News
President Tinubu Begins Two-Week Vacation in the UK
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to leave Abuja today for the United Kingdom, where he will embark on a two-week working vacation as part of his annual leave. According to a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president intends to use this time for reflection on his administration’s economic reforms.
During his recent speech for Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, Tinubu announced plans to host a 30-day National Youth Conference aimed at involving young people in governance. He emphasized the importance of empowering the youth, who make up over 60% of the population, by giving them a platform to discuss issues such as education, employment, and security. The president expressed that the modalities for the conference and the selection of delegates would be developed in consultation with youth representatives. He reiterated his commitment to listening to their aspirations and implementing the conference’s recommendations to build a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.
Additionally, Tinubu highlighted his administration’s determination to reform Nigeria’s political and defense systems to ensure national stability. He commended the resilience of the Nigerian people in overcoming various crises and pledged to tackle banditry and terrorism to enable displaced farmers to return to their lands and help alleviate rising food prices.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, will be leading a national prayer session focused on reviving Nigeria’s struggling economy. The prayer is scheduled to take place during the church’s July 2025 Thanksgiving Service, themed “Divine Intervention”, at the RCCG national headquarters in Oyingbo, Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the event through his Special Assistant on Administration, Pastor Dele Balogun, Pastor Adeboye acknowledged that both Nigeria and other countries are facing tough times. But he believes the current hardship is not beyond repair if people embrace faith and take positive action.
“Our nation is going through serious challenges, just like other parts of the world. But the truth is, we can overcome them with faith, as long as we don’t give room to fear or doubt,” Adeboye said. He encouraged Nigerians to reject negative confessions and instead focus on faith-driven solutions, adding that with God’s intervention, the country’s economic situation can still turn around.
The upcoming prayer session, according to him, is not just about asking for change but about opening doors to new opportunities and paving the way for national transformation.
Southern Lebanon witnessed one of its most serious attacks in months on Friday, June 27, after Israeli fighter jets bombarded areas around Nabatieh, a city located deep in Lebanon’s south. Eyewitnesses reported hearing several loud explosions as Israeli aircraft targeted hilltops and underground sites in two separate waves of strikes.
The Israeli military later confirmed the operation, saying they aimed at Hezbollah positions they claimed were being rebuilt in violation of last year’s ceasefire deal. According to Lebanese officials, the assault left one woman dead and over a dozen others injured after a residential building in Nabatieh was hit.
Local sources say the woman, reportedly a German national, had been staying in the apartment complex when it collapsed following the blast. Paramedics rushed several other residents, including those in nearby areas, to hospitals with varying injuries. The situation sparked panic across the city, with families evacuating damaged homes and roads filled with rescue teams.
Reason for the bombing
The Israeli army stated that the operation was aimed at dismantling what they described as a “reconstructed underground defense system” controlled by Hezbollah militants. According to them, Hezbollah has been rebuilding tunnels, weapons depots, and launch sites in the region, despite the ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024, which banned such military infrastructure close to the border.
Israeli officials also claimed that the explosion in the civilian building wasn’t directly caused by their missiles but was triggered by hidden Hezbollah weapons stored in the area, causing a secondary blast.
In response, Lebanon’s government strongly condemned the strikes, calling them a direct attack on Lebanese sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun described Israel’s actions as a dangerous violation of the truce, adding that the attack could drag both sides back into open conflict. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also criticized the airstrikes, warning that Lebanon cannot tolerate repeated breaches of the ceasefire while civilians continue to suffer the consequences.
Customers of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) across Nigeria should brace for early branch closures on Monday, June 30, 2025, as the banking group kicks off its routine half-year audit.
In an official announcement shared on their verified X (formerly Twitter) page, GTCO informed customers that all their branches nationwide will stop attending to walk-in customers earlier than usual to allow for internal review processes.
The bank assured the public that this temporary adjustment is strictly for operational reasons tied to their mandatory half-year audit, a common practice among financial institutions to check financial records, processes, and compliance levels.
While in-person services will pause earlier that day, GTCO encouraged customers to make use of their digital banking platforms. Options such as internet banking, mobile apps, ATMs, and USSD codes, which will remain available 24/7 for essential banking transactions.
