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China, New Zealand, Australia enter 2024 with fireworks (PHOTOS)

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As major countries of the world await with eagerness to celebrate 2024, a few nations have already begun their celebrations.

 

China, New Zealand, Australia and Kiribati were one of the first nations to ring in 2024 as ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza cast a pall over celebrations and heightened tensions across parts of the world.

 

Residents of Auckland welcomed in the new year with a fireworks display over Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest structure.

 

Jubilant crowds began bidding farewell to the hottest year on record Sunday, closing a turbulent 12 months marked by clever chatbots, climate crises and wrenching wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

 

The world’s population — now more than eight billion — will see out the old and usher in the new, with many hoping to shake the weight of high living costs and global tumult.

 

In Sydney, the self-proclaimed “New Year’s capital of the world”, more than a million partygoers packed the harbour foreshore, with city officials and police warning that all vantage points were full.

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Sydneysiders gathered through the day at prominent sites, defying uncharacteristically dank weather, and they were not disappointed when the Harbour Bridge and other landmarks were garlanded in light and colour by eight tonnes of fireworks.

 

Sydney’s spectacular show lit the fuse on 2024, a year that will bring elections concerning half the world’s population and a summer Olympiad celebrated in Paris.

 

Sequence of New Year Celebrations

New Zealand – December 31, 11:00 am GMT (4.30 pm IST)

 

Australia – December 31, 1:00 pm GMT (6.30 pm IST)

 

Japan, South and North Korea – December 31, 3:00 pm GMT (8.30 pm IST)

 

China, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines – December 31, 4:00 pm GMT (9.30 pm IST)

 

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia – December 31, 5:00 pm GMT (10.30 pm IST)

 

UAE, Oman, Azerbaijan – December 31, 8:00 pm GMT (January 1, 1.30 am IST)

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Greece, South Africa, Cyprus, Egypt, Namibia – December 31, 10:00 pm GMT (January 1, 3.30 am)

 

 

Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Morocco, Congo, Malta – December 31, 11:00 pm GMT (January 1, 4.30 am IST)

 

UK, Ireland, Portugal – January 1, 00:00 GMT (5.30 am IST)

 

Brazil, Argentina, Chile – January 1, 3 am GMT (8.30 am IST)

 

Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Venezuela, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands – January 1, 4 am GMT (9.30 am IST)

 

US East Coast (New York, Washington DC, etc), Peru, Cuba, Bahamas – January 1, 5 am (10.30 am IST)

Mexico, parts of Canada and the US – January 1, 6 am GMT (11.30 am IST)

US West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, etc) – January 1, 8 am GMT (1.30 pm IST)

 

Hawaii, French Polynesia – January 1, 10 am GMT (3.30 pm IST)

Samoa – January 1, 11 am GMT (4.30 pm IST)

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Baker Island, Howland Island – January 1, 12 pm GMT (5.30 pm IST)

 

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Popular lewd lyrics musician St. Janet is dead

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The Nigerian entertainment industry was thrown into another round of  mourning on Sunday morning following the News of the death of popular lewd lyrics music act and Highlife musician, Iyun Janet Ajilore, better known as St. Janet.

According to publisher and socialite, Otunba Femi Davies, who announced her death in a post shared on his Facebook page, the St. Janet died on Saturday after a brief illness.

Davies wrote, “St Janet (Iyun Janet Ajilore), a popular Nigerian Juju and Highlife musician known for her vibrant live performances, energetic stage presence and socially unfiltered party tracks, is dead. She died after a brief illness on Saturday.”

St. Janet was widely celebrated for her energetic performances and unique style, which earned her a loyal fan base within Nigeria’s Juju music community and beyond.

Throughout her career, she became a familiar figure at social events and celebrations, captivating audiences with her lively stagecraft and party-themed songs that resonated with many music lovers.

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Her contributions to the Juju and Highlife genres helped cement her place among notable entertainers in the industry.

Since news of her death emerged, tributes have continued to pour in from fans, colleagues and admirers, many of whom have described her as a talented entertainer whose music brought joy to countless people and occasions.

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Osogbo stands still as cultural icon Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon marks 79th birthday in grand style

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The ancient city of Osogbo came alive on July 25 as renowned Ifa priest, scholar, and cultural custodian, Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon, marked his 79th birthday with a remarkable three-in-one celebration that drew dignitaries, traditional rulers, entertainers, and admirers from across the globe.

The event featured a grand birthday celebration, the dedication of The Ancient Philosophy International Event Centre and Ogbe Yonu Temple, alongside a housewarming ceremony and awards presentation in honour of the revered Araba Awo of Osogboland and Olú Ìṣẹ̀ṣe.

The event witnessed a strong presence of traditional rulers, including the Ataoja of Osogbo, Timi of Ede, Olufon of Orolu, and Alayemore of Ido Osun, alongside several other Obas who graced the occasion in honour of the Ifa icon.

The entertainment industry was also well represented, with veteran actor Chife Lere Paimo (Eda Onile Ola) leading the list. Others included Oyinda Duroladipo, members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (Osun State chapter), filmmaker Amb. Kunle Afod, actress Toyin Adegbola, Oyin Adegbenro, and Olaniyan Tosin, among many others.

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The celebration also attracted notable socialites and cultural figures, including Chife Mrs Nike Okundaye (Nike Art Gallery), Chife Akintunde Ayeni (Yemkem), Olalekan Fabilola Masoyinbo, Tayo Bello (Wasere), Shina Ayomi Daniel (Oju Abuja), Tunde Daudu, Singapore, and several other prominent personalities who added colour and prestige to the occasion.

The political class was not left out, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in attendance. He was joined by Ibrahim Taofeek Kayode and other stakeholders who came to celebrate the global cultural icon.

Ifáyẹmi Ọ̀ṣúndàgbonù Elebuibon remains a towering figure in the preservation of Yoruba heritage. A writer, poet, linguist, and globally respected Ifa priest, his contributions to cultural scholarship and spiritual practice continue to resonate across continents.

With the unveiling of new cultural institutions and the overwhelming turnout of dignitaries, the 79th birthday celebration stands as a powerful testament to his enduring legacy and influence.

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Jubril Adewale Tinubu @59: Rich in Fortune, Richer in Humanity

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Adebayo Adeoye

There are men who announce their greatness with noise, and then there are those whose achievements speak so thunderously that fanfare becomes unnecessary. Jubril Adewale Tinubu — “Wale” to friends, family, and the many who hold him in deep admiration — belongs firmly in the latter category.

As he marks another year of a life lived with uncommon purpose and quiet distinction, it is only fitting that the world pauses, if only for a moment, to celebrate a man whose footprints are etched permanently on the landscape of Nigeria’s economic history.

Wale Tinubu’s journey reads like the kind of story that inspires a generation. Armed with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Liverpool and a Master of Laws from the prestigious London School of Economics, where he specialised in International Finance and Shipping, he returned to Nigeria not merely to practise law, but to build an empire.

He began his career at the family law firm, K. O. Tinubu & Co., sharpening his instincts in corporate and petroleum law — skills that would later serve as the bedrock of something far bigger than anyone could have imagined.

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In 1994, with vision as his compass and tenacity as his fuel, he founded Ocean and Oil Group — a modest oil trading and shipping outfit that he would, over the next three decades, transform into Oando PLC, Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost integrated indigenous energy group. It is the kind of achievement that defies easy description.

Forbes Magazine captured it best in its 2011 edition, crowning him “The King of African Oil” — a title that, even years later, sits comfortably on his broad shoulders. In 2007, the World Economic Forum in Geneva named him a Global Young Leader, placing him in the exclusive company of the world’s most consequential minds under the age of 41.

Yet, what truly separates him from the ordinary captains of industry is the humanity he brings to his enterprise. His leadership of Oando has never been merely about barrels of oil or bottom lines. It has been about people — about building local capacity, championing indigenous talent, and proving, with every quarterly result and every community touched, that African businesses can compete and win on the global stage.

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For the young Nigerian entrepreneur staring at a blank page and a bold dream, Wale Tinubu is living proof that it is possible.

Beyond the boardroom, his philanthropic instincts have left an indelible mark. Through the Oando Foundation, he has positively impacted over 500,000 Nigerian children through school adoption programmes, digital learning initiatives, and teacher training — a legacy that no balance sheet can fully capture.

In a world where success often breeds aloofness and privilege can create distance, Tinubu remains refreshingly accessible and profoundly humane. His interactions with people are marked by warmth, sincerity and a genuine interest in the welfare of others.

Whether dealing with friends, associates or even casual acquaintances, he has consistently demonstrated that true greatness lies not in the accumulation of material possessions but in the ability to uplift and inspire those around us.

Many who know him count themselves fortunate to have encountered him. Indeed, there is a recurring sentiment among those within his circle that destiny smiled kindly on them the day their paths crossed with his.

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Such is the effect of a man whose benevolence transcends social and professional boundaries.

At 59, JAT as fondly called stands as a compelling reminder that a life of impact is measured not solely by personal accomplishments but also by the positive difference one makes in the lives of others. His journey thus far reflects purpose, compassion and an abiding commitment to humanity.

On this occasion of his birthday, the tributes are many and deserved. He is being celebrated as “one of the significant contributors to Africa’s economic growth and development.” But perhaps the greatest tribute comes not from statesmen or magazine covers, but from the young entrepreneurs across the continent who look at Tinubu and dare to dream bigger.

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