IGIHE

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  • Egypt Bomb Strikes Sinai Intelligence HQ in Rafah

    Egypt Bomb Strikes Sinai Intelligence HQ in Rafah

    {{A car bomb has hit Egypt’s intelligence headquarters in the Sinai peninsula, killing four people, state TV says.}}

    More than 10 people were wounded in the attack on the building in Rafah, on Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip.

    The bombing came after at least nine Islamist militants were killed in a major military offensive in Sinai.

    Sinai has seen a sharp increase in militant attacks since the army deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in early July.

    Eyewitnesses said a powerful explosion shattered the windows of other buildings in the Imam Ali area in Rafah, where the military building is located.

    Shortly afterwards, a second blast hit an army checkpoint nearby, media reported. It is unclear whether anyone was hurt.

    The attacks follows a military campaign in Sinai targeting suspected militant outposts near the towns of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweyid.

    On 7 September, army helicopters carried out air strikes aimed at destroying weapons caches, vehicles and hideouts, in what was said to be the biggest operation of its kind in recent years in the area.

    The army has accused Mr Morsi of being too lenient toward militant activity in the region, after he released Islamists from prison and vetoed military operations in Sinai.

    Analysts say the army’s crackdown down on Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood is adding impetus to militants in the northern desert.

    Military deployments in the peninsula are subject to the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.

    AFP

  • DNA Study Suggests Hunting Did not Kill off Mammoth

    DNA Study Suggests Hunting Did not Kill off Mammoth

    {{Researchers have found evidence to suggest that climate change, rather than humans, was the main factor that drove the woolly mammoth to extinction.}}

    A DNA analysis shows that the number of creatures began to decrease much earlier than previously thought as the world’s climate changed.

    It also shows that there was a distinct population of mammoth in Europe that died out around 30,000 years ago.

    The results have published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

    The view many researchers had about woolly mammoths is that they were a hardy, abundant species that thrived during their time on the planet.

    But according to the scientist who led the research, Dr Love Dalen of the Swedish Museum of Natural History, the study shifts that view.

    “The picture that seems to be emerging is that they were a fairly dynamic species that went through local extinctions, expansions and migrations. It is quite exciting that so much was going on,” he told media.

    Dr Dalen worked with researchers in London to analyse DNA samples from 300 specimens from woolly mammoths collected by themselves and other groups in earlier studies

    The scientists were able to work out how many mammoths existed at any given time from the samples as well as tracing their migration patterns. They looked at the genetic diversity in their samples – the less diverse the lower the population.

    They found that the species nearly went extinct 120,000 years ago when the world warmed up for a while. Numbers are thought to have dropped from several million to tens of thousands but numbers recovered as the planet entered another ice age.

    The researchers also found that the decline that led to their eventual extinction began 20,000 years ago when the Ice Age was at its height, rather than 14,000 years ago when the world began to warm again as previously thought.

    They speculate that it was so cold that the grass on which they fed became scarce. The decline was spurred on as the Ice Age ended, possibly because the grassland on which the creatures thrived was replaced by forests in the south and tundra in the north.

    The reason they died out has been a matter of considerable scientific debate. Some have argued that humans hunted them to extinction while others have said that changes in the climate was the main factor.

    A criticism of the climate extinction argument is that the world warmed well before the creatures became extinct and so that could not have been the cause.

  • France to float UN Resolution on Syria Chemical Weapons

    France to float UN Resolution on Syria Chemical Weapons

    {{French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Tuesday that France will propose a UN Security Council resolution setting out conditions for Syria to place its chemical weapons under international control and accept that they will be dismantled.}}

    Fabius said the resolution – under Chapter 7 of the UN charter covering possible military and non-military action to restore peace – would warn of “extremely serious” consequences for Damascus if it breached those conditions.

    “Our aim is to condemn the August 21 massacre carried out by the Damascus regime in the strongest possible terms,” he told a news conference in Paris.

    “The resolution will state that Damascus must reveal and dismantle its chemical weapons stockpile and accept that it should be placed under international control.”

    Fabius said that Syria will face “serious consequences” if it fails to comply with the resolution, and called for those responsible for the attacks to face trial at the International Criminal Court.

    Fabius said Syria has a “considerable” stockpile of “at least 1,000 tonnes” of chemical weapons.

    “France aims to eliminate the threat of chemical weapons, and to protect the Syrian people,” he said. “All options remain on the table.”

    {france24}

  • Israel to give ‘Prisoner X’ family $1 mn payout

    Israel to give ‘Prisoner X’ family $1 mn payout

    {{ Israel is to pay more than $1 million to the family of an alleged Mossad spy who hanged himself in prison in 2010, the justice ministry has said.}}

    “After negotiations, the two parties (Israel and the family) have reached an agreement whereby the state will pay 4 million shekels ($1.1 million or 842,000 euros) to the deceased’s family,” the ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.

    The family of Ben Zygier, an Australian-Israeli known as “Prisoner X,” had accused Israel of negligence in dealing with his case, according to the statement.

    Zygier was found hanged in his isolation cell in Ayalon prison near Tel Aviv in December 2010 — a case Israel went to extreme lengths to cover up.

    A court document released on April 25 this year said Israel’s prison service had caused Zygier’s death by failing to prevent him from committing suicide.

    The document revealed details about his background and imprisonment, indicating he was suicidal and had an emotionally-charged exchange with his wife the day he was found hanged.

    It also said that his cell was not properly watched by prison guards.

    The justice ministry statement stressed that the deal with Zygier’s family was not an “admission of alleged wrongdoing”.

    It was instead “to avoid the affair going to court, which would lead to the publication of numerous details of the case which could cause serious harm to national security.”

    The reasons for Zygier’s detention were unclear, but the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said in a report in May that the 34-year-old, who was allegedly working for Israel’s foreign spy service Mossad, had unwittingly sabotaged a top secret spy operation in Lebanon.

    AFP

  • Cars: We Finally Have our First Bullet Fired

    Cars: We Finally Have our First Bullet Fired

    {{With esteemed names in the hypercar world, such as Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, and to some degree Lamborghini, all vowing for the title as the most outlandish, crazy-fast, technologically advanced supercar on the market, we finally have our first bullet fired. }}

    It comes from Porsche, just hours after the official unveiling of the 918 Spyder in Frankfurt: claiming the 918 as the fastest production car to ever lap Germany’s famed Nürburgring. Porsche’s rivals should be a bit worried.

    For years now, Porsche has promised the 918 would be the ultimate in performance, yet many thought the plug-in hybrid would likely fall short of the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari.

    But achieving a 6 minute, 57 second lap time around the legendary 12.8 mile Nürburgring Nordschleife — demolishing the old record of 7:12 set by a Dodge Viper in 2011 — Porsche has proved that the 918 remains everything it promised.

  • US Airways, American Defend Planned Merger in Court Filing

    US Airways, American Defend Planned Merger in Court Filing

    {{US Airways defended its proposed merger with American Airlines on Tuesday, arguing that the deal would create $500 million in savings to consumers annually by building a stronger competitor to Delta Air Lines Inc and United Continental.}}

    The Justice Department filed a lawsuit on August 13 to stop the $11 billion deal between US Airways Group and American’s parent AMR Corp. The government argues the merger would violate antitrust laws because it would lead to higher airfares and related fees.

    In November, a judge will hear the case without a jury and decide whether the merger should go forward.

    US Airways, in a filing Tuesday evening, argued that the deal was lawful and should be allowed to go forward. “Conservative estimates place the net benefits to consumers at more than $500 million annually,” the company wrote in its 50-page filing.

    US Airways accused the Justice Department of ignoring the rise of small, aggressive low-cost carriers such as JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, saying that they, along with Southwest Airlines Co and regional airlines, now carry 40 percent of U.S. air traffic.

    “The demonstrable success of low-cost carriers is a market-driven response to consumer demand, but the (Justice Department) complaint inexplicably ignores their profound and permanent effect on industry competition,” US Airways said.

    American also weighed in, saying that those opposed to the deal were “ignoring the realities of the airline industry.”

    “This transaction, viewed through the lens of the actual U.S. airline industry today, rather than some idealized vision of the past, does not violate the antitrust laws,” American said in its 15-page filing. “The airline industry is intensely competitive today and would remain so after this transaction.”

    A Justice Department spokeswoman was not available for comment.

    In its complaint, the Justice Department focused on Ronald Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, D.C., where the two companies control a combined 69 percent of takeoff and landing slots. It also listed more than 1,000 routes between two cities where the two airlines dominate the market.

    The companies have said that the deal is critical for American Airlines, whose parent, AMR Corp, has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since late 2011.

    The case at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is No. 1:13-cv-12346.

    {wirestory}

  • U.S. Embassy Kigali & Rwandan Artists Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech with Art Exhibit

    U.S. Embassy Kigali & Rwandan Artists Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech with Art Exhibit

    {{Rwanda’s arts community and the U.S. Embassy in Kigali joined together Monday evening to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech with an exhibition featuring Rwandan art inspired by Dr. King’s words.}}

    Forty artists from around Rwanda, including those from Inema Arts Center, Ivuka Arts, Uburango Art Studio, and Inganzo Art Gallery, as well as independent artists, submitted paintings and sculptures for the exhibition.

    The artists attended the exhibit and shared with the other guests how Dr. King’s speech inspired the artwork they presented that night.

    Along with the artists, guests included Rwandan Minister of Justice Johnston Busingye, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion Henriette Umulisa, and representatives of civil society organizations.

    In her opening remarks, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jessica Lapenn, said the purpose of the event was to communicate Dr. King’s immortal message through the universal medium of art.

    “As we thought about [Dr. King’s] speech and its legacy as a call for social justice, a call to action, we also thought about its potential to inspire art and artists,” Lapenn said. “[The works of art] were all created for this evening to contribute to a celebration, a remembrance, and an inspiration.”

    American novelist, filmmaker and teacher, Carolyn Cohagan, read a portion of Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” which he also wrote in 1963. Cohagan was in Rwanda, courtesy of the U.S. Embassy, as part of the U.S. Department of States Speaker Program.

    She spent the previous week in Kigali and Butare conducting workshops with teachers, students, filmmakers and journalists on analytical writing, story-telling, teaching, and film script writing. That evening, Cohagan, underscored the link between Dr. King’s words and their power to inspire art.

    The U.S. Embassy Kigali is proud of its continued partnership with Rwandan artists, said Deputy Public Affairs Officer Benjamin Roode. Using Dr. King’s speech to inspire was a unique way to share Dr. King’s teachings through a Rwandan lens.

    “Dr. King’s words have inspired countless individuals the world over to strive for their equality,” Roode said. “We’re proud to work with Rwandan artists to continue that inspiration and to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.”

    Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom August 28, 1963.

    The U.S. Embassy coordinated with local artists for more than two months on this celebration. Those interested can see the art at the local studios named above.

  • Rwandan Named among Among Most Influencial Leaders in Foreign Policy

    Rwandan Named among Among Most Influencial Leaders in Foreign Policy

    {{A Rwandan has been recognised on the 2013 “99 Under 33” list as one of the world’s Top 99 most influential foreign policy leaders under the age of 33}}.

    Mr Elvis Mbembe Binda is President and Cofounder Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR).

    “99 Under 33” is an international list jointly launched by Diplomatic Courier and Young Professional in Foreign Policy in 2011 to capture the extraordinary impact on international affairs of 99 diverse Millennials under the age of 33.

    Several hundred people were nominated this year by last year’s 99 Under 33 honorees, ambassadors, business leaders, and scholars.

    Only 99 were selected after a rigorous three-step process by the Selection Committee. The list and individuals profiles of the Top 99 Under 33 offer insight into creativity, determination, and passion of the young people like Elvis Mbembe who are already tackling and solving the world’s critical global challenges.

    Elvis Mbembe is recognized for the work he is doing with our organization, IPHR, which is a local NGO that strives to enhance the culture of peace in the Great Lakes region through widespread human rights and good governance education.

    For instance, in May this year IPHR organized a regional moot court competition on international humanitarian law and human rights that brought to Kigali law students and teachers from fourteen (14) universities of Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda.

    Two students who won the competition were automatically admitted to pursue a Master’s programme (LL.M) in Advanced Studies of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy in Switzerland with full scholarship.

    Born in a mixed marriage between his Congolese father and his Rwandan mother, Elvis was constrained by events to take action in front of peace challenges that DR Congo and Rwanda are facing since late 90s. He initiated the creation of IPHR to make a contribution in the ongoing peace-building process.

    At IPHR we firmly believe that human rights and good governance education is a prerequisite for any sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region. Elvis Mbembe is also teaching law at the National University of Rwanda since 2007. Currently he is working towards a PhD at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

  • I am Tired of Hiding. My Father is Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigema

    I am Tired of Hiding. My Father is Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigema

    {{He is a young man just 24years old. He claims to be the son of late Maj. Gen. Fred Rwigema—Rwanda’s liberation Hero.}}

    Although such stories are not uncommon, the answers to such claims could be in the photo of this young man.

    He says he was born on 16th April, 1990 to Maj.Gen. Rwigema (father) and Eunice Matsiko (mother). This was towards the final stages of planning an attack on Rwanda that Maj. Gen. Rwigema allegedly named this boy {{Alfred Gisa}}.

    Mr. Alfred Gisa says he resides in Rwanda but gives no details of how he has been living since the day he was born.

    In a message posted on social site Facebook, Mr. Gisa says he currently lives in Rwanda without revealing exact details. But from his page he says he lives at Kanombe.

    Gisa also Studied at Standard High school in Zana, Kampala Uganda and recieved University Education from Kampala International University in Uganda.

    However, Mr.Gisa says, “I want to thank my mother for keeping me safe and being that strong through the tough situations she endured while raising me up. And secondly, I thank all my father’s friends who helped me covertly.”

    IGIHE contacted some senior members of RPF about this story, some prefered not to say anything others warned its wasn’t useful to write such a story.

    However, one senior RPF official told IGIHE, “I don’t have any facts about the case. Why would he need to hide his parentage?”

    He added, “It does not stand to logic. I am sure if he’s (Maj.Gen) Fred’s son, he may have been born before Janet (Rwigema) was married. Secondly, there is no property share issue as most of what Janet has, she made it in Rwanda. How old is he and what are the birth circumstances?”

    Another senior RPF official who prefered annonymity neither denied nor confirmed the existence of Mr.Gisa saying, “We (RPF) only know there is only one (Rwigema) family. This is a private family issue. It’s not a RPF issue. Just go and meet the boy and he gives you details.”

    IGIHE also contacted Mr. Alfred Gisa who confirmed that the story currently spreading like bush fire is indeed about him and confirming the claim that he is the son of late Maj.Gen. Fred Rwigema.

    {{MR. Gisa Claims Step Mother (Janet) Targeted him}}

    Mr. Gisa claims that his step mother Janet Rwigema has been trying to ‘eliminate’ him and his mother when he was still a baby in Uganda.

    He adds, “However, due to the suffering my mother had to endure at the hands of my stepmother Janet Rwigema, while I was still a baby, she opted to change my names and hide me until recently,” said Alfred Gisa. His name from then on was Alfred Bada.

    Mr. Gisa has identified his mother as Eunice Matsiko without further details.

    He wrote on his page, “The point of this message is to tell the world that I am tired of hiding my identity, and had to come out so that I can come to terms with my past,” says Alfred Gisa.

    “I also want to inform those who wanted me and my dear mother eliminated that such an era is gone. They have to accept my presence and live with it. I will no longer hide anymore.”

    {{Mrs. Janet Rwigema Reacts}}

    In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Mrs. Janet Rwigema in a polite voice said, “I have never heard about him(Alfred Gisa). But i have just learnt of the story from someone. Surely i don’t even know this boy and dont even know the woman (Eunice Matsiko) he says is his mother. He can come and verify if he is the son of Late Fred Rwigema”

    {more details to follow….}

  • Rwanda Starts Working on Regional Railway Project

    Rwanda Starts Working on Regional Railway Project

    {{Rwanda has began working on a multi billion railway project aimed at linking the landlocked country to Mombasa Port through Uganda.}}

    The railway project estimated to cost over $5Billion will ease transportation of goods between Rwanda and Kenya through Uganda.

    Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba says, “there is no reason for us to delay this important project.”

    He said the ministry is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine the cost of the project, the route of the railway line, how those affected will be compensated and the appropriate technology to use to deliver the project on time.

    “We have already signed a memorandum of understanding with Uganda and Kenya. We are working more closely with our counterparts in Uganda to ensure the project is completed as scheduled,” Prof. Lwakabamba said.