Hatton, nicknamed “The Hitman,” was one of Britain’s most celebrated fighters. He won world titles at both light-welterweight and welterweight, building a reputation for his relentless fighting style and close connection with fans.
His career highlight came in 2005 when he defeated Kostya Tszyu to claim the IBF light-welterweight title, a victory often described as one of the greatest moments in modern British boxing.
He later faced legendary opponents including Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, fights that, despite ending in defeat, cemented his place among the sport’s biggest names.
Hatton remained a fan favorite throughout his career for his courage, determination, and down-to-earth personality.
Away from the ring, Hatton spoke openly about his struggles with mental health following retirement. He also battled issues related to weight, alcohol, and allegations of drug use.
Despite these challenges, he remained an influential figure in British boxing, training fighters and continuing to engage with fans.
Tributes poured in after news of his death. Former world champion Amir Khan described him as “not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior.” Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury wrote, “There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton… can’t believe this so young.”
The British Boxing Board of Control expressed “deep sadness” and praised Hatton’s legacy as one of the modern greats of the sport.
Manchester City Football Club, of which Hatton was a lifelong supporter, honored him ahead of a derby match, with both sets of fans applauding in his memory.
The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, allegedly shot Kirk on September 10, while he was delivering a speech at Utah Valley University. Kirk, who co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was a prominent figure among American conservatives.
Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Governor Cox stated that Robinson “spent time in dark places online” and had adopted “a leftist ideology” despite his family background. “He was raised in a conservative family. His parents are registered Republicans, but somewhere along the way, he veered in a very different direction,” Cox said.
Authorities revealed that Robinson had been living with a transgender roommate, with whom he was romantically involved. According to Cox, the roommate is cooperating with investigators and “had no knowledge of Robinson’s alleged actions.”
Robinson had been registered as a nonpartisan voter, though investigators say his online activity reflected strong left-leaning beliefs.
The killing has sparked widespread reactions across the United States, heightening concerns over political polarization and rising threats of violence.
According to reports, some users on social media responded to Kirk’s death with celebration, a development that has been condemned by leaders across the political spectrum. In the aftermath, Governor Cox urged the public to avoid fueling further division.
“This tragedy should not be weaponized,” he said. “We cannot allow the language of hate and revenge to dictate our future.”
Titled “Aid Foresight Programme,” the initiative is aimed at aligning the UAE’s commitment to helping shape the future of global foreign aid with in-depth knowledge and theoretical and practical insights on the current state of humanitarianism.
Anchored in four pillars – education, capacity building, experience sharing, and strategic networking – the programme is designed to strengthen the UAE’s aid ecosystem with the foresight and clarity needed to navigate a rapidly changing landscape.
The UAE is a leading player in the humanitarian space now. The people who lead the country’s efforts in aid delivery must be equipped with a sharp and nuanced understanding of their areas of engagement. This is the first programme of its kind, and it puts global expertise face-to-face with the leadership of the UAE’s aid ecosystem.
In today’s world, where geopolitical, humanitarian, and development challenges are deeply interconnected, foresight is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
Among the selected speakers slated to run the masterclasses are Beatriz Nofal, Bart Fonteyne and Hosuk Lee-Makiyama.
Beatriz Nofar is a senior advisor on global governance, regional integration and foreign affairs. She served as Argentina’s G-20 Sherpa and Special Representative for G-20 Affairs. Her advisory work spans the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Bart Fonteyne is a Senior Advisor on Development and Humanitarian Aid at Hyphen. He has led complex policy evaluations and strategic planning efforts, including assessing ENABEL’s 2030 international cooperation strategy for Belgium in Africa and developing strategic development models for higher education in Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Angola on behalf of the EU, the Netherlands, and German international cooperation agencies.
A Senior Advisor on Trade, Technology and International Affairs, Hosuk Lee-Makiyama is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at LSE Trade Policy Hub, and a Director at ECIPE. He regularly advises G7 and G20 governments on trade policy, economic integration and security. His advisory work has shaped trade agreements and diplomatic negotiations with the EU and influenced economic strategies across Europe.
The programme is designed to position the UAE as a thought leader in shaping future foreign aid through innovation, collaboration, and strategic leadership. The programme prepares UAE leadership to engage more effectively in regions impacted by crisis or under-served by traditional donors, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and fragile post-conflict environments.
The programme is led by the Office of Development and Affairs (ODA) with support from the Presidential Court. Core participating institutions include Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Emirates Red Crescent, UAE Aid Agency (as part of MOFA), and the 13 affiliates of Erth Zayed Philanthropies.
This confrontation took place during heavy clashes on the night of Saturday, September 13, around Bueni Hill, located between Luberike and Waloa Yungu groupements in Walikale.
According to Actualité, calm had returned by the morning of Sunday, September 14, as the fighting had ended and no further gunfire could be heard.
The Wazalendo fighters had been trying to push the AFC/M23 out of its positions on the hill since June this year. However, the group resisted and forced them to retreat toward the Waloa Yungu groupement.
The positions remain under the control of AFC/M23, which first occupied them in June during an offensive to dislodge Wazalendo forces from their stronghold in Buhimba, within the Waloa Yungu groupement.
“Negotiations cannot continue if the delegation responsible for them is attacked inside the country acting as mediator,” Tahir al-Nono, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement.
Hamas said Israeli airstrikes last Tuesday hit residential compounds in Doha used by its leaders while they were discussing a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The delegation, led by senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, survived, but five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer were killed, the group said.
Al-Nono accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing efforts to reach both a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange. He warned that intensified Israeli strikes on residential towers in Gaza could endanger Israeli captives held there.
“The only logical solution is for the international community to issue and enforce a decision to stop this war,” he said.
Al-Nono also dismissed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel on Sunday, saying Hamas expected no change in Israel’s position.
The comments came as Israeli airstrikes leveled residential buildings in Gaza City in recent days, killing dozens, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says its operations target Hamas infrastructure and fighters, while Palestinians say civilians are bearing the brunt of the attacks.
Qatar, Egypt and the United States have tried to broker a ceasefire and prisoner exchange since the latest Gaza war erupted, but the Doha strike has cast fresh doubt on prospects for progress.
Encouraged by his friend Rodney Boyd, who has visited Rwanda several times, Kirkland traveled to Kigali with limited knowledge of the country beyond the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. What he discovered far surpassed his expectations.
“When I landed in Kigali, I was struck by the bright lights and the warm greetings,” he recalled on the Connected Podcast hosted by the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington, DC.
“From airport staff to locals, everyone said, ‘Welcome home, brother.’ As a 58-year-old Black American, that sense of belonging was indescribable. I had traveled the world, but I had never truly been home.”
He described Kigali as a clean, vibrant city, with rolling hills that reminded him of San Francisco.
{{Rwanda’s resilience and unity}}
Kirkland praised Rwanda’s recovery in the three decades since the genocide, describing it as a remarkable model of resilience.
“The way the people of this country came out of the genocide in 30 years, healing, rebuilding, and taking pride in their future — most countries could not have done that. Rwandans should understand that they are exceptional,” he said.
As a former soldier, he likened the discipline and unity he observed in Rwanda — from street sweepers to executives and government officials — to values he had seen in the military.
“Rwanda’s greatest asset is its people,” he stressed. “There are skilled workers here who are determined and ready to work hard to improve their lives. I saw it everywhere — from those cleaning the streets to those leading major investments at the Rwanda Development Board.”
{{Inspired by Rwanda’s youth and innovation}}
During his visit, Kirkland engaged with young entrepreneurs at ALX Rwanda, where he heard pitches for innovative projects tackling Africa’s challenges. One idea that stood out was a courier service using travelers to deliver goods across the continent, which he described as “an Airbnb for logistics.”
He emphasized that Rwanda’s youth are not only seeking income but also creating jobs and supporting families. At the University of Rwanda and the African Leadership University (ALU), he said he saw evidence that Rwanda is among the continent’s leaders in technology and innovation.
“If an American company or any foreign investor is looking to invest here, the technology sector should be the first priority, because there are tremendous opportunities,” he noted.
He also visited a hospital and was impressed by Rwanda’s nationwide digital health system linking clinics with larger institutions. “Other countries should study this model. There is real investment potential here,” he said.
{{A favorable business climate}}
Kirkland underscored Rwanda’s welcoming environment for investors. After visiting the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), he was convinced of the country’s efficiency in facilitating business.
“The RDB allows you to register a company in six hours. That’s remarkable. It’s easier to start a business here than almost anywhere else,” he explained, citing an American entrepreneur he met who had recently launched a company in Rwanda.
Beyond technology and healthcare, he highlighted opportunities in Rwanda’s natural resources, urging U.S. investors to partner with Rwandans to unlock this potential.
{{A personal transformation}}
The trip left Kirkland deeply changed. “When I left Rwanda, I felt fuller than before. This is a place full of opportunity, and more people need to know about it. Rwanda is where you find great food, beautiful landscapes and environment, and wonderful people,” he said.
He admitted regretting that it took him nearly six decades to visit Africa but promised it would not be the same for his children.
“I told my wife after this trip that I regret it took me 58 years to come home. But for my 19-year-old son, it will not be the same. I’m planning to return to Kigali with my wife and children so they too can see what I saw,” he said.
Looking ahead, Kirkland revealed he has already discussed Africa opportunities with his superiors at Amazon. Personally, he is considering relocating or working on the continent after his corporate career.
Asked to complete the sentence “Rwanda is a place where…”, Kirkland replied: “Rwanda is a place where opportunity thrives, pride in progress shines, and beauty — both in its people and landscapes — captivates. From warm hospitality to innovative spirit, it’s a nation of promise that deserves global attention.”
Known as the “Butcher of Tumba,” Dr. Munyemana was found guilty of participating in killings in the Tumba sector, formerly in Butare prefecture. In December 2023, the Paris Court of Assize sentenced him to 24 years in prison.
The charges that led to his conviction included genocide, crimes against humanity, and complicity in these crimes.
Dr. Munyemana, who worked at Butare hospital and lectured at the Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Rwanda, appealed immediately after the ruling. Throughout his trial, he consistently denied all charges, insisting that he was innocent.
At the time, Richard Gisagara, lawyer for civil parties, explained: “It is Munyemana’s lawyers who filed the appeal because they were not satisfied with the ruling. It is not surprising since their entire defense was based on denying the crimes altogether. They never asked for leniency; instead, they demanded full acquittal.”
Proceedings are set to begin with the appointment of an independent jury on 15 September 2025, before the substantive hearings start the following day. The appeal trial is scheduled to conclude on 24 October 2025.
{{Background of Dr. Munyemana}}
According to Rwanda’s former National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Munyemana was born on 9 October 1955 in Mbare, Musambira Commune, Gitarama Prefecture.
After completing his medical studies at the National University of Rwanda in Butare, he pursued postgraduate training at Bordeaux II University in France, specializing in gynecology and obstetrics.
During the genocide, he lived in Gitwa cell in Tumba. Witnesses testified that he was directly involved in killings there and in other areas such as Butare town.
One witness recalled a meeting on 17 April 1994, chaired by the then sector executive secretary François Bwanakeye, where Dr. Munyemana declared: “The enemy is among us. I am hosting 15 Hutus from Kigembe who fled after the Inkotanyi entered through Burundi.”
Witnesses further testified that during the genocide he wore military-style attire, carried a spear and later a firearm, and held keys to the Tumba sector offices, where he allegedly imprisoned Tutsi before they were killed.
Dr. Munyemana is also reported to have been a close ally of Jean Kambanda, the former Prime Minister in the so-called interim government of 1994. Kambanda himself admitted his role in the genocide and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The remarks were made in Kigali on 12 September 2025, during celebrations of the United Nations International Day for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, an event that brought together government officials, diplomats, private sector actors, and representatives of international organizations.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Ozonnia Ojielo, emphasized that cooperation among developing nations is now indispensable in tackling global challenges.
“We gather at a time when our world faces unprecedented challenges, from climate change and food insecurity to mounting debt burdens and widening digital divides,” he said. “These complex issues demand solutions that are locally rooted, globally connected, and collectively owned. Dear friends, cooperation is no longer optional. It is essential.”
Ojielo praised Rwanda’s contribution through the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), describing it as a model for knowledge exchange.
“Rwanda, through the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, has committed itself to sharing knowledge with other countries. I see this as extraordinary, because being a developing country does not mean it has nothing to share with others,” he said.
Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that developing countries should build solutions by leveraging the resources they already possess.
Since 2018, Rwanda has hosted more than 700 delegations from over 70 countries, showcasing innovations in digital governance, service delivery, and socio-economic transformation. Ojielo cited Rwanda’s support to Eswatini and Guinea in digital transformation as concrete examples of how home-grown solutions can be adapted elsewhere.
“These initiatives demonstrate that Rwanda is helping to turn local innovation into global impact, a model of what South-South Cooperation can achieve when vision meets action,” he added.
In her address, Uwase Patricie, CEO of the Rwanda Cooperation Initiative, stressed that Africa is no longer waiting for answers from outside but is actively creating its own solutions.
“Allow me to begin with a simple thought: Africa is no longer waiting for solutions, Africa is building them,” she declared. “In a world where crises too often dominate headlines, it is easy to believe that answers must come from elsewhere. But here, in Kigali today, and across the Global South, we are writing a different story, a story of shared innovation, collective resilience, and opportunity born from cooperation.”
Highlighting Rwanda’s partnerships across the continent, Uwase noted: “We have walked with our brothers and sisters from Chad to Eswatini, from Guinea to Lesotho — not as teachers, not as students, but as partners. Together, we have built e-tax systems, procurement platforms, and financial reforms. Together, we have proved that development is not imported, it is exchanged.”
Looking ahead, she announced that Rwanda will host the Annual Convention on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in December 2025. The gathering in Kigali will bring together governments, innovators, and partners to design the next generation of cooperation.
“If there has ever been a time for Africa to rise, that time is now. If there has ever been a generation bold enough to lead that rise, it is this one. And if there has ever been a place where cooperation can turn into transformation, it is here, in Rwanda, with all of you. Let us rise together,” Uwase said.
Both speakers urged African countries to embrace innovation and cooperation as tools for transformation. Ojielo called on nations to “learn from each other, innovate together, and deliver results,” while Uwase challenged leaders to see climate change, digital divides, and youth unemployment as opportunities for green growth, inclusive technology, and enterprise development.
The launch marks a defining moment in how finance, innovation, and social protection come together to advance e-mobility in Rwanda, through collaboration between NCBA, Kabisa, and Sonarwa General and Sonarwa Life.
Commenting on the development, Maurice Toroitich, Managing Director of NCBA Bank Rwanda said: “By financing affordable, electric solutions, Umurabyo is all about improving livelihoods and laying the foundation for a sustainable and greener Rwanda.”
The initiative aligns with NCBA’s Change the Story agenda, which includes USD 230 million in green lending, planting 10 million trees by 2030, and rolling out electric charging stations across all NCBA branches in East Africa, several of which are already operational in Rwanda.
“We are committed to playing a key role in our shared responsibility to build sustainable cities,” added Pophia Muhoza, Managing Director of Kabisa. “As a company, what we offer is more than EVs, we are providing the entire ecosystem of private and commercial electric vehicles, charging stations, and after-sales services. We won’t just be selling these cars to drivers; we will charge them and repair them.”
{{Cleaner cities, better livelihoods}}
At its core, Umurabyo removes one of the biggest barriers to electric vehicle adoption: upfront cost. NCBA Bank Rwanda has committed to providing 100% financing, with the vehicle itself serving as collateral.
For drivers, the benefits of going electric are immediate and measurable.
“Currently, I use about Frw 35,000 per day on fuel and drive about 200 kilometers.This comes to almost Frw 900,000 per month to drive 4,800 kilometers. With Umurabyo, a full electric charge that drives 300 kilometers and costs only Frw 12,000. If I drive the same 4,800 kilometers in the month, I will be spending only 192,000frw on charging. I save more than 700,000 every month on fuel,” said Kirundeke Assuman, a driver who received his taxi cab.
“Most of us bought old vehicles that we drive all day for hundreds of kilometers. As a result, we are always in garages repairing them. I spend over Frw 200,000 every month on spare parts and repairs. The Umurabyo I have now is brand new, reducing the time I will spend at the garage and the hours I miss from work,” said Kirundeke Asumani as he appreciated his new Umurabyo.
Over the course of a month, the savings exceed one million francs, money that can improve the livelihood of Rwandan drivers.
Drivers earning at least Frw 1.5 million a month and without an existing bank loan are eligible to apply immediately. Each package combines a competitively priced vehicle, affordable repayment terms, and comprehensive auto and life insurance coverage from Sonarwa, ensuring both drivers and their families are protected against financial risk.
This product shows how public-private partnerships can provide practical solutions to everyday challenges. With its rollout, Kigali stands to reduce urban pollution and carbon emissions, improve air quality, and move closer to Rwanda’s national climate goals.
The most serious disaster happened on Thursday evening on the Congo River near the village of Malange, in Lukolela territory. A whaleboat carrying nearly 500 people caught fire and capsized. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that 107 people were killed, while 209 survived. At least 146 passengers remain missing.
Just a day earlier, in Basankusu territory, another motorised boat capsized, killing 86 people, most of them students. Local authorities said several more passengers are still unaccounted for.
According to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Thursday accident was caused by “improper loading and night navigation.” Civil society groups in the region warned that the actual death toll could be higher, as many passengers were travelling without being registered.
River transport is a primary means of travel in DR Congo’s remote areas, but accidents are frequent. Boats are often overloaded, poorly maintained, and lack basic safety equipment such as life jackets. Navigation at night, combined with weak rescue infrastructure, makes accidents especially deadly.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with survivors receiving medical treatment and support from local authorities and volunteers. Families of the victims have begun to bury their loved ones, while search teams continue looking for those still missing.
Government officials have pledged assistance to the families of the deceased and survivors who lost their belongings. An investigation into both accidents has been launched, with authorities vowing to hold those responsible accountable.
Deadly boat accidents are common in the DR Congo, where vast rivers cut through remote provinces and road networks are scarce or impassable. With limited alternatives, many communities rely on river transport despite the dangers.
