Saudi Arabia has announced the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

The announcement was made on Saturday via Haramain’s official Facebook page, stating, “The crescent moon for the month of Shawwal 1446 was sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, 2025.”

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Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer, and is celebrated with communal prayers, festive meals, and acts of charity.

With Saudi Arabia’s confirmation, many countries that align their Islamic calendar with the kingdom are expected to follow suit, while others may conduct their own moon sightings to determine the date of the festival.

Muslims worldwide are preparing for the celebrations, which include special prayers, family gatherings, and the giving of alms, as part of Islamic tradition.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has named Tony Elumelu, Founder and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, to its newly formed Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth.

The council, convened by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, is tasked with addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship and shaping policies that foster innovation, resource allocation, and private sector-led economic expansion.

A statement confirming Elumelu’s appointment was released on Friday, highlighting his influence as a strong advocate for entrepreneurship in Africa.

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Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has provided funding, mentorship, and training to over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, championing the belief that private sector investments can drive the continent’s economic transformation.

“Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policymaking,” the statement noted.

The IMF Advisory Council comprises global leaders from business, finance, and academia, including: Marc Benioff, CEO and Co-Founder of Salesforce, Ana Botín, Executive Chair of Banco Santander, Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group, Robert Smith, Founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, HRH Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the U.S.,  Federico Sturzenegger, Argentine Minister of Deregulation and Professor Ufuk Akcigit, Economist, University of Chicago.

At the council’s inaugural meeting on March 26, 2025, Georgieva emphasized the significance of entrepreneurship in economic growth.

“The Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity—key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth,” she stated.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, shaking the region and sending tremors as far as Thailand and China.

The quake’s epicenter was located in the Sagaing region, near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, home to around one million people and renowned for its historic temple complexes.

Panic erupted as buildings swayed and dust filled the air.

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In Mandalay, videos shared online showed terrified residents rushing out of residential towers while traffic came to a sudden halt.

Reports indicate that a major bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River collapsed into the water in a cloud of dust and debris.

The quake was felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, where video footage showed a partially constructed building in Chatuchak Park crumbling to the ground.

Thai authorities reported that 43 people were trapped in the wreckage, while seven others sustained injuries.

In Chiang Mai, a resident described feeling the tremors for about ten seconds before fleeing into the streets.

In Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon—about 380 miles from the epicenter—residents also experienced the powerful shaking.

One resident recalled, “We felt the quake for about a minute, then ran out of the building.

It was very sudden and very strong.” Another noted that phone networks in the city, home to around 8 million people, briefly went down but were later restored.

Myanmar, one of Asia’s poorest nations, is already grappling with the effects of a brutal civil war sparked by a military coup over four years ago.

The conflict has devastated the economy, and the country remains ill-equipped to handle a major natural disaster of this scale.

The Sagaing region, where the earthquake struck, is a war zone with multiple factions—including the ruling junta, pro-military militias, and rebel groups—fighting for control.

The ongoing violence has made travel by road or river extremely dangerous, posing significant challenges to delivering emergency aid and assessing the full extent of the damage.

Tremors were also felt in China’s southwestern Yunnan province, underscoring the quake’s intensity.

Authorities across the region are now assessing the situation, with emergency teams mobilizing in both Myanmar and Thailand.