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.”
The induction ceremony, held on September 14, 2025, was attended by Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo, leader of the coalition, and M23 commander Maj Gen Sultani Makenga.
According to AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, the new recruits include former soldiers of the Congolese army (FARDC) as well as fighters from groups aligned with the Wazalendo coalition. He said they joined M23 after the capture of Goma and Uvira earlier this year.
In his address, Maj Gen Makenga said the recruits had been trained to “liberate their country,” accusing President Félix Tshisekedi’s government of killing civilians on ethnic grounds, destroying villages, and weakening the national army.
“He has destroyed everything. Even the army, he ruined it, turning it into a dumping ground,” Makenga said, further alleging that the Congolese army has been mixed with Wazalendo militia, the FDLR, Imbonerakure, and foreign mercenaries.
He argued that Tshisekedi values foreign forces more than his own army, adding: “A leader who disrespects the army does not respect the country, nor the Congolese people, and should not remain in power.”
Makenga urged the new fighters to maintain discipline, respect civilians, and distinguish themselves from their adversaries, insisting this would help them achieve their stated objective of liberating the country.
Earlier this month, Makenga declared that M23 aims to expand its control to other key cities, including Kalemie in Tanganyika Province, Kisangani in Tshopo, and Kindu in Maniema, saying this required continued recruitment.
Nangaa echoed the ambition, telling fighters that the movement ultimately plans to “liberate” additional cities, among them Lubumbashi in Haut-Katanga, Mbandaka in Equateur, and the capital, Kinshasa.
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.
The AI, named Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, will oversee all public tenders, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced at a party assembly in Tirana on Thursday.
Diella was first introduced earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping citizens access government services and navigate the system. Her avatar appears as a young brunette woman dressed in traditional Albanian attire.
Since her launch, Diella has assisted in issuing over 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services through the platform.
“Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present but is virtually created by AI,” Rama said. “Public procurement must be transformed, and we need to gradually transfer it to AI, making Albania a country where public tenders are 100 percent free from corruption.”
Albania has long struggled with corruption, consistently ranking low on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, coming 80th out of 180 countries last year. Graft scandals have frequently erupted around public contracts, complicating the country’s bid for European Union membership, for which it was officially granted candidate status in 2014.
Recent corruption cases, including a major waste management scandal in April that saw seven former officials convicted of abuse of power, have added urgency to the government’s anti-graft agenda.
While Rama has framed Diella as a transformative tool for transparency, the move has raised questions about its legality and effectiveness. Albania’s constitution requires government ministers to be mentally competent citizens aged at least 18, leaving Diella’s official ministerial status ambiguous.
Opposition figures have criticised the appointment, with Gazmend Bardhi, parliamentary group leader of the Democrats, calling it “unconstitutional” and labelling it “buffoonery.”
Despite scepticism, some experts see potential in using AI to curb corruption.
“AI is still a new tool—but if it is programmed correctly, when you put a bid in online, you can see clearly and more closely if a company meets the conditions and the criteria,” said Dr Andi Hoxhaj of King’s College London, who specialises in the Western Balkans and corruption.
Rama has emphasised that Diella is more than a symbolic gesture. “We’re working with a brilliant team, both Albanian and international, to develop the first full AI model in public procurement,” he told the BBC. “Not only will we remove every potential influence on public bidding, but we will also make the process faster, more efficient, and totally accountable.”
Though reactions are mixed, the government hopes the move will encourage other agencies to modernise and rethink traditional ways of working.
As Albania pushes to accelerate EU accession negotiations, with a target completion by 2027, the success of Diella could set a precedent for other nations seeking innovative solutions to entrenched corruption.
The UN General Assembly, in its 79th session, adopted a resolution on UN-AU cooperation, emphasizing that strengthening the cooperation will contribute to the advancement of the principles of the UN Charter and of the Constitutive Act of the AU.
“This resolution is a strong endorsement of Africa’s leadership and of the vital partnership between the UN and AU in advancing peace, security, and sustainable development,” the AU Commission chief said in a statement issued Saturday.
“Together, we will translate this commitment into concrete action that delivers for Africa’s people and contributes to global stability,” he added.
The resolution, among other things, emphasized that the AU’s 50-year continental development blueprint Agenda 2063 “reflects the commitment to the pan-African vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”
Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s “unwavering commitment to working hand-in-hand with the UN” in achieving both Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The resolution emphasized the need to pursue ongoing measures to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of UN-AU cooperation in addressing threats to peace and security, as well as obstacles to development, and promoting human rights in Africa.
The session, held at the Rwanda Military Academy in Gako, was also attended by Commissioner of Police Vincent B. Sano, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations.
The contingent, made up of both army and police personnel, will relieve colleagues who have served in the insurgency-hit province over the past year. The new deployment will be commanded by Maj Gen Vincent Gatama.
Maj Gen Nyakarundi conveyed a message from President Paul Kagame, Commander-in-Chief of the RDF, reminding the troops to maintain the discipline and momentum demonstrated since Rwanda first deployed forces to Mozambique in 2021. He commended the achievements of previous contingents, stressing that the same high standards must continue to guide operations.
The troops were reminded that commitment and discipline are essential to the success of operations aimed at supporting the Mozambican state authority through combat operations and security sector reform.
Commissioner of Police Sano, in his remarks, urged the troops to foster teamwork and avoid any misconduct that could damage Rwanda’s reputation abroad.
Rwandan troops were first deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government, following years of attacks by Islamic State-linked insurgents.
Since then, the joint operations between Rwanda Security Forces and the Mozambican army have significantly weakened the insurgency, restored security in several areas, and enabled thousands of displaced residents to return to their homes.
The latest deployment comes weeks after a visit by Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo to Rwanda, during which a renewed Status of Forces Agreement on the support to fight terrorism in Mozambique was signed. The agreement extends Rwanda’s military support in Cabo Delgado province.
“Thanks to this cooperation, we can see peace returning to the region,” President Chapo said, acknowledging Rwanda’s role in stabilising Cabo Delgado despite ongoing sporadic attacks.
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.”
