redefinning service

The Washington Post on Wednesday published the final column written by Jamal Khashoggi before his disappearance on Oct. 2 in Istanbul, Turkey. Karen Attiah, Khashoggi’s editor at the Post, said in an introduction that she received the column from the Saudi journalist’s translator and assistant on the day after he was reported missing. In the column, Khashoggi discussed the imperative of fostering a free press in the Middle East. The journalist cited the  2018 “Freedom in the World” report , which classified many countries in the so-called Arab world as “not free.” “As a result, Arabs living in these countries are either uninformed or misinformed,” Khashoggi wrote. He continued: “They are unable to adequately address, much less publicly discuss, matters that affect the region and their day-to-day lives. A state-run narrative dominates the public psyche, and while many do not believe it, a large majority of the population falls victim to this false narra...

A former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), 13 former governors and seven ex- ministers have been barred from travelling out of the country under  Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued yesterday by President Muhammadu Buhari. The restriction followed the judicial affirmation of the constitutionality and legality of the Executive Order 6 (EO6). The watch-list and restriction were put in place pending the conclusion of the cases against those affected. Also on the watch list seen last night by The Nation are: ex-governors Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun); and Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina). The ex-ministers are Nenadi Usman, Bashir Yuguda, Jumoke Akinjide; Bala Mohammed; Abba Moro; Femi Fani-Kayode; and Ahmadu Fi...

EFCC seizes N1b gold at Abuja airport, goes after rich suspects The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized gold worth about $3,131,412.39 (N1,127,308,460.39) being allegedly exported to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, illegally. EFCC named Abba Ali Yahaya as the brain behind the deal. Apart from impounding his passport, about €112,000 undeclared by Abba, has also been forfeited over alleged violation of the nation’s Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. The precious metal was handed over to the suspect by a syndicate of illegal miners operating in Zamfara State. The anti-graft agency is already on the trail of four members of the said syndicate said to have perfected ways of beating security agencies at the nation’s airports. According to a document sighted by The Nation, the suspect, who admitted to be a courier, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by EFCC operatives led by a crack female detective. It was gathered that the suspect had es...

The Guardian was approached by Britain's top civil servant Sir Jeremy Heywood Continue reading the main story Related Stories Miranda 'forced to give passwords' No 10 'knew of Miranda detention' Number 10 was involved in discussions with the Guardian about material it had obtained from American whistle-blower Edward Snowden, it has emerged. Prime Minister David Cameron ordered Britain's top civil servant Sir Jeremy Heywood to contact the newspaper. It came after the Guardian published details about secret US and British surveillance programmes. Editor Alan Rusbridger said it was later forced to destroy the computer hard drives storing the information. Mr Rusbridger said his conversations with the government were with "a very senior official claiming to represent the views of the prime minister". But he did not say exactly who he had spoken to. Explicit approval The  Independent  and Daily Mail now report that Cabinet Secretar...

Mr Musharraf returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile earlier this year Continue reading the main story Related Stories Profile: Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf's doomed homecoming Pakistani ex-President Pervez Musharraf has been indicted on three charges over the 2007 assassination of opposition leader and former PM Benazir Bhutto. Prosecutors said he was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy to murder and facilitation of murder. Mr Musharraf made no public remarks at the hearing but denies the charges. The case was adjourned until 27 August. Mrs Bhutto was killed at an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi in December 2007. Mr Musharraf, who returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile earlier this year, is currently under house arrest. But he appeared in court in Rawalpindi amid tight security. Six others were indicted along with Mr Musharraf, including four suspected militants and two senior police officials. The court set the next hearing fo...

Mr Musharraf returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile earlier this year Continue reading the main story Related Stories Profile: Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf's doomed homecoming Pakistani ex-President Pervez Musharraf has been indicted on three charges over the 2007 assassination of opposition leader and former PM Benazir Bhutto. Prosecutors said he was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy to murder and facilitation of murder. Mr Musharraf made no public remarks at the hearing but denies the charges. The case was adjourned until 27 August. Mrs Bhutto was killed at an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi in December 2007. Mr Musharraf, who returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile earlier this year, is currently under house arrest. But he appeared in court in Rawalpindi amid tight security. Six others were indicted along with Mr Musharraf, including four suspected militants and two senior police officials. The court set the next hearing fo...

(Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande's return from holiday has been eased by a spurt in second-quarter growth. Yet looming tax hikes, raging unemployment and an upcoming pension overhaul will determine whether the rebound can last. France's exit from recession with growth of 0.5 percent last quarter buoyed a government meeting on Monday where ministers outlined rosy visions they had been asked to draw up during the two-week break of how the country could look in 2025.   A sustained recovery, after two years of stagnation, could vindicate Socialist Hollande's economic policy choices in the face of liberal-minded critics who deride him as too focused on tax hikes and lacking the courage for deep structural reforms. Economists remain circumspect, however, noting the quarter-on-quarter rebound in output was due less to the government's policies than to a European Commission decision to ease up on austerity demands, which analysts said spurred spe...