when to end the fast — which is decided by the sighting of the moon and astronomical calculations — has highlighted division between different Muslim countries and their...

As the sun set, a Palestinian-owned coffee shop in Los Gatos lit up with life as dozens of people observing Ramadan stopped by to break their fasts last Saturday. Kenz Coffee Bar operates out of a trailer across the street from Leigh High School and next to the recreational and educational organization Bay Area Muslim Recreation, or BAMREC. During the month of Ramadan, they put on a series of events, launching new coffee flavors and hosting a food truck iftar for people observing Ramadan. Mohammad Subeh, an emergency room doctor...

Thousands of hot meals have been handed to vulnerable and homeless people across Greater Manchester by Muslims fasting over Ramadan. It is part of a campaign by the city's branch of the Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) to help struggling communities during the holy month. More than 8,000 servings of freshly made food made with the support of local restaurants as part of the initiative, now in its fifth year. Dr Becky Elyas from Manchester ISB said the group wanted to help the "increasing numbers of people suffering in food...

The charity feeding the homeless during Ramadan Charity organisers said it was "massively rewarding" to feed hundreds of people in need during Ramadan, as they launched a free food drive. Volunteers from the 313 Foundation - many of them children - hosted an event in Bradford city centre, where around 300 people collected jacket potatoes, soup and biryani. Shahnaz Tanweer from the charity said the event in Centenary Square was not just about feeding the homeless but about restoring dignity and fostering unity. She said: "I think respect is key...

One evening in early March, Nina Ansari frowns as she picks up an untouched plate of rice left on the floor of the masjid she attends near her home in Stone Mountain. “Would anyone like to take this?” she asks a group of women standing nearby. When no one responds, she picks it up. Her hands are already full of the pizza and curry leftovers that her kids didn’t finish. If she doesn’t take the rice home, it will be thrown out. “There’s a lot of waste that happens during...

Meals during Ramadan can essentially be broken down into three phases. First , there is the initial breaking of the fast, which typically is done by munching on dates and taking sips of water. This year, Ramadan began at sunset on Feb. 28 and will last about a month. During that time, the community refrains from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk. Then after the early evening prayer comes the main iftar, the first meal that people would have after a day of fasting. The other significant meal, known...

Welcome to this week’s newsletter! Reporter Vashti Harris alerted readers about harmful chemicals in synthetic hair - lead, carcinogens, and volatile organic compounds - used for braids and other natural hairstyles. Consumer Reports tested 10 hair products and found nine contained lead, with one exceeding safe levels by over 600%, raising concerns about prolonged chemical exposure from extended use of the hair products. Read about it in her article: Toxic chemicals found in synthetic hair used for braids and extensions.