Dates have always played an important role in the month of Ramadan, when Muslims around the world abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk, traditionally breaking their fast with ripe dates.

Malaysia is expected to see a 15% increase in waste during the fasting month and generate nearly 20 tonnes of food waste daily, according to government figures.

An increase of up to 21% has been recorded over the past five years.

Many restaurants and hotels are reporting empty tables well into the second week of the fasting month.

The incident came amid fears that tensions built up during a year of escalating violence could be unleashed at the Al Aqsa mosque, where clashes in 2021 set off a 10-day war with Gaza.

The historic street is the hub of London's Bangladeshi community, and normally a vibrant destination for shoppers during the Islamic holy month, which in Britain started on the evening of March 22.

Malaysia is filled with the sights, smells and sounds of the fasting month before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

They say that customers are spending less, and mostly on snacks like kuih and murtabak.

Earlier this month, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to revive relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria.

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah says the fasting month is supposed to teach the people to be prudent and not to waste food.

Fadhlina Sidek responds to calls for canteens to close if non-Muslims make up less than 10% of the student population.

Other Sunni-majority countries including Egypt and Qatar also announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday, as did officials in the Palestinian territories.